And to the angel of the church in Pergamos write; these things saith he which hath the sharp sword with two edges; I know thy works, and where thou dwells, even where Satan’s seat is: and thou hold 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 Balack to cast a stumbling block before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed unto idols, and to commit fornication. So hast thou also them that hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitanes, which thing I hate. Repent; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth. He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; to him that overcomes will I give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knows saving he that receives it.
Verse 12. The Lord introduced himself to this church as he that has the sharp sword with two edges. One side of the Lord’s sword is to fight for the salvation of sinners (Habakkuk 3:13) and the other side of it is for judgement of the nations -the Lord shall judge his people. It is a fearful thing, to fall into the hands of the living God. Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade men….in view of the imminent presentation, accountability and appearance to be judged by Christ (the Father has committed all judgement unto the Son) Apostle Paul appeals to his hearers to reconsider their views and stand, to change their opinion about Christ and on how they are living in this present life.                                                                                                    
Unlike Lot whom the bible describes as the preacher of righteousness, the church at Pergamos was an assembly filled with unrighteous filthy lucre and corrupt preachers. In an essential manner to some that forgets the terror of the Lord and his just recompense of reward that he made known this title (he that has the sharp sword with two edges) to the congregation filled with clergies and workers with corrupt teachings, hearts and lifestyles, doing what they could to corrupt both the faith and practices of the church. Woe unto them, for they have run greedily after the error of Balaam for reward. The Lord will fight against them and got rid of them as he did to Balaam to avenge, defend and deliver his blood brought bride (church) from these cursed preachers, which have forsaken the right way, and are gone astray, following the way of Balaam the son of Bosor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness. These are evil ministers and ungodly counsellors, with fair and flattering speeches are deceiving the heart of the simple and unlearned. Proverbs 14:15.                                                                                                                                                 
 
Verse 13a. I know thy works and where thou dwell, even where Satan seat is.                                     He those orders and directs our paths, does sees and knows all our ways and dwellings places. He takes notice of all the temptations we are endangering to and the contradictions of sinners we are subjected to each day for his name’s sake. The Lord is just and will not suffer us to be tempted above our strength and faith. Far be it from God! He will not lay any burden upon us more than what we can support, neither will he placed us in the hottest place of the battle to become a prey to the enemy. Selfishly, man will devise evil means against others as David cowardly did to eliminate Uriah who was with limited strength for the hottest place of the battle he could not support, but was nonetheless assigned there to be killed by the sword of the Philistines. 2 Samuel 11:15.                                                                                                                              Spiritual wrestling against sin, truth, soul, and heaven was fierce and intense in this very church location and the Lord referred to it as the place where Satan seat was. A place where Satan is seated is an expression of satisfaction from the Lord for the bravery and shameless attitudes of the church members to keep standing and operating in a place where it was partially welcome – no freedom of religious speech- no freedom of assembly, etcetera.                                                  
It could be said of Satan that he has no visible place or headquarter on earth: but in any place or nation, community, offices or family where his voice is much heard and his pleasures are vastly fulfilled is where Satan seat is established. As a coordinator of the kingdom and works of darkness, he is a vagabond and fugitive, wandering star and a fallen angel. Satan seat is a place or neighborhoods of extreme evil, perversion, lusts, religious disorder and wickedness, lawlessness, extreme ungodliness and anti-Christ. Satan seat is a place where the gospel is forbidden and believers are subjected to imprisonment, eviction, torture and death for Christ’s sake. Satan seat is a place or city where the majority is opposed to Christ and the minorities who have chosen to live for him are marginalized and despised. Satan seat is such a place or country where the constitution is enactment targeted the church, pure word of God and the testimony of Christ. Even in America, where they admit as one Nation under God, Satan is deeply enthroned in many states. Recently, I read an article from Fox news published by Todd Starnes-March 23, 2018. Courthouse Cafe Owners Face Eviction for Playing Christian Music. Carlo Magno and his wife have been serving hot cups of coffee and warm muffins to judges and attorneys at the court house in Rancho Cucamonga, California for the past 11 years. Café Justice is a popular gathering spot for plaintiffs, defendants and staffers looking for respite from the stress of the day. The walls of the café are decorated with inspirational Christian messages and their music playlist includes several contemporary Christian songs. Last October, the café’s religion music and inspirational décor triggered micro-aggressions (demonic anger-anger initiated from the gates of hell) among local atheists. A complaint was filed with San Bernadino County Department of Real Estate Services, the café’s landlord. A few weeks later the Magnos were notified that their location was going to be put up for public bid status. “We were encouraged to include in our proposal for bid, that we would not play religious music or have any religious decorations”. Mr. Magno told the journalist. In January, the county notified the Christian business owners that their bid had been denied. The café had a stellar record, was beloved by court personnel and had always paid the rent on time. ‘We had not broken any laws – federal or state – nor did we breach anything in our contract’. Magno said. It appears they are being punished for believing in God and owing a business. ‘Every day we open our café –our endeavor is to be able to not just serve the best products that we can, but also encourage people who might be going through a rough time. He told the journalist. Mr. Magno has hired an attorney to fight back and a number of judges and lawyers have signed a petition urging the county landlord to reconsider its decision. I am wishing success for Mr. Magnos and his wife in the legal battle before them.
Verse 13b. The Lord’s commendation and praise for the steadfastness and faithfulness of this church – you hold fast my name and have not denied my faith. In the face of agony and grief of death of their fellow brother Antipas, they were emotionally unmoved and were not discouraged, intimidated to be identified with Christ and unapologetic to proclaim his word before men – and they loved not their lives as to shrink from death. The Lord took notice of their stressful spiritual life, difficult conditions and circumstances under which they are living and witnessing; notwithstanding, they are faithful and steadfast to his name and the cause of his kingdom and glory. Matthew 10: 26-33. Revelation12:10-11.
