Read Rev 2:12-13 about Pergamum
Now for the Negative Statement
Rev 2:14-15
14 But I have a few things against thee, because thou hast there some that hold the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to cast a stumbling block before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed to idols, and to commit fornication. 15 So hast thou also some that hold the teaching of the Nicolaitans in like manner.
Start with Nicolaitans. Some from Pergamum retain and use the teaching of the Nicolaitans.
Nicolaitans were followers of Nicolaus, who was mentioned in Acts 6:5. He was chosen to be one of seven men to help in ministry in Jerusalem along with Stephen, Phillip and 4 others.
Act 6:5
And the saying pleased the whole multitude: and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit, and Philip, and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolaus a proselyte of Antioch;
History says Nicolas (the Nicolaitans) distorted Paul’s teaching on liberty. Giving them freedom to abuse the flesh.
Hence: Rev 2:6
But this thou hast, that thou hatest the works of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate.
***No biblical support that this***
That leaves us with using the word "Nicolaitan" itself to identify who it may be.
Nicolaitan comes from two words, "Nikao", meaning "to conquer", and "laity", meaning "the people".
Ministers are to make disciples of Jesus and His Word, not themselves and their traditions.
God never wanted a king over Israel; men did. (Think Saul)
2. Teachings of Balaam
-teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to cast a stumbling block before the children of Israel
Balaam means "not of the people"
Balak means "a devastator or spoiler"
NT mentions of Balaam
2Pe 2:15-16
forsaking the right way, they went astray, having followed the way of Balaam the son of Beor, who loved the hire of wrong-doing; 16 but he was rebuked for his own transgression: a dumb ass spake with man's voice and stayed the madness of the prophet.
Some in Pergamum who…
Forsaked the right way
Followed the way that Balaam did
Balaam loved hire(or wages) of wrongdoing
Prophet
2Pe 2:17-18
17 These are springs without water, and mists driven by a storm; for whom the blackness of darkness hath been reserved. 18 For, uttering great swelling words of vanity, they entice in the lusts of the flesh, by lasciviousness, those who are just escaping from them that live in error
Some in Pergamum who…
springs without water
mists driven by a storm
uttering great swelling words of vanity
entice in the lusts of the flesh those who are just escaping (from cleanness)(from them that live in error)
lasciviousness
- driven by lust; preoccupied with or exhibiting lustful desires.
What was Balaam was lustful for?
Money or some type of gain
Jud 1:11-13
11 Woe unto them! for they went in the way of Cain, and ran riotously in the error of Balaam for hire, and perished in the gainsaying of Korah. 12 These are they who are hidden rocks in your love-feasts when they feast with you, shepherds that without fear feed themselves; clouds without water, carried along by winds; autumn trees without fruit, twice dead, plucked up by the roots; 13 wild waves of the sea, foaming out their own shame; wandering stars, for whom the blackness of darkness hath been reserved for ever.
Jud 1:4
For certain men have crept in privily, who were of old written of beforehand unto this: condemnation, ungodly, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Master and our Lord, Jesus Christ.
Jud 1:19
These are they who make separations, having only soul, not having Spirit.
***Jude may have been a brother or relative of Jesus
Show map of "Moab.jpg"
Review Moses/children of Israel and their location near Jericho, Moab, Midian and Amon
Num 22:1-5
1 And the children of Israel journeyed, and encamped in the plains of Moab beyond the Jordan at Jericho. 2 And Balak the son of Zippor saw all that Israel had done to the Amorites. 3 And Moab was sore afraid of the people, because they were many: and Moab was distressed because of the children of Israel. 4 And Moab said unto the elders of Midian, Now will this multitude lick up all that is round about us, as the ox licketh up the grass of the field. And Balak the son of Zippor was king of Moab at that time. 5 And he sent messengers unto Balaam the son of Beor, to Pethor, which is by the River, to the land of the children of his people, to call him, saying, Behold, there is a people come out from Egypt: behold, they cover the face of the earth, and they abide over against me.
Summary
Children of Israel in plains of Moab near Jericho
Balak - king of Moab sees what Israel had done to Amorites and is afraid
Balak - many Israelites, fewer Moabites
Balak gathers the elders of Midian (means 'strife').
Show "Pethor.jpg" on screen
Midian is a territory south of Moab of which Balak calls and asks for wisdom from it's elders
Evidently, the plan they concoct is to reach out for assistance to Balaam, the son of Beor who lives in Pethor. Messengers are sent to Balaam.
