The Message To The Church at Pergamos

MESSAGE TO PERGAMOS

Revelation 2:12-17

In each of the seven churches Christ first addressed their works. At Ephesus they had two works: first was evangelism and second was defending the faith. Both were commended by Christ but he preferred the church return to its first work of loving the Lord Jesus and putting Him before all other things. At Smyrna, Christ again addressed the works of the church which consisted of submitting to tribulation, poverty and death, all without renouncing their Christian faith. Christ did not rebuke the church at Smyrna. Not because it was a perfect church because there is no church that does not have some problems. After all they are all filled with sinners that are saved by the "grace" of God. These people were doing the best they could in a terrible place.

Now at Pergamos, Christ is once again addresses the works of Christians which works are relative to where they live. They lived in the wickedest city on earth where Satan himself had set up headquarters. Here are our Savior's words to this church: "I know thy works and where thou dwellest, even where Satan's seat is." The problem the church at Pergamos faced is defined in the city's name which means "mixed marriage." As capital of Asia Minor, Pergamos was a city of mixed religions from all over the world and it was a city whose politics were married to the state religion of emperor worship.

Living in Pergamos would indeed test the faith of Christians for a mixed marriage of religion and state is a marriage made in hell!

Jon 2:8 says They that observe lying vanities forsake their own mercy.

We can see that just as it is in our day, all other religions can go hand and hand with each other and welcome each other with open arms that is [all except Christianity]. Christianity get's it's name from Jesus "Christ" our Lord. We cannot bow to false god's and neither could these of Pergamos. There is no universal church. There is only the church built on the foundation of Jesus Christ. The world does not agree because the world is of the church that Satan built.

1Jn 3:1 says Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: [therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not].
1Jn 3:2 Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.

1Jn 5:19 says And we know that we are of God, and the whole world lieth in wickedness.

When Satan was cast out of heaven, he set up headquarters on the earth. The location of his headquarters had always been at the center of political and military power. So, as one world power conquered another, Satan's seat moved to the new ascending world power. To control that world power, Satan merged his mystery religion with the state. If people of that nation wanted to prosper they worshiped in the state religion.

We can see that in the time of Nimrod, the time of Solomon, the time of Nebuchadnezzar and all others. I believe we can see such a time when Satan was moving his seat during the time of Daniel.

Dan 10:13 says But the prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me one and twenty days: but, lo, Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me; and I remained there with the kings of Persia.

We can see this happening in our world today, even in America!

To understand the wickedness of Satan's seat is to comprehend the significance of Christ's commendation of the Pergamos church. Christ's commendation has two parts: [holding fast to his name and not denying his faith]. The first implies that [the key battleground was once again the deity of Jesus Christ]. In a city devoted to many gods, in a city that demanded emperor worship, to hold fast the name of Christ was indeed commendable. The question "who is god?" was at the heart of the struggle. The resounding answer faithfully preached by the church "Christ is God incarnate, the Lord of all, the King of Kings, his name is above every name!" Holding fast to his name was central to their faith. Pergamos believers never let go of the basic doctrine of Christianity that Christ is God incarnate. I pray that we in the Bible Belt of America hold on to this fact of Christ was God in the flesh.

All those that say we all have the same God but leave out Jesus Christ as that God in the flesh are worshiping some other god, not the God of the Bible!

The second part of Christ's commendation is that they had not denied his faith even in those days when Antipas was Christ's faithful martyr. This implies that even under pain of martyrdom the Pergamos church held strong to the faith of Christ. Although the faith of Christ and the deity of Christ are related, there is significant difference between the two. Whereas the deity of Christ centers on who he is, the faith of Christ centers on our unbending trust in him because of who he is.

The key word to the faith in Christ is "denied." The Pergamos church had not denied the faith of Christ. Denied in Greek means "a verbal or written disavowing, rejection or renunciation of the Christian faith." At what time in church history were Christians faced with a verbal or written renunciation of their faith in exchange for life? Christ gave the answer when he said "thou hast not denied my faith even in those days wherein Antipas was my faithful martyr who was slain among you." Antipas could have been the pastor of the local church at Pergamos but he could have been a leader that stood up to the evil of Satan's seat.

