Christ's Letter to Pergamum
Notes
Transcript
Intro: Our study of Christ’s letters to the church continues today. These letters are designed to help us see His thoughts on issues. God knows, He is in control, and He is concerned about His people.
Today we look at another church. It was facing some of the same things we have already covered, but I don’t believe they were handling it as well. God, in His love, warns us ahead of time so we can be ready and make the right choices when we face various trials and temptations.
Background
Background
Pergamos means “married” or “Citadel”
It was 80ks farther north and 32ks up the Caicus River
Founded by the son of Heracles. It had been the capitol of Asia Minor for 400 years and in 133 BC it was given to the Romans without a fight.
Home of the second largest library in the ancient world. The city focused on culture rather than commerce.
Parchment paper was invented here for making books for the massive library.
It’s expansive acropolis had many temples to Greek, Roman and Egyptian gods - Athena, Asklepios, Dionysus (the god of drunkenness), Zeus and it was the first city to build a temple to Caesar (29 b.c.). It was known as the most rabid promoter of Caesar worship.
Today the modern city of Bergama is near by.
Christ Revealed
Christ Revealed
“And to the angel of the church in Pergamos write, ‘These things says He who has the sharp two-edged sword:
Two-edged sword
Two-edged sword
Cuts all directions
Seen in 1.16; 2.16
Repent, or else I will come to you quickly and will fight against them with the sword of My mouth.
For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.
The two-edged sword was also the symbol of the Roman proconsul that enforced Caesar worship.
He knows their works. v13
He knows their works. v13
In the oldest manuscripts, but not in all of them.
He knows where they live. v13
He knows where they live. v13
God understands the culture and pressures we live under. He knows the spiritual situation around us. He knows the temptations and the persecution levels of where we live.
Pleasing to Christ
Pleasing to Christ
They kept the Faith in hard times
They kept the Faith in hard times
“I know your works, and where you dwell, where Satan’s throne is. And you hold fast to My name, and did not deny My faith even in the days in which Antipas was My faithful martyr, who was killed among you, where Satan dwells.
They knew what was right and wrong.
They knew what it was to hold onto God and His attributes and character.
The satanism mentioned here often included snakes and they even called these snakes there “preserver & saviour”.
They refused to deny even when they SAW martyrdom.
They refused to deny even when they SAW martyrdom.
Tradition says Antipas was roasted and burned to death inside a brass bull as he sang songs of praise and prayed out loud to Christ.
(μάρτυς mártus), a Greek word, meant “witness”. Since so many of the witnesses faithful to Christ were put to death, the word martyr developed its current definition.
Unpleasing aspects
Unpleasing aspects
1. Satan’s Throne
1. Satan’s Throne
Satan could not get the church as a roaring lion, so he went back to what worked against Eve and worked as a cunning snake.
AEsculapius was worshipped there under the serpent form; and Satan, the old serpent, as the instigator (compare Rev 2:10) of fanatical devotees of AEsculapius, and, through them, of the supreme magistracy at Pergamos, persecuted one of the Lord’s people (Antipas) even to death.
They even called these snakes their “preserver or saviour”.
A group of compromising people had infiltrated the church and Jesus hated the doctrines and practice they brought with them.
2. Doctrine of Balaam
2. Doctrine of Balaam
But I have a few things against you, because you have there those who hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balak to put a stumbling block before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed to idols, and to commit sexual immorality.
Balaam encouraged people to get married outside their faith and seek ease and comfort in life. It was a “do what you want” attitude.
“Stumbling block” was the Greek word for the place bait was laid in a trap; and when touched caused the trap to spring on the prey.
“Sexual immorality” was often a form of idol worship.
Woe to them! For they have gone in the way of Cain, have run greedily in the error of Balaam for profit, and perished in the rebellion of Korah. These are spots in your love feasts, while they feast with you without fear, serving only themselves. They are clouds without water, carried about by the winds; late autumn trees without fruit, twice dead, pulled up by the roots;
3. Doctrine of the Nicolaitanes
3. Doctrine of the Nicolaitanes
Thus you also have those who hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitans, which thing I hate.
Remember, they abused Grace.
They were involved in many of the same things as the group above, but did it because they abused grace and freedom.
For certain men have crept in unnoticed, who long ago were marked out for this condemnation, ungodly men, who turn the grace of our God into lewdness and deny the only Lord God and our Lord Jesus Christ.
A second aspect of this cult developed here. It divided people into 2 classes 1=priests and clergy (as infallible leadership); 2=lay people.
The Ephesian church hated these people, but Pergamum had them inside the church! Christ hated that!
What is the church “To Do”?
What is the church “To Do”?
Repent!
Repent!
Not just the Balaamites and the Nicolaitans, but the whole church needs to repent for allowing these people to identify with false gods while claiming to belong to the One True God.
Therefore repent. If not, I will come to you soon and war against them with the sword of my mouth.
“Against them” is not the saved in the church, but the Balaamites and Nicolaitans.
Promises from Christ
Promises from Christ
“I will Come”
“I will Come”
If they will not deal with the sin in the church, then Christ is willing to bring on war! He personally will fight against the unbelievers inside the church. Those forgiven by the blood of Christ will never see His wrath; so this is not talking about war on the church, but war on the unbelievers in the church.
The hidden manna
The hidden manna
in contrast to idol meats
Christ in His incorruptible body has passed into the heavens, and is hidden there until the time of His appearing. Christ Himself is the manna “hidden” from the world, but revealed to the believer, so that he has already a foretaste of His preciousness
Jesus is the bread of life! He is the spiritual bread the unbelieving world can’t see.
I am the living bread which came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever; and the bread that I shall give is My flesh, which I shall give for the life of the world.”
Many theologians believe this a picture of separation for the people of Christ into a life and sustenance only available to Christians.
A white stone with a new name
A white stone with a new name
White stones were used for many things. They were used for accounting, in law to cast an innocent vote, as an entry ticket to an event and more. However, the best fit I see here is the gladiator who would receive a white stone with SP written on it to show he was now free.
This word for new is a new point in time AND quality, something better than ever existed before!
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.
Conclusion: The Lord knows what is going on and where we need to be as a church.
Conclusion: The Lord knows what is going on and where we need to be as a church.
Today we had a look at a church in a cultured city. The culture was strongly against all that Christianity stands for making it a lot like our culture today. God still had a message to this church, and we can still learn from it as we examine ourselves as a church today.
Q1. Do we sometimes think it would be easier to die for our faith rather than stand for a proper view of God and His program?
Q2. How do we respond when we see people turning grace into “anything goes”?
Q3. Do we view living in an anti Christian environment as oppressive or as an opportunity to change people’s lives?