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PROPHECY (3) ISAIAH 4:1 CHURCH IN PERGAMOS

Updated on September 23, 2014

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Isaiah 4:1 depicts the prophesy of seven women and one man. The seven women represent seven different churches and the man is Jesus Christ. The third woman recorded in Revelation 2:8 is the Pergamos Church known as the Compromising Church.

The Compromising Church

Here the Lord Jesus is warning the Pergamos Church to repent quickly or else He would strike the church with the two-edged sword. A sword normally has one edge, but the two-edged sword strikes two ways with one stroke. The church in Pergamos believes in Jesus Christ but at the same time practises the doctrine of Balaam.

Revelation 2:8

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

Revelation 1:16

And he had in his right hand seven stars: and out of his mouth went a sharp two-edged sword.

Revelation 2:16

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

The Sharp Sword

Here Isaiah the prophet interpreted the sharp sword as the mouth of God who could wipe out nations with just His word. God's words are sharper than a two-edged sword and He uses the Holy Spirit as His task force to carry out His instructions. The words of God are life and death.

Isaiah 49:2

And he had made my mouth like a sharp sword;

Luke 4:32

And they were astonished at his doctrine: for his word was with power

John 6:63

The words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.

Believe in Christ and Not Denied Faith

The church believes in Jesus and does not deny Him, and also believes in the doctrine of Balaam. One cannot serve two masters at the same time, God and mammon.

Revelation 2:13

I know thy works, and where thou dwellest, even where thou dwelleth, even where Satan's seat is: and thou holdest fast my name, and hast not denied my faith.

The Christians have not denied the name of Jesus or lost their faith in Him, but simultaneously accept the doctrine of Balaam. In the beginning when Balaam was offered great rewards, he was able to resist. However, when the opposition offered him more and more, he was unable to resist the temptation.

CHRIST'S COMMENDATION

Jesus' advice was to hold fast His name with steadfastness and confessing Christ (Rev.2:13).

I. HOLD FAST

1 Thessalonians 5:21

Prove all things; hold fast that which is good.

Hebrews 3:6

But Christ is a son over his own house; whose house are we, if we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm unto the end.

Hebrews 10:23

Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;)

II. CONFESSING CHRIST

Matthew 16:16 - Peter

And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.

John 4:29 - The Woman of Samaria

Come, see a man, which told me things that ever I did: is not this the Christ?

John 20:28 - Thomas

And Thomas answered and said unto him My Lord and my God.

John 20:28 - The Ethiopian Eunuch

I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.

JESUS REPROVES THE CHURCH

The Pergamos Church was condemned for evil association such as holding the doctrine of Balaam and the Nicolaitanes (Rev. 2:14,15).

I. Balaam

Balaam fell for the wealth and position offered by Balac He went astray for the sake of rewards though he was warned many times by God. His donkey even talked to him.

Revelation 2:14

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.

2 Peter 2:15

Which have forsaken the right way, and gone astray, following the way of Balaam the son of Bosor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness.

Numbers 25:2

And they called the people unto the sacrifices of their gods and the people did eat.and bowed down to their gods.

Jude 11

Woe unto them! for they have gone in the way of Cain, and ran greedily after of Balaam for reward, and perished in the gainsaying of Core.

II. The Nicolaitanes

The “New” (1967) Scofield Reference Bible – says that “according to early church fathers (Ignatius, Irenaeus, Clement of Alexander, Tertullian, Hippolytus), refers to those who, while professing themselves Christians, lived licentiously.”

YOU CANNOT SERVE GOD AND MAMMON

Matthew 6:24; Luke 16:13

No man can serve two masters for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon.

Revelation 2:14

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.

2 Peter 2:15

Which have forsaken the right way, and gone astray, following the way of Balaam the son of Bosor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness.

Numbers 25:2

And they called the people unto the sacrifices of their gods and the people did eat and bowed down to their gods.

NEW TESTAMENT

The disciples of Christ were taught by the apostles to abstain from the following:

ABSTINENCE FOR THE PEOPLE

Abstinence is self-discipline or self-denial of things which harms the body of Christ. Believers in God must abstain from following idols which is idolatry, fornication or unrighteousness, and blood from which life depends.

DECREE OF THE COUNCIL

Acts 15:20

But that we write unto them, that they abstain from pollutions of idols, and from fornication, and from things strangled, and from blood.

Acts 15:29

That ye abstain from meats offered to idols and from blood, and from things strangled, and from fornication:

Deuteronomy 12:23

Only be sure that thou eat not the blood: for the blood is the life; and thou mayest not eat the life with the flesh.

The Body of Jesus Christ is Pure

The body of Christ should not fornicate with idolatry, that is, their hearts should only worship the true God and no one else. To worship other gods is like having fornication or adultery for the church must have only one husband or be the wife of the Lamb, which is Christ Jesus. To worship status, wealth or prestige is out of bounds. The body of Christ must be dedicated and serve the Lord without dithering or doubting. The church should not be a woman dressed in scarlet having different lovers. A faithful wife has no other lovers.

Titus 1:9

Holding fast the faithful word as he hath been taught,, that he may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and to convince the gainsayers.

1 Cor 6:13

Now the body is not for fornication, but for the Lord; and the Lord for the body.

Ephesians 5:3

But fornication, and all uncleaness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you as becometh saints.

CHRIST'S FINAL INSTRUCTIONS

Jesus' advice was to hold fast His name with steadfastness and confessing Christ (Rev.2:13).

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