Historically we know that he was the first martyr of Asia Minor. The method by which he met his demise is more barbaric than any mentioned in our previous study. According to tradition he was slowly roasted to death in a bronze kettle during the reign of the Roman emperor Domitian. Domitian began the second wave of persecution in 81 AD. Christians who stood before this savage ruler were given a chance to live if they would renounce their faith. The test was an oath they had to take during renunciation. When they refused to deny their faith in written or spoken word even under penalty of inhumane death, Christ commended them.

The city of Pergamos in Asia Minor set the standard for the broader Pergamos church period for not only was it a city of mixed religions and mixed doctrine, it was also a city where religion and state were married.

Here In America where our forefathers wrote into the Constitution that the State could not interfere with free worship has been turned around by Satan's followers to a lesser and wrong meaning that the true Church cannot influence the nature of government. The forefathers never intended for Christian principles to left out of government and so the battle rages of the evil trying to dominate the good in our nation the U S A.

As a Christian I already know good will win out in the end but I'm not sure America will survive until that day. I live in the greatest nation of modern day but also in a nation that get's further and further from God just as Israel did.

Our Text:

*****Rev 2:12 And to the angel of the church in Pergamos write; These things saith he which hath the sharp sword with two edges;

What does a sword say?

The typical Asian sword was made with two edges compared to the typical European sword which was made with one cutting edge. The main advantage is obvious as a two edge sword would cut in two directions. Many times in the Bible we can see where many have died by the edge of the sword.

In the Book of Genesis we see a sword that cuts from all sides or all it's edges.

Gen 3:24 So he drove out the man; and he placed at the east of the garden of Eden Cherubims, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to keep the way of the tree of life.

This would be a very destructive sword. I believe we see this sword again in the Book of Revelation.

Rev 19:15 And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God.

We know the Lord Jesus is coming to make war.

But in our verse we see the two edged sword. There are only a few places in the Bible we see this sword. We know that Christ is speaking to the Church and that being so that He has already judged the church. So we know that here in this verse He is pointing out things to improve the church. Some would say warning the church. Some would say counseling the church. It is probably some of both.

If someone uses an argument that could both help them and harm them, then they are using a two-edged sword sword; it cuts both ways.

We can see that the Lord Jesus Christ is counseling His church but these things are also a warning to some, thus the twoedged sword.

Counseling means: Advising; instructing; admonishing.

The Bible says in Isaiah:

Isa 11:4 But with righteousness shall he judge the poor, and reprove with equity for the meek of the earth: and he shall smite the earth with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips shall he slay the wicked.

This is a two edged sword!

Heb 4:12 For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

This is using a two edged sword!

The word of God is sharper than this sword, so I believe the Lord Jesus Christ is using His words on this church.

God expects His children to also be familiar with this sword!

Psa 149:5 Let the saints be joyful in glory: let them sing aloud upon their beds.
Psa 149:6 Let the high praises of God be in their mouth, and a twoedged sword in their hand;
Psa 149:7 To execute vengeance upon the heathen, and punishments upon the people;
Psa 149:8 To bind their kings with chains, and their nobles with fetters of iron;
Psa 149:9 To execute upon them the judgment written: this honour have all his saints. Praise ye the LORD.

God is not telling us to murder our enemies. "God is telling us to use the Word of God on the Lost".

*****Rev 2:13 I know thy works, and where thou dwellest, even where Satan's seat is: and thou holdest 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.

We may think we can hide our works from God but that is impossible.

Pro 15:3 The eyes of the LORD are in every place, beholding the evil and the good.

The ways of man:

Pro 5:21 For the ways of man are before the eyes of the LORD, and he pondereth all his goings.

None can hide:

Job 34:21 For his eyes are upon the ways of man, and he seeth all his goings.
Job 34:22 There is no darkness, nor shadow of death, where the workers of iniquity may hide themselves.

