The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

Revelation 2:12-17, “And to the angel of the church in Pergamum write: ‘The One who has the sharp two-edged sword says this:
13 “I know where you dwell, where Satan’s throne is; and you hold fast My name, and did not deny My faith, even in the days of Antipas, My witness, My faithful one, who was killed among you, where Satan dwells.
14 “But I have a few things against you, because you have there some who hold the teaching of Balaam, who kept teaching Balak to put a stumbling block before the sons of Israel, to eat things sacrificed to idols, and to commit acts of immorality.
15 “Thus you also have some who in the same way hold the teaching of the Nicolaitans.
16 “Repent therefore; or else I am coming to you quickly, and I will make war 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, to him I will give some of the hidden manna, and I will give him a white stone, and a new name written on the stone which no one knows but he who receives it.”’”

There is a logical, downward regression visible in the early Church through the Letters to the Seven Churches. When the Church left her First Love (as at Ephesus), she removed herself from the LORD’s protective custody. As a result, she came under severe persecution from the ungodly world around her (as did the Smyrnan Church). Thus, Ephesus, the Cooling Church, resulted in Smyrna, the Crushed Church, which in turn led to Pergamum, the Compromising Church. Ironside notes that “Constantine’s patronage did what (Emperor) Diocletian’s persecution could not do: it corrupted the church, she forgot her calling as a chaste virgin, and gave her hand in marriage to the world that had crucified Him.”

Observe the LORD’s Commendation (v. 13, “’I know where you dwell, where Satan’s throne is,,,, Antipas…, my faithful one, …was killed among you.’” Christianity was confronted by some major pagan religions, and the character of the church revealed the nature of the church’s heart. It was not good.

The church had resorted to the teachings of Balaam (vv. 14-15), who taught Israel’s leader, Balak, to put a stumbling block before the sons of Israel by eating things sacrificed to idols and committing acts of immorality (cf. Num. 22). Further, they subscribed to the teachings of the Nicolaitans, who taught that “in order to master sensuality, one must experience the whole range of it” (Vincent). Imagine!

The Notification of the LORD was: “…repent; or else I am coming to you quickly, and I will make war against them with the sword of My mouth” (v. 16). “Repentance means “to change one’s mind”; and it is mandated (imperative)! “Coming to you quickly” references neither the Second Coming nor the Rapture! It is judgment!

The LORD’s prediction is addressed to the spiritually alert: “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches” (v. 17). Hopefully, the prediction will catch the ear of the spiritually alert in every age. We cannot count on the protection and blessings of the LORD if we ignore His mandates. What does not work for the Church overall will not work for individuals. Today is the day of salvation! “Today, if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts” (Heb. 4:7).

Heartily in Christ Jesus,

(Dado III)

P. S. For excellent 26-minute videos on the Seven Churches of the Revelation go to:

Dr. Stowell’s videos are excellent! He covers all six Churches of the Revelation in excellent videos.

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.
Springdale, Arkansas 72764
United States of America

“We never know that Christ is all we need until He becomes all that we have.” – Corrie ten Boom