THE SWORD OF CHRIST AND SATAN'S SEAT (Rev. 2:12-17)

The letter to the church at Pergamon begins with the power of Christ's word, symbolized by a sharp two-edged sword. It proceeds by praising the church for its steadfast faith in the face or persecution but then points the sword, not at the pagan religions that dominated the city, but at the church itself. Why? Because the church was tolerating serious sin within its ranks. Here is a powerful call for the church to repent, a call that is sorely needed today in those churches that have abandoned Scripture as their rule of life.