In this week’s study, I finish up with the Church of Pergamos at verse 17
Pergamos was a city in the southern part of Mysia, the capital of a kingdom of that name, and afterward of the Roman province of Asia Propria. Some of the pagan temples that were seated there are the temples of Jupiter and Diana, of Aesculapius [healing] and Venus. It is called "Satan's seat" by John, which some suppose to refer to the worship of Aesculapius, from the serpent being his characteristic emblem. Others refer it to the persecutions of Christians, which was work of Satan.
He that hath an ear, let him hear = Every Christian, whoever can hear at all, should carefully listen to this. Pay special attention to the message that Yahshua Messiah is giving us!
What the Spirit saith = This Holy Spirit. That driving FORCE from Yahweh, in these great and precious promises. Focus on what is being said in this book of Revelation.
To the churches = “ek-kelsia” That called out assembly. Called out from what? Sin, bondage, church traditions, doctrines etc.
Overcometh = “nik-ah'-o” From “nee-kay”; to subdue (literally or figuratively): - conquer, overcome, prevail, get the victory.
To him that overcometh = To him who continues steadfast in the faith, and uncorrupt in his or her life; who faithfully confesses Yahshua Messiah, and neither absorbs the doctrines nor is led away by the error of the wicked one.
To eat of = most of the texts omit this phrase. However, I agree with the writers of the King James. Why? How else are we going to partake of the manna. To me it just like taking communion.
Hidden = “kroop'-to” A primary verb; to conceal (properly by covering). Why does John write “hidden”? It is hidden to those that don’t have the ears to hear or eyes to see. To hear and see what? The Word! The Logos! COULD this be the posititve of those false ministers that teach the souls to fly away. Ezk. 13: 18-20.
Manna = The true spiritual food; the food that nourishes the soul. The idea is, that the souls of those who “overcame,” or who gained the victory in their conflict with sin, and in the persecutions and trials of the world, would be permitted to partake of that spiritual food which is laid up for the people of Yahweh, and by which they will be nourished forever. The Hebrew’s were supported by manna in the desert Exod. 16:16-35; a pot of that manna was laid up in the most holy place, to be preserved as a memorial Exod. 16:32-34; it is called “angels’ food” Psa. 78:25, and “corn of heaven” Psa. 78:24; and it would seem to have been symbolic of that spiritual food by which the people of Yahweh are to be fed from heaven, in their journey through this world. By the word “hidden,” there would seem to be an allusion to what was laid up in the pot before the ark of the testimony, and the blessing which is promised here is that they would be nourished as if they were sustained by that manna thus laid up before the ark: by food from the immediate presence of Yahweh. The language thus explained would mean that they who overcome will be nourished through this life as if by that “hidden manna”; that is, that they will be supplied all along through the “wilderness of this world” by that food from the immediate presence of Yahweh which their souls require. We can also think on this hidden manna as hidden truth. Amos 8:11.
Don’t end up like those in Hosea 4:6 ‘My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me: seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God (Elohim), I will also forget thy children.’
Join me as we go Chapter by Chapter, Verse by Verse, Unraveling the Words of Yahweh!
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