Revelation 2:12-29 "The Compromising & Corrupt Church"

Tonight: The Compromising Church (vv 12-17); The Corrupt Church (vv 18-29)

Sadly… many churches today have slipped into compromise or corruption… by allowing worldly principals, practices, and people to infiltrate.

Biblical values and the authority of scripture is set aside for relevance to culture… sin is accepted and called grace… unbelievers lead worship and who knows what else… the list is long as to the ways that many churches have fallen into compromise or corruption.

So as we look at these churches tonight… yes we look back in time to very real churches in the first century, and possibly times of church history… but there is also relevance to parts of the church today.

As a reminder: in these letters of Chapters 2 & 3… Jesus’ provides some or all of the following notes to these churches:

Commendation

Correction / Rebuke

Exhortation/ Warning or Appeal

Invitation and Promise

V12 “And to the angel of the church in Pergamos write,

Angel - Gk aggelos- Messenger; same word used for John the Baptist and his disciples.

Makes contextual sense to think of this as the Pastor…

Whom Jesus holds in His right hand (Rev 1:20; 2:1)

Each of the seven churches then were being led by a Pastor… and received commendations, rebukes, reminders of promises, etc.

Non-fallen Angels are not seen being rebuked by God in scripture, but 5 out of the 7 angels and churches in Rev 2-3 are… so the idea of a human messenger makes more contextual sense.

Pergamos:

One of the most prominent and wealthy cities in Asia Minor

About 20 miles from the Mediterranean Sea

Full of many temples to idols… and home to pagan cults to Athena, Zeus, Dionysus, etc.

Once a library with 200,000 books was there… later transferred to Egypt as a gift from Anthony to Cleopatra.

A famous product was paper or parchment, which may have originated here.

Partchment in Latin is pergamena or pergamenum, meaning "of Pergamon,"

In this town a small Christian church was present.

‘These things says He who has the sharp two-edged sword:

A description of Christ from Rev 1:16 where the two-edged sword came from His mouth…

Could refer to Divine Judgment… and here for Pergamos, He judges their Compromise.

Could refer to the double-edged character of the Word of God.

It’s message of salvation and grace if believed frees that person from sin, condemnation and eternal death.

If rejected, the unbeliever remains in sin, is condemned, will remain dead spiritually and subject to hell.

Walvoord: “The Word of God is at once the instrument of salvation and the instrument of death.”

V13 “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.

Commendation for holding fast to the name of Christ:

“Your works” is not in many manuscripts. Thus, in some translations V13 is rendered “I know where you dwell...”

Which was where “Satan’s throne is”…

Likely reference Satanic power as seen in the false religions of the city.

There was a pagan god whose idol was the form of a serpent, but not necessarily was that Satan.

Yet… they remained loyal to Jesus Christ… and did not deny faith in Jesus Christ…

Even in the face of great evil… where one of their ranks… a man named Antipas… who was noted as a “faithful witness” (martyr means “witness”)… was killed.

We know nothing more of this incident, but it was noticed by Jesus Christ and noted here.

Those who endure temptations, suffering, tribulation… and are faithful will receive a “crown of life” at the Bema Seat Judgment (James 1:12; Rev 2:10).

vv14-15 “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.”

Rebuke for Compromise:

They tolerated some people in the church who followed the teaching of Balaam and others who followed the teaching of the Nicolaitans.

The account of Balaam and Balak is referred to in Numbers 22-25.

Balak, king of the Moabites, hired Balaam to curse Israel.

Balaam was a wicked prophet who was money motivated. His heart was not right before God.

2 Peter 2:15 “They have forsaken the right way and gone astray, following the way of Balaam the son of Beor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness;”

Jude 11 “11 Woe to them! For they have gone in the way of Cain, have run greedily in the error of Balaam for profit...”

He sold his prophetic gift for money.

Words associated with Balaam: sorcery, oracles…

They offered a diviners fee… but God spoke to and forbade Balaam to curse Israel “for they are blessed.”

This incident is tied to the Balaam’s talking donkey, as you may recall.

Balaam was only permitted by God to bless Israel, so he found a loophole to cause Israel to fall into compromise by advising the Moabites to entice the men of Israel with prostitutes and idolatry.

Balak followed Balaam’s advice… Israel fell into sin, worshiping Baal of Peor and committing fornication with Midianite women.

For this God plagued them, and 24,000 men died. (Numbers 25:1–9)

Numbers 31:16 reads, “Look, these women caused the children of Israel, through the counsel of Balaam, to trespass against the Lord in the incident of Peor, and there was a plague among the congregation of the Lord.”

So, V14 of Rev 2… is a rebuke against compromise.

