I know thy works...

Revelation

And to the angel of the church in Pergamos write-
These things saith he which hath the sharp sword with two edges
I know thy works,
and where thou dwellest
even where Satan’s seat is
and thou holdest fast my name
and hast not denied my faith
even in those days wherein Antipas was my faithful martyr
who was slain among you
where Satan dwelleth.
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.
So hast thou also them that hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitanes
which thing I hate.
Repent
or else I will come unto thee quickly
and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth.
He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches
To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna
and will give him a white stone
and in the stone a new name written
which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth it.

*******
The historical time period this covers- Constantine, or perhaps, rather, from his professed conversion to Christianity in A.D. 323, to the establishment of the papacy in A.D. 538.


Who has a sharp sword with two edges? What is the two edged sword all about?


Psalms
{149:1} Praise ye the LORD. Sing unto the LORD a new song, [and] his praise in the congregation of saints.
{149:2} Let Israel rejoice in him that made him: let the children of Zion be joyful in their King.
{149:3} Let them praise his name in the dance: let them sing praises unto him with the timbrel and harp.
{149:4} For the LORD taketh pleasure in his people: he will beautify the meek with salvation.
{149:5} Let the saints be joyful in glory: let them sing aloud upon their beds.
{149:6} [Let] the high [praises] of God [be] in their mouth, and a twoedged sword in their hand;
{149:7} To execute vengeance upon the heathen, [and] punishments upon the people;
{149:8} To bind their kings with chains, and their nobles with fetters of iron;
{149:9} To execute upon them the judgment written: this honour have all his saints. Praise ye the LORD.


Hebrews
{4:12} For the word of God [is] quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and [is] a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart


Revelation
{1:13} And in the midst of the seven candlesticks [one] like unto the Son of man, clothed with a garment down to the foot, and girt about the paps with a golden girdle.
{1:14} His head and [his] hairs [were] white like wool, as white as snow; and his eyes [were] as a flame of fire;
{1:15} And his feet like unto fine brass, as if they burned in a furnace; and his voice as the sound of many waters.
{1:16} And he had in his right hand seven stars: and out of his mouth went a sharp twoedged sword: and his countenance [was] as the sun shineth in his strength.


He who has the two-edged sword is Jesus. And from just noting a bit more about the two-edged sword it's easy to see that it's symbolic of God's quick and decisive manner. There is no deception, no guile, no toying when it comes to God and all He does is precise. His word is more powerful and sharper than a two-edged sword. And the power and sharpness of such a sword is tremendous. Jesus speaking with such exacting vengeance in such a way that there leaves no doubt to the truth of his actions- none. Jesus speaks to us holding nothing back.


...
I know thy works,
and where thou dwellest
even where Satan’s seat is
and thou holdest fast my name
and hast not denied my faith
even in those days wherein Antipas was my faithful martyr
who was slain among you
where Satan dwelleth.
...

He knows our works! He knew them back in the days of John, He knew them in the early years of God's people- His church historically, and He knows us even now. It's safe to say Jesus has known us through all time and there was never a time He didn't know His people. Even when His people have caused Him grief He's known and has tried to guide them down the right path of His righteousness.


He knows thy works, where thou dwellest- where we live. He knows. And He knowns where Satan's seat is and make no mistake about it- Satan has his foothold in this world he was cast out to upon the birth of salvation realized in Jesus' entrance into our world as He took on the flesh of humanity. Satan cast to this earth never more to call heaven (God's seat) his home. Yes, Satan has his powers and his influence and he's used them to form his own plans that include a place where he would dwell and rule from. Satan's seat. Living among the very place where the evil one, the opposer, the deceiver was in power and holding fast to the true faith of Christ- what wonder! Holding fast to Christ! Not denying Christ's faith! When to be martyred for such faith, for holding firm and denying the power of Satan even in a place where Satan seemingly reigns supreme- so amazing!


Then, now. People say that there are no more martyrs, I say they're wrong. There are many, many marytrs today. In fact just writing what I'm writing would be cause for my death in some countries. We don't want to believe it, but it's true. Wherever we are living, in whatever situation we find ourselves even if it's the worst place imaginable- if we hold fast to Christ and remain faithful then we will have His blessing. I'm not just talking a life or death situation with a true sword ready to slice our head from our shoulders. I'm talking living in the world that Satan claims as His and holding fast. It's all too easy for us to give in and go along with the crowd. To laugh and smile, and seemingly agree with the goings on even when they bold-facedly ridicule all that is Godly. Inwardly we might condemn the actions about us and we cling to that inward man, but outwardly we seem to agree with the ungodliness and what does that mean? We're ashamed of our beliefs. If we won't hold fast to Christ and our faith in Him now in the little things, how will we do so later on when our very lives may depend on seemingly agreeing with the ungodly? Will we align ourselves with the ungodly so that we can live? Or be martyrs to hold fast to Christ?


The historical message, the message for all time, we need to learn, to listen, to take to heart what is being said.


...
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.
So hast thou also them that hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitanes
which thing I hate.
Repent
or else I will come unto thee quickly
and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth.
He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches
To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna
and will give him a white stone
and in the stone a new name written
which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth it.
...


Hold the doctrine of Balaam... idol worship in all it's ugly forms.


Again just because you don't live in a town where they have festivals to worship the sun god Baal, does not mean there is no idol worship today. Among God's people there are those who hold fast to the belief that worshipping the world rather than God means the most. We can't worship any other than God! Search our hearts and our lives and examine what lies within- is it worship to anything other than God? Is there a self-worship? The worship of any thing that would take us from God?


Repent.


We need to repent and not face the righteous wrath of Christ.


Listen! We are told to LISTEN!


If we overcome through Christ we will be given hidden manna- heavenly food so precious. We will be given a white stone- a stone of purity and innocence in Christ. In that stone we'll receive our new name, a new name only we know. God made a point to give Abram and Sari new names and He also gave Jacob a new name. We who overcome as they overcame by faith in God and His righteousness we too will receive a new name.


By His mercy, by His grace, by His love and by His righteousness alone may we cling to Him and be found in Him to be overcomers through Him and Him alone. Forgive us oh Lord, forgive us our many, many tresspasss, our many failings and set us on Your path to Your righteousness- now and forever!


Amen.