Originally posted 10/21/2021 – Revised 2/11/2022
This is more of an exposition than an article. I pray you are blessed!
Rev 2:12 “And to the messenger of the assembly in Pergamos write, ‘He who has the sharp two-edged sword, says this:
What is “the sharp two-edged sword”?
Eph 6:17 Take also the helmet of deliverance, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of Elohim,
Heb 4:12 For the Word of Elohim is living, and working, and sharper than any two-edged sword, cutting through even to the dividing of being and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart.
The “Sharp Two-edged Sword” is The Word of YAH that will be used to separate those who have a love for Truth from those who do not!
Rev 2:13 “I know your works, and where you dwell, where the throne of Satan is. And you hold fast to My Name, and did not deny the belief in Me, even in the days in which Antipas was My trustworthy witness, who was killed near you, where Satan dwells.
According to HIS Word, where do true believers dwell?
Joh 14:20 “In that day you shall know that I am in My Father, and you in Me, and I in you.
Rom 8:9 But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of Elohim dwells in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Messiah, this one is not His.
1Co 3:16-17 Do you not know that you are a Dwelling Place of Elohim and that the Spirit of Elohim dwells in you? If anyone destroys the Dwelling Place of Elohim, Elohim shall destroy him. For the Dwelling Place of Elohim is set-apart, which you are.
True Believers dwell IN The True Messiah and HE is IN HIS True Bride!
2Co 11:2 For I am jealous for you with a jealousy according to Elohim. For I gave you in marriage to one husband, to present you as an innocent maiden to Messiah.
Eph 5:30-32 Because we are members of His body, of His flesh and of His bones. For this cause a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh. This secret is great, but I speak concerning Messiah and the assembly.
According to HIS Word, where does Satan dwell?(other than roaming to/fro upon earth)
Dan 9:27 “And he shall confirm a covenant with many for one week. And in the middle of the week he shall put an end to slaughtering and meal offering. And on the wing of abominations(which I believe to be a man-fabricated temple) he shall lay waste, even until the complete end and that which is decreed is poured out on the one who lays waste.”
Mat 24:15-16 “So when you see the ‘abomination that lays waste, spoken of by Dani’ĕl the prophet, set up in the set-apart place” – he who reads, let him understand then let those who are in Yehuḏah flee to the mountains.
2Th 2:3-4 Let no one deceive you in any way, because the falling away is to come first, and the man of lawlessness is to be revealed, the son of destruction, who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called Elohim or that is worshiped, so that he sits as Elohim in the Dwelling Place(man-fabricated temple) of Elohim, showing himself that he is Elohim.
False believers dwell IN the false messiah and he is in the false bride!
Ephesians 2:2 …in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the ruler of the authority of the air, of the spirit that is now working in the sons of disobedience”
Rev 17:1-2 And one of the seven messengers who had the seven bowls came and spoke with me, saying to me, “Come, I shall show you the judgment of the great whore sitting on many waters,(See v. 15), with whom the sovereigns of the earth committed whoring, and the inhabitants of the earth were made drunk with the wine of her whoring.”
Rev 18:4-7 And I heard another voice from the heaven saying, “Come out of her, my people, lest you share in her sins, and lest you receive of her plagues. Because her sins have piled up to reach the heaven, and Elohim has remembered her unrighteousness. Render to her as she indeed did render, and repay her double according to her works. In the cup which she has mixed, mix for her double. As much as she esteemed herself and lived riotously, so much torture and grief give to her, because in her heart she says, ‘I sit as sovereigness, and I am not a widow, and I do not see mourning at all.’ (Jer 51)
What does “hold fast to My Name” in Rev 2:13 signify?
Those in Pergamos, (and all true believers), prove themselves to be a part of the True Bride of the True Messiah by not adhering to the teachings of the fabricated, lawless, idolatrous bride of anti-messiah.
Rev 2:14 “But I hold a few matters against you, because you have there those who adhere to the teaching of Bilʽam, who taught Balaq to put a stumbling-block before the children of Yisra’ĕl, to eat food offered to idols, and to commit whoring.
What is “the teaching of Bil’am?”
