Doctrine of Balaam Revelation 2.14

Revelation 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.

The Church at Pergamos, a place where “Satan’s throne is”. In the midst of a city with at least three major temples to the Grecian And Roman gods this city was killing Christians because they would not worship their gods. This many of the believers in this city however had discovered that by imitating the behavior of the unbelieving they could avoid the threats and hurt. They compromised in their sexual behavior.

The doctrine of Balaam was that of a prophet (numbers 22) who was asked to curse Israel as they marched towards the Promise Land. He was given lots of riches to do this. God told him several times to not go but he went anyhow and at the persistence of the King (Baalak) he ended up suggesting that the king undermine Israel’s strength through sexual immorality and turning their hearts towards the gods of Moab.

We need to remind ourselves that sex outside of marriage is a compromise of God’s standards and will only bring hurt to us and will weaken the church as a whole. The church must continue to take a stand against compromise and sexual immorality (even pornography and self gratification). The world says that there is nothing wrong with this, it is just a natural urge. “The two become one” and that bond can create strength but it also causes weakness in that we will do anything to satisfy that person and compromise anything in order to continue in their embrace. It caused the wisest man in the world Solomon to fall let us not think we can avoid the pitfall.