2:12-17 What do we learn here from the church at Pergamos?
2:12-17 What do we learn here from the church at Pergamos?
We learn from this that, although we may still believe in Jesus and not deny our faith in spite of persecution, any compromise with teaching that promotes idolatry and immorality - the doctrine of Balaam - means that we will forfeit our place in God's eternal kingdom.
The two-edged sword in V12 symbolizes God's word which either cuts away sin from churches and individual members, or it cuts churches and individual members away from the eternal kingdom in judgment (cpRe 1:16 with Jn 12:48; He 4:12-13).
Balaam was a prophet in the Old Testament who sold his services to the king of Moab - Balak - and counseled him to lure the Israelites into sexual immorality with the Moabite women, in defiance of God (cp Nu 22:1-12; 25:1-2; 31:16).
As noted in our study on Rev 2:1-7 it is not known who the Nicolaitans are, but they obviously promoted idolatry and immorality like Balaam, and compromised with the culture of the day in Pergamos, as they did in Ephesus (cp Re 2:1, 6). Nicolaitans are still in the church today.
They profess to love Christ but compromise God's word with the corrupt world system. To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna (in v17), refers to the spiritual nourishment the bread of life - Jesus - will provide for overcomers (cp Jn 6:31-35, 47-51, 58).
It is unclear what the white stones are (also in V17), or exactly what the name on each stone will be, but they are highly significant because they are the evidence that one has been accepted by God and declared worthy to receive eternal life. The new name written on the stone will be the new name God gives to each individual saved.