It
is hard not to have an opinion about things. I’ve found that if I can keep my
persuasions in check the word of God can speak for itself. I was talking to someone who had certain
opinions about the Bible but forgot to take into account some of the New Testament
ideas such as the mystery and the sheepfold.
It seemed that this “new” thinking was causing stretch marks on this
person’s brain to the end that it was easier to reject it all instead of let
the word of God speak. Learning is a
lifelong process, and it is our obligation to God to search out His
secrets. The sheepfold is one of those
secrets; an idea that there would be a period in time unlike any other where
Jesus would raise up his church. Jesus
came, announcing God’s kingdom on earth; and now that it’s here, we are
encouraged to live well. The seven churches of Revelation are quite important
to our building up the congregation.
There are people who consistently want to tear the congregation apart
and we can learn how to prevent that.
When
we look at the next church written about in Revelation we can see that there
were people who called themselves something that Jesus said they weren’t. Jesus even goes so far as to say they are the
congregation of satan. It is hard to
believe that almost two thousand years ago Jesus was saying people were satan’s
assembly. We think of more modern times
when people have established satanic covens or churches but really this is
something that was already in process in the days of John’s writing. I would guess that being part of the
synagogue of satan is being among people who rejected Jesus. It also seems that there are still those who
reject Jesus today. Yet today there are
some who openly worship satan. They
don’t seem to mind being called part of the synagogue of satan. Let’s read about Smyrna.
Rev
2:8-17 And unto the angel of the church in Smyrna write; These things saith the
first and the last, which was dead, and is alive;
Jesus
again establishes that he is the first and the last. It is an interesting study to look at that
phrase in the Old and New Testament.
Rev
2:9 I know thy [works, and] tribulation, and poverty, (but thou art rich) and I
know the blasphemy of them which say they are Jews, and are not, but are the
synagogue of Satan.
I Know NT:1492 eido
(i'-do); a primary verb; used only in certain past tenses, the others being
borrowed from the equivalent NT:3700 and NT:3708; properly, to see (literally
or figuratively); by implication (in the perf. only) to know:KJV - be aware, behold, can (+not tell), consider, (have) know
(-ledge), look (on), perceive, see, be sure, tell, understand, wish, wot.
Compare NT:3700.(Biblesoft's New Exhaustive Strong's Numbers and Concordance
with Expanded Greek-Hebrew Dictionary. Copyright © 1994, 2003, 2006 Biblesoft,
Inc. and International Bible Translators, Inc.)
Tribulation NT:2347 thlipsis
(thlip'-sis); from NT:2346; pressure (literally or figuratively):KJV -
afflicted (-tion), anguish, burdened, persecution, tribulation,
trouble.(Biblesoft's New Exhaustive Strong's Numbers and Concordance with
Expanded Greek-Hebrew Dictionary. Copyright © 1994, 2003, 2006 Biblesoft, Inc.
and International Bible Translators, Inc.)
Poverty NT:4432 ptocheia
(pto-khi'-ah); from NT:4433; beggary, i.e. indigence (literally or
figuratively):KJV - poverty.(Biblesoft's New Exhaustive Strong's Numbers and
Concordance with Expanded Greek-Hebrew Dictionary. Copyright © 1994, 2003, 2006
Biblesoft, Inc. and International Bible Translators, Inc.)
Blasphemy NT:988 blasphemia
(blas-fay-me'-ah); from NT:989; vilification (especially against God):KJV -
blasphemy, evil speaking, railing.(Biblesoft's New Exhaustive Strong's Numbers
and Concordance with Expanded Greek-Hebrew Dictionary. Copyright © 1994, 2003,
2006 Biblesoft, Inc. and International Bible Translators, Inc.)
NT:989
blasphemos (blas'-fay-mos); from a derivative of NT:984 and NT:5345;
scurrilious, i.e. calumnious (against men), or (specially) impious (against
God):KJV - blasphemer (-mous), railing.(Biblesoft's New Exhaustive Strong's
Numbers and Concordance with Expanded Greek-Hebrew Dictionary. Copyright ©
1994, 2003, 2006 Biblesoft, Inc. and International Bible Translators, Inc.)
Jews NT:2453 Ioudaios
(ee-oo-dah'-yos); from NT:2448 (in the sense of NT:2455 as a country); Judaean,
i.e. belonging to Jehudah:KJV - Jew (-ess), of Judaea.(Biblesoft's New
Exhaustive Strong's Numbers and Concordance with Expanded Greek-Hebrew
Dictionary. Copyright © 1994, 2003, 2006 Biblesoft, Inc. and International
Bible Translators, Inc.)
