The Demand Laid Upon the Pergamos Church
"Repent; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth."
This is imposed by the Lord himself and is authoritative. 2:16
This church is urged to repent, that is, change her mind. If these people have accepted these doctrines without protest, then it is high time to change the mind on them and do what is necessary to forsake them. For the Lord will come quickly in judgment and fight against them with the sword of His mouth, His almighty sword.
The Dynamic Offered to the Church
"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."
This is an incentive to do better, to overcome. 17b
Manna was food divinely provided for the sustenance of his people. Here Jesus is talking about the Word of God which He is able to provide for His own in order that they may be sustained during times like these.
This white stone is the emblem of victory and rejoicing. And the new name is that blessedness which Christ himself bestows and is known only to the one who receives it.
The Discrimination Within
the Church
"He that hath an ear let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches."
This is for the purpose of
sifting out the chaff from the wheat.
The Deterioration From Church to Church
The Ephesian
church lost its first love and lapsed into coldness due to
the loss of expectation for the Lord's coming.The Smyrna church carried on the situation in the Ephesian church. No longing for His coming and yet enduring through great persecution.
The Pergamos church has finally united with the world. With the loss of love for the Lord and no longing for the coming of the Lord this church has settled down to this present world, joined forces with it, and yet generally speaking is trying to stem the tide of false doctrine and pollution.
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