There are no secret places to hide from God:

Jer 23:24 Can any hide himself in secret places that I shall not see him? saith the LORD. [Do not I fill heaven and earth? saith the LORD].

Blessings and also the Hickory(the rod of correction) will come from what God sees, not what we think we do!

Jer 32:19 Great in counsel, and mighty in work: for thine eyes are open upon all the ways of the sons of men: [to give every one] according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings:

And not Satan nor any other creature can hide from God:

Heb 4:13 Neither is there [any creature that is not manifest in his sight]: [but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do].

Where is Satan's seat?

Lets look at the definitions of that word "seat".

1.) Seat: That on which one sits; a chair, bench, stool or any other thing on which a person sits.

2.) Seat: The place of sitting; throne; chair of state; tribunal; post of authority; as the seat of justice; judgment-seat.

3.) Seat: The place where a thing is settled or established. So we say, the seat of the muses,the seat of arts, the seat of commerce.

4.) Everywhere Satan sits becomes an evil place if he remains seated there!

In the Strong dictionary of Greek terms we find this: "thronos" From a´ thrao¯ (to sit); a stately seat (“throne”); by implication power or (concretely) a potentate: - seat, throne.

What's a potentate? A person who possesses great power or sway; a prince; a sovereign; an emperor, king or monarch.

Now we can know that God our Father knows exactly where Satan is sitting or standing or walking at this very moment. BUT God also knows where Satan has set up his place of business. Satan's business is to destroy anything that is of God.

We know of some things that Satan is the prince of, (not king of but prince of):

1.) He is the true prince of "devils".

Mat 12:24 But when the Pharisees heard it, they said, This fellow doth not cast out devils, but [by Beelzebub the prince of the devils].

2.) He is the prince of "this world".

Joh 12:31 Now is the judgment of this world: now shall [the prince of this world] be cast out.

3.) He is the "prince of the power of the air".

Eph 2:2 Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to [the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience]:

It is he that works in children that do not obey. This includes all grownups.

Christ our Lord also knew where Satan was at all times!

Joh 14:30 says Hereafter I will not talk much with you: [for the prince of this world cometh, and hath nothing in me].

We find in Pergamos a lot of ungodly things.

The symbol of Asklepios was the serpent as it is of Satan(all doctors still have this emblem on their doors and some even on their persons as badges).

There was, besides this, a great throne altar to Zeus cut on the Acropolis rock, symbol of “rampant paganism” (Swete) and the new Caesar-worship with the recent martyrdom of Antipas made Pergamum indeed a very throne of Satan.

Pergamos was in a center of heathen idolatry. Pergamos was a notorious center of idolatry.

1Jn 5:21 says Little children, keep yourselves from idols.

These believers in Pergamos probably had many reasons to deny their faith. We can see that at least one (Antipas) had been Martyrd by the ruling government of Pergamos. Satan had firmly planted his evilness (his seat) in this government. America is getting worse just as the Bible says but it hasn't reached that point here yet. But God's children are Martyrd in many places in this world every day.

It is a true statement to say that Satan has a seat in every church on this earth but if we worship as we should "in spirit and truth" then we can at least keep his feet moving toward the door and his thoughts on getting out of there and maybe giving him ulcers and put him on Valium or some pain killer.

Satan can only be in one place at a time but once he entrenches himself in government he becomes an obstacle to the church and we must stand steadfast against all false doctrine and ungodly laws and lawmakers. Our vote is more important that it ever has been. Satan has entrenched himself into most all education of children and we find it harder every day to battle the foolishness of false science and those that control the books used in education. This is another of Satan's seats that we allow him to much freedom in. Wake up America!

Oh, by the way, it is believed Antipas was slow roasted in the housing of a bull. One legend is that he was burnt to death in a brazen bull. The Bible is not about legends but there are those that will die before they deny the Lord Jesus Christ.

This church did not deny the Lord Jesus Christ. They held fast to His name and did not deny His faith.

James wrote to us by the Holy Spirit that after salvation the born again Christian should be noticeable in the way he lives and serves God.

