I’ve recently been given a serious word to churches wrestling with the influence of Pergamum, (Rev 2:17) and in trying to understand this word I’ve had to do a lot of research and prayer on this issue and it’s given me a lot of fresh understanding of this spiritual condition. Pergamum was a city where Caesar was very prominently worshiped as a god, and describes a spiritual demonic principality where men are in a way worshipped. Certain individuals or positions are held in such high esteem that their rule is practically beyond question or scrutiny, as men and man’s ways are followed as if they were divine doctrine. (Mark 7:7 ‘They worship me in vain; their teachings are but rules taught by men.’ (NIV) ‘But in vain do they worship me, teaching as doctrines the precepts of men.’ (NASB) also see Mathew 15:9)

Also, the false distinction between the “clergy” or leadership, and the “laity” or normal people, is strongly held. This is why within Pergamum the powers of Balaam and the Nicolaitans are free to operate.

The spirit of the Nicolaitans is a way the Lord describes the spirit of control, dominance and abuse that operates in these churches. The Greek name Nicolaitan basically means “to conquer and rule the people like a tyrant,” and is similar to the Hebrew name Balaam, which means “to devour or swallow up the people.”

Such a spiritual atmosphere is clearly an open door to the spirits of Pharisee, and even Jezebel as well. Such symbolic names depict the nature of these controlling principalities that propagate false doctrines and sinful beliefs, especially about the power and privileges church leadership have over ‘normal’ people.

We name some of these forces of spiritual wickedness after the people in the Bible who behaved under their influence. So for example we are not wrestling against the real Sidonian woman Jezebel who was queen of Israel, but with the spiritual power that manifested in her life so strongly that it made her behave the way she did in persecuting the prophets, manipulating the nation to worship Baal, and abandon the Lord.

These spirits attack by being deceptive influences in the churches, which means they want to stay hidden so they can flavor discussions, sway thoughts, influence decisions and infect doctrines to basically pollute the environment, even if they don’t have complete dominance. So we may not easily recognize their presence, especially if we are used to operating in such an environment in the world around us, (in the marketplace, government, education system, our communities, etc.), and so we may become blind to their presence. We also don’t want to go on a zealous witch-hunt! Nevertheless this is a cancerous disease that MUST BE DEALT WITH, especially when the Lord reveals it, as He is doing across the whole world in this season. The Lord’s Spirit will reveal the presence of such powers to you, and will also guide you in what He wants YOU to do about them: repent, pray, fast, expose, speak up, etc.

In a nutshell, the spiritual environment of Pergamum is the opposite leadership atmosphere of the Kingdom, as our Lord and Savior said in Mark 9:33-35

³³They came to Capernaum. When he was in the house, he asked them, “What were you arguing about on the road?” ³⁴But they kept quiet because on the way they had argued about who was the greatest. ³⁵Sitting down, Jesus called the Twelve and said, “If anyone wants to be first, he must be the very last, and the servant of all.”

Promise of Fresh Manna

But the great news is that these powers can be defeated and once you have faced their deception and cast it off, the promises of fresh manna, a white stone and a new name are given to you. Part of the fresh manna is revelatory understanding of how the church ought to be run, as opposed to how it operates under the spirits of abuse, control, and false religion.

During this process I got this word from the Lord that contains some of the fresh manna He promised to release once these powers are defeated. Fresh manna is new insight, new understanding that will often be at odds with previously held views that were incorrectly based on tradition, misinformation and speculation.

Emotions

People say when you warfare to ‘sow in the opposite spirit,’ but if that were always true then your warfare is sown against what demonic environment? Peace? No, I tell you to put on your armor every day.

Instead of merely ‘sowing in the opposite spirit,’ I tell you today I want my chosen vessels to “flow in the Holy Spirit.” That will lead you to victory in all warfare, not just being able to respond with a calm demeanor when someone comes against you in impatience or anger. For I tell you, not all anger is from me, but not all ‘peace’ is from me either. If you want to pacify people, be wise in handling your emotions. And if you want to be victorious in your warfare, then “flow in the Holy Spirit” and you will conquer the forces of darkness that seek to enslave your soul — which is what you really want, isn’t it?

I want you to read my Word carefully, and understand who I AM. I also have ‘emotions’ for I am an emotional God, and I am the author of your capacity for emotions. I do not function emotionally entirely as you do, who are still subject to the chaos and confusion of the fallen world, but through my redemptive purposes of the Son of God dying in your stead, you have been made free from the hold of confusion and corruption. Don’t trust all of your emotions, but don’t discount all of them either. Sometimes your passionate emotions are from me too you know, from my Spirit into your inner man, such as compassion, the bitterness of grief, and the hunger of longing that my holy apostles and prophets such as Jesus displayed with such fervency.

I want you to be clear in seeing that I get upset at people. It is not a cover to the flesh emotions, but I got mad enough at Moses to want to kill him and all the people more than once.

This is dismissed by people nowadays saying, ‘But that is the God of the Old Testament” — Am I two different Gods? This is a false teaching. I AM the same Yesterday, Today and Forever.

Covering

Second, about ‘covering’ — this means control — and where the Spirit of the Lord is there is FREEDOM — so where is the room for control? The only control I do is through you to be conformed willingly into the image of My Son who is One with Me — we, you and I, are or will be One as well — so where is there need for me to control you and FORCE you to become like me, follow my plans, or play ‘follow the leader’?

