Faithful in Satan's Hometown

Revelation 2:12–17

Revelation 2:12–17 (NLT)

12 “Write this letter to the angel of the church in Pergamum. This is the message from the one with the sharp two-edged sword:

13 “I know that you live in the city where Satan has his throne, yet you have remained loyal to me. You refused to deny me even when Antipas, my faithful witness, was martyred among you there in Satan’s city.

14 “But I have a few complaints against you. You tolerate some among you whose teaching is like that of Balaam, who showed Balak how to trip up the people of Israel. He taught them to sin by eating food offered to idols and by committing sexual sin.

15 In a similar way, you have some Nicolaitans among you who follow the same teaching.

16 Repent of your sin, or I will come to you suddenly and fight against them with the sword of my mouth.

17 “Anyone with ears to hear must listen to the Spirit and understand what he is saying to the churches. To everyone who is victorious I will give some of the manna that has been hidden away in heaven. And I will give to each one a white stone, and on the stone will be engraved a new name that no one understands except the one who receives it.

INTRODUCTION:

I- LOYALTY UNDER FIRE (REVELATION 2:12 – 13)

Revelation 2:12–13 (NLT)

12 “Write this letter to the angel of the church in Pergamum. This is the message from the one with the sharp two-edged sword:

13 “I know that you live in the city where Satan has his throne, yet you have remained loyal to me. You refused to deny me even when Antipas, my faithful witness, was martyred among you there in Satan’s city.

A- Loyalty is recognized by the Lord of all. (Revelation 2:12).

Revelation 2:12 (NLT)

12 “Write this letter to the angel of the church in Pergamum. This is the message from the one with the sharp two-edged sword:

“Καὶ τῷ ἀγγέλῳ τῆς ἐν Περγάμῳ ἐκκλησίας γράψον· Τάδε λέγει ὁ ἔχων τὴν ῥομφαίαν τὴν δίστομον τὴν ὀξεῖαν·”

1- The sword represented absolute power and authority to those in the ancient world.

a- There were 2 types of rulers within the Roman empire. Those who had “the power of the sword” and those who did not. The proconsul of Pergamum had been granted the “power of the sword” by Caesar. This amounted to the power of life and death to those who were under his rule.

b- Jesus emphasized that he alone was the one who had the true “power of the sword.”

c- The eternal Word of God has the power of life and death. (Hebrews 4:12)

Hebrews 4:12 (NLT)

12 For the word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires.

B- Loyalty is required especially when we operate on Satan’s turf. (Revelation 2:13)

Revelation 2:13 (NLT)

13 “I know that you live in the city where Satan has his throne, yet you have remained loyal to me. You refused to deny me even when Antipas, my faithful witness, was martyred among you there in Satan’s city.

“Οἶδα ποῦ κατοικεῖς, ὅπου ὁ θρόνος τοῦ Σατανᾶ, καὶ κρατεῖς τὸ ὄνομά μου, καὶ οὐκ ἠρνήσω τὴν πίστιν μου καὶ ἐν ταῖς ἡμέραις Ἀντιπᾶς, ὁ μάρτυς μου, ὁ πιστός μου, ὃς ἀπεκτάνθη παρʼ ὑμῖν, ὅπου ὁ Σατανᾶς κατοικεῖ.”

1- Satan’s throne is said to have been located in Pergamum.

a- Pergamum was the center of all types of pagan worship.

• It was a center of Emperor worship.

• It was the home of temples of worship for Zeus, Dionysius, Athena and Aesculapius.

• it was the home of all types of religions and “isms”.

• There was an ancient saying, “when any weird idea was expelled from one place it would always end up in Pergamum.”

C- Loyalty is reflected in hardship. (Revelation 2:13 )

Revelation 2:13 (NLT)

13 “I know that you live in the city where Satan has his throne, yet you have remained loyal to me. You refused to deny me even when Antipas, my faithful witness, was martyred among you there in Satan’s city.

“Οἶδα ποῦ κατοικεῖς, ὅπου ὁ θρόνος τοῦ Σατανᾶ, καὶ κρατεῖς τὸ ὄνομά μου, καὶ οὐκ ἠρνήσω τὴν πίστιν μου καὶ ἐν ταῖς ἡμέραις Ἀντιπᾶς, ὁ μάρτυς μου, ὁ πιστός μου, ὃς ἀπεκτάνθη παρʼ ὑμῖν, ὅπου ὁ Σατανᾶς κατοικεῖ.”

1- The church at Pergamum held firmly to the Christ.

a- Faithfulness is sometimes costly.

• Faithfulness to the person and work of Christ and faith in him had resulted in persecution. Many had been persecuted and held firm to their faith in Christ. Jesus mentions one prominent martyr who had remained faithful - Antipas.

