Letter to Church at Pergamum

Casey Russell

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Revelation 2:12–17 ESV

12 “And to the angel of the church in Pergamum write: ‘The words of him who has the sharp two-edged sword. 13 “ ‘I know where you dwell, where Satan’s throne is. Yet you hold fast my name, and you did not deny my faith even in the days of Antipas my faithful witness, who was killed among you, where Satan dwells. 14 But I have a few things against you: you have some there who hold the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to put a stumbling block before the sons of Israel, so that they might eat food sacrificed to idols and practice sexual immorality. 15 So also you have some who hold the teaching of the Nicolaitans. 16 Therefore repent. If not, I will come to you soon and war against them with the sword of my mouth. 17 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who conquers I will give some of the hidden manna, and I will give him a white stone, with a new name written on the stone that no one knows except the one who receives it.’

Tonight, Going to be looking at parts of a very good video from a series on the churches and letters.

Watch this video so you will understand a little more about the city.

Show Video-Intro

This letter is not very long.

We will be working through it tonight.

Let’s start with verse 12

Revelation 2:12 ESV

12 “And to the angel of the church in Pergamum write: ‘The words of him who has the sharp two-edged sword.

We have got to handle this verse first.

The one who is speaking has a sharp two-edge sword.

Where have we seen this before?

Revelation 1:16 ESV

16 In his right hand he held seven stars, from his mouth came a sharp two-edged sword, and his face was like the sun shining in full strength.

We set this up in chapter one, that this HIM is Jesus.

His authority is based on HIMSELF but His authority is EXECUTED by the words coming out of his mouth

It is a two edge sword.

This is also why we call the Bible THE WORD, because its the written down words of God.

This is why it’s so important to think carefully about the phrase, “God told me.”

A question for myself:

Should what Im saying right now be added to the Bible?

This man’s words are alive and they are sharp.

back to the text:

Ever met a person that having a conversation with them is always intense because its like they talks are peering into your soul?

Its a little bit about eye contact, right? Show pictures of eye contact

These two guys have intense eye contact.

But its also because its like they are hyper focused on you and who you are.

Jesus’ words are hyper focused.

We see this picture in another spot

Hebrews 4:12 ESV

12 For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.

Explain this image from Hebrews.

Here’s what you need to understand, JESUS IS LORD.

IN WORD AND DEED. EACH ARE JUST AS IMPORTANT.

He is as much Lord because he died on a cross and was resurrected and will come back, as much as by all the words that he has ever spoken and that are written down in the Bible.

This is why the Bible is so important to us.

KING JESUS HAS SPOKEN.

Ok verse 13

Revelation 2:13 ESV

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

Let’s focus in on the phrase Satan’s throne.

The bible is calling Pergamum “the location of Satan’s throne.”

I cannot find another listing in the bible like this.

Is this symbolic or his actual throne?

I dont know, but it is significant enough for John to write it.

This is also Jesus talking, not John, so that makes it even more significant.

This place is terrible.

What made it so terrible?

2 possible reasons:

(Mention both for their notes, but then go through each one by one)

1General Idolatry - Because of all the temples to false Gods that were there.

Watch video - Idolatry

These gods were mostly silly in a way. The Romans sort of believed them and sort of it was just fun or supersitition.

Now it was much more serious and all around them than some silly game.

It was even if they had to go to the doctor.

Watch Video - Compromise in healing.

That was a whole lot. Idolatry truly effected them.

But most scholars do not think that was the main reason why this city was called Satans throne.

Ive lived in a city like that. For the Christian on mission, its actually exciting and challenging.

The next reason is much worse though.

The other possible reason it was called “where Satan’s throne is”

2Specific Idolatry - Roman influence

This one is actually probably more likely

Watch video- Lord

So just because Roman influence there, it would be called that?

Naw.

Its much more than Roman influence there.

This is one of the few places in the Empire that could execute people on their own, without the Emperor’s approval.

But its even more than that.

This is one of the few places that was approved for a temple dedicated to worship of the emperor.

Why is that significant?

Because to them, Ceasar was Lord.

It was ok to be a part of other religions. They had lots of them.

But the Bible says you must only have one master.

Who was LORD?

Jesus or Caeser?

Romans 10:9 ESV

9 because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.

may read from p. 58 in Christ Centered Commentary

Remember this statement from last week?

Silent christians are typically not persecuted.

You must choose who you will serve.

You (the kids) understand exactly what they are experiencing. People in your schools are fine that you are a Christian, just not ONLY a christian. There are significant consequences for forsaking everything and only following Jesus.

May end night one at this point

We get further clarity on what they have been doing thats so wrong.

