Pictures of Jesus in Revelation
Repent, or else I will come to you quickly and will fight against them with the sword of My mouth – Revelation 2:16
Pergamos was a wicked city rife with immorality and idolatry. Jesus addressed this congregation in Revelation 2. He told them, “You hold fast to My name.” There were faithful believers who held up under pressure even when one of their own was martyred because of his faith. On the other hand, there were those who succumbed to the temptation of sexual immorality as part of pagan worship, the same trap into which the Children of Israel fell centuries before.
Jesus called for repentance. The lack of repentance would result in Jesus fighting against them with the sword of His mouth, which is the word of God. He would come with words of powerful condemnation.
Understand the purpose behind the threat. When precious souls are in danger, Jesus acts. He wants to protect those who are His. He fights for us against those who would harm us. That included those who lured some members of the church in Pergamos into destruction through immorality and idolatry. Jesus fights against other enemies pictured in Revelation: the Dragon (the devil), the Beast from the Sea (ungodly governments) and the Beast from the Land (the Antichrist).
We do well to heed the warnings of Jesus. At the same time, we rejoice that Jesus loves us so much that He calls us back to Him. Jesus values souls. The value is seen in the price of His precious blood used to pay for them. He will stop at nothing to call souls back to Him, and fight for God’s children until the last trumpet sounds.
With might of ours can naught be done, soon were our loss effected;
But for us fights the valiant One, whom God Himself elected.
The Lutheran Hymnal 262:2