KNOKING ON THE DOOR.
Luke 16.16
16."The Law and the prophets were in effect until John came, since then the Good News of the Kingdom of GOD is proclaimed, and everyone tries to enter it by force." (Matthew 11.12) (Luke 16.16)
Gideons and NRSV - "suffered violence, and the violent take it by force."
KSB - "suffered violence, and violent men take it by force." (suffered. Or is forcibly entered, or seized it for themselves.) N.T. P-1277.
GNB - "has suffered violent attacks and violent men try to seize it." or "has been coming violently." N.T. P-15.
What it means "suffered violence," and "take it by force"? Perhaps it means that only by effort and by struggle the men can enter the Kingdom of GOD, and those who struggle and applied their effort and force, spiritual as well as physical, in faith, in the name of the Lord, faithfully believing in GOD'S Commandments, applying His Ordinances in every day life, conducting good godly deeds according to His Statutes in order to reach the Heavenly Kingdom, will eventually enter it.
The end of this verse is very interesting, " everyone tries to enter it by force." Indeed, everyone who believe in Christ tries to enter the Kingdom of GOD in one way or another.
Some force themselves doing hard missionary work, some preaching in the church, some sing hymn, some playing music, some do nothing and wait until they will taking to Heaven. Are any other ways exists which will lead to Heaven, to the Kingdom of GOD?
Proverbs 24.11-12
11.Deliver those who are being taken away to death, and those who are staggering to slaughter, O hold them back.
12..If you say, "See, we did not know this," does He not consider it Who weights the hearts? And does He not know it Who keeps your soul? And will He not render to man according to his work? (KSB)
Isaiah 56.1-2
1.Thus says the Lord, "Maintain justice and do what is right, soon My salvation will come and My deliverance be revealed.
2.Happy is the mortal who does this, the one who holds it fast, who keeps the Sabbath, not profaning it, and refrains from doing any evil."
Zephaniah 2.3
3.Seek the Lord all you humble of the land who do His Commands, seek righteousness, seek humility, perhaps you may be hidden on the day of the Lord's wrath.
The passages above are all from the Old testament, and they are so similar to that the Christ preached and taught His disciples and the people.
1Corinthians 4.20
20.The Kingdom of GOD depends not on talk (demagogy), but on power (deeds, good works in the name of the Lord revealing the true faith of one who does them).
1Thessalonians 2.12
12.urging and encouraging you and pleading that you lead a life worthy of GOD, Who calls you into His Own Kingdom and glory.
Luke 21.19
19.By your endurance you will gain your souls. (Matthew 10.22, 24.13) (Mark 13.13) (Luke 21.17-19) (John 15.21)
John 10.9
Words of Jesus in the Temple were He announced that He is a good Shepherd and will Sacrifice His Life for His flock.
9."I am the Gate. Whoever enters by Me will be saved, and will come in and go out and find pasture."
(Verses 7 and 9. Jesus as the Gate and as the Door. (Psalm 118.19-20) (Isaiah 26.2) (John 10.7.9, 14.6)
1Thessalonians 5.8
8.But since we belong to the day, let us be sober and *put on the breastplate of faith and love and for a helmet the hope of salvation.
(Faith, Hope, Love. (1Corinthians 13.13) (1Thessalonians 5.8)
Clothed in spiritual armor against evil. (Isaiah 59.17) (Ephesians 6.13-17) (1Thessalonians 5.8)
Yes, all these passages above also will lead a person to Heaven and they are many more similar Statements that will guide to the Kingdom of GOD everyone who listens, believe, and who do the works of the Lord.
Luke 16.16
16."The Law and the prophets were in effect until John came, since then the Good News of the Kingdom of GOD is proclaimed, and everyone tries to enter it by force." (Matthew 11.12) (Luke 16.16)
Gideons and NRSV - "suffered violence, and the violent take it by force."
KSB - "suffered violence, and violent men take it by force." (suffered. Or is forcibly entered, or seized it for themselves.) N.T. P-1277.
GNB - "has suffered violent attacks and violent men try to seize it." or "has been coming violently." N.T. P-15.
What it means "suffered violence," and "take it by force"? Perhaps it means that only by effort and by struggle the men can enter the Kingdom of GOD, and those who struggle and applied their effort and force, spiritual as well as physical, in faith, in the name of the Lord, faithfully believing in GOD'S Commandments, applying His Ordinances in every day life, conducting good godly deeds according to His Statutes in order to reach the Heavenly Kingdom, will eventually enter it.
The end of this verse is very interesting, " everyone tries to enter it by force." Indeed, everyone who believe in Christ tries to enter the Kingdom of GOD in one way or another.
Some force themselves doing hard missionary work, some preaching in the church, some sing hymn, some playing music, some do nothing and wait until they will taking to Heaven. Are any other ways exists which will lead to Heaven, to the Kingdom of GOD?
Proverbs 24.11-12
11.Deliver those who are being taken away to death, and those who are staggering to slaughter, O hold them back.
12..If you say, "See, we did not know this," does He not consider it Who weights the hearts? And does He not know it Who keeps your soul? And will He not render to man according to his work? (KSB)
Isaiah 56.1-2
1.Thus says the Lord, "Maintain justice and do what is right, soon My salvation will come and My deliverance be revealed.
2.Happy is the mortal who does this, the one who holds it fast, who keeps the Sabbath, not profaning it, and refrains from doing any evil."
Zephaniah 2.3
3.Seek the Lord all you humble of the land who do His Commands, seek righteousness, seek humility, perhaps you may be hidden on the day of the Lord's wrath.
The passages above are all from the Old testament, and they are so similar to that the Christ preached and taught His disciples and the people.
1Corinthians 4.20
20.The Kingdom of GOD depends not on talk (demagogy), but on power (deeds, good works in the name of the Lord revealing the true faith of one who does them).
1Thessalonians 2.12
12.urging and encouraging you and pleading that you lead a life worthy of GOD, Who calls you into His Own Kingdom and glory.
Luke 21.19
19.By your endurance you will gain your souls. (Matthew 10.22, 24.13) (Mark 13.13) (Luke 21.17-19) (John 15.21)
John 10.9
Words of Jesus in the Temple were He announced that He is a good Shepherd and will Sacrifice His Life for His flock.
9."I am the Gate. Whoever enters by Me will be saved, and will come in and go out and find pasture."
(Verses 7 and 9. Jesus as the Gate and as the Door. (Psalm 118.19-20) (Isaiah 26.2) (John 10.7.9, 14.6)
1Thessalonians 5.8
8.But since we belong to the day, let us be sober and *put on the breastplate of faith and love and for a helmet the hope of salvation.
(Faith, Hope, Love. (1Corinthians 13.13) (1Thessalonians 5.8)
Clothed in spiritual armor against evil. (Isaiah 59.17) (Ephesians 6.13-17) (1Thessalonians 5.8)
Yes, all these passages above also will lead a person to Heaven and they are many more similar Statements that will guide to the Kingdom of GOD everyone who listens, believe, and who do the works of the Lord.