Hold On-Until I Come

"To the angel of the church in Pergamum write: These are the words of him who has the sharp, double-edged sword. I know where you live--where Satan has his throne. Yet you remain true to my name. You did not renounce your faith in me, not even in the days of Antipas, my faithful witness, who was put to death in your city--where Satan lives. Nevertheless, I have a few things against you: There are some among you who hold to the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to entice the Israelites to sin so that they ate food sacrificed to idols and committed sexual immorality. Likewise, you also have those who hold to the teaching of the Nicolaitans. Repent therefore! Otherwise, I will soon come to you and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth. (Revelation 2:12-16 NIV)

The Nicolaitans lived out "cheap grace."  Once they were saved, they did what they wanted.  Eating meat sacrificed to idols was on the list, but the one causing the most problem had to do with sexual immorality:  they practiced polygamy.  Jesus, with a sharp double-edged sword coming out of his mouth, told them to stop.

Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who is victorious, I will give some of the hidden manna. I will also give that person a white stone with a new name written on it, known only to the one who receives it. "To the angel of the church in Thyatira write: These are the words of the Son of God, whose eyes are like blazing fire and whose feet are like burnished bronze. I know your deeds, your love and faith, your service and perseverance, and that you are now doing more than you did at first. Nevertheless, I have this against you: You tolerate that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophet. By her teaching she misleads my servants into sexual immorality and the eating of food sacrificed to idols. I have given her time to repent of her immorality, but she is unwilling. So I will cast her on a bed of suffering, and I will make those who commit adultery with her suffer intensely, unless they repent of her ways. I will strike her children dead. Then all the churches will know that I am he who searches hearts and minds, and I will repay each of you according to your deeds. (Revelation 2:17-23 NIV)

Jezebel was leading Thyatira to commit similar sins against God.  She was doing it in the name of God, saying God had given her the prophecy saying it was ok.  She was a false prophet.  She will suffer for this false prophecy and for those she pulled away with her.  They will suffer, too, until they repent.  This warning comes from a Jesus with eyes blazing like fire and feet like burnished bronze.  You don't want to mess with this Jesus.

Now I say to the rest of you in Thyatira, to you who do not hold to her teaching and have not learned Satan's so-called deep secrets, 'I will not impose any other burden on you, except to hold on to what you have until I come.' To the one who is victorious and does my will to the end, I will give authority over the nations-- that one 'will rule them with an iron scepter and will dash them to pieces like pottery'--just as I have received authority from my Father. I will also give that one the morning star. Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches. (Revelation 2:24-29 NIV)

Sometimes the greatest threat to our faith comes from within the church.  People claiming to do things in the name of God can do, and lead people to do, things that are not at all from God.  This is why it is so important that we learn from God's Word, talk with God in prayer, and watch the lives of those who teach us (their lives should be bearing "fruit").  When we follow God's ways, then, God encourages us the way Thyatira was encouraged: hold on to what you have until I come.

How about you?  Are you tempted by people who want to pull you away from God?  Do you hold on in spite of that temptation?  Will you hold on until Jesus returns?