Verse 14. I have a few things against thee. Such is the love of God to correct every son he receives and to chastise every child he loves. He desires and merits but the best from us and has the best in store for us. The Lord will speak the truth in love to us in areas where we need to improve to attain to his fullness and perfection in faith, love and obedience if we continue to yield to the instructions of life in submission.                                                                                                                                                    
Anything the Lord may hold against us is whatever we have done in an improper manner against his word. The brethren from Pergamos church tolerated corrupt pastors to thrive in propagating filthy and corrupt doctrines. Their reluctance to stand up against false liberty gospel of sexual tolerance before the Lord means that they are consentient. They are expected to remove such false and corrupt ministers from the church or leave the community of such perverse ministers and congregations completely. The doctrine of Balaam to Balak to cause the children of Israel to commit fornication and to eat things sacrificed to idols was an obstructionist and self-enriching spirit in the ministers or messengers of Christ. It is the spirit of sinful counsel and men’s pleasers. There is no doctrine of unequally yoked (separation from sinners in ungodly association) from such ministers and everything goes well in the name of unbiblical and ungodly tolerance in the name of love. Bring a sinner to the church for marriage is never their problem. You will get their blessing as long as you are a cheerful giver. Such pastors will tell you that homosexual and lesbian and other sexual perversion is not an abominable and damnable sin as long as you’re confessing and repenting.                                                                                                                                 
Fornication and all sexual scandals and misconducts that should not even be a subject matter to be spoken among the saints has found ways to churches and secured places in the churches and on the pulpits of such descendants of Balaam and Moabites congregations. But fornication, and all uncleanness or covetousness, let it not be once named among you as becomes saints; neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient: but rather giving of thanks. For this you know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of God and of Christ. Acts 15: 25-29. Ephesians5:3-7. 1 Corinthians 8:1-6. (10) 27-33. Titus1:5-16.                                                                                            
Sadly, to say that many churches are centers and gatherings for lustful and sexual gratification today. They are becoming such places that you can found free lustful eyes satisfaction if you are not free from the lust of the eyes. Sexual Immorality is a common and easily entangled sin for many in those churches. An evil brother takes advantage of the naïve sisters, while an evil sister also takes advantage of simple and foolish brothers by luring them to immoral bed. Once you presented to be a brother or sister in the Lord, without proper discernments either for short time courtship or marriage proposal which may never be; just in the name of brotherly love, sex then comes in. Manipulation and taking advantage of the female worshippers in sexual immorality was the sin of Eli’s two sons in the church and God slew them the same day along with their father. When the church is infected with sexual sins from the altar, the fire of the Lord shall gradually diminish from the people.                                                                                                                                    
Little leaven leavens the whole lump. Believers were saved out of the world from the sinful and corrupt company and lifestyles and should they be keeping company again with Christian brothers and sisters who are fornicators? Christ gospel is the gospel of purity and sanctification. Everyone should know how to possess their vessel in sanctification and honor; not in the lust of concupiscence, even as the Gentiles which know not God: that no men go beyond and defraud his brother or sister in any matter: because that the Lord is the avenger of all such.                                                                                                                                  
Fornication is to lie with an unbeliever who is not born again, uniting the body of Christ with a harlot. Know you not that your bodies are the members of Christ? Shall I then take the members of Christ, and make them the members of a harlot? God forbid. What? Know ye not that he which is joined to a harlot is one body? For two, saith he, shall be one flesh. But he that is joined unto the Lord is one spirit. Flee fornication. Every sin that a man does is without the body; but he that commits fornication sins against his own body. What? Know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore, glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.                                                                                                                        
If two believers of the opposite sex come together or had carnal knowledge of themselves after parental consent and blessings of their relationship, this is not fornication. Family, court or church blessing establishes the relationship as valid before God. 1 Corinthians 6:13-20. (10) 8. 1 Samuel 2:22. 2 Samuel 13:10-14. 1 Corinthians 5: 1-13. (10) 8.
Verses 15. We cannot seek to please men to displease the creator and Lord of all. We cannot love the pastor above God who has appointed him over us if he deviates to mislead the precious souls that are purchased by the precious and priceless blood of Christ. Whatsoever is not scriptural is the deed of the Nicolaitans. We should never partake in anything unscriptural introduced to us by the leaders in the church. This is not the way to continue in brotherly love. It is not the way to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. 2 Chronicles 19: 1-2. Psalms 139: 21-22.
Verse 16. Sinners as well as any erred saints shall be forgiven if they heed careful attention to correction. The Lord calls for repentance and a change attitude from this church or else they should prepare to fight the Lord of hosts who has the sharp sword with two edges! Who can battle with the Lord with a sword that cuts and turns every way, either to the right or left hand?
The two-edged sharp sword is the fire of his word and the breath of his mouth. It slays and cut to pieces like sword and burnt to ashes like fire, and no one can withstand its consuming power. Isaiah 11: 1-4. Jeremiah 23:29. Hosea 6:4-5.                                                                                  
Blessing follows every obedient ear. He that that has an ear to hear, let him hear. The over- comers are counted as those that will be faithful to the end, resting in their lot and rejoicing with their eternal rewards. (1). They shall be given to eat from the hidden manna (ii). A white stone shall be given them with the inscription of their new secretive adoptive name, only known between them and Christ. Amen!