Violence

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Rhinoceros beetles are  strange. Some are almost as large as a small teenager's hand. 
In combat battles they will pick up their opponent and toss him around. The looser will find himself being carried off and dumped wherever the winner wants. Size has a lot to do with who wins.
In the larva stage a rhinoceros beetle looks like a big fat creamy colored grub. It eats insects in wood. For two years it eats and gets big then the miracle happens as it turns into the adult beetle form.

Despite their fierce appearance, these beetles are really harmless. They cannot bite, sting or hurt you with their horns. Both sexes have horns, making it difficult to distinguish between them. Male beetles use these horns for fighting rivals over feeding sites, and both genders use them for digging. 
Some of the rhinoceros beetle types are capable of carrying 850 times their own weight, the rhinoceros beetle is considered one of the strongest creatures anywhere.

Today the things of nature are only a little  like they were in the fabulous garden of Eden before sin. There is still enough beauty to remind us of the Master Artist who designed them all. Though sin has changed the form and beauty we can still trace God's love in what He has created. The greatest scientist cannot understand nature without the help of the word of God.

What does the Bible say about violence? Let us look at Jesus. He is our example. In Isaiah 53 it says there was no violence in Jesus and He did not lie. "because He had done no violence, neither was any deceit in His mouth." (Is 53: 9, 10)

 

In Isaiah 11:9, the Bible says: " They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain: for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea." 

In heaven, where life will be perfect again like it was before sin, there will not be any violence, hurting or destruction.

In another place the Bible says in Isaiah 65:25, "The wolf and the lamb shall feed together, and the lion shall eat straw like the bullock: and dust [shall be] the serpent's meat. They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain, says the LORD."

You see, it is not God's plan for animals or people to kill each other. It is not His plan for people to  yell or hurt by gossip or abuse. It is not God's plan for people to hate each other.

Since both nature and the Bible have the same Author, they will not argue with each other. So why is this beetle doing violent things? Did God create this beetle to wrestle? Did He instruct the beetle to pick up his opponent and when he wins the battle, lift up the looser and carry him off to dump him? 
The beetles do not destroy each other when they do these things. Biologists explain this behavior as an effort for the strongest to survive and reproduce.  God does not want this type of behavior in His people. In the Bible, in 1 Corinthians 13, God describes how to be loving and kind. Even though the outward behavior might be correct, if you do not have love, you have nothing. Love is patient, and kind. It is not rude or arrogant. Love does not envy. Love does not parade itself, is not puffed up. Love does not seek its own pleasure selfishly above the needs of others. Love does not provoke or make others angry. Love does not pick up your opponent and carry him off and dump him. Love does not take someone's money away from him and dump him in a corner. 

Love does not take someone's reputation away by saying mean things about them.

Being a bully, always hurting and shoving others around like this beetle, is not acting as God says to do in 1Corinthians 13.
The people before the flood were very violent. God had to destroy the people because their hearts were only evil all the time. God says that as it was in the days of Noah, it will be the same before Jesus comes the second time. (Luke 17:28-30)

My dear friend, let Jesus have your heart, look at His example in His life every day and you will be changed into living His loving ways. God loves the bully. He loves the cruel, mean people but does not like what they do. Pray for help. He can change the bully. Hopefully you are not the bully. If you are, pray for God to change you.

Let this be your prayer: Lord Jesus, take full control of all my heart. I want to be like You. Help me to be gentle, kind, and loving.. 

END
More information:

1. God hates violence

2. Epidemic of crime in our land

3. Things causing more violence

4. Satan's violence against God, His people and the truth will increase till the end.

 

We look upon the world and see it groaning under the wickedness and violence of men who have degraded the law of God. He has withdrawn His blessing from orchard and vineyard. Were it not for His commandment-keeping people who live upon the earth, He would not stay His judgments. He extends His mercy because of the righteous, who love and fear Him. {CG 80.2} Child Guidance by Ellen White
Violence or harshness is not required in this work. (raising children) Self-control must be cultivated and leave its impression on the mind and heart of the child. {CG 205.3} Child Guidance

We are living in the midst of an "epidemic of crime," at which thoughtful, God-fearing men everywhere stand aghast. The corruption that prevails, it is beyond the power of the human pen to describe. Every day brings fresh revelations of political strife, bribery, and fraud. Every day brings its heart-sickening record of violence and lawlessness, of indifference to human suffering, of brutal, fiendish destruction of human life. Every day testifies to the increase of insanity, murder, and suicide. Who can doubt that satanic agencies are at work among men with increasing activity to distract and corrupt the mind, and defile and destroy the body?--Ministry of Healing, pp. 142, 143. {ChS 53.2}
The spirit of anarchy is permeating all nations, and the outbreaks that from time to time excite the horror of the world are but indications of the pent-up fires of passion and lawlessness that, having once escaped control, will fill the earth with woe and desolation. The picture which Inspiration has given of the antediluvian world, represents too truly the condition to which modern society is fast hastening. Even now, in the present century, and in professedly Christian lands, there are crimes daily perpetrated, as black and terrible as those for which the old-world sinners were destroyed. Before the flood, God sent Noah to warn the world, that the people might be led to repentance, and thus escape the threatened destruction. As the time of Christ's second appearing draws near, the Lord sends His servants with a warning to the world to prepare for that great event. Multitudes have been living in transgression of God's law, and now He in mercy calls them to obey its sacred precepts. All who will put away their sins by repentance toward God and faith in Christ, are offered pardon.--Patriarchs and Prophets, p. 102. {ChS The condition of things in the world shows that troublous times are right upon us. The daily papers are full of indications of a terrible conflict in the near future. Bold robberies are of frequent occurrence. Strikes are common. Thefts and murders are committed on every hand. Men possessed of demons are taking the lives of men, women, and little children. Men have become infatuated with vice, and every species of evil prevails.--Testimonies, vol. 9, p. 11. {ChS 54.1}

