The Danger of Compromise

The Template of the Letter to the Church at Pergamos

Description of Jesus (Rev. 2:12)

Jesus is the One who holds the 2-edged sword.

Commendation (Rev. 2:13)

Jesus relates that He is aware of their faithful living, even in the midst of satanic influence

Rebuke (Rev 2:14-15)

In spite of their faithfulness to the Name of Jesus, the Church has allowed false teaching to enter the fellowship. Jesus calls them out on this.

Action Steps (Rev 2:16)

The specific action plan consists of a single word:REPENT! Jesus also gives a warning if the action is neglected

Reward (Rev 2:17)

Jesus ends His message to the Church at Pergamum with hope and encouragement. He shares the promise of rewards to those who overcome.

True and Lasting Justice will come through the One who holds the Sword (Rev 2:12)

Explanation: The city of Pergamos was a very important city in terms of Emperor worship. The city was the site of several large and influential temples. In the persecution against Christians over the 200 years following the writing of the letter, it would have been more difficult to take a public stand for Christ.

The officials in Pergamos would be very much inclined to snuff out Christians (e.g. Antipas had already been killed for his faith at the time the letter was written). The Roman magistrates had the power of the sword to execute. The Risen Christ is informing His Church at Pergamos that HE is the ONE with the Sword that counts. He will dispense justice that is righteous, even if He allows His Church to suffer temporal hardship.

There is also a reference to the power of the Word of God itself. The power is in the Word (Hebrews 4:12), not our experiences or desires to fit in. In light of Jesus’ rebuke against compromise to this Church, the priority of the Word is revealed in the 2-edged sword.

Application: Trust in the ultimate justice of the Righteous One, not the secular & fallible state; know and hold fast to the Word of God.

We are called to faithful living wherever God places us (Rev. 2:13)

Explanation: Jesus describes their city as the place where “Satan’s seat is.” This is a reference to his dwelling place - the very city that their church is located. The city was home to several centers of idol worship, including Zeus. Satan is not hanging out in Hell at this present time; he is active in the world around us.

Argument: In His High Priestly prayer, Jesus did not ask for His followers to be removed from this world. He prayed, “not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil” (John 17:15)

Quote from Chuck Swindoll:

“Even though Pergamum was characterized as the seat of Satan’s authority, the church didn’t try to escape the extreme pressures. Instead, the congregation chose to endure the hardship of their environment. Let me illustrate with this modern analogy. While everybody else was moving to the suburbs, the Christians in Pergamum were committed to remaining in the inner city. The decided to stay put in the midst of the noise, the violence, the corruption, and the temptations, to shine as a light in the darkness of the city.” (verse by verse commentary from Precept Austin)

Application: Faithfulness is not an issue of geography - it is an issue of the heart. Bloom where Jesus plants you!

Doctrinal Compromise always leads to Judgment (Rev. 2:14-15)

Explanation: This Church was faithfully following Jesus in a place and in a time where doing so was not easy. Their faithfulness to the Name of Christ was commendable, and they even had a martyr in their midst. Nevertheless, The Risen Christ calls them out for their willingness to overlook sin and false teaching in their membership.

This was not about the outside, unbelieving world - this was a family issue they were not willing to face or deal with. The locus of the problem is not identified (leadership or congregation) but it was known, not hidden.

The issues were false teaching and sexual immorality - both very clear sins. These are NOT gray areas! The reference to Balaam and Balak in Numbers 20 - 22 is the OT example of how this is introduced into God’s people. This is not the direct attack, but rather the soft, back-door approach that is seemingly harmless

Example: 3rd way of dealing with the Homosexual community. Doesn’t work. Never has, never will.

Argument: We are called to follow the Word, and to trust that God knows more than we do. We are not to be swayed by public opinion, being on the “right side” of history, or personal experience.

The hear is deceitful above all things and desperately wicked, who can know it (Jeremiah 17:9)

Application: Doing most of it right and then ignoring the 10 - 15% that’s sinful is NOT the right way. God has set the standards, and He has also given a path for Church discipline (out of love and with the motive of restoration). We do not have the authority to pick and choose what we want to overlook for the sake of not offending someone. Think about that - we are more concerned with offending another person than we are about offending God!

The action call is to REPENT of any doctrinal positions or situations that we know to be wrong. If we do not, Jesus declares that He will “fight against them with the sword of His mouth” (Rev. 2:16) This is a temporal judgment against those IN the church, not a judgment against unbelievers. We need to heed the words of Peter when he declared, “for the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God” (1 Peter 4:17)

God Rewards His faithful remnant (Rev 2:17)

Explanation: With Christ it is always possible for us to live and finish victoriously. We do not have to fall into doctrinal disarray and we do not have to compromise. With God’s help we can remain faithful and we can complete our course on earth in a way that is pleasing to the Master.

For those who hold fast to the Name of Jesus and live in faith, He promises to reward with His presence. The interpretations of the manna, the white stone, and the new name are legion, but they all speak of the fruits of victory and intimacy.

Swindoll suggests that regardless of how the Christians in Pergamum understood these symbols, we can understand the big picture: if you remain faithful and take a stand for truth and morality, the result will be a great reward from Christ upon His return.”