Compromise
The Book Of Revelation • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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After this recent Presidential election, there has been a lot of chatter among the immigrant population, an among their non-immigrant family and associates.
Being half hispanic myself, although never have I been an immigrant, I am a first generation born from an immigrant Father.
Also, my wife Yadi was an immigrant, then later became a citizen like my father, as soon as she qualified according to the immigration laws of that time.
When the immigration issue began to become a greater problem for the country, in terms of scandals and controversy,
When ever my father discussed the debate, he would always challenge the notion that visa’s should just be given.
Saying, “I had to follow all the rules, work hard, and pay taxes for years before qualifying to become a citizen, why should anyone think they have the right to be granted any immigration status without following the law, like he and my mom had to do.
My sister also married an immigrant, but in her case, not from Mexico, but from Europe. Greece to be exact.
And he quickly became a citizen as well, and they spent the last 40 or so years together building an empire together.
My brother in law, was a merchant ship crewman, and probably the hardest working man I’ve ever known.
He went to be with the Lord only recently.
Speaking of my dearly departed brother-in-law, he was the attention of their community.
The reason being, they although he was an outspoken fan of the United States and its blessing on him, he was known for painting and decorating everything he own here in the states with national Greek colors, flags, etc.
But if you visit his estate in Greece, its all decked out in the Red, white, and blue.
Almost everything he owned out there has the American Flag emblazoned on it somewhere.
Why do I bring all this up?
Well, you see, my father was a real cowboy, growing up.
I don’t mean, like in the movies or something, no, he was a bonafide Cowboy most of his early life.
But, when he first immigrated to this country, he was immediately stigmatized.
It was here in this country, that he experienced racism and bias for the first time.
So, like many in those early days of his immigration process, he set aside his characteristic background,
Or rather, what made him, HIM, for instance, his dress.
He was a cowboy, and he dressed like one, boots, belt and sombrero.
Setting his cowboy clothes aside, he donned clothes similar to the style worn in Chicago, in those days, late 1960’s
He set them aside to be less persecuted because of his nationality.
Basically to blend in, and not be accidently deported, due to sticking out like a sore thumb in the Chicago community.
However, and this is a true story, on the very day he received his citizenship certificate,
He threw off those Chicago, city slicker clothes, and reached for his boot, belt, and his signature Sombrero he still wears to this day.
Thats the truth, if you ask anyone in that area of Chicago if they know the guy who wears the cowboy hat, Sombrero, they would say, “Oh yeah, we’ve seen him around.”
Im sure his experience would’ve been different had he landed in Texas, but had he landed anywhere else, then
“I” wouldn’t be here right now telling you all that story.
Likewise, I’m sure, my brother-in-law proudly displayed his Greek heritage knowing that he was FREE to do so, without the fear of repercussion.
After the Lord Jesus arose from before the Apostles , and went into the clouds,
The Apostles did what Jesus told them to do.
Wait in Jerusalem for the coming promise.
The Bible tells us the promise of the Holy Spirit came on Pentecost, where there were over a hundred people gathered, including Mary, the mother of Jesus.
1 When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. 2 And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. 3 Then there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them. 4 And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.
On that day the church was born.
The apostles left that place and got right to work preaching the Gospel of Jesus.
From that point began the Apostolic age of church history.
Then after the rulers of that day saw the effect the Gospel was having on the people that they set out to destroy, and harass the new church.
And so they did, beginning what is known as the Persecuted age of the church, as defined in the letter directed to Smyrna by Jesus Himself.
But then after some time, here comes a Roman Emperor on the scene and formally ended the persecution of the faith in Jesus.
In 313 AD, the emperor Constantine, who reigned from 306 - 337AD., issued the Edict of Milan,
formally ending the persecution of Christians.
Thereby protecting with the law behind them.
Then later in 380 AD, the emperor Theodosius issued the Edict of Thessalonica, which made Christianity the official religion of the Roman Empire.
Thereby solidifying the age of persecution against Christians.
Which brings us to the next letter that Jesus sent in the Book of revelation.
12 “And to the angel of the church in Pergamos write, ‘These things says He who has the sharp two-edged sword: 13 “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. 14 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. 15 Thus you also have those who hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitans, which thing I hate. 16 Repent, or else I will come to you quickly and will fight 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 him who overcomes I will give some of the hidden manna to eat. And I will give him a white stone, and on the stone a new name written which no one knows except him who receives it.” ’
This letter was to the church of Pergamos
The Word Pergamos means, = Compromise, or Objectionable Marriage, or even a Fortified high tower, signifying the accomplishments of relationships built between parties.
By way of review, let me again mention the four major views on the Book of Revelation.
Preterist
Historical
Allegorical
and Prophetic or Futurist View.
When we look at the the letter of Pergamos through the lens of the Futurist view,
We again see a pattern of church history unfold before our eyes.
Beginning with the Apostolic Church in Ephesus, when the gospel started to spread like wild fire,
The world power set off to stop the spread of Christianity and so began the brutal age of Persecution as warned by Jesus to the church of Smyrna
But at this point, persecution had ended, and not only did it end, it was made the official religion of the empire.
So what happened to all the Christians who went into hiding?
They came out, and rejoined the communities.
No longer having to fear reprecussion for their faith, they came out proudly boasted their Christian beliefs.
It reminds me of the experience of both my father, and my bother-in-law.
