Question Corner by Milton C. Wilcox

Pacific Press Publishing Association · Mountain View, California · Sep 15, 1914

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 31, No. 36.

Question Corner

By Milton C. Wilcox

Conducted by MILTON C. WILCOX Professor of Biblical Exegesis of the Faculty of the College of Medical Evangelists Loma Linda, California

NOTE.—This department is for the purpose of helping Bible students. Answers must of necessity be brief, often only suggestive, never exhaustive, never infallible only as they agree with the infallible Word. Such questions only will be answered as seem to the editors to minister to the mission of the paper. Questions of the same import can not be answered repeatedly in the same volume. Name and address must be given, not for publication, but as evidence of good faith and to insure reply by letter if thought best. It is well always to enclose stamp, not stamped envelope, unless answer is desired by letter alone.

16—THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN SUFFERETH VIOLENCE, MATT. 11:12

Please explain Matt. 11:12—"And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force."

The teaching is clearly this,—that when John came and began to preach his tremendous gospel of repentance, there was mighty earnestness manifested by those who heard. Men were strenuous in their effort to make things right and enter the kingdom. Some evidently were feeling that unless such effort was put forth they would not be saved. "The kingdom of heaven suffereth violence," or, as the margin reads, "is gotten by force,"—not that men were slain, or that this violence was put forth against man. It was not manifested in strife. Those who accepted the Lord Jesus had calmer, sweeter rest in place of strife.