Church of the Eternal God
Church of the Eternal God - Question and Answer
Q: I was reading in Matthew tonight and came across Matthew 11:12: "‘And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and the violent take it by force.’" Can you shed any light on what this means?
Published: January 22nd, 2010
As a beginning point in answering your question, first consider these comments from the NASB Study Bible regarding “suffers violence,” as translated in Matthew 11:12: "The Greek here is taken in a passive sense. In this context its passive meaning is, ‘suffers violent attacks.’ The verse emphasizes the ongoing persecution of the people of the kingdom.”
The statement by Jesus in Matthew 11:12 reflects the violence of persecution against representatives of the Kingdom of God. Specifically, those in the forefront of proclaiming the future establishment of God’s Kingdom on the earth are targets of mortal violence.
Q: Please explain the passage in Habakkuk 1:5
Published: July 23rd, 2010
Even though most scholars feel that the prophet Habakkuk ministered during the "death throes" of the ancient nation of Judah--just prior to their Babylonian captivity--nothing is known about the prophet, including his age or his family.
It is clear, however, that Habakkuk's writings are not limited to the time of ancient Judah. Rather, the book of Habakkuk is a prophecy about our times today. For instance, we read in Habakkuk 2:1-3:
Q: Why don’t you preach the truth door to door?
Published: September 10th, 2010
We realise that some groups approach the preaching of the gospel by going from door to door. But this is not in accordance with Scripture, and it can do more harm than good.
First of all, we have to realise that this is not the only day of salvation. In 2 Corinthians 6:2, it states the following: "For He says: 'In an acceptable time I have heard you, And in the day of salvation I have helped you..'." We have long understood that this verse is a mistranslation of Isaiah 49:8 where it states that this is "a day of salvation" (Authorized Version). If today was the only day of salvation, then Satan, who has the world in the palm of his hand, would be winning the battle outright. Of course, that is not the case.
"You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden."
-Matthew 5:14
"And the gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come."
-Matthew 24:14