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 blessed 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 Baal of Peor! This tactic worked. Jehovah's righteous anger blazed, as he sent a scourge that killed 24,00 of those Israelite fornicators-a scourge that was stayed only when Priest Phinehas took positive action to remove badness from Israel. - NUMBERS24:10, 11; 25:3, 76-9; 31:16.
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 warnings 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.
Next time: REVELATION ITS GRAND CLIMAX AT HAND!/Chapter Nine - Corrupting Influences - Continue
From the jw.org publications
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