Synagogue NT:4864 sunagoge
(soon-ag-o-gay'); from (the reduplicated form of) NT:4863; an assemblage of
persons; specifically, a Jewish "synagogue" (the meeting or the
place); by analogy, a Christian church:KJV - assembly, congregation,
synagogue.(Biblesoft's New Exhaustive Strong's Numbers and Concordance with
Expanded Greek-Hebrew Dictionary. Copyright © 1994, 2003, 2006 Biblesoft, Inc.
and International Bible Translators, Inc.)
Satan NT:4567 Satanas
(sat-an-as'); of Aramaic origin corresponding to NT:4566 (with the definite
affix); the accuser, i.e. the devil:KJV - Satan.(Biblesoft's New Exhaustive
Strong's Numbers and Concordance with Expanded Greek-Hebrew Dictionary.
Copyright © 1994, 2003, 2006 Biblesoft, Inc. and International Bible
Translators, Inc.)
NT:4566
Satan (sat-an'); of Hebrew origin [OT:7854]; Satan, i.e. the devil:KJV - Satan.
Compare NT:4567.(Biblesoft's New Exhaustive Strong's Numbers and Concordance
with Expanded Greek-Hebrew Dictionary. Copyright © 1994, 2003, 2006 Biblesoft,
Inc. and International Bible Translators, Inc.)
In
this verse the words works and and, are not in the text. It should read:
I know thy tribulation and poverty. The
first thing Jesus tells them is he sees their anguish or persecution and their
destitution. He tells them that they are rich.
Jesus then says he knows the impious evil speech against God of some
people who say they are Jews but are not; instead they are from satan’s meeting
place. Notice that Jesus says they are the synagogue not of the synagogue but the
synagogue of satan. Those are very
strong words. They didn’t join the
group, they are the group. The Jews that were causing the people of the church
of Smyrna persecution were the assembly of satan. They say they are Judeans but they are
not. There are people who persecute the
churches today. They are wolves in sheep’s clothing. Wolves say they are something special but
they are in the church to destroy the sheepfold. Here is a question to ponder, what were
Judeans doing in Smyrna? Did they go to Smyrna to be a part of the church or to
dismantle it?
Rev
2:10 Fear none [of those things] which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil
shall cast [some] of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have
tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown
of life.
Crown NT:4735 stephanos
(stef'-an-os); from an apparently primary stepho (to twine or wreathe); a
chaplet (as a badge of royalty, a prize in the public games or a symbol of
honor generally; but more conspicuous and elaborate than the simple fillet,
NT:1238), literally or figuratively:KJV - crown.(Biblesoft's New Exhaustive
Strong's Numbers and Concordance with Expanded Greek-Hebrew Dictionary.
Copyright © 1994, 2003, 2006 Biblesoft, Inc. and International Bible
Translators, Inc.)
Life NT:2222 zoe
(dzo-ay'); from NT:2198; life (literally or figuratively):KJV - life (-time).
Compare NT:5590.(Biblesoft's New Exhaustive Strong's Numbers and Concordance
with Expanded Greek-Hebrew Dictionary. Copyright © 1994, 2003, 2006 Biblesoft,
Inc. and International Bible Translators, Inc.
NT:2222 zooee,
zooees, hee
1. universally, life, i. e. the state of
one who is possessed of vitality or is animate: 1 Peter 3:10
2. used emphatically,
a. of the absolute fullness of life, both
essential and ethical, which belongs to God, and through him both to the
hypostatic logos and to Christ in whom the logos put on human nature:
b. life real and genuine,
(from Thayer's Greek
Lexicon, Electronic Database. Copyright © 2000, 2003, 2006 by Biblesoft, Inc.
All rights reserved.)
Again
the words of those things are not in
the Greek text. The word some is also
not in the text. Jesus says not to be frightened over what they/we will
suffer. The accuser will cast them/us
into prison so that they/we would be examined.
Sometimes we forget that there are places in the world where being a
Christian is a death sentence. The
Smyrna church is not unlike some of the other early churches of the first,
second, and third century. They, like
Paul, were persecuted by people who said they were Jews but weren’t, and like
those in Thessalonica who were persecuted by their own countrymen, people are
still persecuted today. Maybe not where
you live, but where some people live being a Christian is a fearful thing. But if people are faithful to martyrdom they
will receive a crown of life. Some people are concerned about the persecution
of the Jews today, but in God’s time line the Christians suffer persecution as
well, and after the church is gone Israel will go through the parousia.
