VIOLENCE
Through the entry of sin into the world, not only death also entered, but also violence, an expression of the energy launched into a desire for illegitimate dominion on the part of sinful man, or in energetic opposition against the activity of sin on the part of instruments for this chosen by God.
The first act of violence recorded in the Bible is Cain’s murder of Abel (Gen. 4). Because of the wicked violence of men, God sent the Flood to destroy them with the earth (Gen. 6:1113).
The wicked love violence (Ps. 11:5) and rely on it to enrich themselves (Ps. 62:10).
God hates the wicked violence of men, and sometimes responds to their violence with righteous violence in judgment (cf. 1 Kings 18:20-40; 21:18-29).
The establishment of the Kingdom of Christ on earth will be violent and in judgment (cf. Dan. 2:44, 45). One must insist, however, on the distinction between the violence of sinful men, who seek through it to satisfy their pride or hatred, and the violence of God, executed only as a last resort, in all justice and moderation, when iniquity has reached the limit (cf. Gen. 15:16), and by a God who is slow to anger and great in mercy (Ps. 86:15; 103:8; 145:8).
The Kingdom of Heaven suffers violent opposition from the enemy from its proclamation by its herald (Mt. 11:12; Luke 16:16), and until its glorious establishment in power and glory (cf. Dan. 2:44, 45 ).
Those willing to bravely face opposition are those who force entry into the Kingdom using the energy of faith.
The proclaimers of the Kingdom have suffered, and only the violent ones, those who do not allow themselves to be stopped by obstacles and oppositions of all kinds, obtain a position in this Kingdom.
This state of affairs is temporary; with the King absent, the Christian knows that he is not yet in “pacified” territory; To exercise this “violence” he has received the armor described in Eph. 6:13-18.
The day will come when violence will definitively disappear, with the establishment of the eternal state, in which justice will dwell (2 Pet. 3:13; cf. Rev. 21:3-5), once Christ has destroyed all opposition (1 Cor. 15:24-26).
“Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth” (Mt. 5:5). This is the divine response to the arrogance and violence of men, who seek dominion over others relying on their strength.
All human empires, founded on violence and oppression, will crumble at the coming of the Angel whose name is the Prince of Peace (Is. 9:6).