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Rev. 2:16; to understand this verse we need to look at verses 14-16. The Doctrine of Balaam was a compromise of Christianity with paganism resulting in idolatry and immorality. (Balaam taught Balak to put an enticement before the Israelites to get them to sin, eat things sacrificed to idols and commit fornication v.14.). Balaam succeeded in leading many Israelites into these sins (Numbers 31:16; 2 Peter 2:15; Jude 11). In Isaiah 11:2-5, Isaiah spoke of the Spirit of the Lord which refers to the sevenfold Spirit of God (Rev. 4:5) He further said that the Messiah will not judge after the sight of His eyes, for He will have true spiritual vision and judge the poor with righteousness. He will rule the earth with the "ROD (Scepter) of His Mouth", the power of His spoken word, by which He will slay the wicked with His "Breath" Rev. 19:15, "And out of His mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it He will smite the nations..........." The ROD or Sword of His mouth depicts judgement through His spoken word. The Church is urged to repent of the toleration and sins of false teachers like Balaam, before Jesus has to judge them Himself. The church should therefore, discipline it self, research the Bible for themselves and do not tolerate false teaching and immorality within.
To answer this question we simply have to look at who was speaking. To me the earlier verses in Revelation leave no doubt that not only is this Jesus but Jesus as God not as man. "Fear not, I amThe first and the Last; I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive forevermore, Amen; and have the keys to heaven and he'll and of death." As God, Jesus is omnipotent. Being omnipotent, anything he speaks has the power of speaking into or out of existence. Therefore the verse which contains a threat that is the ultimate threat. One that is beyond defense. Repent or be willing to fight a war with One who can speak you out of existence! You have no chance.
Hebrews 4:12-13 says, "For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart. And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are open and laid bare to the eyes of Him to Whom we must give account." Also, in Revelation 1:16, when John experienced his initial sight of the glorified Christ, he said, "In his right hand he held seven stars, and coming out of his mouth was a sharp, double-edged sword. His face was like the sun shining in all its brilliance." In my opinion, the imagery of a double-edged sword coming out of the mouth of Jesus (whom John in his Gospel had called "the Word" (John 1:1)) was used in a figurative sense to portray the manner in which God planned to use the power of His word to separate, or cut out, and judge the false teachings or practices that some of the seven churches that received messages from God (including the church at Pergamum specifically in Revelation 2:12-17) were tolerating and allowing to lead their members astray.
The word of God spoken by any born again believer is the sword of the spirit. It returns not void to the Father. For the Father watches over His word to perform it.
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