Pethor mean "soothsayer" possible in Mesopotamia near the Euphrates River, site unknown
What land may Pethor be near? Babylon
**Assumption: this entire event didn't happen over night
Num 22:6-12
6 Come now therefore, I pray thee, curse me this people; for they are too mighty for me: peradventure I shall prevail, that we may smite them, and that I may drive them out of the land; for I know that he whom thou blessest is blessed, and he whom thou cursest is cursed. 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. 8 And he said unto them, Lodge here this night, and I will bring you word again, as Jehovah shall speak unto me: and the princes of Moab abode with Balaam. 9 And God came unto Balaam, and said, What men are these with thee? 10 And Balaam said unto God, Balak the son of Zippor, king of Moab, hath sent unto me, saying, 11 Behold, the people that is come out of Egypt, it covereth the face of the earth: now, come curse me them; peradventure I shall be able to fight against them, and shall drive them out. 12 And God said unto Balaam, Thou shalt not go with them; thou shalt not curse the people; for they are blessed.
Summary
Balaam, curse the Israelites for they are too mighty
Both the elders of Moab and Midian head out to Pethor w their cash
They find Balaam, explain the situation to him. The elders of Moab stay with Balaam. Where do the elders of Midian stay?
Holiday Inn
Balaam meets with God. How?
God tells Balaam not to go with these elders back to Moab (?). Don't curse the people people because they are blessed.
Num 22:13-20
13 And Balaam rose up in the morning, and said unto the princes of Balak, Get you into your land; for Jehovah refuseth to give me leave to go with you. 14 And the princes of Moab rose up, and they went unto Balak, and said, Balaam refuseth to come with us. 15 And Balak sent yet again princes, more, and more honorable than they. 16 And they came to Balaam, and said to him, Thus saith Balak the son of Zippor, Let nothing, I pray thee, hinder thee from coming unto me: 17 for I will promote thee unto very great honor, and whatsoever thou sayest unto me I will do: come therefore, I pray thee, curse me this people. 18 And Balaam answered and said unto the servants of Balak, If Balak would give me his house full of silver and gold, I cannot go beyond the word of Jehovah my God, to do less or more. 19 Now therefore, I pray you, tarry ye also here this night, that I may know what Jehovah will speak unto me more. 20 And God came unto Balaam at night, and said unto him, If the men are come to call thee, rise up, go with them; but only the word which I speak unto thee, that shalt thou do.
Summary
Balaam listens to God, and refuses to leave with the elders of Moab/Midian.
Balaam seems like a good dude so far.
Princes/elders go all the way back to Balak in Moab and tell him.
Balak sends more honorable princes (of Moab only?) back to Balaam. How much time is passing here?
"Come back with us and curse the children of Israel"
What else might these more honorable men have? Money
Should God's spokesperson be persuaded by influence (or money). No
Balaam, a second time, refuses to go with these princes of Moab. And says, "I can't go beyond the word of the Lord, to do more of less"
Honorable? Yes
"Wait here tonight and I'll ask God if He has more to say to me."
Honorable? Maybe, they had left for a stretch of time, then returned again.
Maybe Balaam is just being careful?
God tells Balaam, "If the men are come to call thee, rise up, go with the men (to Moab?). But speak only the words which I speak.
Is Balaam wicked yet?
Not sure.
-Maybe he shouldn't have asked again.
-Princes had been gone for a while. Maybe asking about this time?
Num 22:21-25
21 And Balaam rose up in the morning, and saddled his ass, and went with the princes of Moab. 22 And God's anger was kindled because he went; and the angel of Jehovah placed himself in the way for an adversary against him. Now he was riding upon his ass, and his two servants were with him. 23 And the ass saw the angel of Jehovah standing in the way, with his sword drawn in his hand; and the ass turned aside out of the way, and went into the field: and Balaam smote the ass, to turn her into the way. 24 Then the angel of Jehovah stood in a narrow path between the vineyards, a wall being on this side, and a wall on that side. 25 And the ass saw the angel of Jehovah, and she thrust herself unto the wall, and crushed Balaam's foot against the wall: and he smote her again.
God is angry. Why?
Didn't need to ask
Maybe Balaam didn't follow vs20…"if the men are come to call thee, rise and go"?
Maybe he didn't wait for the men to call?
