Psalms 16:2; 8:1; 20:1-4; add 31:1-3
My Shepherd met me in His green pastures and brought me back to Revelation 2. He engaged the spirit of my mind with thoughts about Pergamos: Revelation 2:14-16:
Revelation 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.
Revelation 2:15 So hast thou also them that hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitans, which thing I hate.
Revelation 2:16 Repent; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth.
Last time, He impressed on my mind the fact that after only about 70 years of being banished to the “air,” Satan reestablished his “throne” in the earth at Pergamos (Revelation 2:13; see Colossians 2:15; John 12:31 with Ephesians 2:1-2). But today, He stirred my thoughts on the errors that Pergamos tolerated: the doctrine of Balaam and the Nicolaitans (Revelation 2:14-15), and His warning: “Repent; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth” (Revelation 2:16).
But as I pondered this, my thoughts turned to another insight I’ve often noticed: Jesus revealed Himself to each church in a way that fit His message. The errors Pergamos tolerated needed to be addressed, so He appeared to them as the One Who has the “sharp sword with two edges” (Revelation 2:12; see 1:16). He warned them that unless they took up the “Sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: (Ephesians 6:17), He would come quickly and “fight against them” with the “sword of [His] mouth” (Revelation 2:16).
Along the still waters, reflecting on Jesus’ warning and advice to Pergamos, I considered His words, “I will come quickly” (Revelation 2:16). Because this expression is used for His Second Coming consistently, it seems appropriate to apply that meaning here (Revelation 22:7, 12, and 20). This shows that Jesus’ messages address His churches throughout this present dispensation. One message He has for us is to deal with it now, or I will address it later with judgment (2 Corinthians 5:9-11). When He returns, He will fight against His enemies with the “sword of [His] mouth” (Revelation 19:15, 21).
It is imperative that we “earnestly contend for the faith” (Jude 3). Servants who become weary waiting for His return beware (Luke 24:45-47). When He comes, if He finds us unprepared, we will be ashamed at His appearing (1 John 2:28). They will suddenly understand why He repeatedly warned, “I come quickly”!
His instruction is to “repent” (Revelation 2:16). The form of this word, μετανόησον, is an intensely forceful command. Much is made of the truth that the word is constructed from meta (meaning after) and noeo (meaning mind), and saying it communicates God’s command that the sinner changes his mind. Some mistakenly understand this to mean a change of mind divorced from a change in direction. However, the word conveys the idea that one must change direction after reflection. This aligns with how the Spirit uses the word to describe obedience to Christ’s instruction to turn the sinner from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God (Acts 26:14-20).
Jesus instructs the “angel of the church at Pergamos” to reflect on the sin of compromise and change direction from tolerating the doctrine of Balaam, and those teaching the hated doctrine of the Nicolaitans (Revelation 2:14-15).
In the valley, Jesus hit on the root cause of rebellion against His instruction to “contend for the faith” (Jude 3) when He declared His call: “If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me” (Luke 9:23). The compromiser will trim his ways to seek love (Jeremiah 2:33). Loving the world, and the things in it (1 John 2:15), these servants become the enemy of God (James 4:4). We must be careful to deny our selves, and take up our cross daily.
At the table, He anointed my head with His oil and filled my cup generously. Goodness and mercy followed as we went into the harvest.
Praying for revival! 🙏
Going live asap:
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