,, And to the angel of the church in Pergamos write; These things saith he which hath the sharp sword with two edges; I know thy works, and where thou dwellest, [even] where Satan's seat [is]: and thou holdest fast my name, and hast not denied my faith, even in those days wherein Antipas [was] my faithful martyr, who was slain among you, where Satan dwelleth. But I have a few things against thee, because thou hast there them that hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balac to cast a stumblingblock before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed unto idols, and to commit fornication. So hast thou also them that hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitans, which thing I hate. Repent; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth. He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth [it].”
Rev. 2: 12-17
To the church of Pergamum, Jesus writes, "Thus saith he that hath the sword sharp on both sides." Here is taken the sword used by the Romans which was sharp on both sides and was called "the way of life and death" because In a previous letter to the church in Smyrna we saw that Christians were persecuted and this sword was used by the Romans to settle accounts with faithful Christians and for many Christians this sword was, , the sword of death "according to the Romans but the Lord Jesus does not think so so he sends encouragement to the church in Pergamum," Thus says He who has a sharp sword on both sides "The Romans and their emperors thought they were masters of life and death but here we see that It is not like that, here we see who is the real "Lord of life and death". It is the Lord Jesus Christ and this double-edged sword has the symbolism of "Jesus' Word - the Word of God" because it separates the faithful from the unbelievers by moving the faithful to the kingdom of Jesus Christ. unfaithful that same "sword" killed n everne who do not believe in Jesus and do not accept him as the only savior. Here we see who is the Lord of life and death because Jesus has power over those who killed Christians thinking they were sent to death and in fact sent them to Jesus and they are still were alive with the Lord true their mortal bodies were buried but they are spiritually still alive and awaiting resurrection.
When Jesus comes to earth with this sword he will strike the earth and here is what will happen.
,, And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations:”
Rev. 19:15
This sharp sword is the Word of God and here is what is written in the Epistle to the Hebrews.
,, For the word of God [is] quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and [is] a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.”
Hebrews 4:12
We see that "this weapon is the word of God" is stronger than all the Roman emperors and all the weapons that people have made so far, even these modern ones, and also this weapon is stronger than the greatest enemy of God Satan and his dark forces.
"I know your works, and where you live, where the throne of Satan is; and thou hast kept my name, and hast not renounced my faith, even in those days when Antipas, my faithful witness, was slain with you, where Satan dwelleth. "Here again we have the confirmation of God's omniscience because Jesus tells them to know all about them. Your deeds, and where do you live ". Last time we saw that in Smyrna there was a" collection of Satan "and here it is even worse here is" the throne of Satan "and later it says" where Satan lives ". Confirmation of that was everywhere Pergamum because there were a lot of temples that were used for idolatry ceremonies and of course there were demons and Satan's throne was there because he controlled the events that took place there. No matter what Satan does, we see that Jesus knows everything and that he is there with his chosen ones and does not forget them, although Satan tries to prove that the believers are left to themselves and are easy prey for him. we read further that although there was a throne of Satan's faithful Christians they renounced Jesus and were faithful, and you keep my name, and you did not renounce my faith even in those days when Antipas, my faithful witness, was killed with you, where Satan lives. "Regardless of the fact that many thought they respected true gods such as god of beauty, power, medicine, sex, materialism or power Jesus does not address them but praises faithful Christians, "and you keep my name." Although many probably believed that their gods saved them, these Christians confessed and believed only to Jesus because he writes:
,, That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.”
Rom.10: 9
Jesus is the name of the Savior
,, And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.”
Mt.1: 21
Because of this, they were persecuted by the Roman authorities and of course by Satan because he was there near them and tried to make their lives as bitter as possible, but Christians believed that Jesus was the only Savior, Leader, Lord and the only mediator with God the Father. .
,, For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.”
Rom.10: 13
,, For [there is] one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time.”
1 Tim.2: 5-6
People around her probably advised them to leave those false teachings and join them in their organizations or temples because they have no future but they refused and that is why
they hated and persecuted them and Jesus also says the name of a Christian named Antipas. Antipas was a faithful witness of Jesus and because of that he was persecuted and eventually killed. Maybe Antipas knew what Jesus said earlier.
,, And ye shall be hated of all [men] for my name's sake …”
Mt.10: 22
but whether he knew about it or not Antipas knew who Jesus was and he clung to Jesus and no threats or intimidation of the Romans and Satan managed to divert him from the right path that led to Jesus. History does not record the name of this Christian but Jesus does not forget because He knows everything whether secular history mentions it or not.
We read further when it was, and in those days when Antipas, my faithful witness, was killed with you, where Satan lives "those were the days of persecution of Christians when Nero wanted to kill as many Christians as possible to show who is the master of life and death.
