Thought from today’s Bible reading from Revelation 1-5.
Occasionally brethren will speak of the alleged “benefits” of persecution. One such “benefit” is that Christians focus less on doctrinal errors and combating false teachers because of the extra attention that needs to be paid to the persecutions and encouraging the brethren to withstand them.
However, if we notice the letter to the church in Pergamum, we will see that persecution does not give Christians permission to ignore or tolerate error.
“I know where you dwell, where Satan’s throne is; and you hold fast My name, and did not deny My faith even in the days of Antipas, My witness, My faithful one, who was killed among you, where Satan dwells. But I have a few things against you, because you have there some who hold the teaching of Balaam, who kept teaching Balak to put a stumbling block before the sons of Israel, to eat things sacrificed to idols and to commit acts of immorality. So you also have some who in the same way hold the teaching of the Nicolaitans. Therefore repent; or else I am coming to you quickly, and I will make war against them with the sword of My mouth” (Revelation 2:13-16).
Persecution was so severe in Pergamum that one of their own – Antipas – had been killed for his faith. Where they lived was described as being “where Satan’s throne is.” Persecution was certainly bad for these brethren – much worse than what we normally face.
But despite the persecution, they were still to “mark” and “avoid” (Romans 16:17, KJV) those who taught and held on to error (described here as “the teaching of Balaam” and “the teaching of the Nicolaitans“). This was not just something for them to be aware of and address whenever the persecution subsided. They were warned that if they did not keep the church pure from the influence of error – even in the midst of persecution – that the Lord would “make war against them with the sword of [His] mouth.”
The lesson for us is that false teaching can never be tolerated or accepted. Even in the midst of trying times (such as persecution), the Lord’s church must be kept pure. If we fail to do this, then even though we may withstand persecution for our faith, we will still be found to be against the Lord.
Tomorrow’s reading: Revelation 6-11
[I’m using the Chronological reading plan on the Bible Gateway website if you’d like to follow along, too.]
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