The letter to Pergamum is for a church that held His name where Satan sits,
and still held false teaching.
I know where you dwell,
where Satan’s throne is.
You did not deny my faith
even in the days of Antipas my faithful witness,
who was killed among you.
Therefore repent.
If not,
I will come to you soon and war against them with the sword of my mouth.
Jesus has the sharp two-edged sword. Pergamum dwells where Satan’s throne is. Yet they hold fast His name and did not deny the faith when Antipas was killed among them. The wound is inside the hold. Some hold the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to put a stumbling block before Israel, food offered to idols and sexual immorality. Some hold the teaching of the Nicolaitans. He hates that teaching. Repent, or He will war against them with the sword of His mouth.
This is one of the seven letters. The Spirit says it to the churches. Holding the name is not the same as holding every teaching that entered the door.
They held His name beside a martyr’s blood.
They also held Balaam’s teaching.
Repent.
The sword of His mouth is near.
Full text from Revelation 2, as on the chapter page.
Rev 2:12 And to the angel of the church in Pergamos write; These things saith he which hath the sharp sword with two edges;
Rev 2:13 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.
Rev 2:14 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.
Rev 2:15 So hast thou also them that hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitans, which thing I hate.
Rev 2:16 Repent; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth.
Rev 2:17 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.
I know where you dwell, where Satan’s throne is. Yet you hold fast my name.
You did not deny my faith even in the days of Antipas, my faithful witness, who was killed among you.
You have some there who hold the teaching of Balaam.
Therefore repent. If not, I will war against them with the sword of my mouth.
To the one who conquers I will give some of the hidden manna, and a white stone with a new name.
A hard city does not excuse a held lie. He praised the name they kept. He will not share the house with Balaam’s teaching. Repent.
Entry compiled for the JESUSaves.com Bible Glossary. Optimized for wiki.js Visual Editor.