Third church–Those embracing the worldly agenda enters the church, but hidden “bread” given to those faithful to Jesus Christ.

Revelation 2:12-17

Click for a description of the mark of the beast.
Click here for a description of the image of the beast.

The corruption of five of the seven churches leads to our Lord Jesus Christ opening the Seven Seals, as described in Revelations 4 and also Revelations 5. That leads to the events of the Seven Trumpets of Revelations 8, 9, and 11, the Seven Thunders of Revelations 10, and the Seven Plagues of Revelations 16. The two faithful witness, or two faithful churches [second and sixth Church], are faithful to the testimony of Jesus Christ, persecuted, and have little strength. A link to each of the seven churches are at the bottom of this post.

The church in this post is the third of the seven churches. In the previous two churches, the Gospel of Christ is abandoned in exchange for good works, resulting in the removal of the lampstand. Then, the faithful of Jesus Christ are persecuted but given the assurance of eternal life. In the third church of this post, the church becomes a gathering place for those who hold to a worldly agenda, but those who remain faithful to Jesus Christ are given “hidden bread” to eat.

• TO: The angel of the church of Pergamos.
• FROM: He who has the sharp two-edged sword.
• Positive Work of the Churches:
• Negative Behavior of the Churches:
• Repentance is Necessary:
• Reward for Overcomers.

TO: The angel of the church of Pergamos.

“And to the angel of the church in Pergamos…” Revelations 2:12

The church of Pergamos was located where “Satan’s throne” was. A follower of Jesus Christ was murdered there, and the other Christians remained faithful to the testimony of Jesus during that time. However, they also allowed corruption to enter the church by allowing stumbling blocks to be placed against the those who wanted to come to God, through Jesus Chrust, in the presence of the Holy Spirit.

FROM: He who has the sharp two-edged sword.

‘These things says He who has the sharp two-edged sword…” Revelations 2:12a

The message to the angel of the church is from our Lord Jesus Christ who has the sharp two-edged sword. The sharp two-edged sword symbolizes the need for His followers to separate from those who gather in the churches with the intent to prohibit the born-again, “Come out of her, my people, lest you share in her sins, and lest you receive of her plagues. For her sins have reached to heaven, and God has remembered her iniquities.” Revelations 18:4-5

We are to stand form in the word of God through the presence of the Holy Spirit, “For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are naked and open to the eyes of Him to whom we must give account.” Hebrews 4:12-13

Positive Work of the Churches:

“I know your works, and where you dwell, where Satan’s throne is. And you hold fast to My name, and did not deny My faith even in the days in which Antipas was My faithful martyr, who was killed among you, where Satan dwells.” Revelation 2:13

Our Lord Jesus knows the work that we do for Him and whether we have faith to stand for Him where Satan’s throne is. Where is Satan’s throne? Satan has made his throne our body through the work of his beast. Satan has claimed the body as his throne by giving people what to feel, think, say, and do through the beast that gives breath/life to the image of the beast to speak by speaking and living through people. The beast sits within us as if is God and is the one, “…who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God or that is worshiped, so that he sits as God in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God.” 2 Thessalonians 2:4 Click for a post on that.

Even today, there are followers of Jesus Christ that hold to His name and claim our body as the home of the Holy Spirit. We do that as we shun the feelings and thoughts imposed upon us by the beast to manipulate what we say and do. How can we know we have the Holy Spirit in today’s fierce spiritual warfare? If we do not speak against Jesus and say that He is Lord then we have the Holy Spirit, “Therefore I make known to you that no one speaking by the Spirit of God calls Jesus accursed, and no one can say that Jesus is Lord except by the Holy Spirit.” 1 Corinthians 12:3

Even today, our brothers and sisters in Christ are being imprisoned and killed in countries around the world. Their persecution is clearly stated to be because of holding to the name of Jesus. That is happening in places in Africa, North Korea, China, Iran, and others. Today, the majority of countries in the United Nations are atheists. Russia and China are two of the three most powerful nations of the world, and they are both atheist countries that bluntly deny God the Creator, reject the need for Christ Jesus, and do not want the presence of the Holy Spirit to be part of who they are. Needless to say, Russia and China exert powerful influence over the majority of the countries of the United Nations. When the United Nations become the undisputed one world government, the opposition to the way of Jesus Christ will be intense. They require that all people be throne of Satan, the throne of the beast that gives what to say, do, think, and feel.

