REVELATION CHAPTER 2 VERSE 12 TO 29. REPENT BEFORE THE JUDGMENT OF GOD FALLS ON YOU.
The third letter is to the believers in Pergamos, which was a beautiful and art-filled city in the province of Asia built along two tributaries of the Caicus River. Pergamum was a center for the worship of Dionysus, Zeus, and other pagan gods. The message was from the Lord Jesus Christ, specifically addressed to the messenger of the church.
These are the words of him who has the sharp, double-edged sword. This was not John’s message to the believers at Pergamum, it was a message from Jesus Christ. The depiction of Jesus holding a sharp, two-edged sword refers to the Lord’s readiness to bring judgment in Hebrews chapter 4 verses 12 to 13. First, Jesus affirms the church’s positive actions.
I know where you live—where Satan has his throne verse 13. Yet you remain true to my name. You did not renounce your faith in me, even in the days of Antipas, my faithful witness, who was put to death in your city—where Satan lives.
The Pergamene believers lived in a difficult place, surrounded by pagan influences, yet they held fast to Christ’s name and did not deny Him during difficult times. We should do likewise when hard times come. A Christian brother in Pergamum named Antipas, is mentioned as a faithful witness who was falsely accused of disloyalty to Caesar, and he was condemned to death, Antipas was placed inside a copper bull, which was then heated over a fire until it was red-hot. The church was not perfect, this was why Jesus confronted them with their sin. Nevertheless, I have a few things against you.
You have people there who hold to the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to entice the Israelites to sin by eating food sacrificed to idols and by committing sexual immorality. Likewise, you also have those who hold to the teaching of the Nicolaitans.
The teaching of Balaam is explained in the context of Christians eating food that had been sacrificed to idols’ religious compromise, and committing sexual immorality and moral compromise. The original Balaam’s deceitful work is described in Numbers chapter 25 verses 1 to 3 and Numbers chapter 31 verses 15 to 16. The Nicolaitans are mentioned only in this letter and in the letter to the Ephesian church Revelation chapter 2 verse 6.
They were likely a group similar to those who held the teachings of Balaam, though the exact nature of their doctrine and practice is unknown.
Jesus then issues a clarion call to repent of their sin: Repent there for Revelation chapter 2 verse 16. Our Lord hates religious and moral compromise. He calls His people to live differently. Jesus notes the judgment that would take place if the church of Pergamum did not repent: I will soon come to you and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth.
The Nicolaitans and those who were teaching Balaam’s error would be destroyed, along with their followers, from the congregation at Pergamum. Jesus desires purity among His people, and we have a responsibility to remove false teachers from the church. 1 John chapter 3 verses 5 to 11 and you know that Jesus came to take away our sins, and there is no sin in him. Anyone who continues to live in him will not sin. But anyone who keeps on sinning does not know him or understand who He is.
Dear children, don’t let anyone deceive you about this. When people do what is right, it shows that they are righteous, even as Christ is righteous. But when people keep on sinning, it shows that they belong to the devil, who has been sinning since the beginning. But the Son of God came to destroy the works of the devil. Those who have been born into God’s family do not make a practice of sinning, because God’s seed is in them.
So they can’t keep on sinning, because they are children of God. So now we can tell who are children of God and who are children of the devil. Anyone who does not live righteously and does not love other believers does not belong to God. This is the message you have heard from the beginning. We should love one another.
Only the believers that overcome Jesus’ promise will receive these beautiful things, to eat of the hidden manna, and a white stone, with a new name. Revelation chapter 2 verses 7, 11, 17, and 26, and also Revelation chapter 3 verses 5, 12, and 21.
Don’t believe in the lie once you save you are always saved, if you would like to be an overcomer repent of your sins and live righteously before the Lord Jesus. Then and only then the promises are yours.
THE CHURCH OF THYATIRA, WHERE THE JEZEBEL SPIRIT WAS AND IS STILL ALIVE TODAY…
Permit me please to show you how the spirit of Jezebel who was causing divisions in the church of Thyatira, by calling herself a prophetess possessing believers to go against the word of God, those Jezebel spirits are more at work in today’s churches than ever before, we don’t call them Jezebel anymore, we call them our Christian brothers or sisters, some we label as apostle or prophet, pastor, evangelists teacher and bishop and go along with any kind of new age movement that they see fit to make the church grow in numbers and making more money. We must call them out just like Our Lord Jesus did in the church of Thyatira.
I have dealt with many men and women who are possessed by that Jezebel spirit. And the only way you could recognize them is by the fruit they produce. Galatians chapter 5 verses 19 to 21 This is what you will see in anyone that is possessed by that Jezebel spirit.
They are sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality total irresponsibility, lack of self-control, idolatry, sorcery, hostility, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions that promote heresies, envy, drunkenness, riotous behavior, and other things like these. I warn you, just as I did previously, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.
And all the overcomes will bear the fruit of the Spirit which is loved unselfish concern for others, joy, inner peace, patience not just the ability to wait, but how we act while waiting, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. This is the work of the Holy Spirit by helping us to seek God’s kingdom first and to live righteously. Colossians chapter 3 verses 2 to 4. Set your mind on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.
It is for this reason that Satan is always attacking the believer’s mind with doubts, fears, worldly thoughts, etcetera, Satan wants to keep believers from focusing on what matters, and that is God and his kingdom first. Some will say you are so heavenly-minded that you do no earthly good. On the contrary, if you are heavenly minded you will be like our Lord Jesus who died for this world to make it a better place. His only concern was to please His Father.
He commanded us in 1 John chapter 2 verses 15 to 17 not to love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life is not from the Father but is from the world. And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever.
In Revelation chapter 2 verses 20 to 23 the Lord Jesus still had compassion on all the believers who had allowed their minds to be possessed by the spirit of Jezebel. He commended them to repent or He would cause great tribulation to come upon all of them, and even promised to kill their children if they don’t repent.
But unto the overcomes that obey His command, they will rule the nations with a rod of iron. Proverbs chapter 3 verses 3 to 7. Let not mercy and truth forsake you, bind them around your neck, write them upon your heart. And you shall find favor and good sense in the eyes of God and humankind.
Trust in Jesus with all your heart, do not lean toward your understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will straighten your paths. Do not be wise in your own eyes, fear Jesus and retreat from evil. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Holy Spirit is saying to the churches. To Jesus be all the Glory Amen.
APOSTLE PAUL 100% LOVE.
