Chapter Ten/Abhorring the "Deep Things of Satan"

 About 40 miles southeast of Bergama (Pergamum) is the thriving town of Akhisar. Some 1,900 years ago, this town was the sight of Thyatira by an inland road from Pergamum and then move in a circuit to the remaining congregations of Revelation chapter 3 -Sardis, Philadelphia, and Laodicea. Unlike Pergamum, Thyatira does not seem to have been an important center of emperorship, but it did have shrines and temples dedicated to pagan gods. Thyatira was noteworthy as a commercial trading center. 

When Paul was preaching in Macedonia, he met up with a Thyatiran woman named Lydia, a seller of purple. Lydia and all her household gladly accepted the message Paul was preaching and showed extraordinary hospitality. (Acts 16:14, 15) She became the first Thyatiran on record to accept Christianity. In course of time, the city itself came to have a congregation of Christians. Jesus directs his longest message there: "And to the angel of the congregation in Thyatira write: These are the things that the Son of God says, he who has his eyes like a fiery flame, and his feet are like fine copper." - REVELATION 2:18.

Next time: Chapter Ten/Abhorring the "Deep Things of Satan" - Continue

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Chapter Nine/Holding Fast to Jesus' Name -'Hidden Manna and a White Pebble' - Conclusion

 What is the new name written on the pebble? A name is a means of identifying a person and distinguishing that one from others. These anointed Christians receive the pebble after they have finished their earthly course as conquerors. Clearly, then,  the name on the pebble has to do with their privilege of being united with Jesus in heaven-a most intimate position of royal service to be fully appreciated and enjoyed only by those who inherit the heavenly Kingdom. Hence, it is a name, or a designation of office, "which no knows except the one receiving it." - Compare REVELATION 3:12. 

What an inducement for the John class to "hear what the spirit says to the congregations" and apply it! And how this encourages their associates, the great crowd, to serve faithfully with them while they can enjoy their companionship here on earth and share with them in making known Jehovah's Kingdom!

Next time: Chapter Ten/Abhorring the "Deep Things of Satan"

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Chapter Nine/Holding Fast to Jesus' Name - 'Hidden Manna and a White Pebble' - Continue

 These too, receive "a white pebble." In Roman courts, pebbles were used in passing judgment. A white pebble meant acquittal, whereas a black pebble meant condemnation, often to death. Jesus' giving "a white pebble" to the Christians in Pergamum would indicate that he adjudges them innocent, pure and clean.  But Jesus' words may have a further meaning. In Roman times, white pebbles were also used like tickets to gain entry to important events. So the white pebble may indicate something very special for the conquering anointed Christians-his being admitted to an honored place in heaven at the marriage of the Lamb. Only 144,000 such pebbles are provided. - REVELATION 14:1; 19:7-9. 

Does this mean that you left unconsidered if you are one of the great crowd of companion worshipers? Not at all! While not receiving the white pebble of admittance into heaven, you may, if you endure, come out of the great tribulation to have a part in the joyful work of restoring Paradise on earth. Sharing with you in this will be resurrected faithful ones from pre-Christian times and those of the other sheep who have died more recently. Eventually, all the other redeemed dead will be favored with a resurrection to life on a paradise earth. - PSALM 45:16; JOHN 10:16; REVELATION 7:9, 14.

Next time: Chapter Nine/Holding Fast to Jesus' Name - 'Hidden Manna and a White Pebble'  -  Conclusion

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Chapter Nine/Holding Fast to Jesus' Name - 'Hidden Manna and a White Pebble' -Continue

What a fitting symbol! This manna was hidden in the Most Holy compartment of the tabernacle, where the miraculous light that hovered over the Ark's cover symbolized the very presence of Jehovah. (Exodus 26:34) No one was permitted to penetrate that sacred place in order to eat the hidden manna. However, Jesus said that his anointed followers who conquer would eat "the hidden manna." Like Christ before them, they get to enter, "not into a holy place made with hands which a copy of the reality. but into heaven itself." (Hebrews 9:12, 24) At their resurrection, they put incorruption and immorality- a marvelous provision of Jehovah, symbolized by their being given the imperishable "hidden manna." How privileged that small group of overcomers is! - 1 CORINTHIANS 15:53-57. 

Next time: Chapter Nine/Holding Fast to Jesus' Name - 'Hidde Manna and a White Pebble' - Continue

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Chapter Nine/Holding Fast to Jesus' Name -'Hidden Manna and a White Pebble'

 A grand reward awaits all who heed Jesus' counsel, given by the direction of Jehovah's holy spirit. Listen! "Let the one who has an ear hear what the spirit says to the congregation: To him that conquers I will give some of the hidden manna, and I will give him a white pebble, and upon the pebble a new name written in which no one knows except the one receiving it." (Revelation 2:17) Thus, the Christians in Pergamum, like the Christians in Smyrna, are congregated to 'conquer.' If they are to succeed, those in Pergamum, where the throne of Satan is, must shun idolatry. They must overcome the immorality, the sectarianism, and the apostasy linked with Balak and Balaam, and the sect of Nicolaus. So doing, those anointed Christians will be invited to eat some of the "hidden manna." What does this mean? 

In Moses' day, Jehovah provided manna to sustain the Israelites during their wilderness journey. That manna was not hidden, for each morning - except on the Sabbath-it appeared mordaciously, like the flaky hoarfrost covering the earth. It was a divine provision to keep the Israelites alive. As a memorial, Jehovah commanded Moses to keep some of "bread" in a golden jar inside the sacred ark of the covenant "throughout [Israel's] generation." - EXODUS 16:14, 15, 23, 26, 33; HEBREWS 9:3, 4.

