Hold fast until Christ comes.

The book of Revelation can feel intimidating, filled with vivid images, heavenly visions, and prophetic words. Yet at its heart, it is a letter from Jesus to His church. Revelation 2:12–29 records two of His messages, one to the church in Pergamum and one to the church in Thyatira. Both communities of believers faced tremendous pressure to compromise their faith. Some were tempted by false teaching, others seduced by cultural practices, and many felt the daily weariness of living faithfully in a hostile world.

But in verse 25, Jesus gives a simple and powerful exhortation:

“Only hold fast what you have until I come.”

This command serves as a rallying cry for every believer. Jesus doesn’t ask us to invent something new or carry the weight of the world on our shoulders. He calls us to cling to what He has already given us: the truth of the gospel, the gift of His Spirit, and the hope of His return. Let's look at what Christ's letters to these churches show us about how to live faithfully in a world filled with compromise while holding fast to Christ until He comes again.

1. Christ’s Word as a Double-Edged Sword (Revelation 2:12–13)

“And to the angel of the church in Pergamum write: ‘The words of him who has the sharp two-edged sword. I know where you dwell, where Satan’s throne is. Yet you hold fast my name, and you did not deny my faith even in the days of Antipas my faithful witness, who was killed among you, where Satan dwells.’”  (Revelation 2:12-13)

Jesus introduces Himself to the church at Pergamum as the One with the sharp two-edged sword (v. 12). This isn't just imagery, it's a reminder that His word cuts with precision, bringing both truth and judgment. Hebrews 4:12 echoes this reality: “For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.”

Pergamum was a city steeped in idolatry, a place where the Roman emperor was worshiped as a god. Jesus calls it “Satan’s throne” (v. 13). Yet even in this dark environment, believers held fast to His name. Some even paid with their lives, such as Antipas, a faithful witness.

In our own day, the “throne of Satan” may not look like a pagan temple, but it appears in every place where truth is exchanged for lies and where allegiance to Jesus is mocked or opposed. You may feel this way at work, in your school, or even in your own family. The encouragement from Christ is this: He sees your faithfulness. He knows the cost of holding fast to His name in a world that bows to other lords.

2. The Danger of Compromise (Revelation 2:14–16)

“But I have a few things against you: you have some there who hold the teaching of Balaam… so that they might eat food sacrificed to idols and practice sexual immorality. So also you have some who hold the teaching of the Nicolaitans. Therefore repent.”  (Revelation 2:14-16)

While Pergamum had believers who stood firm, others fell into compromise. They tolerated false teaching like the teaching of Balaam, who in the Old Testament lured Israel into sin (Numbers 25:1–3; 31:16). In the same way, the Nicolaitans encouraged compromise with pagan practices.

Jesus’ rebuke is sharp: repent, or else His word (the sword of His mouth) will wage war against them (v. 16).

The greatest threats to the church aren't always external persecution, but internal compromise. We face subtle pressures every day: to bend God’s truth for the sake of comfort, to blend in with cultural norms, or to redefine sin in softer terms. But Jesus calls us to hold fast, not to loosen our grip.

Where in your life are you tempted to compromise the truth of God’s word? Is it in your relationships, your entertainment, your speech, or your integrity? Jesus, in His love, calls us to repentance, not to shame us, but to set us free.

3. Hidden Manna and a New Name (Revelation 2:17)

“To the one who conquers I will give some of the hidden manna, and I will give him a white stone, with a new name written on the stone that no one knows except the one who receives it.”  (Revelation 2:17)

To those who overcome compromise, Jesus promises nourishment and identity. The hidden manna recalls God’s provision for Israel in the wilderness (Exodus 16:4). Just as God fed His people daily, Christ promises to feed our souls with His presence. He also gives a white stone with a new name, a symbol of acceptance, victory, and intimate belonging.

Isaiah 62:2 says: “You shall be called by a new name that the mouth of the Lord will give.” Christ not only saves us; He renames us.

When the world tempts you to compromise, remember the better reward Christ has in store. He gives spiritual nourishment no idol can satisfy, and He grants you a name that anchors your identity in Him. Hold fast to this promise. It's more lasting than any worldly recognition.

