Revelation 2 Part 3 (2:12-17): Pergamum
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Revelation 2:12-17
| Revelation | References |
|---|---|
| (12) “To the angel of the Messianic Community in Pergamum, write: ‘Here is the message from the one who has the sharp double-edged sword: | Rev 1:16 In his right hand, he held seven stars, from his mouth came a sharp two-edged sword, and his face was like the sun shining in full strength. Joh 1:17 For (just as) the law was given through Moses, grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. Isa 11:4 but with righteousness, he shall judge the poor, and decide with equity for the meek of the earth; and he shall strike the earth with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips he shall kill the wicked. Isa 49:2 He made my mouth like a sharp sword; in the shadow of his hand he hid me; he made me a polished arrow; in his quiver, he hid me away. 2 Th 2:8 And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus will kill with the breath of his mouth and bring to nothing by the appearance of his coming. 2 Ti 3:16-17 All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, (17) that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work. |
| (13) “I know where you are living, there where the Adversary’s throne is. Yet you are holding onto my name. You did not deny trusting me even at the time when my faithful witness Antipas was put to death in your town, there where the Adversary lives. | Luke 21:17 You will be hated by all for my name’s sake. Jude 1:4 For certain people have crept in unnoticed who long ago were designated for this condemnation, ungodly people, who pervert the grace of our God into sensuality and deny our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ. 2 Ti 2:12 if we endure, we will also reign with him; if we deny him, he also will deny us; |
| (14) Nevertheless, I have a few things against you: you have some people who hold to the teaching of Bil`am, who taught Balak to set a trap for the people of Isra’el, so that they would eat food that had been sacrificed to idols and commit sexual sin. (15) Likewise, you too have people who hold to the teaching of the Nicolaitans. |
Numbers 22-25, 31 Joshua 13:22 Balaam also, the son of Beor, the one who practiced divination, was killed with the sword by the people of Israel 2 Pe 2:15 Forsaking the right way, they have gone astray. They have followed the way of Balaam, the son of Beor, who loved gain from wrongdoing, |
| (16) Therefore, turn from these sins. Otherwise, I will come to you very soon and make war against them with the sword of my mouth. | Rev 19:15 And out of his mouth comes to a sharp sword with which to strike down nations—“He will rule them with a staff of iron.” It is he who treads the winepress from which flows the wine of the furious rage of Adonai, God of heaven’s armies. Rev 19:21 The rest were killed with the sword that goes out of the mouth of the rider on the horse, and all the birds gorged themselves on their flesh. |
| (17) Those who have ears, let them hear what the Spirit is saying to the Messianic communities. To him winning the victory, I will give some of the hidden manna. I will also give him a white stone, on which is written a new name that nobody knows except the one receiving it.” | Exo 16:31-35 Now the house of Israel called its name manna. It was like coriander seed, white, and the taste of it was like wafers made with honey. (32) Moses said, “This is what the LORD has commanded: ‘Let an omer of it be kept throughout your generations, so that they may see the bread with which I fed you in the wilderness, when I brought you out of the land of Egypt.’” (33) And Moses said to Aaron, “Take a jar, and put an omer of manna in it, and place it before the LORD to be kept throughout your generations.” (34) As the LORD commanded Moses, so Aaron placed it before the testimony to be kept. (35) The people of Israel ate the manna forty years, till they came to a habitable land. They ate the manna till they came to the border of the land of Canaan. Joh 6:31 Our fathers ate the manna in the wilderness; as it is written, ‘He gave them bread from heaven to eat.’” |
Seven Letters Outline
| Ephesus | Smyrna | Pergamum | Thyatira | Sardis | Philadelphia | Laodicea | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| To | Darling; desired | Myrrh; death | Height; Mixed (strange) Marriage | ||||
| From | Holds 7 stars/ walks among lampstands | First/last dead/alive | Sharp two-edged sword | ||||
| + | Don’t tolerate evil; Persevered; Acts 17:11 | Suffering (pressing, tribulation) and insults | Not denied faith; holds fast to His name; know they live where Satan has his throne | ||||
| - | Lost love they had at first | N/A | Tolerate those with sexual and dietary sin (Balaam) | ||||
| + | Hates deeds of people who do things their own way instead of God’s | Do not fear suffering; remain faithful | N/A | ||||
| “Ear” | Before | Before | Before | After | After | After | After |
| Promise | Eat from Tree/Life | Not taste 2nd death It’s | Eat of Hidden Manna / A white stone/new name | ||||
| Application | Neglected priorities | Expect Satanic opposition | Beware spiritual compromise (worshipping God AND something else) | ||||
| Age | Apostolic (70-170) | Persecuted (170-312) | State Religion (312-606) | ||||
| Parable | Four Soils | Wheat/tares | Mustard seed | Woman/leaven | |||
| Paul | Ephesians | Philippians | 1/2 Corinthians |
Watch the videos
Video Part 1: Intro and 2:12-13
Pergamum archaeological sites, Roman Imperial Cult and enforced paganism, two-edged Sword
Video Part 2: 2:14-17 and conclusions
Balaam and Balak, Hidden Manna, White Stone, Constantine’s “Conversion”/enforced Christianity, Matthew 13, 1st Corinthians
Study the context
Chris Flanagan
Bible teacher and growing disciple of ישוע/Jesus
Former healthcare compliance auditing professional with a passion for understanding the biblical texts in their original context and applying these lessons to 21st century life.