14 “And yet I have a few things against you. You tolerate some among you who do as Balaam did when he taught Balak how to ruin the people of Israel by involving them in sexual sin and encouraging them to go to idol feasts. 15 Yes, you have some of these very same followers of Balaam among you![1]
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4. The
Complaint: False Doctrine and Worldliness (vv.14–15).[2] |
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D. The
Message to Pergamos: The Church That Is Corrupted & Married to the World, 2:12–17 |
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1. The
recipients a. The messenger of
the church b. The Pergamos
churchDS1 2. The
speaker: Jesus |
12 And
to the angel of the church in Pergamos write; These things saith he which
hath the sharp sword with two edges; |
|
3. The
commendation a. For loyalty to
Christ’s name b. For doctrinal
purity c. For facing
martyrdom |
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. |
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4. The Complaint:
False Doctrine & Worldliness a. The teaching of Balaam: False worship,
idolatry & immorality, see Nu. 22–25 |
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 stumbling block
before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed unto idols, and to
commit fornication.
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b. The teaching of the Nicolaitans: Demanding
liberty without law, leading to license & indulgence, v. 6
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15 So hast thou also them that hold the doctrine of the
Nicolaitanes, which thing I hate.
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5. The
counsel: Repent 6. The
warning: God will come, oppose, & execute judgment |
16 Repent,
or else I will come unto thee quickly and will fight against them with the
sword of my mouth. |
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7. The
promise: To the overcomers a. The hidden
manna, Christ Himself b. A white stone
with a new name written on it, a passport into the presence of God |
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.[3] |
4. The Censure (Revelation 2:14, 15)
“I have a few things against thee” (Revelation
2:14). It would be nice if Christ could have stopped after the commendation,
but the evil in the church must be pointed out, so Christ censures the church
for its evil. Two evil doctrinal problems had intruded into the church and had
been embraced by some.
• A defiling doctrine. “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” (Revelation 2:14).
Balaam’s doctrine was worldliness. He could not curse Israel but advised the
ruler of Moab/Midian to invite the Israelites to their religious feasts, at
which were many licentious Moabite/Midianite women. This mingling of the
Israelites with the Moabites/Midianites in eating the meat offered to idols and
being involved with the licentious women, who were part of the religious
doings, corrupted Israel greatly and resulted in Divine judgment in which over
twenty thousand Israelite men died. Later God told Moses to destroy these evil
Moabites/Midianites, and he did, including Balaam, who was fraternizing with
these evil ones.
• A despised doctrine. “So hast thou also them that hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitans, which thing I hate” (Revelation 2:15). The doctrine of the Nicolaitans has never been detailed in the Scripture like the doctrine of Balaam. Many ministers insist the doctrine of Nicolaitans is that which created the priest/people division promoted by the Roman Catholic Church. They get this from the meaning of the name “Nicolaitans.” While the doctrine of the RCC about priest/people division is wholly unscriptural, “Nicolaitans” is not good support for the condemnation. The one thing we do know about the doctrine of the Nicolaitans is that God hated it (“which thing I hate”). Scripture says God hates divorce (Malachi 2:16), and God also hated Esau (Romans 9:13). Esau was called a profane person and a fornicator in Hebrews 12:16. Other texts that speak of things God hates are Proverbs 6:16–19, Isaiah 61:8, Amos 5:21, and Zechariah 8:17. These texts would give more help in determining the doctrine of the Nicolaitans than the meaning of the name. Furthermore, the meaning of Balaam’s name (“foreigner” according to Gesenius) certainly lends no help in determining his doctrine, which is spelled out plainly in the text.[4]
4 (2:14–15) Teaching, False—Balaamism—Nicolaitans: there is the complaint. The church was guilty of false doctrine and gross worldliness. Note two charges against the worldly church.
1. The
worldly church is guilty of the doctrine of Balaam. What does this mean? It
means that corruption and worldliness are within the church itself; it means a
mixture of religion and worldliness. Balac, the Moabite king reigning adjacent
to Palestine, feared Israel. To protect his kingdom, he sought the services of
Balaam, a prophet, to curse Israel. When the king first approached Balaam,
Balaam refused. However, he accepted the second offer. Three times Balaam
attempted to curse Israel, but with no results. He then conceived an insidious
plan. He would corrupt them. He suggested Moabite girls seduce Israel’s men to
intermarry and lead them to worship their idolatrous gods (Num. 22–25;
see 31:16).
