Revelation 2:14

But I have a few things against thee, because thou hast there them that hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balac to cast a stumblingblock before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed unto idols, and to commit fornication.

Cross-reference

In Revelation 2:20, Jezebel's teaching of sexual immorality and idolatry mirrors the Balaamite heresy, showing a recurring false doctrine.

In Revelation 2:6, the church at Ephesus is commended for hating the Nicolaitans—contrasting with Pergamum’s tolerance of similar false teaching here.

Revelation 22:15 Related theme

Revelation 22:15 excludes sexually immoral and idolaters from the holy city, reinforcing the warning against these sins.

Revelation 21:8 Related theme

Revelation 21:8 lists the sexually immoral and idolaters among those in the lake of fire, showing the ultimate judgment for sins mentioned here.

Numbers 25:1–3 Historical context

Numbers 25:1-3 describes the very incident of idolatry and sexual sin that Balaam advised, providing the historical background for the warning.

Jude 1:11 Parallel

Jude 1:11 pronounces woe on those who run after Balaam's error for gain — echoing the same warning against corrupt teaching.

2 Peter 2:15 condemns false teachers who follow Balaam's path for profit — a direct parallel to the error warned against here.

1 Corinthians 10:18-31 warns against participating in pagan sacrifices and eating idol food, linking it to fellowship with demons—parallel to Balaam's teaching.

1 Corinthians 8:9 warns that exercising freedom over idol food can become a stumbling block to the weak — directly parallel to the issue at Pergamum.

1 Corinthians 8:4-13 discusses eating food offered to idols and the conscience of weaker believers, directly addressing the stumbling block of idol food.

1 Corinthians 6:13-18 warns against sexual immorality, emphasizing that the body is for the Lord—directly addressing the immorality in Balaam's teaching.

Romans 14:21 Related theme

Romans 14:21 applies the same principle: abstain from food or drink that causes a brother to stumble — echoes the prohibition on eating idol sacrifices.

Romans 14:13 Related theme

Romans 14:13 exhorts not to put a stumbling block before a brother — directly applicable to the idol food controversy in Pergamum.

Acts 21:25 Parallel

Acts 21:25 records the Jerusalem council's decree requiring Gentiles to abstain from food sacrificed to idols and sexual immorality—the same two sins condemned here.

Acts 15:20 Parallel

Acts 15:20 lists the same prohibitions as what Balaam taught — abstain from idol pollution and sexual immorality — showing apostolic consistency.

Numbers 31:16 Historical context

Numbers 31:16 explicitly states Balaam advised Balak to cause Israel to sin — the same 'teaching of Balaam' condemned in the main verse.

1 Corinthians 8:1 addresses eating food offered to idols, directly paralleling the stumbling block Balaam introduced.

1 Corinthians 10:8 warns against sexual immorality using Israel's fall, echoing the fornication Balaam incited.

1 Corinthians 10:14 commands fleeing from idolatry, which is exactly the sin Balaam taught.

Micah 6:5 Allusion

Micah 6:5 explicitly recalls Balaam and Balak, the very event Jesus references in the letter to Pergamum.

Ephesians 5:3 prohibits sexual immorality among saints, directly relevant to the fornication Balaam promoted.

Ezekiel 14:3 also uses 'stumbling block' and 'idols in their hearts', directly paralleling the idolatry and stumbling block theme in Pergamum.

Psalm 106:28 explicitly says Israel yoked themselves to Baal of Peor and ate sacrifices — directly parallel to the sins in Rev 2:14.

Numbers 25:18 Historical context

Numbers 25:18 recounts the Midianite trick at Peor that caused Israel's downfall — the same event Balaam orchestrated.

Numbers 25:2 Historical context

Numbers 25:2 describes Israel eating sacrifices to idols and engaging in sexual immorality at Baal Peor — exactly the stumbling block Balaam advised.

Numbers 22:5 Historical context

Numbers 22:5 shows Balak summoning Balaam — the beginning of the story behind the teaching mentioned here.