Rev
2:11 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches;
He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death.
Death NT:2288 thanatos
(than'-at-os); from NT:2348; (properly, an adjective used as a noun) death
(literally or figuratively):KJV -
deadly, (be ... death.(Biblesoft's New Exhaustive Strong's Numbers and
Concordance with Expanded Greek-Hebrew Dictionary. Copyright © 1994, 2003, 2006
Biblesoft, Inc. and International Bible Translators, Inc.)
NT:2348
thnesko (thnay'-sko); a strengthened form of a simpler primary thano (than'-o)
(which is used for it only in certain tenses); to die (literally or
figuratively):KJV - be dead, die.(Biblesoft's New Exhaustive Strong's Numbers
and Concordance with Expanded Greek-Hebrew Dictionary. Copyright © 1994, 2003,
2006 Biblesoft, Inc. and International Bible Translators, Inc.)
NT:2288 thanatos,
thanatou, ho death
1. properly, the death of the body, i. e.
that separation (whether natural or violent) of the soul from the body by which
the life on earth is ended: John 11:4
2. metaphorically, the loss of that life
which alone is worthy of the name, 2 Cor 3:7
3. the miserable state of the wicked dead
in hell is called -- now simply thanatos, Rom 1:32
4. In the widest sense, death comprises
all the miseries arising from sin, as well physical death as the loss of a life
consecrated to God and blessed in him on earth (from Thayer's Greek Lexicon,
Electronic Database. Copyright © 2000, 2003, 2006 by Biblesoft, Inc. All rights
reserved.)
Again
Jesus says this is for the churches
not just Smyrna but for all churches. If
we look at the churches in a time line fashion, Smyrna is the time period of
martyrdom of the church. Although
martyrdom of the church still continues today, we just don’t hear about
it. There are many opinions on the
second death; we have to understand something simple, there is obviously one
death before this one. If Jesus is
speaking this to the churches then there must be another death for those who do
not overcome. That is interesting. If we relate it to Revelation 20:6, 14 &
21:8 There seems to be a time where some who are in the church but not
overcomers have an opportunity to either avoid the second death or be cast into
the lake of fire which is the second death.
But if we are overcomers now, we avoid the second death altogether. Let’s look at Revelation to get some context
on the second death.
Rev
20:2-21:18 2 And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the
Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years,3 And cast him into the
bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal upon him, that he should
deceive the nations no more, till the thousand years should be fulfilled: and
after that he must be loosed a little season.4 And I saw thrones, and they sat
upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that
were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had
not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon
their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a
thousand years.5 {But the rest of the dead
lived not again until the thousand years were finished.}
This is the first resurrection.6 Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the
first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they
shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand
years.7 And when the thousand years are expired, Satan shall be loosed out of
his prison,8 And shall go out to deceive the nations which are in the four
quarters of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to battle: the
number of whom is as the sand of the sea.9 And they went up on the breadth of
the earth, and compassed the camp of the saints about, and the beloved city:
and fire came down from God out of heaven, and devoured them.10 And the devil
that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the
beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever
and ever.11 And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose
face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for
them.12 And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books
were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the
dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according
to their works.13 And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and
hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man
according to their works.14 And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire.
This is the second death.15 And whosoever was not found written in the
book of life was cast into the lake of fire. Rev 21:1 And I saw a new heaven
and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and
there was no more sea.2 And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming
down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.3 And
I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is
with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God
himself shall be with them, and be their God.4 And God shall wipe away all
tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor
crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed
away.5 And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And
he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful.6 And he said
unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will
give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely.7 He
that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall
be my son.8 But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and
murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall
have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the
second death.KJV
If
the context of the Smyrna church is persecution unto death then the context of
the second death is that some may have avoided physical death on earth by
compromise or renouncing Jesus. In Rev
20:4 the context there is the same but in a different time period. In the time of the tribulation there will be
those who are martyred not accepting the mark of the beast. Those will be spared from the second death;
they are the ones who reign for one thousand years with Christ. After the one
thousand year reign the books will be opened, and the dead will rise and be
judged as well as those who lived during the one thousand years. During the one thousand year reign people
will give birth, and die, and make choices on how to live. When the devil is loosed to deceive the
nations again, there will be some that are going to follow the devil. As for
the churches there are those who are willing to die for Christ or those who
during the tribulation do not accept the mark of the beast who will not be affected
by the second death.
