Squeeze Play

The Balaamites of Pergamum and Jezebel in Thyatira have the same teaching. Both entice the
saints to fornication, which much be a spiritual form of adultery, and to each
things sacrificed to idols.

These twin
sins link back to the apostolic decree after the Council of Jerusalem, which
forbade Gentile believers from eating things sacrificed to idols and from
fornication. Here the connection is
reinforced by Jesus’ statement that he lays “no other burden” on the Thyatirans
(v. 24; cf. Acts 15:28). 

Balaam
and Jezebel are both encouraging violation of the apostolic decision. The Council of Jerusalem dealt with the issue
of Judaizing. Circumcision and
conformity to Jewish dietary restrictions and purity rules are not to be
imposed on Gentiles. But Gentiles have
to keep certain rules that are quasi-ceremonial, in deference to the Jews who
make up the bulk of the church.

This is a fundamental danger to the gospel, not so much because the Balaamites and Jezebel’s children are “libertines” in some generic sense. The problem is that both have been violating the Gentile restrictions and thereby endangering the union of
Jews and Gentiles in the church.
Pressure comes from the Judaizers who want the church to keep Torah;
pressure is also coming from the other end, from Gentiles who don’t want to
conform to the decision of Jerusalem. 

Together, these “heresies” endanger the achievement of the gospel, the one new man knit together by the cross of Jesus.