A Few Things Against the Church of Pergamos Revelation 2:14

After John the apostle saw the vision of Jesus in chapter one of “Revelation”, he began to write to the “seven churches in Asia”. He started with the church located in “Ephesus”, addressed the “church of Smyrna”, and then wrote to “Pergamos” where He told them, “And to the angel of the church in Pergamos write; These things say he which has the sharp sword with two edges;” and continued, “I know your works, and where you dwell, even where Satan's seat is: and you hold fast my name, and have not denied my faith, even in those days wherein Antipas was my faithful martyr, who was slain among you, where Satan dwells.” In chapter two and verse fourteen of Revelation, John shared how Jesus told them, “I have a few things against you” where we read:

But I have a few things against you, because you have there them that hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balac to cast a stumbling-block before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed unto idols, and to commit fornication.

The verse begins, “But I have a few things against you, because you have there them that hold the doctrine of Balaam, ...” John began with the word, “but” which is a disassociation conjunction that means what is about to be written takes precedence over what was just stated “moreover, notwithstanding and nevertheless” “I have a few things” or “Jesus held, owned and possessed a small amount or size of things” “against you” which means “toward the church in Pergamos”, “because” or “since” “you have there them” which means “the church in Pergamos possessed people within the church” “that hold” or “who have the power over, are chief and masters of” “the doctrine” which means “the teaching and instruction” “of Balaam” which refers to “A native of Pethor a city in Mesopotamia whose name means “perhaps” and was endued by Jehovah with prophetic power. He was hired by Balak to curse the Israelites who was influenced by the love of reward and wished to gratify Balak but was compelled by Jehovah's power to bless them. Therefore later the Jews saw him as a most abandoned deceiver”. (See Numbers 24). Even though the “church in Pergamos” had some great qualities, they also possessed people who promoted “the teaching and instruction” of “Baalam”.

The verse goes on to say, “who taught Balac to cast a stumbling-block before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed unto idols, and to commit fornication.” John added the words, “who taught” or “who held discourse to instruct and deliver didactic discourses with them concerning” “Balac” which refers to “a king of Moab whose name means a devastator or spoiler” “to cast a stumbling-block” or “to scatter or throw a trap, snare or impediment in the way and causing one to stumble and fall” “before” which means “in the presence and towards” “the children” or “the offspring and posterity” “of Israel” which refers to “pertaining to the name given to the patriarch Jacob and refers his family and descendants”, “to eat things” which means “to consume and devour foods and meats” “sacrificed unto idols” or “flesh left over from heathen sacrifices which was either eaten at the feasts or sold in the market”, “and to commit fornication” which refers to “prostituting one's body to the lust of another or to be given to idolatry and worshipping idols”. Jesus referred to how “Balaam” taught “Balak” to instruct the people in Moab to mingle in “worship” and “fornication” with the “children of Israel”. This behavior was certain to “cast a stumbling-block” before them and keep them out of relationship with God.

When we think through John's words in this verse, we notice how the “church in Pergamos” was not only “in the world”, but they had teachers to instruct them how to be “of the world”. Though they were doing great deeds such as “holding fast Jesus' name” and not “denying Jesus' faith” even after “Antipas” was “martyred”, they were also “worldly” in their ways. Jesus was not pleased with this activity among them, and because God the Father desires a relationship with every person through His Son Jesus, He saves them “from the world” and they should not return to the activities that keep them from relating to Him. Jesus' words to “church in Pergamos” gives anyone who considers them an opportunity to examine their lives to discover whether they “teach” or “participate” in the “doctrine of Balaam” which “casts a stumbling-block” not only before others, but also before themselves.

Next time John adds more of Jesus' words to the “church in Pergamos” as He tells them they, “hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitans”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

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