Jesus Revealed In The Revelation #7

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;

We see Jesus revealed in this verse as the one who has the sharp sword with two edges. The only other place we see this reference in the New Testament is in 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.

Jesus Christ is the living word, and the Bible is the written word, which is also alive. We also read about the word of God as a sword in Eph. 6:17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: Remember in this revelation of Jesus, he is the one who has the sword. He is the one who wields the sword. If God does not effect the purpose of the word of God in hearts, then it has no purpose. Isaiah 55:11 So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.

If God had not sent Jesus to the earth to die for our sins, we would still be in our sins and would be of men most miserable (1 Cor. 15:19). The same is true if God had not sent the word of God for us to prosper. The Bible is sent to us for a purpose. 2 Tim. 3:16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:

We know that these scriptures (the Bible) were sent by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, moving upon the writers to commit to writing the very things that God intended for us to have in the Bible. 2 Peter 1:21 For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.


Now it is not we who have the power over the word of God to wield it and make it effective in men's lives; it is Jesus Christ who has the sword, who makes it effective and executes its purpose among men. We must realize that the word of God is not for us to interpret but for Christ to effectively manifest in men's lives as we preach it to them. Without this effort on Jesus' part to make the word effective, we should be able to do nothing. John 15:5 I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.

Now there are at least three ways in which Jesus Christ used this sword toward his people. First is that of Knowledge. He says, "I know thy works" (vs. 13). Of course, we know that Jesus knows everything; but in practice we act as though he may not. He knew the works of the believers at Pergamos. Jesus also uses the sword in Determination. He determined that he had something against this church, because there were some in the church who held the doctrine of Balaam and the doctrine of the Nicolaitans. These things the Lord hated, but the church allowed such members to stay in the church. The third way in which the Lord used the sword was in Judgment. He said in Rev. 2:16 Repent; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth.

Paul told Timothy in 2 Tim. 2:15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. We must study it, because we have no a priori knowledge of the word of God but must receive it from God himself. If we study and know God's word, then we do not need to be ashamed of what we preach and what we do. We must divide the word of truth (or handle it) in the proper way. How is it that we should handle it? We should remember that it is not our word but Christ's. We are using borrowed property when we preach his word. If we handle it this way, then God will bless it in our witness and in our practice. Remember, it has two edges. One cuts one way, and the other cuts the other way. In other words, that which you preach applies not only to your hearers but also to you. Judge not, that he be not judged. Whatever you preach or witness to others, God expects in you. Let us all take heed to what we teach and preach, to what we believe and witness. Jesus Christ is the true possessor of his word.