Page 175 - THE REVELATION OF THE THIRD HEAVEN and THE MEAT OF THE WORD

(Mat 13:44-46) or of individuals or the effect it has on those already saved or
called (Mat 20:1, 10-16) and the fact that not all those called are saved and not all
saved remain so (Mat 20:16). The second Heaven and Earth represent the final
Kingdom of God (Rev 22:3) but as the victorious Kingdom it reaches out now
(Mark 1:15) and is effected by Christ within us (Luke 17:21).

In Matthew 11:12 Jesus, using the tense sense of the timeless Word, refers to the
sufferings of John the Baptist through to the time of Jesus’ death, the ‘now’ period
referred to. After the resurrection of Jesus the Kingdom of Heaven, the ministry of
which was begun by John the Baptist (Mat 3:2), is no longer to be taken ‘by force’
as happened to both John the Baptist (John 3:30) and Jesus (John 18:12). Violence
can not now 'take' the Kingdom of Heaven as the seed is shed abroad in the hearts
of many (1 John 3:9).

There are three aspects to the issue of voilence and the Kingdom of Heaven. First,
as alluded to there was the time up to which Jesus and John the Baptist suffered
violence. Secondly, there is the period from Lucifer's sin through to Luke 10:18
during which the presence of evil is tolerated in heaven (Job 1:6). Thirdly, there is
the period from Luke 10:18 and the simultaneous war in heaven (Rev 12:7) during
which Satan and the remnant of his spirits that have remained in heaven are
expelled. After this time the promise of Matthew 11:12 applies and there is no
more occupation of heaven by evil. God can be violent (Gen 6:3, Rev 12:7).

Both John the Baptist’s ministry and Christ’s ministry as Jesus on Earth
represented the coming near therefore of the Kingdom of Heaven (Mat 3:2, 4:17,
10:7).

Jesus in the Gospels is sometimes referring to the obligations of the Law and how
it should be practised (Mat 8:4). In this ministry he was sent only to the house of
Israel (Mat 10:5-6, 15:24, 26, Mark 7:27, 12:29-31) and this explanation and
demonstration of the utter futility of the Law for Man, as it can not be kept, was
very stark. Furthermore Jesus showed how the Law required the following of His,
‘new’, commands as the Kingdom of Heaven came near (Mat 10:7). For example
in a nutshell he pointed out that perfection was required (Mat 5:48) and the
emphasis was more on awaiting the coming of the Holy Ghost at Pentecost (John
7:39) and salvation by faith and grace (Mat 10:7) referred to as the Kingdom of
Heaven (Mat 10:7, 32). At other times he pointed out how certain commandments
of the Law, not applicable to Christians, should be carried out (Mat 6:1). When
Jesus refers to alms (Mat 6:1) or fasting (Mat 6:16) he is referring to the Law and