In Numbers 22-24, we read the story of a prophet who was hired to curse the children of Yisrael. Through several failed attempts, it becomes obvious that he could not curse them. However, in Numbers 24:14, we read him saying this;
“And now, see, I am going to my people. Come, let me advise you what this people is going to do to your people in the latter days.”
The very next chapter (Num 25) describes the outcome of his advice!
Num 25:1-3 And Yisra’ĕl dwelt in Shittim, and the people began to whore with the daughters of Mo’ab and they invited the people to the slaughterings of their mighty ones, and the people ate and bowed down to their mighty ones. Thus Yisra’ĕl was joined to Baʽal Peʽor, and the displeasure of Yahweh burned against Yisra’ĕl.” (Literally committed sexual, idolatry (which is spiritual whoring and then were joined to Ba’al, as in marriage!)
Rev 2:15 “So you also have those who adhere to the teaching of the Nikolaites, which teaching I hate.”
(For a comparison on the “deeds of the Nikolaites” see the article on “Overcoming #1 – Ephesus”
What is “the teaching of the Nikolaites?”
Their teaching is very similar to the prophet Bil’am’s. They are paid professionals who propagate un-scriptural practices referred to in the scriptures as a form of “harlotry” or (spiritual infidelity/idolatry) because the teacher is unfaithful to The Truth, which is The Word of YAH, Yahshua Messiah, The True Groom!
The Master, Yahshua gives these warnings for the last days;
Mat 24:
4-5 And (Yahshua) answering, said to them, “Take heed that no one leads you astray. For many shall come in My Name, saying, ‘I am the Messiah,’ and they shall lead many astray…
11-12 “And many false prophets shall rise up and lead many astray. And because of the increase in lawlessness, the love of many shall become cold.
24-25 “For false messiahs and false prophets shall arise, and they shall show great signs and wonders, so as to lead astray, if possible, even the chosen ones. See, I have forewarned you”
Kepha (Peter) gives these warnings for the last days;
2Pe 2:1 But there also came to be false prophets among the people, as also among you there shall be false teachers, who shall secretly bring in destructive heresies, and deny the Master who bought them, bringing swift destruction on themselves…
Did you catch that? “destructive heresies, and deny the Master”
2Pe 2:14-16 “…having eyes filled with an adulteress, and unable to cease from sin, enticing unstable beings, having a heart trained in greed, children of a curse, having left the right way they went astray, having followed the way of Bil‘am the son of Beʽor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness…”
Shaul (Paul) gives this warning for the last days;
2Th 2:9-12 “The coming of the lawless one is according to the working of Satan, with all power and signs and wonders of falsehood, and with all deceit of unrighteousness in those perishing, because they did not receive the love of the truth, in order for them to be saved. And for this reason Elohim sends them a working of delusion, for them to believe the falsehood, in order that all should be judged who did not believe the truth, but have delighted in the unrighteousness.
Yohan (John) gives this warning for the last days;
1Jn 4:2-3, 6 “By this you know the Spirit of Elohim: Every spirit that confesses that (Yahshua) Messiah (not the anti-law, Greek fabrication by another name), has come in the flesh is of Elohim, and every spirit that does not confess that (Yahshua) Messiah has come in the flesh is not of Elohim… (Verse 6) By this we know the Spirit of the Truth and the spirit of the delusion.”
So, you see, if Yahshua Himself warns of false messiahs / prophets, and then HIS taught ones feel impressed to warn HIS followers of the same, is it such a stretch for us to believe that anti-messiah could actually be propagated in our times? (See the article entitled, “6 Reasons Why The Greek / Roman / Latin “Jesus” Cannot Be The Messiah”)
Rev 2:16 “Repent, or else I shall come to you speedily and fight against them with the sword of My mouth.”
Yahshua will use HIS Word, HIS Prophets, HIS Teachers to announce the True Good News of HIS Reign separating the two groups of followers! Finally, upon HIS Return HE will judge and destroy those who reject The Truth! (John 17:17)
Rev 2:17 “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the assemblies. To him who overcomes I shall give some of the hidden manna to eat. And I shall give him a white stone, and on the stone a new Name written which no one knows except him who receives it.”
In Summary;
We must overcome false teaching that promotes;
– The anti-messiah!
– The whore, the false bride!
– Idolatry or the worship of self and/or any other!