Maybe Balaam is motivated by the financial gain and it isn't stated here?
Any other thoughts?
Angel of the lord after as an adversary against him.
Who might this be?
Balaam was riding on an ass, and his two servants were with him.
Who else rides on an ass in the gospels? Jesus (is this an end time type of the wayward church?)
The angel has a drawn sword (word) and sends the Balaam off the narrow path.
If Balaam represents the end time church, what does the ass represent?
Prob the misrepresented gospel that the wayward end time church uses to ride the narrow path.
When misused, they are knocked off the narrow path. Balaam foot is crushed against the wall. What might his foot represent? His walk.
Pro 4:27
Turn not to the right hand nor to the left: Remove thy foot from evil.
Num 22:26-35
26 And the angel of Jehovah went further, and stood in a narrow place, where was no way to turn either to the right hand or to the left. 27 And the ass saw the angel of Jehovah, and she lay down under Balaam: and Balaam's anger was kindled, and he smote the ass with his staff. 28 And Jehovah opened the mouth of the ass, and she said unto Balaam, What have I done unto thee, that thou hast smitten me these three times? 29 And Balaam said unto the ass, Because thou hast mocked me, I would there were a sword in my hand, for now I had killed thee. 30 And the ass said unto Balaam, Am not I thine ass, upon which thou hast ridden all thy life long unto this day? was I ever wont to do so unto thee? and he said, Nay. 31 Then Jehovah opened the eyes of Balaam, and he saw the angel of Jehovah standing in the way, with his sword drawn in his hand; and he bowed his head, and fell on his face. 32 And the angel of Jehovah said unto him, Wherefore hast thou smitten thine ass these three times? behold, I am come forth for an adversary, because thy way is perverse before me: 33 and the ass saw me, and turned aside before me these three times: unless she had turned aside from me, surely now I had even slain thee, and saved her alive. 34 And Balaam said unto the angel of Jehovah, I have sinned; for I knew not that thou stoodest in the way against me: now therefore, if it displease thee, I will get me back again. 35 And the angel of Jehovah said unto Balaam, Go with the men; but only the word that I shall speak unto thee, that thou shalt speak. So Balaam went with the princes of Balak.
Summary
Angel of the Lord stands in narrow place
Donkey lays down under Balaam
Angry Balaam beats donkey with his staff 3x's (third day)
Ass talks to Balaam, asking him why he beats him 3x's. Donkey sees "Jesus". The rider didn't.
Angel (Jesus) becomes an adversary to Balaam because his way is perverse before him.
Balaam repents when being shown the error of his ways.
Angel again states to Balaam "Go with the men; but only the word that I shall speak unto thee, that thou shalt speak."
Angel of the Lord reveals His identify in vs 35. Same words as were spoken in vs 20.
God = speaks in verse 20
Angel of Lord = speaks in vs 35
More than likely, this is JESUS.
Num 22:36-41
36 And when Balak heard that Balaam was come, he went out to meet him unto the City of Moab, which is on the border of the Arnon, which is in the utmost part of the border. 37 And Balak said unto Balaam, Did I not earnestly send unto thee to call thee? wherefore camest thou not unto me? am I not able indeed to promote thee to honor? 38 And Balaam said unto Balak, Lo, I am come unto thee: have I now any power at all to speak anything? the word that God putteth in my mouth, that shall I speak. 39 And Balaam went with Balak, and they came unto Kiriath-huzoth. 40 And Balak sacrificed oxen and sheep, and sent to Balaam, and to the princes that were with him. 41 And it came to pass in the morning, that Balak took Balaam, and brought him up into the high places of Baal; and he saw from thence the utmost part of the people.
Summary
Balaam arrives in Moab and is greeted by Balak
"Why didn't you come? Am I of able to honor thee?"
Balaam tells Balaak he will speak only the words that God gives him.
Balaam goes with Balak to city Kirjathhuzoth
Balak offers sacrifice of sheep and oxen. And sends sends it to Balaam. Here, Balaam eats food sacrificed to idols (as stated back in Rev 2:14)
Rev 2:14
But I have a few things against thee, because thou hast there some that hold the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to cast a stumblingblock before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed to idols, and to commit fornication.
Balaam is brought to the high places of Baal. And sees the children of Israel from the high places of Baal. Significant?
Spiritual fornication?
Yes
So he sees the children of Israel through or from the high places of Baal. Possible meaning?
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