Pergamos- Watch Out!
Notes
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Intro:
Intro:
AG:
TS: Pergamos lit means “citadel” it is from a the word for which we get parchment which evidently originated in that area. It was situated on a 1000 foot hill in a broad fertile plane 20 mi from the Aegean sea. For over 250 years it serve as the capital of the Roman Province of Asia Minor. It was the first city to build a temple to Caesar.
RS:
“And to the angel of the church in Pergamum write: ‘The words of him who has the sharp two-edged sword.
“ ‘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.
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.
So also you have some who hold the teaching of the Nicolaitans.
Therefore repent. If not, I will come to you soon and 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 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.’
Rev 2:12-
Christ Revealed
Christ Revealed
“ ‘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.
Rev. 2:13
Words of Him who has the “sharp two edged sword”
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.
Sword signifies Judgment
Sword is also used to signify the Word of God
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.
Discerning of the thoughts and intentions of the heart.
and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God,
From his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations, and he will rule them with a rod of iron. He will tread the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God the Almighty.
By His word He will judge the world and overcome it.
Rev.
The Praise
The Praise
“ ‘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.
Jesus said they dwelt in hostile teritory
“where Satan’s throne is”
Pergamos was a base of false religion
On the acropolis was a huge throne-shaped alter to Zeus.
Asklepios, the so called god of healing, also had a large following there. (Snake form still used as medical symbol today.)
temple/medical school hybrid merge medicine and superstition.
One particularly interesting remedy required the ill to sleep on the temple floor as snakes crawled across them infusing them with healing power. Sounds fun doesn’t it!?
Antipas, probably a pastor, had been martyred for the faith.
The Problem
The Problem
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.
So also you have some who hold the teaching of the Nicolaitans.
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.
a. Teaching of Balaam
Balaam- OT story of the talking Donkey
He was paid to curse Israel by Balak, King of Moab, and on the way his donkey kept getting off the path.
When he was ready to beat the animal for doing it 3 times, God allowed the donkey to preach a message to the prophet.
Then the Lord opened the mouth of the donkey, and she said to Balaam, “What have I done to you, that you have struck me these three times?”
And Balaam said to the donkey, “Because you have made a fool of me. I wish I had a sword in my hand, for then I would kill you.”
And the donkey said to Balaam, “Am I not your donkey, on which you have ridden all your life long to this day? Is it my habit to treat you this way?” And he said, “No.”
Then the Lord opened the eyes of Balaam, and he saw the angel of the Lord standing in the way, with his drawn sword in his hand. And he bowed down and fell on his face.
And the angel of the Lord said to him, “Why have you struck your donkey these three times? Behold, I have come out to oppose you because your way is perverse before me.
The donkey saw me and turned aside before me these three times. If she had not turned aside from me, surely just now I would have killed you and let her live.”
When the effort to curse Israel failed, Moab compromised her.
While Israel lived in Shittim, the people began to whore with the daughters of Moab.
These invited the people to the sacrifices of their gods, and the people ate and bowed down to their gods.
So Israel yoked himself to Baal of Peor. And the anger of the Lord was kindled against Israel.
While Israel lived in Shittim, the people began to whore with the daughters of Moab.
Blasphemous union of Israel with fornication and idolatrous feasts.
b. Nicolaitans
Recall from our lesson on Ephesus.
MacArthur Study Bible NASB Commentary
Clement of Alexander says, “They abandoned themselves to pleasure like goats, leading a life of self-indulgence.” Their teaching perverted grace and replaced liberty with license.
So the church at Pergamos was guilty of 2 thing:
compromise with pagans and self-indulgence in sin.
Both led to wicked lifestyles
The Prescription
The Prescription
Therefore repent. If not, I will come to you soon and war against them with the sword of my mouth.
Repent
Turn from their error
Return to faithful service
For Pergamos, it is a call to return to holiness
Or face judgment
How dreadful!
Jesus just said if they didn’t repent, He would go to war against them!
The Promise
The Promise
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.’
“And to the angel of the church in Thyatira write: ‘The words of the Son of God, who has eyes like a flame of fire, and whose feet are like burnished bronze.
Remember, who are the Overcomers?
Remember, who are the Overcomers?
Believers!
Overcomers are Given:
hidden manna
Spiritual bread
I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever. And the bread that I will give for the life of the world is my flesh.”
White stone with a new name
White stone was often given as a prize to winning athletes. The stone served as the backstage pass to the winners circle!
Jesus is picturing the ticket to eternal life, the ultimate winners circle.
NOT there by us doing anything!
There by the grace of God through faith.
Conclusion:
Conclusion: