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The kingdom of heaven

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macuser:
“‘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 kingdom of heaven” refers to God’s general rule and represents His purpose, message, commands, and activities regarding humanity. This great concept was associated in some fashion with violence since John the Baptist began preaching. Wherever he went, his call for repentance and entrance into the kingdom generated strong and eventually violent opposition.
The verb translated “suffers violence” carries both negative and positive connotations. First is the idea of the kingdom being treated violently by its foes—by those outside it, like the Jewish leaders. They vociferously rejected its spiritual dimension, and so its earthly dimension could not begin for some time.
Second, there is a more proactive and primary meaning to the phrase “suffers violence”—which sees the kingdom as vigorously pressing forward and people forcefully entering it. The angel’s prediction before John’s birth illustrates this positive element (see Luke 1:16–17). Jesus was already teaching about the narrow gate and the narrow way (Matt. 7:13–14), declaring that kingdom citizenship requires self-denial and cross bearing (16:24; cf. 10:38).
To be a Christian today means swimming against the world’s flow, going against its grain, because its satanic system is extremely powerful. Those who truly enter God’s kingdom do so through faith and with great effort—effort that is not their own, but from the sovereign, converting power of the Holy Spirit.

From Daily Readings from the Life of Christ, Vol. 1, John MacArthur.

Moss:

--- Quote ---To be a Christian today means swimming against the world’s flow, going against its grain, because its satanic system is extremely powerful. Those who truly enter God’s kingdom do so through faith and with great effort—effort that is not their own, but from the sovereign, converting power of the Holy Spirit.
--- End quote ---


True that it is not a good time to call yourself a Christian if you want the easy life. The easy life is not what being a Christian is all about.

No matter what time you live on this earth it couldn't be a better time to call yourself a Christian, if you're storing your treasure for use after this earth.

JB Horn:
There is a war against God’s  Sovereignty, a shot is fired every time one of His commandments is broken. You can’t be on both sites of this battle.

JB

macuser:

--- Quote from: susanblange on June 25, 2019, 07:28:31 pm ---Only God can establish the Kingdom of Heaven/God. Job 38:33. "Knowest thou the ordinances of heaven? canst thou set the dominion thereof in the earth? The Kingdom is a literal, world ruling Kingdom with Jerusalem as it's capital. It is the middle of the earth. The Messiah will not come to Jerusalem until the Temple is rebuilt and he will be the cornerstone of the foundation. Isaiah 28:16. The dome of the rock will be broken and excavated. Jeremiah 23:29. The Messiah will be anointed by the Jews as King of the Universe. The Kingdom will be characterized by righteousness, justice, and peace and it will last forever.

--- End quote ---


Revelation 20:1-3 - KJV
1. And I saw an angel come down from heaven, having the key of the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand. 2. And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years, 3. And cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal upon him, that he should deceive the nations no more, till the thousand years should be fulfilled: and after that he must be loosed a little season.


Revelation 20:7-10 - KJV
7. And when the thousand years are expired, Satan shall be loosed out of his prison, 8. And shall go out to deceive the nations which are in the four quarters of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to battle: the number of whom is as the sand of the sea. 9. And they went up on the breadth of the earth, and compassed the camp of the saints about, and the beloved city: and fire came down from God out of heaven, and devoured them. 10. And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever.

Fat:

--- Quote ---Astronomers have recently discovered and photographed Hell.
--- End quote ---

You go girl!!!!

The truth from a biblical scholar.

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