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Chapter Nine/Holding Fast to Jesus' Name-Avoid Sectarianism! - Conclusion

Any who waver because of apostate influence should be swift to heed Jesus' call to repent! Apostate propaganda must be rejected as the poison that it is! Its basis is envy and hatred, in contrast with the righteous, chaste, and lovable truths that Jesus feeds to his congregation. (Luke 12:42, Philippians 1:15, 16; 4:8, 9) As to those who refuse to repent, the Lord Jesus does indeed "war with them with the long sword of [his] mouth." He is sifting his people in order to preserve the unity for which he prayed during his last evening with his disciples on earth. (John 17:20-23, 26) Since apostate ones refuse the loving counsel and help offered by the stars in his right hand, Jesus judges and punishes them to "the darkness outside." They are   disfellowshipped, no more to act as leaven among God's people. - MATTHEW 23-48-51; 25:30; 1 CORINTHIANS 5:6, 9, 13; REVELATIANS 1:16. 

Next time: Chapter Nine/Holding Fast to Jesus' Name - 'Hidden Manna and White Pebble'

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Chapter Nine/Holding Fast to Jesus' Name - Avoid Sectarianism! - Continue

 How does sectarianism get started? Perhaps a self-styled teacher sows doubts, disputing some Bible truth (such as our being in the last days), and so a splinter group breaks off and follows him. (2 Timothy 3:1; 2 Peter 3:3, 4) Or someone criticizes the way Jehovah is having his work done and appeals to a self-sparing spirit by claiming that it is neither Scriptural nor necessary to go from house to house with the Kingdom message. Sharing in such service after the example of Jesus ad his apostles would these ones humble, yet they prefer to split off and take it easy, perhaps only reading the Bible occasionally as a private group. (Matthew 10:7, 11-13; Acts 5:42; 20:20, 21) Such ones conduct their own ideas about the memorial of Jesus' death, the Scriptural command to abstain from blood, celebration of holidays, and the use of tobacco. Moreover, they downgrade Jehovah's name; very soon they fall right back into the permissive ways of Babylon the Great. Even worse, some are moved by Satan to turn upon and 'and beat their fellow slaves,' their onetime brothers. - MATTHEW 24:49; REVELATION 17:5.

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Chapter Nine/Holding Fast to Jesus' Name - Avoid Sectarianism!

 Jesus further reproves the Christians in Pergamum saying: "So you, also, have those holding fast the teaching of Nicholaus likewise." (Revelation 2:15) Previously, Jesus had commended the Ephesians for their hatred of the deeds of this sect. But the Christians in Pergamum need counsel on keeping the congregation free from sectarianism. More firmness is needed in upholding Christian standards so that the unity for which Jesus prayed at John 17:20-23 may be preserved. It is necessary "both to exhort by the teaching that is healthful and to reprove those who contradict." - TITUS 1:9.

From early days, the Christian congregation has had to contend with proud apostates, who by smooth deceptive speech "cause divisions and occasions for stumbling contrary to the teaching" provided through Jehovah's channel. (Romans 16:17, 18) The apostle Paul, warned of this threat in almost all his letters. In modern times, when Jesus has restored the new congregation to it Christian purity, the danger of sectarianism remains. Hence. any who may have become inclined to follow a breakaway group, thus forming a sect, should heed Jesus' words: "Therefore repent, if you do not, I am coming to you quickly, and I will war with them with the long sword of my mouth." - REVELATION 2:16. 

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Chapter Nine/Holding Fast to Jesus' Name - Corrupting influences - Conclusion

 Jesus also reprimands the Christians in Pergamum for 'eating things sacrificed to idols.' What would this involve? In view of Paul's words to the Corinthians, perhaps some were abusing their Christian freedom and deliberately offending the consciences of others. More likely, though, they were taking part somehow in actual idol ceremonies. (1 Corinthians 8:4-13; 10:25-30) Faithful Christians today must show unselfish love in their exercise   of Christian freedom, being careful not stumble others. Certainly, they must avoid modern forms of idolatry, such as worshipping stars of Tv, the movies, and sports, or making a god out of money, or even out of their own belly! - MATTHEW 6:24, Philippians 1:9, 10; 3:17-19. 

Next time: Chapter Nine/Holding Fast to Jesus' Name - Avoid Sectarianism

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Chapter Nine/Holding Fast to Jesus' Name - Corrupting Influences - Continue

 Now in John's day, are there similar stumbling blocks in Pergamum? There are! Immorality and Idolatry have infiltrated the congregation. Those Christians have not heeded God's warning given through the apostle Paul. (1 Corinthians 10:6-11) Since they have endured persecution, perhaps they feel that Jehovah will overlook their sexual transgressions.  So Jesus makes it plain that they must shun such wickedness. 

Similarly, today, Christians must guard against "turning the undeserved kindness of our God into an excuse for loose conduct." (Jude 4) We are obliged to hate what is bad and to 'pummel our bodies' in order to pursue a course of Christian virtue. (1 Corinthians 9:27; Psalm 97:10; Romans 8:6) We should never think that zeal in God's service and integrity under persecution give us a license to get involved in sexual misconduct. Over the years, offenders disfellowshipped from the worldwide Christian congregation, mostly on grounds of sexual immorality, have numbered into the tens of thousands. In some years there have been even more than fell in ancient Israel because of the Baal of Peor. May we keep up our guard so that we never fall into that company! - ROMANS 11:20; 1 CORINTHIANS 10:12. 

Next time: Chapter Nine/Holding Fast to Jesus' Name- Corrupting Influences - Conclusion

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