CONT...from last week.
8. Balaam had to die. Balaam had given King Balak the knowledge he needed to bring about a curse on Israel by having them curse themselves for being disobedient to the Lord. Therefore, Balaam was killed by the Israelites. The Bible says: “ In addition to those slain in battle, the Israelites had put to the sword Balaam son of Beor, who practiced divination” (Joshua 13:22). The Lord does not tolerate anyone who is against Him. If you are not for the Lord, you are His enemy, and Balaam was an enemy of the Lord and His people. Wickedness is not to be compromised with but must be put to a spiritual death.
It was important for the church to repent and turn away from those things that displeased the Lord, which included the erroneous doctrine of compromise taught by the Nicolaitans. The Lord appealed for them to repent, or they would face judgment per His spoken Word. The Bible says: “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil” (2 Corinthians 5:10). One should desire to follow Jesus’ commands rather than being judged for disobeying them. The prophet Samuel had this to say to King Saul regarding obedience to the Lord…“But Samuel replied: “Does the Lord delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in obeying the Lord? To obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed is better than the fat of rams” (1 Samuel 15:22).
Jesus promised to give hidden manna to those who endure to the end and are victorious. This hidden manna is the bread of life that comes from the Lord. All who believe in Jesus, remain devoted to Him and avoid compromising with the world will receive this spiritual nourishment. The Bible says: “Then Jesus declared, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty” (John 6:35). One must have a hunger for the Word; thus, they will find fulfillment and spiritual nourishment in Jesus.
There are many theories regarding the symbolism of the white stone the Apostle John saw inscribed with a new name in his vision. However, one plausible theory regarding its meaning is derived from an ancient Roman custom of awarding white stones (tesserae) to athletic competition winners. The victor was given a tesserae with his name inscribed, allowing entry to special banquets and celebrations. The tesserai was also used in court trials to symbolize acquittals. In addition to these uses, Rome utilized white stones to illuminate streets at night during a time when there were no flashlights, electricity, or street lights as we have today.[1] Comparatively, Jesus has let us know that we will have a white stone with new names inscribed on it that only we will understand. Remember in the Old Testament when the Lord changed people’s names, such as Abram to Abraham, Jacob to Israel, and Simon to Peter? With each name change came a physical and/or spiritual status change. No one was ever the same after God changed their name. They had a new identity, a new mission, a new destiny in Him.
Just as with Rome, the white stone signifies our victory in Christ, for He has acquitted us of all sin by shedding His blood. As a result of the work Jesus did for us, He now shines through us, and our new name will represent the change we will experience for all who make it to the end – from mortality to immortality. The Bible says: “For the perishable must clothe itself with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality” (1 Corinthians 15:53).
[1] The Archaeologist Editorial Staff, "Ancient Romans Used Reflective Stones As Early Street Lights in Pompeii Roads," The Archaeologist, last modified June 4, 2024, https://www.thearchaeologist.org/blog/ancient-romans-used-reflective-stones-as-early-street-lights-in-pompeii-roads.
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