Church at Pergamos: Re.2:12-17

“…These things saith he which hath the sharp sword with two edges v.12”

Testimony of Jesus Christ to the church is highlighted differently. He presents now as the eternal word referring to which what John sees in the vision in the preceding chapter was a foretaste. ‘And out of his mouth went a sharp twoedged sword;…(1:16).’The word of God is quick and powerful. Hearing it creates faith(Ro.10:17). It can serve like a scalpel (as in the hands of a surgeon) to separate motives of a person from Truth the word of God has laid bare. We have many examples from the Bible how powerful the word of God is. Before the council of elders and the scribes what Stephen spoke made such impression that ‘they were cut to their heart and they gnashed on him with their teeth (Ac.7:54).’ When Truth makes such an impact either you accept it as true or you deny it vehemently as his interrogators did. However you may deny it, emotions can betray you. It showed in their facial expression: they gnashed their teeth, a revealing expression nevertheless. At one point a hard saying of Jesus put off those who were among his followers. “From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him (Jn.6:66).” Jesus asked the twelve whether they also intended to leave him to which Simon Peter replied,”Lord, to whom shall we go? Thou hast the words of eternal life(v.68).” It is what Truth does to those in whom grace of God can fully work with. A willing heart to lay hold on to Truth however inconvenient it is, must war against many material considerations that all have their place in the life of every man. But how well do we place them according to their importance? Often fame and riches are chosen over an ordinary life which can prove deceptive; and shall, once pursued after prove very inimical to one’s best interests. Riches can suddenly take to wings leaving him helpless; so would fame sound hollow when circumstances change. The rich young man wanted to lay hold of eternal life. “But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful: for he had great possessions(Matt.19:22)”. In a manner of speaking his riches and their attendant advantages had made Truth cast in bad light.
Grace of the word must be to make faith free and flowing again. It is in this connection we need to appreciate the ability of child like faith of which our Lord Savior spoke often appreciatively. So the work of the word is to give faith a fighting chance from the lure of worldly possessions. The metaphor of the surgeon’s scalpel or the two edged sword is apt. By it faith is free to operate and receive the wholesomeness of the word. ‘The word of his grace, which can build you up and give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified(Ac.20:32-NIV)’as St. Paul would say.
So the word of God serves us in two ways: Firstly it keeps faith flowing where the plaque of material world tends to clog the arteries, and can nourish upon Truth; secondly to lay hold of salvation from the claims which the body may make.”For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart(He.4:12).”

“I know thy works and where thou dwellest, even where Satan’s seat is….(v.13)”
Here we have the seat of Satan of which we had already discussed earlier. Where the wholesome word of God cannot work and the church is riven in factions we may be sure the seat of Satan has his pride of place. Those who hold fast the name of the Lord need realize that the Redeemer lives and he knows the hearts of those who would worship him in truth. He shall also deliver them from temptations so their faith is not hindered. To others who are misguided to fall in with those who would do contrary to the divine Will the risen Christ warns,” Repent; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth(v.16).”
(To be continued)
Benny