The Kingdom of Heaven Suffers Violence
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June 04, 2017 |
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 Senior Pastor Dr. Jaerock Lee
"From the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and violent men take it by force" (Matthew 11:12).
The enemy Satan does not dare come near to Heaven, God's kingdom. Then, who dares use violence and take it by force?
It means that God's children can enter better heavenly dwelling places to the extent that their faith increases by winning in the spiritual battle against the enemy Satan.
1. You Can Take Heavenly Kingdom by Force with Faith
Whoever believes in Jesus Christ can be saved and go to the heavenly kingdom. But the enemy Satan tries to disrupt people to keep them from believing the gospel. They always tempt people to sin, even those who already accepted the Lord. In order to defeat this enemy Satan, we must fight against sins to the point of shedding blood and cast off every form of evil. To the extent that we achieve sanctification and fulfill our duties, our faith increases and we can enter better dwelling places.
In today's passage, Jesus said, "From the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffers violence". John the Baptist is a person who prepared the way of Jesus. He testified to Jesus so that Jesus would accomplish His duty. So, 'from the days of John the Baptist until now' symbolizes the days of Jesus Christ and the New Testament era where we receive salvation with faith.
'Before John the Baptist' refers to the period of the Old Testament, which was the era of the Law. People were saved through the deeds of the Law. They had to keep all the laws, and if they committed sins by violating the law, they had to offer sin offerings to be forgiven of their sins. On the contrary, the New Testament is the time of the Holy Spirit and of grace. That is because by believing in the Lord Jesus we can be forgiven of our sins and be saved through the blood of Jesus and the power of the Holy Spirit.
But concerning the time of the Holy Spirit and the time of grace, many people think if we believe in Jesus we can be forgiven and saved although we commit sins. However, in the New Testament, even if we did not commit sins in action, evil in heart is considered as sin. If we hate a brother, we are committing a sin of murderer (1 John 3:15). Everyone who looks at a woman with lust has already committed adultery with her in his heart (Matthew 5:28).
When you accepted Jesus Christ, you were forgiven of sins, and received the Holy Spirit as a gift. Then, you must not follow fleshly desire, but act following the Holy Spirit. Galatians 5:19-21 warns that the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are immorality, sensuality, idolatry, strife, jealousy, carousing, and things like these, and those who practice such things cannot inherit the kingdom of God. In other words, they cannot enter Heaven but they will go to Hell. There are many other parts in the Bible that warn us that those who commit sins have nothing to do with God. It means that we have to get rid of not only the sins in action but also evil in our heart, the thoughts and natures.
Then is it more difficult for people to be saved in New Testament times than in Old Testament times? It is not so. In the Old Testament days, they had to keep the law with their own ability and effort, but in the New Testament days, we can throw away sins not by with our own strength but by the power of the Holy Spirit. When we accept the Lord with faith and try to cast off our sins with the power of the Holy Spirit, we will be able to throw away not only sins in action but also the sinful natures in our heart.
2. The Spiritual Meaning of 'Violent Men Take It by Force'
'Taking the heavenly kingdom by force' doesn't simply mean going to Heaven. The heavenly kingdom is divided into many levels and there are relatively better places than others. So, we have to long for and take better heavenly dwelling places by force. The heavenly kingdom belongs to spiritual heaven, and this spiritual heaven belongs to a dimension different from this physical world. Even the spiritual heaven is divided into many heavens (1 Kings 8:27; 2 Chronicles 2:6; Nehemiah 9:6).
Especially, 2 Corinthians 12:2 talks about the spirit of the apostle Paul going up to the 'third heaven'. Because he mentioned the third heaven, there must be the first and second heavens, and there can also be heavens above the third heaven. Among many heavens in spiritual realm, the Apostle Paul went to the third heaven that has our eternal dwelling places. The apostle Paul saw Paradise in the third heaven (2 Corinthians 12:4).
Just before Jesus died on the cross to achieve the providence of human salvation, one of the criminals hung on the cross said at the last moment, "Jesus, remember me when You come in Your kingdom!" Then, He said to him, "Truly I say to you, today you shall be with Me in Paradise" (Luke 23:43). He barely had faith to receive salvation but because he died immediately, he could not live according to the word of God. Also, he did not work for the kingdom of God, so he had no heavenly rewards. Paradise is the place for those who just accepted the Lord and barely gained salvation.
Also, in Revelation chapter 21, we see a record about the city of New Jerusalem. It is a holy and glorious city and the most glorious dwelling place in Heaven. The city houses the throne of God, and is the dwelling place for those who have great faith by having achieved sanctification of heart and being faithful in all aspects. Between this New Jerusalem and Paradise, there are other levels of dwelling places. To the extent that you overcome the enemy Satan, struggle and cast off sins to the point of shedding blood, and change your heart into the truth, you gain the qualification to enter into better dwelling places.
This is the meaning of 'taking the heavenly kingdom by force.' The faith of those who are just saved is as big as a mustard seed. But if they sow the seed in the field of their heart and take care of it and grow it, their faith will grow as big as a tree that has grown thick and has no problem in storms. Just as many birds nest and rest in big trees, those with great faith can embrace many souls (Matthew 13:31-32). If you lead many souls to the way of salvation, you will dwell in bigger and more beautiful places in the heavenly kingdom (Matthew 5:5).
Even if you imagined the most beautiful, fascinating, and the happiest place, it could not be comparable with Heaven. Even the lowest dwelling place of heaven, Paradise, is much more beautiful than the most beautiful place on this earth. So, how can we explain with words of men the glory and joy of the city of New Jerusalem where God's throne is? If you clearly come to know about the heavenly kingdom, you will bear in mind things on this earth are meaningless. You will cast away all worldly desires and meaningless lust, and change yourself according to the Word of God and try to take the heavenly kingdom by force.
Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, the heavenly dwelling place will be decided at the end of human cultivation. Even though you have little faith, you can even go into New Jerusalem if you keep on advancing toward the heavenly kingdom diligently from now on. I pray in the name of the Lord that you will save time and diligently advance toward heavenly kingdom and take the best dwelling place by force.
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