The scheme worked. Furthermore, Israel, though rooted in God, became unequally
yoked together with worldliness and was thereby corrupted.
Apparently, what had happened in the Pergamos church was this: the church …
- had baptized some persons who had never repented and forsaken the world’s ways.
- had allowed some of the worldly to teach in the church.
- had allowed a mixed membership of believers and unbelievers: some were living separated lives of holiness and sacrificial commitment for the cause of Christ, and others were living worldly lives seeking the pleasures and possessions of this world.
The
result was tragic: there were those within the church committing fornication,
that is, all kinds of sexual sins; and there were those participating in the
drunken parties of the world, even to the point of participating in the feasts
of idolatrous worshippers. (See 1 Cor. 10:14–11:1)
“And with many other words did he
testify and exhort, saying, Save yourselves from this untoward generation” (Ac. 2:40).
“But now I have written unto you not to
keep company if any man that is called a brother be a fornicator, or covetous,
or an idolater, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such a one
no not to eat” (1 Co. 5:11).
“Be ye not unequally yoked together
with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness?
and what communion hath light with darkness?” (2
Co. 6:14).
“Wherefore come out from among them,
and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will
receive you, and will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and
daughters, saith the Lord Almighty” (2 Co. 6:17–18).
“And have no fellowship with the
unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them” (Ep. 5:11).
“Now we command you, brethren, in the
name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye withdraw yourselves from every brother
that walketh disorderly, and not after the tradition which he received of us” (2 Th. 3:6).
“Take heed to thyself, lest thou make a
covenant with the inhabitants of the land whither thou goest, lest it be for a
snare in the midst of thee” (Ex. 34:12).
“Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful” (Ps. 1:1).
They had stood ever so strongly
against the Nicolaitans. Just who the Nicolaitans were is not known. It is
thought that they stressed two things:
⇒ that
Christ had done away with the law of the Old Testament and had instituted the
law of Christian liberty.
⇒ that
the soul and Spirit of man were far more important than his body.
The
results of this doctrine are clearly seen. If there is no law to govern us,
then we can do what we like, just so we profess to believe in Christ. And if
the Spirit is what really matters, then I can do what I like with my body, just
so I take care of my Spirit.
⇒ Think
how many people feel that they can live like they want, just so they attend and
support the church. If they attend church, they feel they can live like they
want during the week.
⇒ Think
how many people believe they are eternally secure because they believe in
Christ, have been baptized, and belong to a church. Yet, they live like they
want during the week. They continue to seek the pleasures and possessions of
the world, banking and hoarding and neglecting the spread of the gospel and a
world of desperate needs. There is no evidence whatsoever of repentance and of
a changed and holy life—no evidence of self-denial, of the sacrifice of all one is and has.
The
point is this: unlike the Ephesian church, which had preached and taught
against the error of the Nicolaitans. They had refused to allow the error to
enter the church. They were doctrinally sound; they stood staunchly for the
truth of Christ and the Word of God. The church at Pergamos, however, allowed
the teaching of the Nicolaitans to corrupt them through continued compromise
leading to false doctrine and gross worldliness.
Thought 1. Note
two things.
1) Christ did not do away with the law; He
fulfilled it. He filled it up. That is, Jesus Christ embraces the law and so
much more. He is now our ideal and standard. We no longer follow the law; we
follow Christ. But remember: Christ embraces the law and much more. Therefore
in following Christ, we end up keeping the law and walking in far more purity
and holiness than what the law demands.
“Think not that I am come to destroy
the law or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfill” (Mt. 5:17).
“For what the law could not do, in that,
it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of
sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh” (Ro. 8:3).
2) The soul and Spirit are important, but
so is the body. We are to take care of our whole person: Spirit, soul, and
body. We are to keep both body and Spirit pure and holy.
“I beseech you, therefore, brethren, by
the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy,
acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to
this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may
prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God” (Ro. 12:1–2).
“Know ye not that ye are the temple of
God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? If any man defiles the temple
of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye
are” (1 Co. 3:16–17).