• According to some 3rd century Roman inscriptions, found in the area of Pergamum, Antipas was roasted to death at the altar of Zeus. This altar is made in the form of a hollow bronze bull. Those who were sacrificed to Zeus were bound and placed in the hollowed out place in the bull. Fires beneath the bowl were then lit… And the sacrifice inside would literally be roasted slowly to death.

II- PURITY IN DOCTRINE & PRACTICE (Revelation 2:14 – 15)

Revelation 2:14–15 (NLT)

14 “But I have a few complaints against you. You tolerate some among you whose teaching is like that of Balaam, who showed Balak how to trip up the people of Israel. He taught them to sin by eating food offered to idols and by committing sexual sin.

15 In a similar way, you have some Nicolaitans among you who follow the same teaching.

A- Failure to maintain moral purity (Revelation 2:14)

Revelation 2:14 (NLT)

14 “But I have a few complaints against you. You tolerate some among you whose teaching is like that of Balaam, who showed Balak how to trip up the people of Israel. He taught them to sin by eating food offered to idols and by committing sexual sin.

“ἀλλὰ ἔχω κατὰ σοῦ ὀλίγα, ὅτι ἔχεις ἐκεῖ κρατοῦντας τὴν διδαχὴν Βαλαάμ, ὃς ἐδίδασκεν τῷ Βαλὰκ βαλεῖν σκάνδαλον ἐνώπιον τῶν υἱῶν Ἰσραήλ, φαγεῖν εἰδωλόθυτα καὶ πορνεῦσαι·”

1- The doctrine of Balaam (found in Numbers 22 – 31)

a- sexual immorality with Moabite women

b- eat meat sacrificed to idols

c- caused Israel to stumble over moral impurity although theologically orthodox

B- Failure to main distinctiveness from the world (Revelation 2:15)

Revelation 2:15 (NLT)

15 In a similar way, you have some Nicolaitans among you who follow the same teaching.

“οὕτως ἔχεις καὶ σὺ κρατοῦντας τὴν διδαχὴν Νικολαϊτῶν ὁμοίως.”

1- Doctrine of the Nicolaitans

a- taught believers to compromise convictional standards in order to fit with the rest of society.

(2 Corinthians 6:17)

2 Corinthians 6:17 (NLT)

17 Therefore, come out from among unbelievers, and separate yourselves from them, says the Lord. Don’t touch their filthy things, and I will welcome you.

III- OBEDIENCE TO INSTRUCTION (Revelation 2:16 – 17).

Revelation 2:16–17 (NLT)

16 Repent of your sin, or I will come to you suddenly and fight against them with the sword of my mouth.

17 “Anyone with ears to hear must listen to the Spirit and understand what he is saying to the churches. To everyone who is victorious I will give some of the manna that has been hidden away in heaven. And I will give to each one a white stone, and on the stone will be engraved a new name that no one understands except the one who receives it.

A- Hear the Spirit. (Revelation 2:17 a)

Revelation 2:17a (NLT)

17 “Anyone with ears to hear must listen to the Spirit and understand what he is saying to the churches. To everyone who is victorious I will give some of the manna that has been hidden away in heaven. And I will give to each one a white stone, and on the stone will be engraved a new name that no one understands except the one who receives it.

“ὁ ἔχων οὖς ἀκουσάτω τί τὸ πνεῦμα λέγει ταῖς ἐκκλησίαις. τῷ νικῶντι δώσω αὐτῷ τοῦ μάννα τοῦ κεκρυμμένου, καὶ δώσω αὐτῷ ψῆφον λευκήν, καὶ ἐπὶ τὴν ψῆφον ὄνομα καινὸν γεγραμμένον ὃ οὐδεὶς οἶδεν εἰ μὴ ὁ λαμβάνων.”

1- Do not shut the voice of God out – listen to his personal instructions to you. (1 Thessalonians 5:19)

1 Thessalonians 5:19 (NLT)

19 Do not stifle the Holy Spirit.

“τὸ πνεῦμα μὴ σβέννυτε,”

σβέννυτε = to extinguish a fire,’ to cause a fervent activity to cease.” Hence, do not stop (stifle) the activity of the Spirit.

2- God never speaks to an entire church without dealing with us individually.

3- Hold onto the promises of God.

· Hidden Manna of God

· a White stone

· a new name

B- Heed the instructions (Revelation 2:16).

Revelation 2:16 (NLT)

16 Repent of your sin, or I will come to you suddenly and fight against them with the sword of my mouth.

“μετανόησον οὖν· εἰ δὲ μή, ἔρχομαί σοι ταχύ, καὶ πολεμήσω μετʼ αὐτῶν ἐν τῇ ῥομφαίᾳ τοῦ στόματός μου.”

1- repent – break with evil.

a- The evil of condoning evil – sin.

b- Discipline those in error in order to preserve them.

CONCLUSION: