Repent Before Falling into the Terror of God (Revelation 2:12-17)

“And to the angel of the church in Pergamos write,

‘These things says He who has the sharp two-edged sword: “I know your works, and where you dwell, where Satan’s throne is. And you hold fast to My name, and did not deny My faith even in the days in which Antipas was My faithful martyr, who was killed among you, where Satan dwells. But I have a few things against you, because you have there those who hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balak to put a stumbling block before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed to idols, and to commit sexual immorality. Thus you also have those who hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitans, which thing I hate. Repent, or else I will come to you quickly and will fight against them with the sword of My mouth.

“He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes I will give some of the hidden manna to eat. And I will give him a white stone, and on the stone a new name written which no one knows except him who receives it.”’ (Revelation 2:12-17 NKJV)

Jesus who has the sharp two-edged sword speaks to the church in Pergamos. This is a figurative language which indicates His word is like the sharp double-edged sword as Hebrews tells, “For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are naked and open to the eyes of Him to whom we must give account.” (Hebrews 4:12-13 NKJV) It tells us that Christ Jesus knows all things and nothing can be hidden to His eyes.

In Pergamos, there was a seat of Satan, the throne raised thirty feet high above. The church was located in such a place where Satan dwells. The saints there held fast the name of Christ Jesus, and did not deny His faith even in the days of the martyrdom of Antipas, His faithful witness. They endured in order to keep the faith in Christ Jesus in the midst of severe persecutions. Jesus says that they did not deny not their faith but His faith. What is Christ’s faith? Christ is the author and finisher of our faith (Hebrews 12:2). Our faith is all drawn from His faith. Jesus calls Antipas as His faithful martyr. In His kingdom, all is His and everything coming from Him and nothing from us.

“There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.” (Ephesians 4:4-6 NKJV)

However, Jesus says to the church in Pergamos that they allowed those who hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balak to put a stumbling block before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed to idols, and to commit sexual immorality. Balaam was hired by Balak king of Moab to curse the people of Israel but couldn’t because God forbid him to. Whenever he tried to curse the Israelites he blessed them instead. When Balaam found himself out helpless and powerless to curse them, he plotted to seduce the people of Israel with adulterous idolatry, bringing the beautiful young Moabites women to the camp of Israel to commit harlotry with them. They also allowed those who hold the doctrine of Nicolatians, the false teachers.

Nevertheless, the church in Pergamos was still the church of Christ. Jesus says, “Repent, or else I will come to you quickly and will fight against them with the sword of My mouth.” There is still chance to come back to God through admittance, surrender, and obedience, and faith in Christ Jesus. The words of Jesus are announced to the believers. This is the year of the Lord’s favor. God is graciously extending and offering times for repentance in Christ before anyone falls into the hands of God.

Here is the hope for the repented and surrendered and obeyed to Christ the Lord in the faith of the promised words of God. The hope God has sealed in Christ shall not make us be ashamed. They shall be given the hidden manna and a white stone a new name written. “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes I will give some of the hidden manna to eat. And I will give him a white stone, and on the stone a new name written which no one knows except him who receives it.”