The next sermon of our Revelation series brought us through Revelation 2:12-29, where we looked at the two following letters written to the churches in Pergamum and Thyatira. Here we see the challenge of Jesus’ words to hold fast and remain faithful despite persecution and severe opposition. Once again we see how Jesus knows His church and His people by name: He commends them for their patient endurance, growth, and good works; and rebukes them for their faltering ways of compromise, their toleration of sin and false teaching. Through the warnings and rebuke, we see that God takes unfaithfulness, idolatry, and immorality very seriously. The rejection of true doctrine leads to the dangerous acceptance of false teaching and compromise, which then lead to unfaithfulness to Jesus, and ultimately leading to severe judgment. As doctrine determines our living, let us then hold fast to the gospel of Christ. For those who hold fast, who do not compromise, who are faithful to end - we will share in Jesus Christ’s glorious final victory when He comes again.
