Yes, the Christians in Pergamum are integrity keepers. "Nevertheless," says Jesus, "I have a few things against you." What have they done to deserve censure3? Jesus tells us: "You have there those holding fast the teaching of Balaam, who went teaching Balak to put a stumbling block before the sons of Israel, to eat things sacrificed to idols to commit fornication." - REVELATION 2:14.
In Moses' day, King Balak of Moab had hired Balaam, a non-Israelite prophet who knew something about Jehovah's ways, to curse Israel. Jehovah resisted Balaam, compelling him to pronounce blessings for the Israelites and woes for their enemies. Balaam pacified Balak's resultant resentment by suggesting a more subtle attack: "Let Moab's women seduce Israel's men into gross sexual immorality and Idolatrous worship of the false god of Peor! This tactic worked. Jehovah's righteous anger blazed as he sent a scourge that killed 24,000 of those Israelite fornicators-a scourge that stayed only when priest Phinehas took positive action to remove badness from Israel. - NUMBERS 24:10, 11;25:1-3, 6-9; 31:16.
Next time: Chapter Nine/Holding Fast to Jesus' Name - Corrupting Influences - Continue
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