12 “And to the [a]angel of the church in Pergamos write,
‘These things says He who has the sharp two-edged sword: 13 “I know your works, and where you dwell, where Satan’s throne is. And you hold fast to My name, and did not deny My faith even in the days in which Antipas was My faithful martyr, who was killed among you, where Satan dwells. 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. 15 Thus you also have those who hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitans, [b]which thing I hate. 16 Repent, or else I will come to you quickly and will fight against them with the sword of My mouth.
17 “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes I will give some of the hidden manna to eat. And I will give him a white stone, and on the stone a new name written which no one knows except him who receives it.” ’
Revelation 2:12-17
The compromising church. Here in writing to the church in Pergamos, John invokes the sharp two edged sword imagery from the start. “The word of God, living and powerful, sharper than any two edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, joints and marrow, discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart (Hebrews 4:12).
A mighty judgment is coming against this church, and as the word sustained Him in the desert, it would serve to convict this church. Jesus did not mince words here, He knows where they dwell and it is at the throne of Satan. The church may have held fast to His name, and did not deny His faith, but they chose their flesh instead of His.
The church is supporting the false doctrine of Balaam and the Nicolaitans, teaching the sin of eating food offered to idols and sexual immorality… A clear conviction of the modern “church” in many places today. Unrepentant sin abounds in the church at Pergamos as they turn from God and compromise their faith in Him in order to satisfy that which is not of Him.
Jesus does offer them one more opportunity to repent, else He will come quickly and fight them with the word of God. There’s that two-edged sword again which will absolutely leave no church such as this standing in its wake. He that overcomes will be fed, and receive a new name only they know as they are handed a white stone and acquitted of their sin.