One
more point to bring up is how can one be suffering in the lake of fire and
brimstone, tormented day and night if they are dead a second time? We know
there is consciousness in the grave as we previously saw from the accounts of
Lucifer, and the rich man and Lazarus in Abraham’s bosom. Death is a separation of body and soul as
Thayer’s points out. If we read
Revelation carefully it was the souls of the martyred that John saw. Breath life.
While in verse 20:5 we see that corpses came to life. The first sentence
of verse 5 should be in parenthesis. (See below.) The second sentence refers
back to verse 4. The first resurrection,
which is blessed and holy is the resurrection of the martyred for Christ. These two verses do not say the corpses are
part of the first resurrection but the martyred souls and they will be priests
of God and Christ. Then in verse 12 again it is the corpses that stand before
the throne in judgment.
Rev
20:4-5 Then I saw thrones, and the people sitting on them had been given the
authority to judge. And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for
their testimony about Jesus and for proclaiming the word of God. They had not
worshiped the beast or his statue, nor accepted his mark on their forehead or
their hands. They all came to life again, and they reigned with Christ for a
thousand years.5 This is the first resurrection. (The rest of the dead did not
come back to life until the thousand years had ended.) Holy Bible, New Living
Translation ®, copyright © 1996, 2004 by Tyndale Charitable Trust. Used by
permission of Tyndale House Publishers. All rights reserved.
Vs 4 Souls NT:5590 psuche
(psoo-khay'); from NT:5594; breath, i.e. (by implication) spirit, abstractly or
concretely (the animal sentient principle only; thus distinguished on the one
hand from NT:4151, which is the rational and immortal soul; and on the other
from NT:2222, which is mere vitality, even of plants: these terms thus exactly
correspond respectively to the Hebrew OT:5315, OT:7307 and OT:2416):KJV - heart
(+-ily), life, mind, soul, us, you.(Biblesoft's New Exhaustive Strong's
Numbers and Concordance with Expanded Greek-Hebrew Dictionary. Copyright ©
1994, 2003, 2006 Biblesoft, Inc. and International Bible Translators, Inc.)
Vs 5 & 12 Dead NT:3498 nekros
(nek-ros'); from an apparently primary nekus (a corpse); dead (literally or
figuratively; also as noun):KJV - dead.(Biblesoft's New Exhaustive Strong's
Numbers and Concordance with Expanded Greek-Hebrew Dictionary. Copyright ©
1994, 2003, 2006 Biblesoft, Inc. and International Bible Translators, Inc.)
Vs 5 First NT:4413 protos
(pro'-tos); contracted superlative of NT:4253; foremost (in time, place, order
or importance):KJV - before, beginning, best, chief (-est), first (of all),
former.(Biblesoft's New Exhaustive Strong's Numbers and Concordance with
Expanded Greek-Hebrew Dictionary. Copyright © 1994, 2003, 2006 Biblesoft, Inc.
and International Bible Translators, Inc.)
Vs 5 Resurrection NT:386 anastasis (an-as'-tas-is); from NT:450; a
standing up again, i.e. (literally) a resurrection from death (individual,
genitive case or by implication [its author]), or (figuratively) a (moral)
recovery (of spiritual truth):KJV - raised to life again, resurrection, rise
from the dead, that should rise, rising again.(Biblesoft's New Exhaustive
Strong's Numbers and Concordance with Expanded Greek-Hebrew Dictionary.
Copyright © 1994, 2003, 2006 Biblesoft, Inc. and International Bible
Translators, Inc.)
On
to Pergamos
Rev
2:12 And to the angel of the church in Pergamos write; These things saith he
which hath the sharp sword with two edges;
This
time Jesus is announcing himself differently. Jesus is the word of God, the
logos, and the logos of God is quick and powerful and sharper than any two
edged sword. Hebrews 4:12
Rev
2:13 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.
Thou dwellest NT:2730 katoikeo (kat-oy-keh'-o); from NT:2596
and NT:3611; to house permanently, i.e. reside (literally or figuratively):KJV
- dwell (-er), inhabitant (-ter).(Biblesoft's New Exhaustive Strong's Numbers
and Concordance with Expanded Greek-Hebrew Dictionary. Copyright © 1994, 2003,
2006 Biblesoft, Inc. and International Bible Translators, Inc.)
Seat NT:2362 thronos
(thron'-os); from thrao (to sit); a stately seat ("throne"); by
implication, power or (concretely) a potentate: KJV - seat, throne.(Biblesoft's
New Exhaustive Strong's Numbers and Concordance with Expanded Greek-Hebrew
Dictionary. Copyright © 1994, 2003, 2006 Biblesoft, Inc. and International
Bible Translators, Inc.)