“What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your Spirit, which is God’s” (1 Co. 6:19–20).[6]
“And
yet I have a few complaints against you. You tolerate some among you who are
like Balaam, who showed Balak how to trip up the people of Israel. He taught
them to worship idols by eating food offered to idols and by committing sexual
sin. In the same way, you have some Nicolaitans among you—people who follow the
same teaching and commit the same sins.” 2:14–15 NLT
Despite
commending believers for holding fast to the faith (2:13), Christ had a few complaints against this church in
Pergamum. Apparently, some in the church were tolerating those who were
teaching or practicing what Christ opposed. Christ described the church as
tolerating some believers who were like Balaam, who showed Balak how to trip up the people
of Israel. Balaam had done that, in a roundabout way, by influencing
some in Israel to
worship idols by eating food offered to idols and by committing sexual sin.
The complete story of Balak and
Balaam is recorded in Numbers 22–25. In brief,
Balak was a king who feared the large number of Israelites traveling through
his country, so he hired Balaam, a sorcerer—a prophet for hire, and told him to
pronounce a curse on them. Balaam had refused at first, but an offer of money
had changed his mind. Numbers 25:1–3
describes the Israelite men getting involved with pagan women and then
worshiping the gods of Moab. While these verses do not mention Balaam, Numbers
31:16 explains that Balaam knew he could undermine Israel’s worship
and power by sending the Moabite women to entice the men of Israel. Balaam’s
influence caused great disaster for Israel, and he has earned the station as
one who led people astray (see 2 Peter 2:15; Jude 11).
The church in Pergamum had stood
strong against persecution, but what Satan could not accomplish from without,
he was trying to do from within—through Balaam-like deceit. Christ rebuked the
church for tolerating those who, like Balaam, were undermining people’s faith.
Apparently, some in the church were corrupting others in their attempt to
justify idol worship—perhaps by joining in with civic ceremonies where idols
were worshiped. Eating food offered to idols probably refers to these people’s
taking part in pagan feasts. Sexual sin may also be understood as being part of
certain pagan festivities.
The church also had some Nicolaitans among them—people who follow the same teaching and commit the same sins as those who were like Balaam. These two groups were essentially the same in their practices. The Nicolaitans are described in 2:6 as those whose actions Christ hates. The believers in Ephesus had recognized the error of these people, but apparently, the believers in Pergamum were being deceived by it. The Nicolaitans were Christians who had compromised their faith in order to enjoy the sinful pleasures of their society and perhaps to be able to burn incense on the altar to the emperor to avoid the penalty for not doing so. Their sin was in compromising their faith for the world. They thought that the best policy was to peacefully coexist and go along to get along with what they could of Roman society in order to be left alone. But such compromise could only dilute their faith; thus, Christ said it could not be tolerated.
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NO COMPROMISE |
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Christ
rebuked the church at Pergamum for toleration and compromise (2:14–15).
Compromise involves blending the qualities of two different things or
conceding principle. While believers should cooperate in society as much as
they can, they must avoid any alliance, partnership, or participation that
may lead to immoral practices. There can be no compromise between loyalty to
Christ and the sinful pleasures of idol worship or sexual immorality.
Christians may differ in some areas, but there is no room for heresy and
moral impurity. Don’t tolerate sin by bowing to the pressure to be
open-minded. [7]
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HINDRANCES AND STUMBLING BLOCKS TO SPIRITUAL PROGRESS
Hindrances such as worldly
allurements prevented the escape of Lot’s wife, Genesis 19:26
26 But his wife looked back behind him, and she
became a pillar of salt.
- The attempt to use the equipment of Saul delayed David, 1 Samuel 17:39
39 David fastened his sword to his armor and tried
to walk, for he had not tested them. And David said to Saul, “I cannot
walk with these, for I have not tested them.” So David took them off.
- Discouraged people opposed the building of the wall of Jerusalem, Nehemiah 4:10
10 Then Judah said, “The strength of the
laborers is failing, and there is so much rubbish that we are not able
to build the wall.”
- Unbelief hindered Christ’s work in Nazareth, Matthew 13:58
58 Now, He did not do many mighty works there
because of their unbelief.
- Worldly possessions kept back the rich young man from discipleship, Matthew 19:22
22 But when the young man heard that saying, he
went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.
- Imaginary hindrances loom up before the Christian worker, Mark 16:3–4
3 And they said among themselves, “Who will
roll away the stone from the door of the tomb for us?” 4 But
when they looked up, they saw that the stone had been rolled away—for it was
very large.
