Repent or else I will...

Satan would steal any blessing we may receive, this is truth. Ever hard at work, Satan tries to undermine God at every opportunity. You may believe that growing closer to God is without danger, but Satan does NOT like when we grow closer to our Savior.  The spiritual war we are in much like physical wars are more intense for those on the front lines. You can be a part of a war and be safe at home just directing things. You can be a part of a war effort while doing little more than collecting comfort of home supplies for those far away engaged in the battle. I'm not saying each role in the war isn't important and doesn't have a very real part in how things go, but we know factually that those who are active soldiers in the thick of the actual fighting are the ones who are most in danger and most likely to be wounded or killed in the line of duty. You don't expect much of an enemy attack if you are nowhere near enemy territory. In this spiritual warfare the closer we are to Christ the closer the enemy is to us warring against us. The closer we are to Christ the more chance of receiving battle wounds. As we seek a blessing promised to us if we read the prophecies and keep the things in the book of Revelation we are gaining the attention of Satan. He doesn't want us to be blessed!  Prayerfully we have to seek the protection of the Holy Spirit, protection that won't keep all bad things from happening to us, but will keep us safe in our Savior while they do happen.  Please, Heavenly Father, bless us!

*******

Daniel and Revelation By Uriah Smith

Revelation Chapter 2

Verse 12 And to the angel of the church in Pergamos write;

These things saith He which hath the sharp sword with two edges;

 13 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.

14 But I have a few things against thee,

because thou hast there them that hold the doctrine of Balaam,

who taught Balak to cast a stumblingblock before the children of Israel,

to eat things sacrificed unto idols,

and to commit fornication.

15 So hast thou also them that hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitanes,

which thing I hate.

16 Repent; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will fight against them with the sword of My mouth.

17 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 Church of Pergamos.--

Against the preceding church there was no word of condemnation uttered. Persecution is ever calculated to keep the church pure, and incite its members to piety and godliness. But we now reach the period of the Pergamos church, when influences began to work which brought errors and evils unto the church.

The word "Pergamos" signifies "height, elevation."

It was a period in which the true servants of God had to struggle against a spirit of worldly policy, pride, and popularity among the professed followers of Christ, and against the virulent workings of the mystery of iniquity, which finally resulted in

Page 373

the full development of the papal "man of sin." 2 Thessalonians 2: 3.

The Commendation.--

"Where Satan's seat is." Christ takes cognizance of the unfavorable situation of his people during this period.

The language is probably not designed to denote location. As to place, Satan works wherever Christians dwell.

But surely there are times and seasons when he works with special power, and the period covered by the church of Pergamos was one of these.

During this period, the doctrine of Christ was being corrupted, the mystery of iniquity was working, and Satan was laying the foundation of a stupendous system of apostasy, the papacy.

Here was the falling away foretold by Paul in 2 Thessalonians 2: 3, cited already.

It is interesting to note that the city of Pergamos became the seat of ancient Babylonian sun worship. "The Chaldean Magi enjoyed a long period of prosperity at Babylon. A pontiff appointed by the sovereign ruled over a college of seventy-two hierophants. . . . [After the Medo-Persian occupation], the defeated Chaldeans fled to Asia Minor, and fixed their central college at Pergamos, and took the Palladium of Babylon, the cubic stone, with them.

Here, independent of state control, they carried on the rites of their religion, and plotted against the peace of the Persian Empire, caballing with the Greeks for that purpose."

Antipas.--That a class of persons is referred to by this name, and not an individual, there is good reason to believe; for no authentic information respecting such an individual is now to be found. On this point William Miller says:

"It is supposed that Antipas was not an individual, but a class of men who opposed the power of the bishops, or popes, in that day, being a combination of two words, 'Anti,' opposed, and 'Papas,' father, or pope; and many of them suffered martyrdom at that time in Constantinople and Rome, where the bishops and popes began to exercise the power which soon after brought into subjection the kings of the earth, and

Page 374

trampled on the rights of the church of Christ.

And for myself, I see no reason to reject this explanation of the word 'Antipas' in this text, as the history of those times are [is] perfectly silent respecting such an individual as is here named." Watson's Biblical Dictionary says, "Ancient ecclesiastical history furnishes no account of this Antipas." Adam Clarke mentions a work as extant called the "Acts of Antipas," but gives us to understand that it is entitled to no credit.

The Cause of Complaint.--

Disadvantages in situation are no excuse for wrongs in the church. Although this church existed at a time when Satan was making strong delusions, it was the duty of its members to keep themselves free from his evil doctrines. Hence they were censured for harboring among them those who held the doctrines of Balaam and the Nicolaitanes. (See comments on the Nicolaitanes, verse 6.)

The doctrine of Balaam is here partly revealed. He taught Balak to cast a stumbling block before the children of Israel. (See a full account of his work and its results in Numbers 22: 25; 31: 13-16.)