After these encouragements to the church in Pergamum, Jesus mentions what was not good.
"But I have few things against thee, which thou hast here that hold the doctrine of Balaam, which taught Balak to lay a stumblingblock before the children of Israel, to eat the sacrifices of idols, and to commit fornication. So do you who hold the doctrine of the people of Nikolina, which I hate. "
Jesus mentions here the "doctrine of Balaam" which is described as the history of Balaam in Deuteronomy 22-25 where it is said that Balaam had the gift of prophecy but in the end he ended badly because he confessed the word of God and his heart was a lot of greed that served for the glory of the world. Peter writes the following about him:
,, Which have forsaken the right way, and are gone astray, following the way of Balaam [the son] of Bosor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness;”
2 Peter 2:15
Balak was the king who called on Balaam to curse the people of Israel who refused the first time, but the second time money came, Balaam refused again but wanted that money and so on three times but the Lord protected the people of Israel so these attempts were not succeeded but succeeded something else he mixed the Israelites with the women of Moab and so it succeeded.
,, And Israel abode in Shittim, and the people began to commit whoredom with the daughters of Moab. And they called the people unto the sacrifices of their gods: and the people did eat, and bowed down to their gods.”
Numb.25.1-2
And what happened next we read:
,, Behold, these caused the children of Israel, through the counsel of Balaam, to commit trespass against the Lord in the matter of Peor, and there was a plague among the congregation of the Lord.”
Numb,31:16
We see that they had other gods, worshiped them and committed adultery, and now Jesus mentions this doctrine, which means that the Christians in Pergamum also began to tolerate this doctrine, "But I have on you." and that's where Satan succeeded because he changed his tactics, "he thought if they couldn't kill you I could deceive you." and now we have a situation where someone from the church has changed his mind and let's say he's suggested, "we should adjust a little bit but to live a little like this other world, you see that there is a lot of trouble, we could come back to some feasts just to see that we are here ... "And of course this tactic succeeded, it later led to ceremonies of sacrifice and immorality and prostitution and of course everything else that goes with it,
But that's not all but Jesus also mentions the doctrine of the Nicoleans, "So do you who hold the doctrine of the Nicoleans, which I hate."
The Nikolins who were a "sect" founded by a man named Nikolai who was probably from Jerusalem. The delusions practiced by the Nikolins were, first, they tried to divide the church into priests and lay people, that is, those who rule and those who they are submissive and they have taught and practiced that sin after conversion is not a sin.
These things were mentioned by Jesus because Pergamum eventually entered into "spiritual adultery with the world." At this time the church and the state became one, Christianity became popular and the clergy rose above the laity.
So we see what was wrong with the church in Pergamum, which became "popular", but Jesus has a solution for these problems as well, so he recommends:
“Repent therefore; if not, I will come to you soon, and I will fight with them with the sword of my mouth. "This advice is universal and we must apply it because there is no other solution but to admit sin because there is no way to hide it. the church in Pergamum sometimes comes judgment, and I will fight with them with the sword of my mouth
"He that hath an ear to hear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; Whosoever overcometh, I will give him to eat of the hidden defect; and I will give him a white stone, and a new name written on a stone;
Whoever has an ear and whoever wins can wait for the reward that Jesus promises, first "manna". Manna is the food that came from God to the Israelites for forty years while they were in the wilderness. This was the "bread" that came from heaven and whoever ate this "bread" manu lived. Jesus says the same thing now because He is the Bread of Life.
,, Your fathers did eat manna in the wilderness, and are dead. This is the bread which cometh down from heaven, that a man may eat thereof, and not die. I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever …”
John 6: 49-51
"hidden," means that Jesus is hidden from those who do not believe him and who do not want to follow him, but turn to the world and Satan, and for such we have just seen a warning, "and I will fight them with the sword of my mouth."
The second promise, "And I will give him a white stone, and a new name written on the stone, which no one knows but he who receives."
This white stone is not written about in the Bible, but history mentions it, so we can see what it is about. At the time when the Romans ruled, this white stone served as a ticket for theaters or circus facilities. "Stone of friendship" On this stone was the name of the host and it served as an invitation when addressed to someone. So we could say that this stone was a "ticket" .. Christians who were persecuted and imprisoned such a stone would was taken away and they would be deleted from the list of Roman citizens.
History says that about this white stone, but here we have "an invitation from Jesus", and a new name written on the stone, which no one knows except the one who receives "which calls for a better feast and better friendship. This invitation with the name of Jesus invites us to a feast in heaven that will last forever because another new name is engraved on this stone and that is "Child of God"
,, Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not. Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.”
1 Job 3: 1-2