- Family ties prevent a man from following Christ, Luke 9:59
59 Then He said to another, “Follow Me.”
But he said, “Lord, let me first go and bury my father.”
- Weights, as well as sins, impede progress, Hebrews 12:1-2 [8]
12 Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2 looking unto Jesus, the author, and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
- Those who lack compassion are stumbling blocks and should be removed, Leviticus 19:14
14 You shall not curse the deaf, nor put a
stumbling block before the blind, but shall fear your God: I am the Lord.
- Discouragement often influences others’ actions negatively, Numbers 13:32
32 And they gave the children of Israel a bad
report of the land which they had spied out, saying, “The land through which we
have gone as spies is a land that devours its inhabitants, and all the
people whom we saw in it are men of great stature.
- Compassion and humility often prevent becoming a stumbling block, Isaiah 57:14
14 And one shall say,
“Heap it up!
Heap it up!
Prepare the way,
Take the
stumbling block out of the way of My people.”
- Idols of reputation, acceptance, wealth or sensual pleasure stumble, Ezekiel 14:3
3 “Son of man, these men have set up their
idols in their hearts and put before them that which causes them to stumble
into iniquity. Should I let Myself be inquired of at all by them?
- Backsliders can lead others to stumble or turn from the Lord, Ezekiel 44:12
12 Because they ministered to them before their
idols and caused the house of Israel to fall into iniquity, therefore I have
raised My hand in an oath against them,” says the Lord God, “that they shall bear their iniquity.
- Pastors must know God’s Word to help prevent others from falling, Malachi 2:7–8
7 “For the lips of a priest should keep
knowledge,
And people
should seek the law from his mouth;
For he is the
messenger of the Lord of hosts.
8 But you have departed from the way;
You have caused
many to stumble at the law.
You have
corrupted the covenant of Levi,”
Says the Lord of hosts.
- Allowing fleshly desires to rule the mind distorts a Godly perspective, Matthew 16:23
23 But He turned and said to Peter, “Get behind Me, Satan! You are an offense to Me, for you are
not mindful of the things of God, but the things of men.”
- Evil influences are intentional stumbling blocks and hindrances, Matthew 18:6
6 “Whoever causes one of these little
ones who believe in Me to sin, it would be better for him if a millstone were
hung around his neck, and he were drowned in the depth of the sea.
- A hindering desire for power and status is one root of religious hypocrisy, Matthew 23:13
13 “But woe to you, scribes and
Pharisees, hypocrites! For you shut up the kingdom of heaven against men; for
you neither go in yourselves nor do you allow those who are entering to
go in.
- Our thoughts, motives, and actions will influence harming or helping, Mark 9:42
42 “But whoever causes one of these
little ones who believe in Me to stumble, it would be better for him if a
millstone were hung around his neck, and he were thrown into the sea.
- False teachers’ hindering false doctrine deceives and distorts the truth, Luke 11:52
52 “Woe to you, lawyers! For you have
taken away the key of knowledge. You did not enter in yourselves, and those who
were entering in you hindered.”
- Physical and mental abuse offends and can lead to spiritual corruption, Luke 17:2
2 It would be better for him if a
millstone were hung around his neck and he were thrown into the sea than that
he should offend one of these little ones.
- Insensitive Christians can intentionally offend another Christian’s conscience, Romans 14:13
13 Therefore let us not judge one another
anymore, but rather resolve this, not to put a stumbling block or a cause to
fall in our brother’s way.
- Our lack of self-restraint, pride, and condescension will affect others negatively, Romans 14:21
21 It is good neither to eat meat nor drink wine
nor do anything by which your brother stumbles or is offended or is made
weak.
- Mature Christians must not offend a weaker Christian, 1 Corinthians 8:9
9 But beware lest somehow this liberty of yours
become a stumbling block to those who are weak.
- A Christian’s lack of concern or brotherly love will offend and stumble 1 John 2:10
10 He who loves his brother abides in the light,
and there is no cause for stumbling in him.
- Compromise through tolerating sin can lead to heresy and hell, Revelation 2:14
14 But I have a few things against you because you have there those who hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balak to put a stumbling block before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed to idols, and to commit sexual immorality.
