I Know Where You Live, Part II
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- In verse 14 there are symbolic names that allude to personalities and events in the OT (Numbers 22-24; 25:1-2; 31:1-15) such as the Moabite king, Balak, and the false prophet, Balaam, whom the former tried unsuccessfully to induce a curse on the children of Israel. Balaam did manage to successfully advise Balak on how to get Israel side-wise with God. What was that advice? What did the “teaching of Balaam” look like in the first century, and what shape might it take today?
- In these letters to the seven churches, not to mention throughout the Scriptures, one encounters strong injunctions against sexual immorality, a sin that many today are all too casual about (e.g. 1 Corinthians 6:15-20; 1Thessalonians 4:1-3; Hebrews 13:4 ). What is it about transgressing God’s sexual boundaries that makes it, especially for a believer, so offensive to God and so bad for us?
- In verse 16 the Lord Jesus counsels some in the church at Pergamum to ‘repent’. What is really involved in repentance? Have you witnessed the repentance of sinning Christians? If not, why do you think that is?
- In verse 17 what do the symbols “hidden manna”, “a white stone”, and “a new name” have reference to? What does this mean to you personally?