In Matthew 11 we have Jesus description of John the Baptist and His role in the kingdom.
As well as Jesus' controversial comment,
From the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom has been subjected to violence and the violent take it by force.
(Violence 971, violent 973, force 726 harpazo strongs concordance Greek)
This word force has been taken out of context and interpreted by charismatic teachers to mean:
forceful preaching,
aggressive confessions of faith,
or making forceful demands upon the kingdom's blessings.
I say "out of context" because Jesus ends His discussion of John by describing His own way and His own yoke as being "gentle & humble" in heart.
In Jesus' description of John.... let's ask what represents the Kingdom of heaven?
It's The River Jordan. Jordan means "descender". Jesus contains and brings heaven to earth by descending to us...in human form....
And giving ALL of Himself as a River pours out its substance to bring life, life, life. Only life.
The "force" or "harpazo" here is the force of the Living Waters which is washing away our sin by baptism. We enter the water as testimony that we are willing to experience Jesus life thru death burial and resurrection. We are "choosing" by our force of will to experience a new birth in Christ. We are submitting our will to His will in this powerful Kingdom outpouring of a flowing River.
So we have the force of the waters and the force of our free will combining in baptism.
And we have the force of John's guiding hands to hold the individual in submersion or burial under the waters (and bring them back up).
This is John's...Elijah role. Simply announcing The Kingdom & The Lamb of God. Simply calling people to The River and to repentance through baptism.
This is why Jesus identified John as a prophet like Elijah. A prophet who dunks willing sinners under God's flow of Word & Spirit....The River...The Kingdom.
The waters represent The River which flows from His Throne & Sanctuary as in Rev. 22 & Ez. 42. This is an expression of God's kingdom. His thoughts, His rule, His character, His intentions, His good will in bringing us salvation. His good will in pouring out His life for us. His plan to wash & then fill us to overflowing.
Harpazo (force) is the word they interpret as rapture or catching up. If you trace this Greek word back to its root...you begin to understand that "force" is not solely human charisma or will but the "catching up" of His life force. It is a capitulation to His will and His ways... life flowing over us and though us to others in waves and waves of His very essence and glory.
As it says in Psalms 42....
Deep calls to deep....All your waves and billows have swept over me...in the roar of your waterfalls.
His voice and His love sweeps over us in the waters flow. In the River we are continually renewing and being made new. It is a continual flow...one we must choose to stay in.
This is why Jesus completes His comments about John the Baptist by saying....
Come to me all you who are weary, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you & learn of me, for I am gentle and humble in heart."
This negates the idea that you can "take" the kingdom by human aggression or force. Yes you make a "choice of will" to submit to the river (the kingdom) but the force is the flow of His mighty River of goodness, truth and His glorious presence in our lives. Never ending grace and refreshing mercies which are new every morning.
You make a committment to yield under His River's eternal flow. This is the "force", the "harpazo", the "rapture"... which carries us through life and on into His eternal realms of glory.
The force of the Living Waters can absolutely overwhelm you, it can absolutely take you out- if you are not resting in Jesus yoke. It's our floating device. It's our rest.
Your human force of will cannot control His River. It is a river "no man can cross". Harpazo or rapture means "to take up anchor" so take on His yoke of rest and go with His flow. Remember you have been buried and resurrected in Him.
You can be lifted up upon these life giving waters in absolute rest and pure freedom.
Think of the cycle of water in cloud, rain, rivers & wellsprings. The purpose is to give. The purpose is to flow and cause all to grow.
"Wherever the river goes there is life " ✨️
Ez. 47
Footnote: GO WITH HIS FLOW
I encourage you to read the entire chapter of Matthew 11 and pray and meditate on Jesus' response to John the Baptist who sent a message to Jesus while imprisoned by Herod.
Don't take the message of "force" for granted. It has been greatly misunderstood and misinterpreted.
Harpazo (rapture) 726 Strongs Greek
To seize, catch (away), pluck, pull, take
Derivative of 138
To take for yourself, to prefer, choose
138 akin to 142
To lift, to take up or away, to raise (the voice)
To expiate sin, lift up, loose,
specifically: to sail away, weigh anchor