Think long and hard about this the next time some man or woman tells you to ‘submit’ in this forceful way — I do not force my way — I am God, and yet I invite you to come and reason with Me. You can come to me with any question you might have and I am good. I am your Father. I know your thoughts. I know what you are going through. I know what you are dealing with. I will love. I will understand. I will help. I will guide. I will teach. I will instruct. I will explain. I work with infinite patience and mercy. I am slow to anger and I do not control like man controls. My heart is to set you free, not to force my way. Herein lies the difference.

I love you — what reason could I give, what possible justification could I give to MYSELF for wanting or trying to control you by shouting SUBMIT! There is a creature that seeks to control you who shouts like that from every lofty hill — his will is to steal, kill and destroy the sheep of My pasture. But I cannot let him for I Am perfect and that would be wrong of Me to violate the trust of innocent lambs who’ve placed their trust in Me after I told them I would protect and provide for them.

This is what a covering actually means — it is a wedding song — a bridal veil — a delicate embroidery that touches your head with love, joy, singing — and more love! It is a JOY to wear the wedding gown! — it is never a burden to have to submit to wearing the garment of praise! Who has led you astray by speaking counsel without wisdom or proper enlightenment?

Yes, anyone can give you their reasoned opinions — but they can still be dead wrong, and I don’t use that term lightly — dead wrong, as wrong as death, do you get it?

Submitting to False Spiritual Authority

Again I speak to you My Bride, DO NOT SUBMIT TO FALSE ANYTHING. Did My Son submit to those under the influence of the religious spirits? People say submit at all cost to your leader even if he’s dead wrong — why do they say that? Otherwise you will be labeled a rebel? Yes, there are rebels, but do not entertain every accusation against yourself. They called my humble servant David rebellious, and even my son Jesus — yet did they worry about their reputations? What is the worst that man can do? Slander you, cast you out, stone you, kill you? Do not fear the one who can kill the body and after that do no more — for the time has come for them to fear the God who has the power to cast into hell. The time has come NOW to choose whom ye shall serve: Me, or Baal, Mammon and control spirits of wickedness that afflict my people. Where the Spirit of the Lord is there is Freedom!

And where do I ever say submit to Satan? (James 4:7, 1 Peter 5:8-9) Where do I ever say to submit to false prophets who say, “Peace, peace — there is no need to fight or struggle. There is no need to pray or fight the enemy or loose your sword!” NO, do not submit to them but defy them to their face! (Ezekiel 3:8-9) Stand like a Lion that I AM in and through you to tear down the works of the enemy and deliver my weak, humble people from these devouring jaws that cry out ‘peace’ when there is no peace!

An Abusive Gorilla

Then I had a vision of a Gorilla, which represented some Christian organizations, and I had the distinct impression of “marketing and media” which I think refers to those that are heavily geared towards marketing ‘church’ as a product. The left arm was attached to the ground and looked like a tree trunk. The right arm had a boxing glove and was POUNDING the very ground that supported it. I was distressed seeing this massive beast being so abusive, and asked God something like, “What can you do about this?” Then suddenly a crack appeared on the left shoulder and the arm like a tree trunk was severed! The gorilla suddenly keeled over and actually died — when the supporting arm was severed it was a mortal wound! It disappeared, and later a few smaller gorillas appeared on the landscape but they were not as big, and none had boxing gloves on.

The clear picture here is that these Christian organizations are abusive, and act like beasts, suggesting they have lost their spiritual discernment. (Ps 49:20, 73:22) I believe this may have to do with the demise of those program-focused ministries which exist only to promote themselves, instead of embracing, equipping and ministering to the needs of the people according to the life-transforming Gospel of the Kingdom of the Lord.

Such ‘Gorillas’ have not escaped the Lord’s attention but have drawn his fixed gaze. He will first surely send them prophets to ask them to repent, but regardless of whether the organizations repent or not, their time has come.

Remove The Idol

That same day I saw a picture of a huge idol, like one we have in Hong Kong, but the idol itself was missing — it was just a mount with many stairs going up to a big empty space. I assumed He was going to say He would take down Hong Kong’s idols or something like that, but when I asked Him what it meant, He instead said, “Remove (take down) the Idol you worship or I will come and strike with a terrible plague!” Yikes! This vision was not a message to the unsaved, but to those who are called by His Name!

The same prayer time I think I heard him give an even worse warning to those who are given the word of God but want a sign before they believe it and repent, but it was so terrifying that I don’t want to share it publicly.

Later to confirm this word He gave me Ezekiel 14, and other prophetic words released this season. But what is clear is that He will not warn for ever! He will soon stop warning those who are in error. He may warn once, or twice … but then He moves!

What I understand in all this is that we Christians have indeed become idol worshippers. What idol are we worshipping that the Lord wants us so seriously to remove, you ask? The idol of “Church.”

Programs or Equipping?

The Lord is releasing much new revelation at this time and we are clearly going to see a revolution in what we call ‘doing church.’ Presently we think of a two hour program on Sunday morning, and that is going to change — we may continue to have meetings on Sunday mornings, but that will no longer pass for being ‘church.’ The Lord is coming to equip His church to function in the Kingdom to dispel the darkness over the earth, and such equipping cannot be done in large crowds during a carefully timed, well-rehearsed program orchestrated by men.

The Holy Spirit needs elbow room. He needs our free time. He needs our undivided attention. He may want to have an extended worship time some weeks when we cancel the sermon, or other times to be allowed to sweep through the crowd and minister personally to each member, or through each member. We want to do ‘church,’ but He’s not coming to do church — He’s coming to do ‘Kingdom.’

Edward Johnson

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