Walvoord states, “The doctrine of Balaam therefore was the teaching that the people of God should intermarry with the heathen and compromise in the matter of idolatrous worship.”

This was tolerated in the church at Pergamos. Intermarrying with people who worshipped the false gods of Pergamos leading to idolatry.

The doctrine of the Nicolaitans is not as clear but seems to represent a similar moral departure.

And it’s noted in V16 that Jesus hates these false teachings that lead to compromise.

V16 “Repent, or else I will come to you quickly and will fight against them with the sword of My mouth.”

Exhortation: Warning to Repent

When you see the word “repent”, we must ask… “Repent from what?”

In this context… they were not to change their mind about Jesus, but to change their mind about compromise.

This is not a salvation passage… and we need to understand that to interpret the meaning of “repent” we must look at context.

Similar to when we read the word “saved” ask, “Saved from what?”… when you read “repent” ask, “Repent from what?”

Repent by def. means “to change one’s mind.”

The compromise in this church was leading to apostasy, and they needed to change how they thought about it being acceptable to intermarry with pagans.

If they did not… Jesus would judge them suddenly with the sword of His 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.” ’

Invitation and Promise:

Those willing to listen should listen.

Two promises to Overcomers:

Overcomers are normal Christians who believe in Jesus and especially follow Him as Lord.

1 John 5:5 “Who is he who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?”

Promise 1: Eating Hidden Manna-

The exact meaning of these promises are speculative at best.

During the Exodus, manna was provided to Israel which replaced the food of Egypt.

Here, this seems to refer to spiritual food that provides spiritual strength which is a benefit of fellowship with Christ versus the world.

A benefit now… and in the future Kingdom.

Promise 2: Receiving a white stone with a new name:

Walvoord “In courts of law being given a white stone is thought to represent acquittal in contrast to a black stone which would indicate condemnation.” Maybe

The white stone is given to a believer, therefore it may symbolize acceptance by the Lord.

And on it is a new name… which is common in scripture.

Abram & Sarai… Abraham and Sarah.

Jacob… Israel

Simon… Peter (Cephas)

Saul… Paul

The new name better represented the person upon calling by the Lord.

So… was the name a new personal name or something else?

Or the proper name of God… which remains mysterious as it is absent of vowels.… YHWH (tetragrammaton)

We pronounce His name as Yahweh or Yehovah, but we don’t know 100%.

The promises seem to assure the believers of blessings for forsaking to compromise to the world around them.

Which in many ways we can relate to. How easy it is to drift and fall into compromise?

Hebrews 2:1 “Therefore we must give the more earnest heed to the things we have heard, lest we drift away.”

The Corrupt Church

V18 “And to the angel of the church in Thyatira write,

Small thriving town about 40 miles southeast of Pergamos.

Established as a Macedonian colony by Alexander the Great.

Famous for manufacturing a purple dye used for clothing. Purple was the color of royalty.

Acts 16:14 “Now a certain woman named Lydia heard us. She was a seller of purple from the city of Thyatira, who worshiped God. The Lord opened her heart to heed the things spoken by Paul.”

Only mention in Acts of Thyatira. Paul did not plant a church here, so maybe Lydia played a role.

This is the longest letter to the seven churches and the church is a very small church, which goes to show us that the size of the church matters to Christ.

And, this one is singled out and receives one of the most severe rebukes.

‘These things says the Son of God, who has eyes like a flame of fire, and His feet like fine brass:

Eye like flames of fire and feet like fine brass both picture the divine Judge coming in judgment

He sees and knows all things.

Brass, more properly bronze symbolizes divine judgment.

“… as embodied in the Old Testament types...”

-the brazen altar and other items of brass used in connection with sacrifice for sin (cf. Exodus 38:30).

V19 “I know your works, love, service, faith, and your patience; and as for your works, the last are more than the first.”

Commendation of works, love, faith, and patience.

This is the first church noted for it’s love and love here is agape… which is surprising given their correction.

The last are more… indicates they were growing in a positive trend on these good works versus the Ephesian church that was in decline and reminded to “do the first works” since they left their first love (vv 4-5, Chap 2)

Jesus saw several good things they were doing, but they had serious issues within the walls of the church.

vv20-23 “Nevertheless I have a few things against you, because you allow that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess, to teach and seduce My servants to commit sexual immorality and eat things sacrificed to idols. 21 And I gave her time to repent of her sexual immorality, and she did not repent. 22 Indeed I will cast her into a sickbed, and those who commit adultery with her into great tribulation, unless they repent of their deeds. 23 I will kill her children with death, and all the churches shall know that I am He who searches the minds and hearts. And I will give to each one of you according to your works.”

