TAKING HEAVEN BY STORM

Violence and the Kingdom of Heaven

The Kingdom of Heaven has suffered violence.

John 15:20 “Remember the word that I said to you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you. If they kept my word, they will also keep yours.”

The violent take it by force.

Luke 16:16 ““The Law and the Prophets were until John; since then the good news of the kingdom of God is preached, and everyone forces his way into it.” (see Mark 1:5, Matthew 21:28-32)

There is only one way into the Kingdom of Heaven.

John 14:6 “Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”

See Matthew 7:13-14...

John the Baptist came in the spirit and power of Elijah.

See Malachi 4:5-6 and Matthew 17:10-13...

Luke 1:16–17 “And he will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God, and he will go before him in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, to make ready for the Lord a people prepared.””

Children in the Marketplace

The people were never satisfied with God’s message to them.

2 Timothy 4:3–4 “For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths.”

They should have investigated to see if the message was true.

Acts 17:11 “Now these Jews were more noble than those in Thessalonica; they received the word with all eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so.”

The very word that they rejected will be used to judge them on the last day.

John 12:48 “The one who rejects me and does not receive my words has a judge; the word that I have spoken will judge him on the last day.”

Woe to the Unrepentant

The more truth we are given, the greater our punishment will be if we reject it.

John 5:36 “But the testimony that I have is greater than that of John. For the works that the Father has given me to accomplish, the very works that I am doing, bear witness about me that the Father has sent me.”

The Son (John 8:18), the Father and Spirit (John 5:37, Matthew 3:16-17), John the Baptist (John 1:6-7), the works of Jesus (John 5:36), and the Scriptures (John 5:39), the disciples (John 15:27), and the multitude of changed lives all bore witness that Jesus was the Messiah.

Luke 12:47–48 “And that servant who knew his master’s will but did not get ready or act according to his will, will receive a severe beating. But the one who did not know, and did what deserved a beating, will receive a light beating. Everyone to whom much was given, of him much will be required, and from him to whom they entrusted much, they will demand the more.”