Jas 2:17 Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.
Jas 2:18 Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works.
Jas 2:19 Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.
Jas 2:20 But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?

We cannot please our Lord without our faith in Him.

Heb 11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

*****Rev 2:14 But I have a few things against thee, because thou hast there them that hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balac to cast a stumblingblock before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed unto idols, and to commit fornication.

What is the doctrine of Balaam?

The Apostle Paul wrote of these people:

Php 3:17 Brethren, be followers together of me, and mark them which walk so as ye have us for an ensample.
Php 3:18 (For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ:
Php 3:19 Whose end is destruction, whose God is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things.)

Balaam had the secular world leaders (King Balac) convinced that he could influence the true church because he could gain special favor from God that he could get a special message from God. [That is if those needing his service had enough money].

Num 22:7 And the elders of Moab and the elders of Midian departed [with the rewards of divination in their hand]; and they came unto Balaam, and spake unto him the words of Balak.

God did not allow this and reproved Balaam many times. We know if God reproves someone claiming to be a Christian often enough He will sometimes put and end to it.

Pro 29:1 says He, that being often reproved hardeneth his neck, [shall suddenly be destroyed, and that without remedy].

Before the death of Balaam he did give Balak the means to hurt the work of God's people.

Num 31:15 And Moses said unto them, Have ye saved all the women alive?
Num 31:16 Behold, [these caused the children of Israel, through the counsel of Balaam, to commit trespass against the LORD in the matter of Peor], and there was a plague among the congregation of the LORD.

The children of Israel had been influenced when Balak(Balac) had sent many women to live among them. This caused inner marriage with them. They brought their religion in to intermingle with the truth of God causing confusion and causing the children of Israel to sin. Even eating things that were sacrificed to Idols.

Not only was there fornication outside the marriage but there was adultery within the marriage and then add to that the worldly influence came into the church.

God had given these words to his children:

Gen 24:3 And I will make thee swear by the LORD, the God of heaven, and the God of the earth, [that thou shalt not take a wife unto my son of the daughters of the Canaanites], among whom I dwell:
Gen 24:4 But thou shalt go unto my country, and to my kindred, and take a wife unto my son Isaac.

Num 36:6 This is the thing which the LORD doth command concerning the daughters of Zelophehad, saying, [Let them marry to whom they think best; only to the family of the tribe of their father shall they marry].

These words hold true even today in our time because God does not change!

Marriage:

2Co 6:14 Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?
2Co 6:15 And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel?
2Co 6:16 And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.
2Co 6:17 Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you,
2Co 6:18 And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.

Fornication:

Act 15:29 That ye abstain from meats offered to idols, and from blood, and from things strangled, and from fornication: from which if ye keep yourselves, ye shall do well. Fare ye well.

Things sacrificed to Idols:

1Co 10:19 What say I then? that the idol is any thing, or that which is offered in sacrifice to idols is any thing?
1Co 10:20 But I say, that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice, they sacrifice to devils, and not to God: and I would not that ye should have fellowship with devils.

The church in Corinth had a lot in common with this church in Pergamos as does a lot of the church in 2010. Satan does not have to change his tactics in any age.

Balaam met his bitter end just as God said:

Jos 13:22 Balaam also the son of Beor, the soothsayer, [did the children of Israel slay with the sword among them that were slain by them].

Just as Proverbs 29 had said.

Num 31:8 And they slew the kings of Midian, beside the rest of them that were slain; namely, Evi, and Rekem, and Zur, and Hur, and Reba, five kings of Midian: [Balaam also the son of Beor they slew with the sword].

He was still hanging out with the enemies of God and trying to fill his pocketbook. The secular church in our day and time is filled with this influence of Balaam because there are still many Balaams who have climbed behind the pulpits of many churches and they hang right with the ruling elite of today trying their best to fill their pocketbooks in any way they can.

Paul warns us again:

Rom 16:17 Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offenses contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them.
Rom 16:18 [For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple].