Today, the “Sustainable Development Goals” of the United Nations have become the Gospel to people and nations around the world. The United Nations was established in 1945, immediately after World War 2, and brought the government of the beast with it, as described in Daniel 8:1-14.

Let us be among those who do not deny Jesus Christ even in the days when our brothers and sisters are being murdered among us. May our Lord Jesus say to us, “Well done, good and faithful servant…enter into the joy of your Lord.” Matthew 25:23

Negative Behavior of the Churches:

“But I have a few things against you, because you have there those who hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balak to put a stumbling block before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed to idols, and to commit sexual immorality. Thus you also have those who hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitans, which thing I hate.” Revelation 2:14-15

The Lord is against the churches of today who hold to the doctrine of “Balaam”, who taught “Balak” how to put a stumbling block against anyone desiring to come to Jesus Christ in the presence of the Holy Spirit. Balaam and Balak and the corruption of the Israelites are spoken about from chapters 22 through 25 of the book of Numbers. As quoted in Numbers 31:16, as quoted, “Look, these women caused the children of Israel, through the counsel of Balaam, to trespass against the Lord in the incident of Peor, and there was a plague among the congregation of the Lord.”

Balaam taught Balak to use the sensuality of women, their sexual attractiveness, to seduce the children of Israel to serve false gods and to engage in sexual immorality. By indulging in the physical enticements that the false gods offered, including putting sexual gratification over God, the Israelites abandoned the Ten Commandments and the animal sacrifices to atone for sin. They abandoned the word of God.

Along with the fallen churches of today living by the doctrine of “Balaam”, they also hold to the doctrine of the “Nicolaitans”. The Nicolaitans opposed everything relating to the Gospel of Jesus Christ, caused people to turn away from serving God through Jesus, and put a stumbling block to the living in the presence of the Holy Spirit. That is where the fallen churches of today are, teaching and preaching in a way that turns people way from the living God, perverting the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and opposing the presence of the Holy Spirit.

The doctrine of “Balaam” that has entered the fallen churches of today is to teach the congregation to “…eat things sacrificed to idols…” The idol of today is the beast that has power over physiology to give people what to feel, think, say, and do. People are being taught to “listen” to the “inner voice”, to allow that inner presence to lead them in what to say and do. Unfortunately, that voice is not the Good Shepherd but instead leads people to do and say things against God, Christ Jesus, and the Holy Spirit. Sexual immorality is what “casual sex” is all about, and sensual feelings are part of steering people away from the Spirit to walk by the flesh.

The doctrine of today is that people are just another species of animal, created by the god of evolution, with natural sexual impulses. In that doctrine, people are taught to serve the beast that has power over physiology and is able to fulfill sensual desires. They are those who have “…exchanged the truth of God for the lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen.” Romans 1:25 The government of the beast is building the culture of the east, which is global, on that foundation.

“By covetousness they will exploit you with deceptive words; for a long time their judgment has not been idle, and their destruction does not slumber…(for that righteous man, dwelling among them, tormented his righteous soul from day to day by seeing and hearing their lawless deeds)— …They are not afraid to speak evil of dignitaries…They are spots and blemishes, carousing in their own deceptions while they feast with you…These are wells without water, clouds carried by a tempest, for whom is reserved the blackness of darkness forever. For when they speak great swelling words of emptiness, they allure through the lusts of the flesh, through lewdness…” 2 Peter 2:3, 8, 10, 13, 17-18

“For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into apostles of Christ. And no wonder! For Satan himself transforms himself into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also transform themselves into ministers of righteousness, whose end will be according to their works.” 2 Corinthians 11:13-15

“So they come to you as people do, they sit before you as My people, and they hear your words, but they do not do them; for with their mouth they show much love, but their hearts pursue their own gain. Indeed you are to them as a very lovely song of one who has a pleasant voice and can play well on an instrument; for they hear your words, but they do not do them. And when this comes to pass—surely it will come—then they will know that a prophet has been among them.” Ezekiel 33:31-33

Repentance is Necessary:

 “Repent, or else I will come to you quickly and will fight against them with the sword of My mouth.” Revelation 2:14-15

Repentance is necessary to come apart from the practices of the fallen churches of today. To repent of being part of teaching people to “listen” to the beast that gives what to feel, think, say, and do. To repent of condoning living by the desires of the flesh through sensual pleasures and casual sex. To repent of causing people to walk by the flesh while turning them away from walking with Jesus Christ.

