The Church of Pergamum

Good morning and welcome to Living Faith Church. I am so excited to be able to worship Jesus Christ with you on this amazing Sunday. Today we are in week two of this series called Seven - looking at the letters of Jesus to the seven churches of the province of Asia Minor. These seven letters can be found beginning in the book of Revelation chapter two.

Last week we looked at the letter to the church of Ephesus, a letter whose theme brought great conviction. If you missed that message, go back and listen to that on all of our social platforms. This week we are looking at a letter that was written to the church of Pergamum. Now, if you will remember, in each of these letters, Jesus introduces Himself in a unique way. To Ephesus, Jesus was “The One who holds the seven stars in His right hand, the One who walks among the seven golden lampstands”. The seven stars Revelation 1:20 says, are the pastors of the seven churches, and the seven lampstands are the seven churches. Yet, now to the church of Pergamum, we find that Jesus is introducing Himself in a very powerful way:

Revelation 2:12 NASB95

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

Now, again, we can find the secret to the imagery be reading Revelation chapter one.

Revelation 1:16 NASB95

16 In His right hand He held seven stars, and out of His mouth came a sharp two-edged sword; and His face was like the sun shining in its strength.

So, right at the beginning, Jesus is letting us know, this letter has everything to do with His Word.

When I was in college, before I met Stella, I really liked another girl. She was the only girl I actually like enough to get over my boyhood silliness and ask her to date me. We had been leading worship together for several months. And i figured she must like me, because she had started randomly stopping by my dorm and wanting to do things together. So, you could say we were pretty serious. I was from Portland, she was from Wisconsin, she was upscale, I was rocker grunge, she was mature, I was - not. What did these things matter anyway - we liked each other and I knew it. So, one Sunday after leading worship together, service was over, we were just there hanging out; and I thought, this was as good a time as ever to ask this girl out. How bad could this go- everything was basically cool. So, we sat on the stairs near our youth room, and I said: “Jessica, will you go out with me”. Expecting a “Yea, sure”. I waited patiently. And then it came, that Midwest blunt reply with no filter. “Aaron”, she said, “Somewhere out there God has a man for me, but it’s definitely not you”. I remember these words as if they were spoken yesterday. I remember thinking, OK- fine, did you have to say it that way?

Jesus is telling the church of Pergamum, I’m not coming in gentle here folks. As commentator Gerald L. Stevens notes about this Revelatory imagery:

Mouth: sharp, two-edged sword (1:16), martial imagery allusive of war, but “out of the mouth” means not a normal war. Rather, this is a war of words, of witness and testimony. Sword imagery in biblical contexts normally implies a word of judgement.

So, as Jesus is introducing Himself to this church of Pergamum, His is saying, I am coming to you as one who’s words cut both ways. If you heed my teaching, my words will prune, if you reject my teachings, my words will sever you from my vine.

The Theme

Now, each of these letters that Jesus is writing to the Seven Churches of the province of Asia Minor cary a unique theme. To the church of Ephesus the theme was “First Love”. Jesus corrects the Ephesian church for having allowed other things to take first place in their heart. But to the church of Pergamum, we find the theme of “Passive Leadership”. Let’s read this letter in it’s entirety.

Revelation 2:12–17 NASB95

12 “And to the angel of the church in Pergamum write: The One who has the sharp two-edged sword says this: 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. 14 ‘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. 15 ‘So you also have some who in the same way hold the teaching of the Nicolaitans. 16 ‘Therefore repent; or else I am coming to you quickly, and I will make 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 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.’

The Praise

Jesus is kind to the church of Pergamum, in that He sandwiches His judgements between two things: Praise and Promise.

Jesus praises this church for:

“Holding fast to my name”. This church actually teaches the truth amidst great persecution.

“Not denying My Faith”. Even when Antipas was martyred for his faith.

Jesus says: You did all of this at the place of “Satans Throne”.

The City of Pergamum

Pergamum was not just any city. Pergamum was the capitol city of the Kingdom of Pergamon under the Attalid dynasty until 133 BC. Here we are, the book of Revelation was written in 95 AD when Pergamum was under Roman rule, yet it is still a capitol city, and the most prominent in all of Asia Minor.

Pergamum was the home to the largest library, the Library of Alexandria in Asia Minor.

It was the epicenter and breeding ground for the medical profession.

It was the birthplace of Galen, second most renown physician of the time.

Pergamum was home to the Acropolis, a mountain of worship that stood a proud 1,100 feet above sea level. Housing temples of worship to Dionysus, Zeus, Asclepius, as well as past and present emperors.

It’s exquisite white marble monuments and buildings and pillars were unmatched to any other city in Asia Minor.

The worship of Dionysus - the god of fertility and wine making, and Asclepius the god of medicine and healing brought great wealth with tourism and export.

The Judgement

And with all of this pomp and circumstance Jesus says: You taught my Word and did not deny My faith. But as much as we would like- it does not stop there.

Revelation 2:14 NASB95

14 ‘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.

Many of you may remember the name Balaam from the Bible story of Balaams’ donkey. Balaam was a prophet for hire, accepting money from the Moabite King in exchange for false prophecies. But Balaam not only took money for false prophecies, he also encouraged temple prostitution, and eating food offered to idols. Things that God strictly prohibited, and even after the New Testament church is born, we find these two elements at the foundation of Biblical Obedience.

Acts 15:28–29 NASB95

28 “For it seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us to lay upon you no greater burden than these essentials: 29 that you abstain from things sacrificed to idols and from blood and from things strangled and from fornication; if you keep yourselves free from such things, you will do well. Farewell.”