Example (Demonstrating, Modeling, Showing)
How
are others impacted by our actions’ hindrances
and or stumbling blocks to spiritual progress?
bible reading: Genesis 26:1–35
key bible verse: And when the men there asked him about Rebekah, he said, “She is my
sister.” He was afraid to admit that she was his wife. He thought they would
kill him to get her because she was very beautiful. (Genesis 26:7)
Children are deeply affected by their parent’s
example. Isaac was afraid that the men in Gerar would kill him to
get his beautiful wife, Rebekah. So he lied, claiming that Rebekah was his
sister. Where did he learn that trick? He may have known about the actions of
his father, Abraham (see 12:10–14 and 20:1–4).
Parents help shape the world’s future by the way they shape their children’s values. The first step toward helping children live rightly is for the parents to live rightly. Your actions are often copied by those closest to you. What kind of example are you setting for your children?
bible reading: Proverbs 1:8–19
key bible verse: Listen, my child, to what your father teaches you. Don’t neglect your
mother’s teaching. (Proverbs 1:8)
Parenting includes both words and
actions. Our actions speak louder than our words. This is especially
true in the home. Children learn values, morals, and priorities by observing
how their parents act and react every day.
If parents exhibit a deep reverence for and dependence on God, the children will catch these attitudes. Let them see your reverence for God. Teach them right living by giving worship an important place in your family life and by reading the Bible together.
bible reading: Matthew 4:1–11
key bible verse: Then Jesus was led out into the wilderness by the Holy Spirit to be
tempted there by the Devil. (Matthew 4:1)
Jesus lived as a perfect example. This temptation by the devil shows us that Jesus was human, and it gave Jesus the opportunity to reaffirm God’s plan for his ministry. It also gives us an example to follow when we are tempted. Jesus’ temptation was an important demonstration of his sinlessness. He faced temptation and did not give in.
bible reading: Hebrews 12:1–13
key bible verse: So take a new grip with your tired hands and stand firm on your shaky
legs. Mark out a straight path for your feet. Then those who follow you, though
they are weak and lame, will not stumble and fall but will become strong. (Hebrews 12:12–13)
We are responsible for following
Christ, the supreme example. God is not only a disciplining parent
but also a demanding coach who pushes us to our limits and requires our life to
be disciplined. Although we may not feel strong enough to push on to victory,
we will be able to obtain it as we follow Christ and draw upon his strength.
Then we can use our growing strength to help those around us who are weak and
struggling.
We are responsible for the example we set. The word so is a clue that what follows is important! We must not live with only our own survival in mind. Others will follow our example, and we have a responsibility to them if we claim to live for Christ. Does your example make it easier for others to believe, follow, and mature in Christ? Or would those who follow you end up stumbling, confused, hindered, and misled?
Related Topics: Guidance, Leadership, Teaching[9]
Revelation 2:14-15 Continued Compromise Causes False Doctrine and Worldliness
[1] Taylor, Kenneth Nathaniel. 1997. The Living Bible,
Paraphrased. Wheaton, IL: Tyndale House.
[2] Leadership Ministries Worldwide. 1996. Revelation. The Preacher’s Outline & Sermon Bible. Chattanooga, TN: Leadership Ministries Worldwide.
DS Deeper Study
[3] Leadership Ministries Worldwide. 1996. Revelation. The Preacher’s Outline & Sermon Bible. Chattanooga, TN: Leadership Ministries Worldwide.
[4] Butler, John G. 2010. Analytical Bible
Expositor: Revelation. Clinton, IA: LBC Publications.
[5] Leadership Ministries Worldwide. 1996. Revelation.
The Preacher’s Outline & Sermon Bible. Chattanooga, TN: Leadership
Ministries Worldwide.
[6] Leadership Ministries Worldwide. 1996. Revelation.
The Preacher’s Outline & Sermon Bible. Chattanooga, TN: Leadership
Ministries Worldwide.
NLT
Scripture quotations marked NLT are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996. Used by
permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, Illinois 60189. All
rights reserved.
[7] Barton, Bruce B. 2000. Revelation.
Edited by Grant R. Osborne. Life Application Bible Commentary. Wheaton, IL:
Tyndale House Publishers.
[8] Thompson, Frank Charles. 1997. Thompson Chain
Reference Bible: Topical Index. Kirkbride Bible Company.
[9] Wilson, Neil S. 2000. In The Handbook of
Bible Application, 196–97. Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale House
Publishers, Inc.
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