Post by Messenger on Aug 29, 2005 0:03:48 GMT -5
We now look at Pergamum.
Revelation 2:12-17 (New International Version)
To the Church in Pergamum
"To the angel of the church in Pergamum write:
These are the words of him who has the sharp, double-edged sword. I know where you live—where Satan has his throne. Yet you remain true to my name. You did not renounce your faith in me, even in the days of Antipas, my faithful witness, who was put to death in your city—where Satan lives. Nevertheless, I have a few things against you: You have people there who hold to the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to entice the Israelites to sin by eating food sacrificed to idols and by committing sexual immorality. Likewise you also have those who hold to the teaching of the Nicolaitans. Repent therefore! Otherwise, I will soon come to you and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes, I will give some of the hidden manna. I will also give him a white stone with a new name written on it, known only to him who receives it.
The double-edged sword was a very common weapon, not to mention a very effective one as well! Being double-edged, it allowed it's weilder to use broad strokes in all directions, therby giving him the ability to protect himself from attacks from oposing directions. This could be a picture of the invincible Jesus, coming down to earth, & destroying all the wickedness in His path. It could also represent the Word of God, which is also refered to as a double-edged sword, in:
"Hebrews 4:12 (New International Version)
For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.
This could be refering to the seperating of the spiritual man from the physical man. The spiritual man is eternal, the physical man isn't.
Living where Satan has his throne, could be refering to the whole world, but here it would seen to me , that Jesus is talking about a city, perhaps much like Sodom & Gomorrah. Whatever the case, there was much wickedness and/or evil in Pergamum.
The story of Balaam & Balak is talked about in Numbers 22-24. No matter how hard Balaam tried to curse the Jews, he couldn't do it, because of the power of the Lord, & the fact that the Jews were God's chosen people.
But even as we have seen the fact that the Jews are God's chosen people, they were also very wicked as well. It appears that some of the Believer's in Pergamom, had embraced some of the beliefs of the Nicolations, instead of standing srong in the power of the Lord.
What is Jesus' message? The same one that He spread when he was alive, & the exact message that the Apostles were spreading-REPENT! It seems like He is saying that when he returns to earth, all those who HAVEN't repented will be struck down by that very sword that He carries. Certainly, those who aren't Believers will be!
He who has an ear, could be refering to the fact that those who DO know Christ, do have the ear to hear, by the power of the Holy Spirit, to hear the truths that Jesus proclaimed while He was here on this earth, as well as as the message of the apostles as well! Certainly, we do not have the ability to hear God's voice WITHOUT the Holy Spirit, since that is the reason that He was given to all those who know Jesus as Lord & Savior!
The hidden manna could be refering to when Jesus refered to Himself as the Bread of Life in:
John 6:51-59 (New International Version)
"I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever. This bread is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world." Then the Jews began to argue sharply among themselves, "How can this man give us his flesh to eat?" Jesus said to them, "I tell you the truth, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you. Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day. For my flesh is real food and my blood is real drink. Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me, and I in him. Just as the living Father sent me and I live because of the Father, so the one who feeds on me will live because of me. This is the bread that came down from heaven. Your forefathers ate manna and died, but he who feeds on this bread will live forever." He said this while teaching in the synagogue in Capernaum."
As far as the white stone-stones were used as a means of currency, & the fact that the stone is white, probably indicates the fact that Believers are as pure as that stone. The new name probably refers to the fact that when we do stand strong in the faith, when we reach heaven, the TRUE person that we are in Christ, will be revealed!
Be Blessed!
Bill
Revelation 2:12-17 (New International Version)
To the Church in Pergamum
"To the angel of the church in Pergamum write:
These are the words of him who has the sharp, double-edged sword. I know where you live—where Satan has his throne. Yet you remain true to my name. You did not renounce your faith in me, even in the days of Antipas, my faithful witness, who was put to death in your city—where Satan lives. Nevertheless, I have a few things against you: You have people there who hold to the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to entice the Israelites to sin by eating food sacrificed to idols and by committing sexual immorality. Likewise you also have those who hold to the teaching of the Nicolaitans. Repent therefore! Otherwise, I will soon come to you and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes, I will give some of the hidden manna. I will also give him a white stone with a new name written on it, known only to him who receives it.
The double-edged sword was a very common weapon, not to mention a very effective one as well! Being double-edged, it allowed it's weilder to use broad strokes in all directions, therby giving him the ability to protect himself from attacks from oposing directions. This could be a picture of the invincible Jesus, coming down to earth, & destroying all the wickedness in His path. It could also represent the Word of God, which is also refered to as a double-edged sword, in:
"Hebrews 4:12 (New International Version)
For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.
This could be refering to the seperating of the spiritual man from the physical man. The spiritual man is eternal, the physical man isn't.
Living where Satan has his throne, could be refering to the whole world, but here it would seen to me , that Jesus is talking about a city, perhaps much like Sodom & Gomorrah. Whatever the case, there was much wickedness and/or evil in Pergamum.
The story of Balaam & Balak is talked about in Numbers 22-24. No matter how hard Balaam tried to curse the Jews, he couldn't do it, because of the power of the Lord, & the fact that the Jews were God's chosen people.
But even as we have seen the fact that the Jews are God's chosen people, they were also very wicked as well. It appears that some of the Believer's in Pergamom, had embraced some of the beliefs of the Nicolations, instead of standing srong in the power of the Lord.
What is Jesus' message? The same one that He spread when he was alive, & the exact message that the Apostles were spreading-REPENT! It seems like He is saying that when he returns to earth, all those who HAVEN't repented will be struck down by that very sword that He carries. Certainly, those who aren't Believers will be!
He who has an ear, could be refering to the fact that those who DO know Christ, do have the ear to hear, by the power of the Holy Spirit, to hear the truths that Jesus proclaimed while He was here on this earth, as well as as the message of the apostles as well! Certainly, we do not have the ability to hear God's voice WITHOUT the Holy Spirit, since that is the reason that He was given to all those who know Jesus as Lord & Savior!
The hidden manna could be refering to when Jesus refered to Himself as the Bread of Life in:
John 6:51-59 (New International Version)
"I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever. This bread is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world." Then the Jews began to argue sharply among themselves, "How can this man give us his flesh to eat?" Jesus said to them, "I tell you the truth, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you. Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day. For my flesh is real food and my blood is real drink. Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me, and I in him. Just as the living Father sent me and I live because of the Father, so the one who feeds on me will live because of me. This is the bread that came down from heaven. Your forefathers ate manna and died, but he who feeds on this bread will live forever." He said this while teaching in the synagogue in Capernaum."
As far as the white stone-stones were used as a means of currency, & the fact that the stone is white, probably indicates the fact that Believers are as pure as that stone. The new name probably refers to the fact that when we do stand strong in the faith, when we reach heaven, the TRUE person that we are in Christ, will be revealed!
Be Blessed!
Bill
