The church of Pergamos

Revelation

'...These things saith he which hath the sharp sword with two edges,'(Rev2:12)

The sword denotes the word of God(Heb4:12).it proceeded out of the mouth of God. revelation from the word of God is necessary, firstly ,to divide asunder soul and spirit. Our soul draws us to the world. The spirit lifts us up to God. The word of god shows us the difference between the mundane and heavenly life. Helping us rejoice in the hope of glory of God. (Romans5:2).Merely reading the word of God does not help us. We must meditate on it and receiver revelations. secondly Christ is called the Lord and his life is the standard for the world. Here the word of God divides asunder the joints and marrow(Heb4:12).this is separation from all carnal discerns the thoughts or fleshly ties. Thirdly, the word of god discerns the thoughts and intents of our heart. If shows is who we are.

Reproach

'But I Have a few things against thee, because thou have there them that hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balak to cast a stumbling block before the children of Israel, to eat  things sacrifices to idols, and to commit fornication. so hast thou also them that hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitan's, which thing I hate'(Rev2:14,15)

They had yielded to false doctrines.

(a) The doctrines of Balaam:

(I) To be willing to lead astray God's people for financial gain. Balaam was a man of God. he made some remarkable prophecies. He spoke of the Jews dwelling alone ,and of the coming Redeemer, Christ. He said that there was no iniquity in Israel, and that the shout of a king was among them. God told him that Israel was blessed and that he should not curse them. But when Balak repeatedly offered him a reward, his heart went astray. The love of money is the root of all evil. Balaam counseled Balak to lead the Israelites into sin, and to obtain for himself an earthly gain by bringing the curse of God upon Israel. Thus he used the gift of God for personal gain, and brought destruction not only upon the people Israel, but also upon himself.

These evil spirits, which works through such people as Cain, Balaam, Core. Absalom, The Amalekites, and many others ,will inevitably work against the Church through certain people in the assembly I these last days. 'woe unto them! for they have one in the way of Cain, and ran greedily after the error of Balaam for reward, and perished in the gainsaying of Core'(Jude11).This is why we are asked to resist evil spirits.

(ii) To eat things sacrificed to idols: St.Paul gives a masterly exposition of this subject in (ICor8:4-7).For us there is but one God, and we know that idols are totally worthless and abominable, but not everyone has this knowledge. If we use our liberty ,and eat anything sacrificed to an idol, the conscience of a weak brother who is delivered from idol worship will be defiled, and he will be stumbled by our action. Similarly,coveteousness is called idolatry which a child of God must detect.

(iii) To commit fornication: This is something which no child of God should ever do .Paul says 'Let if not be once named among you, as becometh saints' (Eph5:3)

(b) The doctrine of the Nicolaitan's:

This is a controversial point. the general interpretation is that this is a doctrine which encourages the priest to have dominion over the laity. However, it was never in the  plan of God to have the same ministry(Heb13:17);on the other hand, neither did He expect the priest to exercise undue authority over the laity(IPeter5:3).So this interpretation cannot be correct.

Certain other say that it was no more than a sect that was formed through a man called Nicholas ;one of the seven chosen to serve tables(Acts6:5) he was a proselyte from Antioch. there were various kinds of proselytes to Judaism ,who were made Jews through circumcision. even in Paul's day some of the Jewish Christians insisted that all Christians should be circumcised as they themselves were Nicholas perhaps became their leader, and hence the group is know as Nicolaitan.

At any rate ,during the very life-time of Paul himself, many false teachers and teachings entered into the Church of God and the Lord condemned them. We have to be very careful about false doctrines. They will hinder our getting ready fir coming of the Lord.

Remedy

'Repent; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth'(Rev2:16)

The church of Pergamos had been led astray by these things because they refused revelation from he word of God. ignorance of the word of God leads to error and God therefore exhorted them to repent. when we do not pay heed to the word of his grace which is able to build us up and give us an inheritance among all them which are sanctified. the same word turns to be a word of judgment-the sword of His mouth. Jesus said ,the word that i have spoken, the  same  shall judge him in the last day(Jn12:48)

Reward

'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 received it'(Rev2:17)

Manna was hidden for a memorial in the ark of the covenant ,which is in the most holy place' hidden manna' refers to deeper revelation of God through the word of God .this given to the overcomers,and to the others it is hidden.

White stone is a precious stone. Precious stones are formed by the solidifying of several minerals as a result of being subjected to great pressure and heat in the crust of the earth ;crystallization takes place according to a definite plan, which is dependant upon the internal arrangements of the atoms contained in them, these stones have no light of their own, but their reflective and refractive powers are so great that they can pick up the faintest rays of light and powerfully reflect them in various glorious hues.

this is exactly what happens to over comers, and particularly to the servants of God, who joyfully and unselfishly bear the burden of the Church through innumerable difficulties and trials ,being strengthened by the love of God (Rom5:3-5) they become precious and transparent in the sight of God.

'A new name...which no man knoweth saving he that recieveth it'. That mans only God and the recipient of it know that name. This speaks of an intimate relationship with God. St Paul says, 'That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings. being made conformable unto hi s death'(phil3:10).God alone knows the love we have for him and the consecration that we make in secret. Our love for God and his service should be coupled together with sincere consecration.

We are known to different people in different ways, we are loved in different measures, and are called by different names. some call us by our surnames, others by our Christian names but those who love us most dearly call us by pet names, which only the parties concerned are aware of.

Our name also speaks of our inheritance. According to our name will be our inheritance in the kingdom of God, as it is said of out Lord: 'Being made so much better that the angels, as he hath by inheritance obtained a more excellent name that thy' (Heb1:4)