Is violence ever permitted by God? The question should be, will men ever be at peace with one another?  No! Not in this world. Men have been killing each other since Cain and Able. Jesus said I send you (Christians) out as sheep among wolves. In other words, things are going to change soon. I can't be a shepherd on earth forever (physically). When Jesus was with them they needed nothing. (Luke 22:35-36) But that would change. I think that's why one of the last things Jesus did before He left them was made sure they had a sword (It wasn't just to fulfill prophecy). It was so they could protect themselves against an evil violent world. Woe to the world because of sin. Sin, evil, violence, etc. must come. It's inevitable. It's with us and it's going to stay with us. The deepest offense to God doesn't seem to be the men engaged in the violence (to protect and save themselves). It's with the men who coordinated its beginnings. Who are the men that put this demonic thing into action that will affect so many? You can't say the devil made me do it because we have free will. Sickness and cancers and diseases have nothing to do with free will. War and violence do. When a civilization is put into play that oppresses people. Sooner or later the oppressed are going to fight back and you have violence and death again. The oppressed aren't the problem. It's the people who live by the sword who are the oppressors causing the problem. And if you live by the sword, sooner or later you'll die by the sword. When the devil comes to steal, kill, and destroy, he doesn't care if you're a Christian or not. And he doesn't care what side you're fighting on. Death, misery, grief, horror, oppression, division, all come from war and wars will come. And the sheep either pick up the sword and fight back or they die being dominated by evil men. God's will for the sheep is to live in peace with one another. Not to get slaughtered. Jesus left them a sword for a reason. Be as innocent doves. And as wise as a serpent