The Compromisng Church

INTRODUCTION

We are studying the third church in the book of Revelation tonight; THE COMPROMISING CHURCH. This third letter is addressed to the church in Pergamum.

Let’s read the first part together:

Revelation 2:12–17 “And to the angel of the church in Pergamum write: The One who has the sharp two-edged sword says this: ‘I know where you dwell, where Satan’s throne is; and you hold fast My name, and did not deny My faith even in the days of Antipas, My witness, My faithful one, who was killed among you, where Satan dwells.

A little history about Pergamum: Pergamum was the official center in Asia for the imperial cult. It was also the first city to receive permission to build a temple dedicated to worship of a living ruler. In 29 BC Augustus granted permission for a temple to be erected to “the divine Augustus and the goddess Roma”. Emperor worship was deemed one’s civic loyalty and a form of patriotism. Christians, due to their rejection of the Roman gods, were called atheists; but they were also accused of “hatred of the human race” because they refused to show political loyalty to the emperor and thus to the Roman people. Moreover, the Jews were tolerated because they represented an ancient nation, while Christians had no national history. The Jewish people were protected and recognized by a Roman treaty. Christianity had no such background and so was labeled a mere “superstition,” all the more hated for its exclusivism and intolerance of the gods.

This message tonight is about the compromising church. This church was heavily persecuted and even to the point of death for one. They had done nothing wrong, but because of their unwillingness to join in with the culture around them and worship false gods, worship the Roman emperors who claimed to be gods, they were hated by everyone around them. That was their situation.

And Jesus says to them:

Revelation 2:12–13 “And to the angel of the church in Pergamum write: The One who has the sharp two-edged sword says this:

QUESTION: What does this description of Jesus say to this church who is dwelling in a literal “hell on earth?” Jesus said they dwell where the throne, the headquarters of Satan is?

1) ANSWER: It is given as a means of comfort that justice will be served. God is just and God will carry out justice upon the wicked, and the cruel, and those who persecute. This is a recurring theme in Revelation. God will have the final say so.

And to us who may living in a literal hell on earth, or may so in the future, God will have the final say so. God will make every wrong right! God will judge people with righteous judgement! God will execute divine justice, if not in this life, then most certainly in the after life!

2) ANSWER: This is a two-edged sword cuts two ways. This is not just a promise to execute divine justice on the enemies outside the church, but also a warning of judgement to those inside the church.

QUESTION: Why would Jesus threaten this church?

ANSWER: Because they are allowing false teachers and false doctrines to infiltrate the church in Pergamum. (v 14-16)

Do you know it is a sin, an offense against Christ to allow false teaching to go on in a church?

The Commendations to this church

Revelation 2:13 “‘I know where you dwell, where Satan’s throne is; and you hold fast My name, and did not deny My faith even in the days of Antipas, My witness, My faithful one, who was killed among you, where Satan dwells.”

What this could look like in today’s world

Imagine a world where you were hated because of your faith in Jesus by everyone around you.

And it was just because you followed Jesus, and because you refused to worship any other way except the way the Bible teaches.

AND The world around you wants inclusiveness. All roads lead to heaven, all religions lead to heaven, truth is relative, Jesus is not the only way.

And not only do you not agree with them, they expect you to affirm and worship the way they do. They want you to join in with them, go tot heir temples, affirm their beliefs with your actions.

BUT, because of your refusal, you are persecuted. The persecution gets so bad that some people in your church are even killed simply for refusing to succumb to culture.

This was the situation in Pergamum, and this has happened in our nation.

We have had a few church shootings, one that really comes to mind was a Presbyterian church in Nashville where they had a private school. She attended there as a child and had “resentment towards that church for attending there”. The shooter was transgender which churches stand up against.

QUESTION: Do you think you would stand true to Christ if you saw someone die for their faith? Explain

Jesus praises them for “holding fast to His name” and because “they did not deny the faith”

We live this church are called to represent and uphold the name of Jesus no matter what this world becomes.

We are His representatives and it is by His name that we stand.

And it is HIS NAME THAT THE WORLD HATES.

Do you know that if you talk about God, you will usually have a decent response. People do not mind talking about God because most have their own idea of who God is.

BUT when the name of Jesus is mentioned, it is instantly inclusive. Only those in Christ can go to heaven. Only by the way of the cross can our sins be forgiven. And suddenly every other religion becomes false.