Rebuke for spiritual wickedness.

Jezebel is a name that means “unchaste.”

May not have been her actual name, but used to point back to the Jezebel in 1 Kings (wife of Ahab… very evil who attempted to combine worship in Israel with worship of Baal).

1 Kings 16:33 “And Ahab made a wooden image. Ahab did more to provoke the Lord God of Israel to anger than all the kings of Israel who were before him.”

She killed many prophets and sought to kill Elijah.

“She is the epitome of subtle corruption and a symbol of immorality and idolatry.”

Walvord “Some manuscripts add sou to the word woman, hence meaning “thy woman,” or “thy wife.” Alford favors the interpretation that Jezebel was actually the wife of the pastor at Thyatira...”

Regardless… she had a presence and led people astray into idolatry. Often pagan worship entailed acts of sexual immorality… sacrifices to idols… eating the meat of the animals sacrificed to the idols…

She may call herself a prophetess, but she was not. She was false.

She seduced believers… seduce means “to cause to wander.”

She would be cast from her bed of lust to a sickbed (a bed of affliction).

Her children, meaning ‘those who follow her’ would experience “great tribulation” (God’s judgment)… unless they repented of their deeds.

Interesting… V21… Jesus “gave her time to repent of her sexual immorality...”

Repent of what? She would not change her mind about idolatrous practices.

And her followers V22 also were extended an opportunity to repent of their deeds… or face terrible divine judgment (tribulation and death).

Jesus “searches the minds and hearts… and judges justly. The punishment fits the crime and none can escape His justice.

Walvoord “There can be no hiding from Christ of any iniquity whether overt or covert act.”

vv24-25 “Now to you I say, and to the rest in Thyatira, as many as do not have this doctrine, who have not known the depths of Satan, as they say, I will put on you no other burden. 25 But hold fast what you have till I come.”

Exhortation to the godly remnant:

Those who did not compromise had a great trial in being surrounded by wicked corruption.

First time a sub-group is singled out in the letters to the seven churches.

They did not follow Jezebel’s teachings… they did not know the “deep things of Satan.” … the satanic system of false cults.

No other burden… dealing with the evil surrounding them and not being corrupted was burden enough.

So they are encouraged to simply hold tight to obedience and faithfulness to the Lord… until He returns.

First mention of Jesus’ Second coming in the letters to the churches.

Walvoord: “To the godly remnant, then, Christ gives a limited responsibility. The evil character of the followers of Jezebel is such that they are beyond reclaim, but the true Christians are urged to hold fast to what they already have and await the coming of the Lord.”

vv 26-29 “And he who overcomes, and keeps My works until the end, to him I will give power over the nations— 27 ‘He shall rule them with a rod of iron; They shall be dashed to pieces like the potter’s vessels’—as I also have received from My Father; 28 and I will give him the morning star. 29 “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.” ’

Invitation and Promise:

Promise for overcomers to have “power over the nations”:

A position to judge the nations during the millennial reign of Christ. There will be nations the form from the people who survived the tribulation, and came to faith during that time.

They and their descendants will form nations, and Christians prior to the tribulation are promised positions of authority… sharing the rule with Christ over the nations of the world.

He as the head of course.

V27 “Rule” means “to act as a shepherd.” (during the millennium)

Walvoord “Their rule will not be simply that of executing judgment, but also that of administering mercy and direction to those who are the sheep as contrasted to the goats (Matt. 25:31–46).”

Sheep are permitted into the millennium

V27 is a quote of Psalm 2:8–9 “Ask of Me, and I will give You The nations for Your inheritance, And the ends of the earth for Your possession. 9 You shall break them with a rod of iron; You shall dash them to pieces like a potter’s vessel.’ ””

Ruling with the rod of iron symbolizes swift and perfect justice as Jesus is the perfect judge.

End of V27… “as I also have received from My Father...”

John 5:22 “For the Father judges no one, but has committed all judgment to the Son,”

Judgment will be committed to Jesus Christ and His faithful after the Second Coming.

V28 Promise of the “morning star”:

Walvoord: “While various explanations of this expression have been given, it seems to refer to Christ Himself in His role as the returning One who will rapture the church before the dark hours preceding the dawn of the millennial kingdom.”

V29: Closes with the familiar exhortation to individuals who would hear the words of Christ.

For the first three churches, they were encourages to listen, and then a promise was extended.

For the first time here… the exhortation to listen follows the promise… which is the new pattern for the final three churches.

Which is just an observation, I have no clear interpretation for why the pattern changes.

So… that wraps up Chapter 2… let’s now enter our discussion time.

Next time we will look at the first two churches in Rev 3… read ahead.