4. The Church in Thyatira: Love, Faith, Service, and Patient Endurance (Revelation 2:18–19)

“The words of the Son of God, who has eyes like a flame of fire, and whose feet are like burnished bronze… ‘I know your works, your love and faith and service and patient endurance, and that your latter works exceed the first.’”  (Revelation 2:18-19)

Jesus then turns to the believers in Thyatira, introducing Himself as the Son of God, with eyes like fire (piercing vision) and feet like bronze (unshakable strength). He commends their growth: their love, faith, service, and endurance were increasing. Unlike Ephesus, which had abandoned its first love (Revelation 2:4), Thyatira had grown in love.

It’s encouraging to know that Jesus notices our growth. Even small steps of obedience, unseen acts of service, and quiet moments of faithfulness matter to Him. Galatians 6:9 reminds us: “And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.”

5. The Seduction of Jezebel (Revelation 2:20–23)

“But I have this against you, that you tolerate that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess and is teaching… to practice sexual immorality and to eat food sacrificed to idols.”  (Revelation 2:20-23)

Despite their growth, the church at Thyatira tolerated dangerous sin. “Jezebel” here likely refers to a false teacher who mirrored the Old Testament queen Jezebel, who led Israel astray into idolatry (1 Kings 16:31; 21:25). Jesus warns of judgment if she and her followers do not repent.

Tolerance is usually seen as a virtue in today's society, but in the church, tolerating false teaching or unrepentant sin corrodes the body of Christ. In our desire to be loving, we must never redefine love as the absence of truth. Love speaks truth, even when it’s costly. Holding fast means guarding the purity of our faith and our fellowship.

6. The Call to Hold Fast (Revelation 2:24–25)

“But to the rest of you in Thyatira, who do not hold this teaching, who have not learned what some call the deep things of Satan, to you I say, I do not lay on you any other burden. Only hold fast what you have until I come.”  (Revelation 2:24-25)

Here we find the heart of this passage. Jesus doesn't place unbearable burdens on His people. He doesn’t demand we carry the weight of perfection or worldly power. Instead, He gives a simple but profound command: “Only hold fast what you have until I come.”

What do we have? We have the gospel, the truth of His word, the presence of His Spirit, and the hope of His return. Holding fast means clinging tightly to these treasures, refusing to loosen our grip even when the world pulls hard in the opposite direction.

This echoes the encouragement of 1 Thessalonians 5:21: “But test everything; hold fast what is good.” And Hebrews 10:23: “Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful.”

The Christian life isn’t about inventing new truths or chasing every new trend. It’s about faithfulness to what Christ has already given us. Perseverance is often quiet and ordinary, but it’s powerful in the eyes of God.

7. The Reward for the Faithful (Revelation 2:26–29)

“The one who conquers and who keeps my works until the end, to him I will give authority over the nations… and I will give him the morning star.”  (Revelation 2:26-29)

Those who hold fast will one day reign with Christ. Psalm 2:8–9 is echoed here, where the Messiah receives the nations as His inheritance and rules them with a rod of iron. Jesus shares this authority with His people.

But the greatest reward is Himself: “I will give him the morning star” (v. 28). Later in Revelation 22:16, Jesus identifies Himself as “the bright morning star.” The ultimate gift of perseverance is Christ Himself—His presence, His kingdom, His glory forever.

The world offers fleeting rewards for compromise like momentary pleasure, temporary comfort, or social approval. But Jesus offers Himself. When you hold fast to Him, you aren’t clinging in vain, you're grasping the greatest treasure of all.

Hold Fast Until He Comes

Revelation 2:12–29 gives us both warning and encouragement. It shows us the dangers of compromise, the subtlety of false teaching, and the seduction of cultural pressures. But above all, it gives us the command and the promise of verse 25:

“Only hold fast what you have until I come.”

Holding fast doesn’t mean you won’t feel tired, tempted, or even weak. It means you choose, by God’s grace, to cling to Christ in faith. It means daily returning to His word, confessing your sins, relying on His Spirit, and looking forward to His return.

As Isaiah 40:31 promises: “But they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.”

So take heart. Christ sees your faithfulness. He knows the battles you fight. And He promises that if you hold fast to Him, He will hold you fast in His eternal love.

© John Stange, 2025