Without spending a lot of time focusing on Balaam, I think we can get to the heart of Jesus message to the church of Pergamum by looking at two contrasting messages. Messages, that when heard and received, strike the American church right to the core.

Two Contrasting Messages

You Hold fast to My name, and you did not deny My Faith

You have some among you who hold to the teaching of Balaam

What do we see here? We see an example of “Passive Leadership”. The church of Pergamum is a perfect example of so many churches today, and it is the temptation of every church leader. To stand up and uncompromisingly teach the truth, yet refuse to confront the members of the body who choose to ignore the message.

See, I find that many will attend a Christian church for the belonging, the community, the philanthropy. Many American “Christians” don’t even know what their churches statement of faith is. They are not aligning to an outline of faith, but rather a sense of community and good deeds. And so these church attenders dwell in a community where they are accepted and yet remain unchanged. It’s a take this and leave that community.

Can I just say this: We live in a era where many secular businesses have more conviction than the church?

Apples Ex CEO and Co-Founder Steve Jobs is noted as saying:

“Some people say, “Give the customers what they want.” But that’s not my approach. Our job is to figure out what they’re going to want before they do.”

Henry Ford - Founder of Ford Motor Company said:

“If I’d asked customers what they wanted, they would have told me, ‘A faster horse!’”

SouthWest Airlines:

When a SouthWest Airlines customer emailed complaining of how the stewardess’s were “having fun” during the safety instruction process, stating that “You need to restrain your stewardesses, this is not a time for fun”. CEO Herb Kelleher replied “We will miss you - Love Herb”

Jesus rebuke toward the church of Pergamum was not directed toward what they taught, how they worshipped, or even if they believed in the gifts of the spirit or not. Jesus rebuked the church of Pergamum was for not confronting bad doctrine and false worship amongst it’s members. As one of our own members so eloquently put it; “What you tolerate, you teach”. In other words, your conviction is only as good as your confrontation. If you preach it, you better be ready to confront it. And Pergamum was not confronting it because to do so would be bad for business.

If I confront owner of the winery about our stance on alcohol, I might loose his money in the offering plate. Everyone knows where there is alcohol, there is money. Oh sure, our policy on drunkenness is in the back of our membership guide, but we don’t need to really confront it do we- C’mon Jesus- they know what we believe.

Sally enjoys the practice of the healing baths, medicinal poses, and sacred rests in the temple of Asclepius. She started her home business selling healing oils that have been anointed by the gods, and now she’s giving a measure of her business profits to the church. Why would I want to confront her on idols- that extra income is helping do so much good ministry.

And so just as Balaam took money for false prophecies, so church’s take tithe and offerings as payment for overlooking fake faith. It’s our agreement, I give, and you don’t confront me. And look at what Jesus says to the church.

Revelation 2:16 NASB95

16 ‘Therefore repent; or else I am coming to you quickly, and I will make war against them with the sword of My mouth.

What is the sword of my mouth? He is referencing back to Balaam, because in judgement for false prophecies, Balaam was killed with the sword. But, for us today, we are warned, the sword of His mouth is the Words of God, the righteous judgements of His law - John 12:48. Let me put it this way, if your pastors don’t confront you - the sword of His mouth will, and it won’t prune, it will sever. Some of you have been shocked when we point out areas where you need to change.

I’ve refused to do weddings when members won’t stop sleeping together

We have told many of you - you are not just offended, you have a spirit of offense and need to repent.

Some we won’t let lead until you choose to obey God in tithing.

Yes, we believe that a sex should be held in the context of a godly marriage between one mane and one woman.

We are not wanting to hurt you, we want to disciple you. We love you and want to see you for eternity in Heaven. God gave to the church pastoral leadership to prepare the church for His return, so the church can be judged and found ready.

John 12:48 NASB95

48 “He who rejects Me and does not receive My sayings, has one who judges him; the word I spoke is what will judge him at the last day.

The Promise

Revelation 2:17 NASB95

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.’

There is so much symbolism here- hidden manna speaking to intimacy with God in the Holy Place. A white stone and a new name written on the stone. This is twist on the idol worship where people would write their names and ailments on the white marble stones in the temple of Asclepius. Jesus says, you’ll get your name in white stone, but instead of you writing it in hope of Asclepius seeing it, I’ll write it for you, and I’ll give you a new name.

Salvation Response

My question for you today is this. Are you ready for His return?

Many people have told me, I don’t want to become a Christian because I can’t keep up that goodie lifestyle. But this verse says nothing about your lifestyle. God is more interested with your heart. If He can get to your heart, He will deal with your actions later. 

 For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. 11

Romans 6:23 NASB95.

We know that sin leads to death – you’ve felt the sting, and pain of sin. The good news is this, Paul calls God’s gift of life a “free gift”. I want to pray with you right now to receive this gift. If you would say, I want God’s forgiveness, I want to accept this gift of life, I want Jesus to live in my heart, raise your hand so I know who I am praying for. 

KEEP YOUR HANDS RAISED HIGH - I HAVE A PRAYER PARTNER COMING TO PRAY WITH YOU

“Heavenly Father, I trust You to save me through Your Son, Jesus. Forgive me for all of my sins. Make me brand new. Because You died for me, I want to live for You. Fill me with Your Spirit, so I could follow You. Jesus, You’re now my Lord and the Savior of my life. Take my life. It is Yours. In Jesus’ name, I pray.”