Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary Revelation 2:16

"Repent therefore; or else I come to thee quickly, and I will make war against them with the sword of my mouth." — Revelation 2:16 (ASV)

The speaker’s command includes both a call to the whole congregation to “repent” and a special threat to the heretical members if they do not repent. Since those who did not indulge in these things tolerated the practices of other church members, they, along with the guilty, needed to repent. If those at Pergamum will not heed the word of Christ’s warning, that word from his mouth will become a “sword” to fight against the disloyal. The words “I will soon come to you” is a coming “against” the congregation in judgment (cf. v.5), not a reference to Christ’s second coming.