Thou holdest fast NT:2902 krateo
(krat-eh'-o); from NT:2904; to use strength, i.e. seize or retain (literally or
figuratively):KJV - hold (by, fast), keep, lay hand (hold) on, obtain, retain,
take (by).(Biblesoft's New Exhaustive Strong's Numbers and Concordance with
Expanded Greek-Hebrew Dictionary. Copyright © 1994, 2003, 2006 Biblesoft, Inc.
and International Bible Translators, Inc.)
Denied NT:720 arneomai (ar-neh'-om-ahee); perhaps
from NT:1 (as a negative particle) and the middle voice of NT:4483; to
contradict, i.e. disavow, reject, abnegate:KJV - deny, refuse.(Biblesoft's New
Exhaustive Strong's Numbers and Concordance with Expanded Greek-Hebrew
Dictionary. Copyright © 1994, 2003, 2006 Biblesoft, Inc. and International
Bible Translators, Inc.)
Faith NT:4102 pistis
(pis'-tis); from NT:3982; persuasion, i.e. credence; moral conviction (of
religious truth, or the truthfulness of God or a religious teacher), especially
reliance upon Christ for salvation; abstractly, constancy in such profession;
by extension, the system of religious (Gospel) truth itself:KJV - assurance,
belief, believe, faith, fidelity.(Biblesoft's New Exhaustive Strong's Numbers
and Concordance with Expanded Greek-Hebrew Dictionary. Copyright © 1994, 2003,
2006 Biblesoft, Inc. and International Bible Translators, Inc.)
Again
the word works does not appear in the
Greek text. Jesus wants them to know that he knows where they reside and where
satan’s throne is. He also knows they
are holding fast in His name and that they have not rejected their moral
conviction. Even when a believer, Antipas, was martyred the church did not deny
their faith and they continued in the name of Jesus. In
Smyrna the Jews who were persecuting them were the synagogue of satan, but in
Pergamos satan had his throne there and was living among them.
Rev
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.
Them that hold NT:2902 krateo
(krat-eh'-o); from NT:2904; to use strength, i.e. seize or retain (literally or
figuratively):KJV - hold (by, fast), keep, lay hand (hold) on, obtain, retain,
take (by).(Biblesoft's New Exhaustive Strong's Numbers and Concordance with
Expanded Greek-Hebrew Dictionary. Copyright © 1994, 2003, 2006 Biblesoft, Inc.
and International Bible Translators, Inc.)
Doctrine NT:1322 didache
(did-akh-ay'); from NT:1321; instruction (the act or the matter):KJV -
doctrine, hath been taught.(Biblesoft's New Exhaustive Strong's Numbers and
Concordance with Expanded Greek-Hebrew Dictionary. Copyright © 1994, 2003, 2006
Biblesoft, Inc. and International Bible Translators, Inc.)
Balaam NT:903 Balaam
(bal-ah-am'); of Hebrew origin [OT:1109]; Balaam, a Mesopotamian (symbolic of a
false teacher):KJV - Balaam.(Biblesoft's New Exhaustive Strong's Numbers and
Concordance with Expanded Greek-Hebrew Dictionary. Copyright © 1994, 2003, 2006
Biblesoft, Inc. and International Bible Translators, Inc.)
To cast NT:906 ballo
(bal'-lo); a primary verb; to throw (in various applications, more or less
violent or intense):KJV - arise, cast (out),
dung, lay, lie, pour, put (up), send, strike, throw (down), thrust.
Compare NT:4496.(Biblesoft's New Exhaustive Strong's Numbers and Concordance
with Expanded Greek-Hebrew Dictionary. Copyright © 1994, 2003, 2006 Biblesoft,
Inc. and International Bible Translators, Inc.)
A
stumbling block NT:4625 skandalon (skan'-dal-on) ("scandal");
probably from a derivative of NT:2578; a trap-stick (bent sapling), i.e. snare
(figuratively, cause of displeasure or sin):KJV - occasion to fall (of
stumbling), offence, thing that offends, stumblingblock.(Biblesoft's New
Exhaustive Strong's Numbers and Concordance with Expanded Greek-Hebrew
Dictionary. Copyright © 1994, 2003, 2006 Biblesoft, Inc. and International
Bible Translators, Inc.)