They were too afraid of any push back if the were to just be themselves in public.
But once they had the same legal rights as a citizen as any other citizen,
Off went the hush puppies, and on came the cowboy boot, and sombreros.
Out came the National Colors of Greece of Blue and White for the whole neighborhood to see that a Greek lived on the block.
But, speaking of my brother-in-law, as I said, he was proud of his Greek Nationality, of that there was no doubt,
But he was an American first.
Defending America and even its colorful politics at times
Because he blended in.
He became an American, with all its red white and Blue glory.
Even as I said, sporting his Americana on his native island in Greece.
And my father, I make jokes about his time spent in this country.
He has spent the majority of his life here in the States, and often says he forgets sometimes what language he is supposed to be speaking at times.
Even yelling once at a poor Mexican butcher in Mexico mind you, because he kept asking for Pork Chops.
Not realizing that they don’t call them pork chops in Mexico.
It wasn’t until after he left upset at the butcher that it dawned on him, he wasn’t in Kansas in you get my meaning.
And so begin the Mixing of the Christianized people of the once underground church, with those of liberal, and pagan backgrounds.
In order to keep the peace, the Emperor Constantine adapted the empire to accommodate all religions.
Notice, that although he ended the persecution of Christians, he didn’t outlaw the paganism of the time either.
Now, to explain exactly how the mixing happened over time between the Ardent Christian Faith, and the liberal paganism Rome was famous for,
We would have to take a detour into the early church, and the earliest of official Church councils that happened in the years to follow
We would have to follow the successions of the early Popes and history etc.
But Suffice it to say, the more the mixing, the more ostracized the faithful Christians became who were warning of the church becoming to familiar with the word,
At times, not being able to distinguish between the church and the world. (Sound familiar?
Kind of sounds a little like the times we are living in now.)
In this country we have a document written protecting our right to religion.
There is a division of church and State.
Back then, the early church was the State!
There was no separation, you either believed professed faith or you were tortured and killed.
Yes, there are some embarrassing moments in Christian history.
Regardless, this went on until 1517 AD, when Martin Luther nailed his 95 page thesis to the castle church of Wittenburg.
Which began the protestant reformation movement.
Returning our attention to the letter to Pergamos,
in verse 13 we find
13 “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.
Where satan dwells, that means the devil lives there.
What could that mean?
to understand that we would have to ga back in time even further to the time of Nimrod in Babylon.
Nimrod the Bible tells us was a king, and he built began building the tower of Babel.
So, he was serving as both the King and Priest,
King to rule the people and Priest to maintain access to God.
But evidence suggest that those priest in Babylon fled the area and set up shop in, you guessed it, Pergamos
So the idea of a Man ruling over the people while being priest, apart from Jesus is the epitome of evil.
Hence, where satan lives is fitting.
(https://www.vision.org/through-ancient-looking-glass-809#:~:text=At%20this%20point%2C%20around%20480,the%20cubic%20stone%2C%20with%20them.)
Pergamos was a major religious center through that time.
Even erecting a temple to the Roman Emperor Caesar
In AD 29 a great temple was erected to the worship of Augustus Caesar, who was to be prayed to as "Lord Caesar."
(https://www.diggingfortruth.org/digging-deeper/church-at-pergamos#:~:text=In%20AD%2029%20a%20great,%22%20and%20%22temple%2Dwarden%22)
This idea of church/State Government found its way into the early church as church history tells us.
14 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. 15 Thus you also have those who hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitans, which thing I hate.
The Nicolaitans, who ever they were, were hated by Jesus.
But what was the doctrine of Balaam?
The doctrine of Balaam refers to the prophet Balaam spoken of in the Book of Numbers.
He was hired by the king to curse Israel, but God wouldn’t allow it.
It was he that was on the road and his donkey stopped, seeing an angel blocking the road,
The Donkey was beaten by Balaam for not moving, then spoke to Balaam.
Balaam would not curse Israel because God wouldn’t permit it,
So, Balaam, told the king the best way to weaken Israel was to have the young ladies of the kingdom, set up shop on the road sides, and entice them into relationships, including even marriage which was strictly forbidden by God
So, Balaam’s advise worked the Bible tells us, that the mean of Israel began entering into objectionable marriages with the women of Moab.
Again, a fitting name for this age of the church, of Mixed marriage between the church and the world.
6 Repent, or else I will come to you quickly and will fight against them with the sword of My mouth. 17 “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.
Again we have the Lord telling them to Repent of this interaction with the world.
Or he would come and fight them with the Word of His mouth.
The Gospel
17 “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes I will give some of the hidden manna to eat. And I will give him a white stone, and on the stone a new name written which no one knows except him who receives it.” ’
Here in this verse, we are told that whomever overcomes, will be given the hidden Mana to eat.
If you remember the children of Israel lived on Manna forty years and they wandered the desert.
What Jesus appears to be saying is,
“You don’t need the world, to fulfil your needs. If you overcome and hold fast until the end, your needs will be met along the way. Supplied by Him, and not of this world.”
But also we read about a white stone being given.
Why a white stone?
Old Israel used stones in its judicial system by dropping in black stones if you were thought guilty, and White, if you were found innocent.
Jesus said, if you hold fast, and keep separated from the world, you will be found innocent.
Amen
If Jesus came back right now, what color would the stones be in your bucket?
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