Be bold to stand for the name.

Acts 4:12 ““And there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men by which we must be saved.””

Acts 4:18 “And when they had summoned them, they commanded them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus.”

It is that name that means so much, and that name that so many would like to remove from our society. Be bold about His name.

The Problem in the church of Pergamum

Revelation 2:14–15 “‘But I have a few things against you, because you have there some who hold the teaching of Balaam, who kept teaching Balak to put a stumbling block before the sons of Israel, to eat things sacrificed to idols and to commit acts of immorality. ‘So you also have some who in the same way hold the teaching of the Nicolaitans.”

“There are some there who hold the teaching of Balaam”….…and “some who hold the teaching of the Nicolaitans”

Even though there were many in this church who were faithful to Christ, who stood upon the name of Jesus, who were faithful even when others were dying for their faith, they were allowing false teachers to infiltrate the church!

The teaching of Balaam:

This was an OT prophet who was supposed to speak faithfully for the Lord. But this prophet was crooked, and was offered a lot money by the king of Moab to curse Israel because he was afraid of them because they were such a large powerful nation. He could not curse them, becuase he knew it would do no good unless God Himself cursed Him. God only does what God says, not what we say!

So Balaam came up with a scheme. And he told the king You just bring some of your real pretty girls down here—your Moabite girls, your Canaanite girls—and have a feast, and let those girls mix and mingle with the men of Israel, and just entice them. And, if I can’t curse them, you can corrupt them; and then, God will curse them. All you have to do is just get them mixed up in the world; and then, you won’t need anybody to curse them. God Himself will curse them. First of all, corrupt them; and then, God will curse them.” And, that’s exactly what the King of Moab did—he had a sensual feast, and the daughters of Moab came and mingled with the men of Israel. And, God slew 24,000 of the men of Israel.

What is the teaching of Balaam? It is those who teach believers to compromise their faith with the world. It is those who become a stumbling block to those who walk with Jesus.

In this church, it was probably teaching that it was ok to worship the emperor and Jesus too. To worship Zeus and Jesus too. Teaching followers there is nothing wrong with both.

QUESTION: What may be some ways this compromise infiltrates churches today?

ANSWER: All religions lead to heaven.

QUESTION: What part do you play in guarding the truth?

The solution to this churches problem

Revelation 2:16–17 “‘Therefore repent; or else I am coming to you quickly, and I will make war against them with the sword of My mouth. ‘He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes, to him I will give some of the hidden manna, and I will give him a white stone, and a new name written on the stone which no one knows but he who receives it.’”

Repent: to change your previous ways! To change your mind that will lead to a change of action!

It means to take a strong stance against false teachers!

Do not allow people to teach false doctrine, or worldly thinking as a substitute for solid Bible teaching.

QUESTION: What does repentance involve for a church that tolerates false teachers and false teaching?

What if they do not repent?

“I am coming top you quickly”

QUESTION: Who is Jesus saying that He will come to?

ANSWER: Those who are allowing the false teaching to continue

What else doers Jesus promise to do?

Make war against the false teachers!

He will not only judge the church, but He judge the false teachers

Application:

This calls for two things:

Sound biblical understanding for us. If we do not know biblical doctrine it will be hard to detect false doctrine. If we do not know sound teaching, we will have a hard time recognizing worldly teaching!

The willingness to go to war against false teaching

Some people think we are to be at peace at all times. Never say anything that will upset anyone.

There is a time for war and a time for peace (Ecclesiastes 3:8)

When false teaching infiltrates the church, it is a time for war. I don’t mean in a sense of cruelty, but in a sense of action! Take action! The church must be prepared to stand against false teaching.

If we do not, Jesus will make war with us

Those who listen and heed this warning will eat from the table of the Lord

Revelation 2:17 “‘He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes, to him I will give some of the hidden manna, and I will give him a white stone, and a new name written on the stone which no one knows but he who receives it.’”

Hidden manna and the new name are eschatological symbols both referring to the messianic banquet.

It is a promise to be an overcomer, by heeding the warning from Jesus.

QUESTION: What does Jesus mean by “he who has ears, let Him hear”?

ANSWER: It is a way of saying, if you have the ability to understand, you need to obey. Not to obey is to harden our hearts and then not be able to hear at all.

Matthew 13:12 ““For whoever has, to him more shall be given, and he will have an abundance; but whoever does not have, even what he has shall be taken away from him.”