Things sacrificed to
idols
NT:1494 eidolothuton (i-do-loth'-oo-ton); neuter of a compound of NT:1497 and a
presumed derivative of NT:2380; an image-sacrifice, i.e. part of an idolatrous
offering:KJV - (meat, thing that is) offered (in sacrifice, sacrificed) to
(unto) idols.(Biblesoft's New Exhaustive Strong's Numbers and Concordance with
Expanded Greek-Hebrew Dictionary. Copyright © 1994, 2003, 2006 Biblesoft, Inc.
and International Bible Translators, Inc.)
To commit fornication NT:4203 porneuo
(porn-yoo'-o); from NT:4204; to act the harlot, i.e. (literally) indulge
unlawful lust (of either sex), or (figuratively) practise idolatry:KJV - commit
(fornication).(Biblesoft's New Exhaustive Strong's Numbers and Concordance with
Expanded Greek-Hebrew Dictionary. Copyright © 1994, 2003, 2006 Biblesoft, Inc.
and International Bible Translators, Inc.)
Jesus,
speaking to the church at Pergamos and to all other churches says, there are
people in the church who seize the teachings of Balaam. The manipulations
Balaam taught Balak to use were being practiced in the church, like throwing a
bent sapling in front of people to trip them. People who were not of the church came in and
started manipulating others to do things that were wrong. We have to look at this from today’s
perspective as well; do we allow people into the church who lead others
astray? We should not be letting these
people in as we shall see. Pergamos had another group in their church that was
a problem.
Rev
2:15 So hast thou also them that hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitans, [which thing
I hate].
Which I hate NT:3668 homoios
(hom-oy'-oce); adverb from NT:3664; similarly:KJV - likewise, so.(Biblesoft's
New Exhaustive Strong's Numbers and Concordance with Expanded Greek-Hebrew
Dictionary. Copyright © 1994, 2003, 2006 Biblesoft, Inc. and International
Bible Translators, Inc.)
NT:3668
homoiooslikewise, equally, in the same way: Mark 4:16(from Thayer's Greek
Lexicon, Electronic Database. Copyright © 2000, 2003, 2006 by Biblesoft, Inc.
All rights reserved.)
They
also had the teachings of the people who used money and manipulations to
overcome the people. The words which I hate are translated improperly
and should read likewise. Jesus is
saying they had two different kinds of destructive groups attempting to trip up
the church. Jesus seems to be implying
that not everyone should be allowed into the church, and those who are
manipulators should not be allowed in.
This is what Jesus had against Pergamos, and he may have that against
us. This also implies that churches are not open to everyone. That seems to be different than what we see
today. Today many churches let everyone
in and the sheep have to fend for themselves.
We open the doors wide, and people are not taught about these types of
manipulators, so the people are bitten and devoured by them. Jesus just pointed
out two different types of manipulative people that should not be in the
church. Logically this would mean our
churches would be a bit smaller but they would be safer for the sheep. That is what Jesus has against the churches. They
are not safe places for His people.
Rev
2:16 Repent; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will fight against them
with the sword of my mouth.
I will come NT:2064 erchomai
(er'-khom-ahee); middle voice of a primary verb (used only in the present and
imperfect tenses, the others being supplied by a kindred [middle voice]
eleuthomai (el-yoo'-thom-ahee); or [active] eltho (el'-tho); which do not
otherwise occur); to come or go (in a great variety of applications, literally
and figuratively):KJV - accompany, appear, bring, come, enter, fall out, go,
grow, light, next, pass, resort, be set.(Biblesoft's New
Exhaustive Strong's Numbers and Concordance with Expanded Greek-Hebrew
Dictionary. Copyright © 1994, 2003, 2006 Biblesoft, Inc. and International
Bible Translators, Inc.)
Will fight NT:4170 polemeo
(pol-em-eh'-o); from NT:4171; to be (engaged) in warfare, i.e. to battle
(literally or figuratively):KJV - fight, (make) war.(Biblesoft's New Exhaustive
Strong's Numbers and Concordance with Expanded Greek-Hebrew Dictionary.
Copyright © 1994, 2003, 2006 Biblesoft, Inc. and International Bible
Translators, Inc.)
