Balaam In Revelation 2:14

Abstract

Repetitions of the relevant vocabulary as well as the syntactic connection between Revelation 2:14 and 2:15 suggest that the Balaam figure is connected with the Jezebel referred to in the edict to Thyatira (Rev 2:20-21) as well as with the Nicolaitans mentioned in Rev 2:6, 15. Jesus Christ's seven edicts in Revelation 2-3 are part of the first section of the visionary body of Revelation. The accusation in Rev 2:14 that several members of the community of Jesus' followers, at Pergamum, were clinging to Balaam's teaching clearly presupposes a negative image of Balaam. The Hebrew text of Numbers 25 deals with two kinds of fornication. Firstly, literal fornication with Moabite/Midianite women; and secondly, the symbolical fornication with the Israelites' veneration of Moabite gods. Keywords: Balaam; Jesus Christ; Jezebel; Midianite women; Moabite women; Pergamum; Revelation 2:14

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