Revelation 2:13-14 KJV
I know thy works, and where thou dwellest, even where Satan's seat is: and thou holdest fast my name, and hast not denied my faith, even in those days wherein Antipas was my faithful martyr, who was slain among you, where Satan dwelleth.
But I have a few things against thee, because thou hast there them that hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balac to cast a stumblingblock before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed unto idols, and to commit fornication.
Scofield's Notes say
The doctrine of Balaam .... was his teaching Balak to corrupt the people who could not be cursed. ....by tempting them to marry women of Moab, defile their separation, and abandon their pilgrim character. It is that union with the world and the church which is spiritual unchastity. Pergamos had lost the pilgrim character and was "dwelling" "where Satan's throne is," in the world.
One of the most dangerous things that can happen to us as Christians is that we can become comfortable in this world. We have reached a level of acceptance by our world and for the most part, so long as we are not too aggressive, the world lets us alone and tolerates us. We are able to win enough people to our viewpoint that we have constructed some pretty nice places of worship and put together a pretty decent living wage for a fairly large number of Bible teachers. And we feel like we have achieved some level of success as evangelizers in this world.
But we, in so many respects, lost our pilgrim character. O Lord, help us to repent and return to being simple strangers and pilgrims in this world!
I know thy works, and where thou dwellest, even where Satan's seat is: and thou holdest fast my name, and hast not denied my faith, even in those days wherein Antipas was my faithful martyr, who was slain among you, where Satan dwelleth.
But I have a few things against thee, because thou hast there them that hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balac to cast a stumblingblock before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed unto idols, and to commit fornication.
Scofield's Notes say
The doctrine of Balaam .... was his teaching Balak to corrupt the people who could not be cursed. ....by tempting them to marry women of Moab, defile their separation, and abandon their pilgrim character. It is that union with the world and the church which is spiritual unchastity. Pergamos had lost the pilgrim character and was "dwelling" "where Satan's throne is," in the world.
One of the most dangerous things that can happen to us as Christians is that we can become comfortable in this world. We have reached a level of acceptance by our world and for the most part, so long as we are not too aggressive, the world lets us alone and tolerates us. We are able to win enough people to our viewpoint that we have constructed some pretty nice places of worship and put together a pretty decent living wage for a fairly large number of Bible teachers. And we feel like we have achieved some level of success as evangelizers in this world.
But we, in so many respects, lost our pilgrim character. O Lord, help us to repent and return to being simple strangers and pilgrims in this world!
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