Them NT:846 autos
(ow-tos'); from the particle au [perhaps akin to the base of NT:109 through the
idea of a baffling wind] (backward); the reflexive pronoun self, used (alone or
in the comparative NT:1438) of the third person and (with the proper personal
pronoun) of the other persons:KJV - her, it (-self), one, the other, (mine)
own, said, ([self-], the) same, ([him-, my-, thyself, [your-] selves, she,
that, their (-s), them ([-selves]), there [-at, -by, -in, -into, -of, -on,
-with], they, (these) things, this (man), those, together, very, which. Compare
NT:848.(Biblesoft's New Exhaustive Strong's Numbers and Concordance with
Expanded Greek-Hebrew Dictionary. Copyright © 1994, 2003, 2006 Biblesoft, Inc.
and International Bible Translators, Inc.)
Sword NT:4501 rhomphaia
(hrom-fah'-yah); probably of foreign origin; a sabre, i.e. a long and broad
cutlass (any weapon of the kind, literally or figuratively):KJV -
sword.(Biblesoft's New Exhaustive Strong's Numbers and Concordance with
Expanded Greek-Hebrew Dictionary. Copyright © 1994, 2003, 2006 Biblesoft, Inc.
and International Bible Translators, Inc.)
Think
differently, change the way you think and behave Jesus says. Janet M. Magiera
points out that the word repent
should have been included in verse 15.
(Aramaic Peshitta New Testament translation Janet M Magiera, Light of the
Word Ministry, LWM Publications, pg.570
footnotes.) Jesus will appear to us soon. He will soon battle with the twoedged sword
of His mouth. I like the way the Message
makes the point.
Rev
2:16 "Enough! Don't give in to them; I'll be with you soon. I'm fed up and
about to cut them to pieces with my sword-sharp words. (from THE MESSAGE: The
Bible in Contemporary Language © 2002 by Eugene H. Peterson. All rights
reserved.)
Rev
2:17 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.
Manna NT:3131 manna
(man'-nah); of Hebrew origin [OT:4478]; manna (i.e. man), an edible gum:KJV -
manna.(Biblesoft's New Exhaustive Strong's Numbers and Concordance with
Expanded Greek-Hebrew Dictionary. Copyright © 1994, 2003, 2006 Biblesoft, Inc.
and International Bible Translators, Inc.)
Hidden NT:2928 krupto
(kroop'-to); a primary verb; to conceal (properly, by covering):KJV - hide
(self), keep secret, secret [-ly].(Biblesoft's New Exhaustive Strong's Numbers
and Concordance with Expanded Greek-Hebrew Dictionary. Copyright © 1994, 2003,
2006 Biblesoft, Inc. and International Bible Translators, Inc.)
A stone NT:5586 psephos
(psay'-fos); from the same as NT:5584; a pebble (as worn smooth by handling),
i.e. (by implication of use as a counter or ballot) a verdict (of acquittal) or
ticket (of admission); a vote: KJV - stone, voice.(Biblesoft's New Exhaustive
Strong's Numbers and Concordance with Expanded Greek-Hebrew Dictionary.
Copyright © 1994, 2003, 2006 Biblesoft, Inc. and International Bible
Translators, Inc.)
In NT:1909 epi
(ep-ee'); a primary preposition; properly, meaning superimposition (of time,
place, order, etc.), as a relation of distribution [with the genitive case],
i.e. over, upon, etc.; of rest (with the det.) at, on, etc.; of direction (with
the accusative case) towards, upon, etc.: KJV - about (the times), above,
after, against, among, as long as (touching), at, beside, have charge of, (be-, [wherefore-]), in (a
place, as much as, the time of, -to), (because) of, (up-) on (behalf of), over,
(by, for) the space of, through (-out), (un-) to (-ward), with. In compounds it
retains essentially the same import, at, upon, etc. (literally or
figuratively).(Biblesoft's New Exhaustive Strong's Numbers and Concordance with
Expanded Greek-Hebrew Dictionary. Copyright © 1994, 2003, 2006 Biblesoft, Inc.
and International Bible Translators, Inc.)
Name NT:3686 onoma
(on'-om-ah); from a presumed derivative of the base of NT:1097 (compare
NT:3685); a "name" (literally or figuratively) [authority,
character]:KJV - called, (+sur-) name (-d).(Biblesoft's New Exhaustive Strong's
Numbers and Concordance with Expanded Greek-Hebrew Dictionary. Copyright ©
1994, 2003, 2006 Biblesoft, Inc. and International Bible Translators, Inc.)