Jude says:

Jud 1:16 These are murmurers, complainers, [walking after their own lusts; and their mouth speaketh great swelling words, having men's persons in admiration because of advantage].
Jud 1:17 But, beloved, remember ye the words which were spoken before of the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ;
Jud 1:18 How that they told you there should be mockers in the last time, [who should walk after their own ungodly lusts.
Jud 1:19 These be they who separate themselves, sensual, having not the Spirit].

Remember God said this church had these people already inside the church and not outside trying to get in. If you do not have the Holy Spirit inside of you then you are not saved.

*****Rev 2:15 So hast thou also them that hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitans, which thing I hate.

At the church of Ephesus the Lord had said they hated the the deeds of the Nicolaitans but now this group of people had gained entrance into the church of Pergamos. These are the ones that want absolute rule of the church. The so called perfect ones.

The Apostle John wrote of these:

3Jn 1:9 I wrote unto the church: but Diotrephes, [who loveth to have the preeminence among them, receiveth us not].
3Jn 1:10 Wherefore, if I come, I will remember his deeds which he doeth, prating against us with malicious words: and not content therewith, neither doth he himself receive the brethren, and forbiddeth them that would, and casteth them out of the church.

These come in the form of members, deacons, and ministers among other things. It is the church that Christ is writing to. It is the church that rules the church with the instruction from Jesus Christ our Lord. [The church belongs to Jesus or it is not a church].

Act 20:28 Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, [which he hath purchased with his own blood].

Paul also had this warning which has held true:

Act 20:29 For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, [not sparing the flock].
Act 20:30 [Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them].

Satan will do anything to hinder the work of the church of Jesus Christ.

Note: Read more about the Nicolaitans in the lesson "Message to Ephesus".

*****Rev 2:16 Repent; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth.

Repent!

When we look in any direction besides unto God, we are in need of repentance!

Isa 45:22 Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth: for I am God, and there is none else.

We have to turn from unrighteous works to the living God:

Act 14:15 [And saying, Sirs, why do ye these things?] We also are men of like passions with you, and preach unto you [that ye should turn from these vanities] unto the living God, which made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and all things that are therein:
Act 14:16 Who in times past suffered all nations to walk in their own ways.

We have to lay aside all forms of evilness:

Heb 12:1 Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,
Heb 12:2 [Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith]; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

Remember that twoedged sword. One side of that sword is counseling to make the church better. The other side of the sword is the rebuke of the Lord, His wrath. God is giving these massages to His church in order that [more lost souls be saved].

This is the purpose of the church, to carry God's word to the lost. When those Nicolaitans show up in our church, we need to expose them for what they are, give them room to repent and if to no avail we need to turn them over to Satan.

1Co 5:5 To deliver such an one unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.
1Co 5:6 Your glorying is not good. [Know ye not that a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump]?

It is the Church, those Born Again Saved Souls of Christ, that are to see that the Church goes forward for Jesus!

*****Rev 2:17 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh 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 knoweth saving he that receiveth it.

Again the Holy Spirit encourages all the church of Jesus to listen to these words.

Heb 6:17 Wherein God, willing more abundantly to shew unto the heirs of promise the immutability of his counsel, confirmed it by an oath:
Heb 6:18 That by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us:

What is the hidden manna?

Manna was the food God sent down from Heaven to feed the children of Israel for forty years in the wilderness. Some was gathered at one time and place in the Ark of the Covenant.

Exo 16:33 And Moses said unto Aaron, Take a pot, and put an omer full of manna therein, and lay it up before the LORD, to be kept for your generations.

This Ark was placed in side the Veil of the Tabernacle.

Heb 9:2 For there was a tabernacle made; the first, wherein was the candlestick, and the table, and the shewbread; which is called the sanctuary.
Heb 9:3 And after the second veil, the tabernacle which is called the Holiest of all;
Heb 9:4 Which had the golden censer, and the ark of the covenant overlaid round about with gold, wherein was the golden pot that had manna, and Aaron's rod that budded, and the tables of the covenant;
Heb 9:5 And over it the cherubims of glory shadowing the mercyseat; of which we cannot now speak particularly.

We find out later that the pot of Manna is missing from inside the Ark.