“Will the throne of iniquity, which devises evil by law, have fellowship with You? They gather together against the life of the righteous, and condemn innocent blood.” Psalms 94:20-21

“Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness? And what accord has Christ with Belial? Or what part has a believer with an unbeliever? And what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For you are the temple of the living God.” 2 Corinthians 6:14-16

We need to come apart from them because our Lord Jesus is returning to destroy them with the sword of His mouth, “Now out of His mouth goes a sharp sword, that with it He should strike the nations. And He Himself will rule them with a rod of iron. He Himself treads the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. And He has on His robe and on His thigh a name written: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS.” Revelations 19:15-16

Reward for Overcomers.

“He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes I will give some of the hidden manna to eat. And I will give him a white stone, and on the stone a new name written which no one knows except him who receives it.” ’ Revelation 2:17

We who remain faithful to the testimony of Jesus Christ are given “hidden bread” to eat, the Bread of Life hidden within our soul. As can be experienced, the churches of today are not in harmony with the Spirit of Christ, and those whose heart is rooted in the community agenda, “…are spots in your love feasts, while they feast with you without fear, serving only themselves.” Jude 1:12

With the congregations of the churches of today being overwhelmed by those who live and govern for the beast, our Lord Jesus gives us the “hidden manna”. “Manna” is bread, so the “hidden bread” that we are given to eat is the “Bread of Life”. Jesus Christ is the Bread of Life, “And Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life. He who comes to Me will never hunger, and he who believes in Me will never thirst.” John 6:35 Our Lord Jesus is hidden within our heart and soul through the Holy Spirit. The culture of today, which is global, opposes the open expression of faith in Jesus Christ, but His word will always be hidden within us, “With my whole heart I have sought You; Oh, let me not wander from Your commandments! Your word I have hidden in my heart, that I might not sin against You.” Psalms 119:10-11

To be given a white stone in the days when the book of Revelations was written had a lot of meaning, as outlined below;

• A white stone was used to signal acquittal in court proceedings, symbolizing the acquittal that God extends to us through Jesus Christ. We may not be part of today’s churches, but having Jesus Christ hidden within our heart is our acquittal.
• A white stone was used at some “sporting events”, something like a trophy or gold medal given to athletes of today. The white stone was given to the winners, giving them certain privileges and honor. Our Lord Jesus does the same for us during these days of the corrupt churches, “…and has made us kings and priests to His God and Father, to Him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.” Revelations 1:6 Our Lord Jesus has given us the victory over sin and death.
• The white stone of acquittal and victory has our name written on it, which is hidden within our heart, with the hidden Bread of Life, “‘Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by your name; you are Mine.’”Isaiah 43:1 “To him, the doorkeeper opens, and the sheep hear his voice, and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out.” John 10:3

The new name is mentioned in Revelation 3:12, “He who overcomes, I will make him a pillar in the temple of My God, and he will go out no more. I will write on him the name of My God and the name of the city of My God, the New Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven from My God. And I will write on him My new name.” I think of this new name as being the one written in the Lamb’s Book of Life. I also think of my new name as being “Christian.”

Click here for pictures of a flyer from a local fallen church.

Click for a post on Isaiah 28:7-8 about “The ministers of the churches have erred, have deviated from the way, err in vision, and stumble in judgment.”
Click for a post on Isaiah 28:9-10 about “To whom will the corrupt ministers teach the knowledge of Christ and the message of the Cross?”

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The Seven Churches

• First church — Lampstand removal from church for leaving the first love for Jesus Christ.
• Second Church–Persecuted and faithful Church, where the temple of Satan exists, is given the reward of eternal life.
• Third church–Those embracing the worldly agenda enters the church, but hidden “bread” given to those faithful to Jesus Christ.
• Fourth church– Teachings of the beast mixed into the church to teach Satan’s “deep secrets”. The faithful to Christ to hold on to what we have in Him.
• Fifth church–Church ready to die, but the names of the faithful to Christ are written in the Book of Life.
• Sixth Church–Faithful few have little strength but are made pillars in the temple of God and preserved for the eternal New Jerusalem.
• Seventh church– Church is indifferent to Jesus Christ but wealthy by worldly standards. Jesus stands at the door and knocks.