It appears that Balaam desired to curse Israel for the sake of the rich reward which Balak offered him. But not being permitted by the Lord to curse them, he resolved to accomplish essentially the same thing in another way. He therefore counseled Balak to seduce them, by means of the women of Moab, to participate in the celebration of the rites of idolatry and all its licentious accompaniments. The plan succeeded. The abominations of idolatry spread through the camp of Israel, the curse of God was called down upon them by their sins, and twenty-four thousand persons died.

The doctrines complained of in the church of Pergamos were of course similar in their tendency, leading to spiritual idolatry and an unlawful connection between the church and

Page 375

the world. Out of this spirit was finally produced the union of civil and ecclesiastical powers which culminated in the formation of the papacy.

The Admonition.--

Christ declared that if they did not repent, He would take the matter into His own hands, and come unto them (in judgment), and fight against them (those who held these evil doctrines); and the whole church would be held responsible for the wrongs of those heretical ones whom they harbored in their midst.

Promise to the Overcomer.--

The overcomer is promised that he shall eat of the hidden manna, and receive from his approving Lord a white stone, with a new and precious name engraved on it. Most commentators apply the manna, white stone, and the new name, to spiritual blessings to be enjoyed in this life; but like all the other promises to the overcomer, this doubtless refers to the future, and is to be given when the time comes for the saints to be rewarded. Perhaps the following comment is as satisfactory as anything that has ever been written upon these several particulars:

"It is generally supposed by commentators that this refers to an ancient judicial custom of dropping a black stone into an urn when it is intended to condemn, and a white stone when the prisoner was acquitted. But this is an act so distinct from that described in the scripture before us, 'I will give him a white stone,' that we we are disposed to agree with those who think it refers to a custom of a very different kind, and not unknown to the classical reader, according with beautiful propriety to the case before us. In primitive times, when traveling was rendered difficult from want of places of public entertainment, hospitality was exercised by private individuals to a very great extent, of which indeed we find frequent traces in all history, and in none more than the Old Testament. Persons who partook of this hospitality, and those who practiced it, frequently contracted habits of friendship and regard for each other; and it became well-established custom both among the Greeks and Romans, to provide their guests with some particular mark, which was handed down from father to

Page 376

son, and ensured hospitality and kind treatment whenever it was presented. This mark was usually a small stone or pebble, cut in half, upon the halves of which the host and guest mutually inscribed their names, and then interchanged with each other. The production of this tessera was quite sufficient to insure friendship for themselves or their descendants whenever they traveled again in the same direction; while it is evident that these stones required to be privately kept, and the names written upon them carefully concealed, lest others should obtain the privileges instead of the persons for whom they were intended.

"How natural, then, is the allusion to this custom in the words of the text, 'I will give him to eat of the hidden manna;' and having done so, having made him partaker of my hospitality, having recognized him as my guest, my friend, I will present him with the 'white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth, save he who receiveth it.' I will give him a pledge of my friendship, sacred and inviolable, known only to himself."

In the new name, John Wesley very appropriately says:

"Jacob, after his victory, gained the new name of Israel. Wouldst thou know what thy new name will be? The way to this is plain--overcome.

Till then all they inquires are vain. Thou wilt then read it on the white stone."

The Time of the Church.--

The period covered by this church extends from the days of Constantine, or perhaps, rather, from his professed conversion to Christianity in A.D. 323, to the establishment of the papacy in A.D. 538.

*******

Revelation Chapter 2:12-17

 12 And to the angel of the church in Pergamos write; These things saith He which hath the sharp sword with two edges

Rev_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.

Our Savior was the One that 'hath the sharp sword with two edges'.

 13 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.

Satan's dwelling, if we are to take just this and stop reading here we truly would be able to say Satan's seat(throne) was located in Pergamos, but we don't stop reading, we don't stop studying we include everything. And yes, in this TIME period this representation is speaking of those who hold fast to God's truth even while living among the father of lies, the worst place possible for a follower of God. In the above explanation by Uriah Smith seemingly out of nowhere he begins to talk of the papacy, but truthfully, if we'd studied the Book of Daniel before this Book of Revelation- in the book we are quoting from (Daniel and Revelation- by Uriah Smith) we'd have all the background we need to comprehend what is being said about the papacy. Rather than back track and begin at the beginning with Daniel in this particular study, because we've gone over in times past, I'm going to keep on with this and hope you'll on your own feel incline to study to find the truth of what is being said, rather than give up simply because you read something you don't quite understand. If you are reading this in my blog you can do a search for Daniel and find the study you need.

14 But I have a few things against thee, because thou hast there them that hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balak to cast a stumblingblock before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed unto idols, and to commit fornication.

15 So hast thou also them that hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitanes, which thing I hate.

During this time many are caused to stumble- we too can be caused to stumble if we allow ourselves to fall into the trap of following blindly those we think have our best interest at heart. We need to STUDY for ourselves. We need to SEEK God for ourselves. We already know beyond doubt that the way of the broad path is the way to destruction, that the popular way is not the way of the Lord.

16 Repent; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will fight against them with the sword of My mouth.

17 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.

More tomorrow by the grace of God!

All through Jesus Christ our Lord, our Savior!

Amen.