1Ki 8:9 There was nothing in the ark save the two tables of stone, which Moses put there at Horeb, when the LORD made a covenant with the children of Israel, when they came out of the land of Egypt.

So is this now what is called the "hidden manna".

The Ark has never been located but we know that the Earthly ark was built by a pattern in Heaven.

Rev 11:19 And the temple of God was opened in heaven, and [there was seen in his temple the ark of his testament]: and there were lightnings, and voices, and thunderings, and an earthquake, and great hail.

Has God taken it all back to Heaven.

We do have these words of Jesus.

Joh 6:31 Our fathers did eat manna in the desert; as it is written, He gave them bread from heaven to eat.
Joh 6:32 Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Moses gave you not that bread from heaven; but [my Father giveth you the true bread from heaven].

What is the true bread?

Joh 6:49 Your fathers did eat manna in the wilderness, [and are dead].
Joh 6:50 This is the bread which cometh down from heaven, that a man may eat thereof, and [not die].
Joh 6:51 [I am the living bread which came down from heaven]: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever: and the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.

Is this the "hidden manna"? I believe this is the "hidden manna".

Joh 6:58 This is that bread which came down from heaven: not as your fathers did eat manna, and are dead: [he that eateth of this bread shall live for ever].

The Bible says.

Col 3:2 Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.
Col 3:3 For ye are dead, and [your life is hid] with Christ in God.

Is this the "hidden manna" the word of God hidden in your own heart?

Jesus Christ had these words.

Joh 4:31 In the mean while his disciples prayed him, saying, Master, eat.
Joh 4:32 But he said unto them, [I have meat to eat that ye know not of].

There are some mysteries in the Bible.

Mat 13:11 He answered and said unto them, Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given.

God's children will know most all His secrets.

Psa 25:14 [The secret of the LORD is with them that fear him]; and he will shew them his covenant.

The food from Heaven will satisfy all hunger.

Psa 36:8 They shall be abundantly satisfied [with the fatness of thy house]; and thou shalt make them drink of [the river of thy pleasures].

This food will bring life to the soul.

Pro 3:22 So shall they be life unto thy soul, and grace to thy neck.

We will never hunger again.

Isa 65:13 Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD, Behold, my servants shall eat, but ye shall be hungry: behold, my servants shall drink, but ye shall be thirsty: behold, my servants shall rejoice, but ye shall be ashamed:
Isa 65:14 Behold, my servants shall sing for joy of heart, but ye shall cry for sorrow of heart, and shall howl for vexation of spirit.
Isa 65:15 And ye shall leave your name for a curse unto my chosen: for the Lord GOD shall slay thee, and [call his servants by another name]:

That new name will go on that "white stone"!

It is believed that this term the "white stone" comes an ancient voting custom. There were white and black stones. A white stone was cast for approval and a black stone was cast for rejection. We get our phrase "blackballed" from this system of voting. This system may have even began in the arenas where athletes performed. It could also have been a means of the Sanhedrin Court. Listen to what the Apostle Paul says.

Act 26:10 Which thing I also did in Jerusalem: and many of the saints did I shut up in prison, having received authority from the chief priests; and when they were put to death, [I gave] my voice against them.

The Jews were well aware of this system of choosing as they had, had the Urim and the Thummim all these years in their religion.

Exo 28:30 And thou shalt put in the breastplate of judgment the Urim and the Thummim; and they shall be upon Aaron's heart, when he goeth in before the LORD: and Aaron shall bear the judgment of the children of Israel upon his heart before the LORD continually.

In our Christian dispensation, the high-priest's peculiar treasure, [consultation of God's light and truth, belongs to all believers as spiritual priests].

The "white stone", has been regarded as referring to the pebble of acquittal used in the Greek courts; to the lot cast in elections in Greece; to both of these combined; to the stones in the high priest's breastplate; to the tickets presented to the victor, at the public games; or, lastly, to the custom of writing on stones.

We know that a "white stone" always means the God has chosen the church through His Son Christ Jesus in this time of grace and in this time of the Church Age.

Let's pray!