Receives NT:2983 lambano
(lam-ban'-o); a prolonged form of a primary verb, which is use only as an
alternate in certain tenses; to take (in very many applications, literally and
figuratively [properly objective or active, to get hold of; whereas NT:1209 is
rather subjective or passive, to have offered to one; while NT:138 is more
violent, to seize or remove]): KJV - accept,
be amazed, assay, attain, bring,
when I call, catch, come on (X unto),
forget, have, hold, obtain, receive (X after), take (away,
up).(Biblesoft's New Exhaustive Strong's Numbers and Concordance with Expanded
Greek-Hebrew Dictionary. Copyright © 1994, 2003, 2006 Biblesoft, Inc. and
International Bible Translators, Inc.)
To
the churches, plural. To eat does not appear in the Greek
Text. Jesus will give those who overcome the manipulators, concealed food. He
will also give a white smooth voting ballot with an engraved surname which only
the person who takes it will know. This
seems to indicate that those who overcome will be judges, who cast ballots and
their ballot will be cast with a smooth white stone that has a new name on
it. No one else will know that name,
which seems to imply a secret ballot.
The
message to these two churches and us as well seems to be that people need to
protect the flock from the manipulators and the deceivers, even being faithful
in Jesus’ name to death. If we are
faithful to Jesus we will receive blessings in the future such as a Crown of
Life, hidden food, freedom from the second death, and a voting ballot with a
new name. Considering that we deal with
these same issues today Jesus is helping us to build the sheepfold. If people can mature they will receive more
benefits in the future. Strengthening
the sheepfold by making them aware of wolves and chasing the wolves out seems
to be what we are to do. This is one way we build the sheepfold.
End Notes
Smyrna (myrrh), a city of Asia Minor, situated on
the AEgean Sea, 40 miles north of Ephesus. Allusion is made to it in Rev
2:8-11. It was founded by Alexander the Great, and was situated twenty shades
(2 1/2 miles) from the city of the same name, which after a long series of wars
with the Lydians had been finally taken and sacked by Halyattes. The ancient
city was built by some piratical Greeks 1500 years before Christ. It seems not
impossible that the message to the church in Smyrna contains allusions to the
ritual of the pagan mysteries which prevailed in that city. In the time of
Strabo the ruins of the old Smyrna still existed, and were partially inhabited,
but the new city was one of the most beautiful in all Asia. The streets were laid
out as near as might be at right angles. There was a large public library
there, and also a handsome building surrounded with porticos which served as a
museum. It was consecrated as a heroum to Homer, whom the Smyrnaeans claimed as
a countryman. Olympian games were celebrated here, and excited great interest.
(Smyrna is still a large city of 180,000 to 200,000 inhabitants, of which a
larger proportion are Franks than in any other town in Turkey; 20,000 are
Greeks, 9000 Jews, 8000 Armenians, 1000 Europeans, and the rest are Moslems. —
ED.)
(from
Smith's Bible Dictionary, PC Study Bible formatted electronic database
Copyright © 2003, 2006 by Biblesoft, Inc. All rights reserved.)
PERGAMOS
[PURR guh mos] (citadel) - the chief city of Mysia, near the Caicus River in
northwest Asia Minor (modern Turkey) and the site of one of the seven churches
of Asia (Rev 1:11; 2:12-17; Pergamum, RSV, NIV, NEB, NASB). The city, situated
opposite the island of Lesbos, was about 24 kilometers (15 miles) from the
Aegean Sea.
In
its early history Pergamos became a city-state, then a powerful nation after
Attalus I (241 B.C. - 197 B.C.) defeated the Gauls (Galatians). It stood as a
symbol of Greek superiority over the barbarians. Great buildings were erected
and a library containing over 200,000 items was established. The Egyptians,
concerned with this library which rivaled their own at ALEXANDRIA, refused to
ship papyrus to Pergamos. As a result, a new form of writing material,
Pergamena charta, or parchment, was developed.
In
the days of Roman dominance throughout Asia Minor, Pergamos became the capital
of the Roman province of Asia. In a gesture of friendship, Mark Antony gave
Pergamos' library to Cleopatra; its volumes were moved to Alexandria.
Not
only was Pergamos a government center with three imperial temples, but it was
also the site of the temple of Asklepios (the Greco-Roman god of medicine and
healing), and the medical center where the physician Galen worked (about A.D. 160). Here also was a temple to Athena
and a temple to Zeus with an altar showing Zeus defeating snake-like giants. In
the Book of Revelation, John spoke of Pergamos as the place "where Satan's
throne is" (Rev 2:13). This could be a reference to the cult of EMPEROR
WORSHIP, because Pergamos was a center where this form of loyalty was pledged
to the emperor of the Roman Empire.
(from
Nelson's Illustrated Bible Dictionary, Copyright © 1986, Thomas Nelson
Publishers)
