TO PERGAMUM--THE SWORD OF THE WORD

Passage: Revelation 2:12-17

Key verse: 16

NIV

To the Church in Pergamum

12 “To the angel of the church in Pergamum(A) write:

These are the words of him who has the sharp, double-edged sword.(B) 13 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,(C) not even in the days of Antipas, my faithful witness,(D) who was put to death in your city—where Satan lives.(E)

14 Nevertheless, I have a few things against you:(F) There are some among you who hold to the teaching of Balaam,(G) who taught Balak to entice the Israelites to sin so that they ate food sacrificed to idols(H) and committed sexual immorality.(I) 15 Likewise, you also have those who hold to the teaching of the Nicolaitans.(J) 16 Repent(K) therefore! Otherwise, I will soon come to you and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth.(L)

17 Whoever has ears, let them hear(M) what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who is victorious,(N) I will give some of the hidden manna.(O) I will also give that person a white stone with a new name(P) written on it, known only to the one who receives it.(Q)

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Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Source: BibleGateway

ESV

To the Church in Pergamum

12 “And to the angel of the church in Pergamum write: ‘The words of him who has (A)the sharp two-edged sword.

13 “‘I know where you dwell, (B)where Satan's throne is. Yet you hold fast my name, and you did not (C)deny my faith[a] even in the days of Antipas (D)my faithful witness, who was killed among you, where Satan dwells. 14 But I have a few things against you: you have some there who hold the teaching of (E)Balaam, who taught Balak to put a stumbling block before the sons of Israel, so that they might (F)eat food sacrificed to idols and (G)practice sexual immorality. 15 So also you have some who hold the teaching of (H)the Nicolaitans. 16 Therefore repent. If not, (I)I will come to you soon and (J)war against them with (K)the sword of my mouth. 17 (L)He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. (M)To the one who conquers I will give some of (N)the hidden manna, and I will give him a white stone, with (O)a new name written on the stone (P)that no one knows except the one who receives it.’

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Footnotes
  1. Revelation 2:13 Or your faith in me
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Source: BibleGateway

1. The faithful witness (12-13)

Pergamum was the official center of emperor worship in Asia Minor--Satan's throne was indeed there! Antipas was the first Christian martyr of Asia. To be a Christian in Pergamum was to invite persecution. But there were faithful men and women who did not renounce their faith in Jesus.

2. Repent! (14-17)

Within the church there were followers of Nicolas, who taught that it was all right for a Christian to indulge in free sex. He was like Baalam, a prophet employed by the Moabites to lead the Israelites into idolatry and sexual immorality. (Nu 22:1-7;25:1-2) Baalam was slain and many Israelites who compromised their faith died. The Christians of Pergamum must repent. God's word is a two-edged sword that cuts out idolatry, immorality and compromise and demands repentance. God gives a new name and an admission ticket (the white stone) to the heavenly banquet to the one who overcomes temptation.

Prayer: Lord, help me not to be fooled or compromised by prophets like Balaam.

One Word: God's word is a sharp sword