Revelation 2:14–15 ESV

14 But I have a few things against you: you have some there who hold the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to put a stumbling block before the sons of Israel, so that they might eat food sacrificed to idols and practice sexual immorality. 15 So also you have some who hold the teaching of the Nicolaitans.

Issues

Some hold to teaching of Balaam

Balak is king of Moab. Balaam was a non-israel prophet

Balak promised Balaam a fee if he would curse Israel for invading. (numbers22v5-6)

God told him not to (numbers22v12)

God told Balaam to go with the servants of Balak but do what the Lord tells him to do. (ch22v21)

He didnt want to go help Israel but an angel with a sword convinced him.

Balaam gives 4 oracles ch23-24. All said Israel would win

Numbers 31:16-Balaam teaches balak how to win. Cant win by force so To seduce them.

Balaam was not a godly prophet, but he was also not a false prophet. He would take money for visions. He really had no morality or god that governed him. He just did what seemed right at the time.

Distinction - had no doctrine so had no standards to guide him. Worship idols, dont, who cares.

Some hold to teaching of Nicolaitans

Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary Nicolaitans

Nicolaitans have been linked to the type of heresy taught by Balaam (Num. 25:1–2; 2 Pet. 2:15), especially the pagan feasts and orgies that they apparently propagated in the first-century church.

Similar to Balaam religion.

Video - Balaam

Heres what they were doing - eating food to idols and sexual immorality

They had come to Christ, yet were constantly saying, whats the big deal here. We dont understand why you are being so ticky on what we do.

Heres the bigger issue:

Jesus is saying there is a worship problem here. You are living your life in worship to what feels good to your body and mind.

I need to say, that there certainly can be a reason to say “WHATS THE BIG DEAL” when christianity christians are constantly fussing about people and their behavior.

Humans enjoy being religious and making nice neat rules of behavior.

BUT!!!!

What happens when a person says I dont want to or dont feel like reading the Bible and that theology stuff isnt for me?

Moral failure is creeping around the corner.

I didnt know is an excuse, but Ignorance will only be an excuse for so long.

So this was not everyone. Many were being faithful to not get caught up in the life of a Good Roman. But some in the church were enjoying what the Roman and Pagan life offered, yet were still wanting to be a part of the church body.

Video - No Compromise

Revelation 2:16 ESV

16 Therefore repent. If not, I will come to you soon and war against them with the sword of my mouth.

Jesus is for real here. I’m not sure what this exactly means, but it cannot be good.

Revelation 2:17 ESV

17 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who conquers I will give some of the hidden manna, and I will give him a white stone, with a new name written on the stone that no one knows except the one who receives it.’

I will provide what you need to survive (food)

I will give you a prize

I will give you a new name

Time of Reflection

Exegete

Revelation 2:12–17 ESV

Pergamum - Roman capital of asia minor, above smyrna. Basic roman city with commerce and temples to gods and official state temple to Ceasar. It was on a steep hill so easy to fority.

Revelation 2:12 ESV

12 “And to the angel of the church in Pergamum write: ‘The words of him who has the sharp two-edged sword.

We see this same sword in chapter 1

Revelation 1:16 ESV

16 In his right hand he held seven stars, from his mouth came a sharp two-edged sword, and his face was like the sun shining in full strength.

We literally see the word of God (Bible) as the reason it is called the word of God. Its coming out of God’s mouth.

The words are coming to life as they come out of His mouth.

The Bible is called the Word of God because if God said it, it is written down for others to read.

Below is the promise that that word is active and alive.

Hebrews 4:12 ESV

Proverbs 5:4 ESV

4 but in the end she is bitter as wormwood, sharp as a two-edged sword.

Revelation 2:13 (ESV)

Pergamum even had the rare authority from Rome to do capital punishment on its own.

What does the phrase Satan’s throne mean?

Roman govt building, the Acropolis, was up high like a throne.

All the temples there.

There was an altar to Zeus (means savior) on top of the mountain.

A devil cult there called Asklepios. They called Asklepios “savior” (a serpent aligned with Satan).

Imperial cult worship. Patriotism had crossed into idolatry. To not be happy to line up with preimence in politics was to not be a good citizen. Christians could be Christians but it better not get in the way of being a worshipping Citizen. (from Christ Centered Commentary.) *May read from page 58 in book

Remember, we said that there really are not silent Christians that are persecuted.

Jesus says, I see your faith, even in one of the hardest places on Earth to have faith.

Not sure who Anitpas was. No other mention of Him in Bible. Eastern Orthodox tradition says he was a martyred pastor of Pergamum during Nero.

Only other was a Herod Antipas.

This is pretty significant. Jesus says this was not only a throne place for Satan, but that he dwelled here. This seems to be literal language because everything else around it has been literal language.

According to Christ-Centered Commentary, 90% of all people killed today for religion are Christians. 100,000 to 150,000 a year.