Diet:

Eating animals   If one is difficult to calm down, the best diet to feed them is fruits, grains, nuts and vegetables.

Before the flood was sent to wipe out the wicked and start over, the people were full of crime:

"If one chose to take the wives, or cattle, or anything belonging to his neighbor, he did not regard justice or right but if he could prevail over his neighbor by reason of strength, or by putting him to death, he did so, and exulted in his deeds of violence. They loved to destroy the lives of animals. They used them for food, and this increased their ferocity and violence, and caused them to look upon the blood of human beings with astonishing indifference. {CC 36.3} Conflict and courage by Ellen White
Appetite and passion, the love of the world, and presumptuous sins were the great branches of evil out of which every species of crime, violence, and corruption grew. (Confrontation) 1871 Victory through Christ

The pure juice of the grape, free from fermentation, is a wholesome drink. But many of the alcoholic drinks which are now so largely consumed contain death-dealing potions. Those who partake of them are often maddened, bereft of their reason. Under their deadly influence men commit crimes of violence and often murder. {CD 436.4} Counsels on diet and foods by Ellen White.

The Bible says on beholding we become changed. Thoughts tend to follow in a pattern of what we look at and then we act the same.

TV watching of crimes and violence have an impact on the mind of child and adult alike. After watching hours of these, the mind begins to think it is not really so bad to do these things. 
Interactive games on computer produce even more strong attachment to crime and violence. With the playing of shooting people or animals, the mind prepares to do the same in reality. There is documented evidence that the children who shot their classmates had been playing computer games that had them practice shooting people. They had the same hideous laugh that was on the game. They shot for the same area of the body and then as in the game for extra points, they turned the guns on themselves. SAD! UGLY traps that Satan has set for so many millions who own computers. Satan does not care how he destroys, his friendship is only with the motive of destroying the human race. God is the only ONE who cares about you dear friend. If you are doing this, my dear friend, I encourage you to burn up your games, don't play them ever again. Don't sell them, they will only destroy someone else. Don't help Satan destroy someone else. Ask Jesus to heal your wounded mind and help you not to even think that way again.
Another cause of violence is the desperate attempt to keep a habit going. People often will go to any act in order to gain money to pay for their addiction.

Finally I will refer to a type of violence that comes out of a rage of anger that is really against God. Since God cannot be seen, the angry person beats up anyone who loves God. This violence happens when those who do not follow God's Bible truths watch an obedient Christian. They feel bad that they are not obeying. Curses come from their mouths. 

Now, you all know what I mean if you have given your heart to Jesus. Someone always makes fun of your faith, your prayers, and your singing. This comes from Satan's heart. As the end of the world gets closer, Satan works harder to discourage all God's people. Sadly, I have felt this rage many times in my life. It has brought slaps, kicks, mean words, and even a threat of killing me by using a gun. But God is stronger than the enemy.   "greater is He that is in you than he that is in the world." My favorite Bible promises:

Even the wrath of men will praise God, and what is left over, He will restrain. Psalms 76:10. God puts a restraining order on the violent one when their violence has no effect to cause others to learn of Jesus. In Psalms 91, it says a thousand will fall at your side and 10,000 at your right hand but it will not come near you. Jesus says to rejoice and be glad for your reward is great in heaven, for men also beat up prophets. Mathew 5.

 

"Satan's attacks against the advocates of the truth will wax more bitter and determined to the very close of time. As in Christ's day the chief priests and rulers stirred up the people against Him, so today the religious leaders will excite bitterness and prejudice against the truth for this time. The people will be led to acts of violence and opposition which they would never have thought of had they not been imbued with the animosity of professed Christians against the truth. What course shall the advocates of truth pursue? They have the unchangeable, eternal word of God, and they should reveal the fact that they have the truth as it is in Jesus. Their words must not be rugged and sharp. In their presentation of truth they must manifest the love and meekness and gentleness of Christ. Let the truth do the cutting; the word of God is as a sharp, two-edged sword, and will cut its way to the heart. Those who know that they have the truth should not, by the use of harsh and severe expressions, give Satan one chance to misinterpret their spirit. {CW 58.3}

Satan was violent to Jesus trying to get Him to give up on saving this world from sin.

"Satan hoped that such mockery and violence would call forth from the Son of God some complaint or murmur; or that He would manifest His divine power, and wrench Himself from the grasp of the multitude, and that thus the plan of salvation might at last fail." {EW 169.1}