FATHER’S Master Plan required Jesus to warn the churches of what would hinder and disqualify them from attending the Wedding Feast!
It is FATHER’S desire for all believers to attend the Wedding Feast. However, those who compromise will be disqualified.
Jesus spoke in Revelation chapter 2:
12 Write the following to the messenger of the congregation in Pergamum. For these are the Words of the One Whose Words pierce the hearts of men:
13 I know where you live—where satan sits enthroned, yet you still cling faithfully to the power of My Name. You did not deny your faith in Me even in the days of My faithful martyr Antipas, who was executed in your city, where satan lives.
14 Nevertheless, I have a few things against you. There are some among you who hold to the teachings of Balaam, who taught Balak to entice the Israelites to eat things that were sacrificed to idols and to commit sexual immorality.
15 Furthermore, you have some who hold to the doctrines of the Nicolaitans.
16 So repent, then, or I will come quickly to war against them with the sword of My Mouth.
17 But the one whose heart is open, let him listen carefully to what the Spirit is presently saying to all the churches. To everyone who is victorious I will let him feast on the hidden manna and give him a shining white stone. And written upon the white stone is inscribed his new name, known only to the one who receives it.
Jesus commended this congregation in that they held fast to His Name and they did not deny faith even during persecution.
What was their problem? Jesus says they live “where Satan’s throne is” (meaning intense pagan worship and emperor worship). There were some in the church who were compromising and following the teaching of Balaam — encouraging idolatry and sexual immorality. Some were following the Nicolaitans — promoting moral and doctrinal compromise. So while they stayed faithful outwardly, they tolerated false teaching inside… they were compromising!
In 1992, FATHER showed my wife and me what house we should buy. They owner priced the house above what we could afford, and I planned to negotiate the price down. FATHER then spoke these Words to me: “When you negotiate, you manipulate, and manipulation is not of ME!” I repented, and then HE told me what to offer. The owner accepted our offer without any negotiation. Negotiation is in essence compromise.
Jesus warned the church to repent. If not, He will come and fight against them with the sword of His mouth (His judgment through Truth)
Then Jesus made a promise to Overcomers. To those who overcome, they will be given hidden manna (Spiritual nourishment from Christ); a shining white stone; a new name known only to the one who receives it.
In the ancient Roman world, a white stone meant that you were acquitted and innocent. The black stone meant that you were guilty. Jesus is saying the overcomer is declared righteous and accepted. The white stone symbolizes justification, forgiveness, and acceptance by Christ.
In Pergamum culture, a white stone was sometimes given as a ticket to a special feast, often engraved with a name. In this passage, it means that the overcomer will have access to the marriage supper of Christ. It is a personal invitation from Jesus!
The stone was also known as a Victor’s Stone. Athletes and victors sometimes received a white stone with their name Signifying honor and victory.
The believer who overcomes will receives his or her reward, entitled and qualified to attend the marriage feast.
To summarize:
The white stone represents:
Accepted by Christ
Declared righteous
Invited to His Kingdom
Given a new personal identity
What is the lesson? You can be loyal to Christ publicly yet still compromise privately — and Jesus calls His church to purity in both doctrine and lifestyle.
It is vital that we understand the “teaching of Balaam”.
The teaching of Balaam is:
Stay outwardly religious
Allow compromise with sin
Blend God’s Truth with worldly practices
Lead others into it
It is also critical to understand the ‘teaching of Nicolaitans”.
They promoted:
Participation in idol worship
Eating food sacrificed to idols
Sexual immorality
Blending pagan culture with Christianity
“Grace allows you to live however you want”
So the idea was: You can follow Jesus and still live like the world.
The core problem is that the Nicolaitans taught:
No need for Holiness
No need for separation from sin
Compromise is acceptable
Faith without obedience
Jesus says this is dangerous because it corrupts the church from inside!