Pergamum 032306

To the Church in Pergamum

Revelation 2:12-17 (ESV)

“Hold Fast”

Jesus Possesses the Sharp Two-edged Sword

March 22, 2006

I. The inscription of this message.

          1. To whom it was sent: To the angel of the church of Pergamum. It was a place where Christ had called and constituted a gathering (ecclesia) of His people through the preaching of the gospel and the grace of the Spirit who makes the word work in human hearts.

          2. Who sent this message to Pergamum? Jesus who for this Church describes himself as the one introduced in chapter 1: "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." The church of Pergamum was infested with people of corrupt unbelieving minds who did the work of their father the devil to corrupt both the faith and manners of the church. Christ will fight against them by the sword of his mouth, the Word of God.

                   (1.) The word of God is a sword; it is a weapon both offensive and defensive, it is, in the hand of God, able to slay both sin and sinners. It also has the power to bestow life.

                   (2.) It is a sharp sword. No heart is able to withstand its work. The Word will either condemn or save. Either way, it will always do that for which God sends it. Thus, it is sharp enough to divide soul and spirit. It can even cut out sinful habits from the life of the believer.

                   (3.) It is a sword with two edges; No matter which way it is thrust it cuts. One edge is the law which makes sin known and utterly sinful. It opens sinful wounds in he sinner so sin can be properly dealt with under the Cross. The other edge is the gospel that heals a wound caused by sin.

II. We proceed to the contents

          1. Christ takes notice of the trials and difficulties encountered by this church: “ ‘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." (Revelation 2:13, ESV). The Lord takes notice of all the temptations and discouragements we meet. He knows our strengths and our weaknesses. He empowers us where we are weak so that our faith in Him may always stand. Satan is always trying to undo or diminish the good that God does in our lives. But no matter what we face, our faith is the conquering might we need and have by grace.

2. The Lord commends their steadfastness: Yet you hold fast my name, and you did not deny my faith. Some think these two expressions express the effect and the cause for their steadfastness.

          (1.) you hold fast my name means the one who has been given that name is not ashamed of it. Even if ridiculed or slandered or killed for that name, it is an honor to bear it. 

                   (2.) What makes us faithful is the grace of God whereby He bestows faith: "he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior," (Titus 3:5-6, ESV) Men who deny the faith of Christ may boast about their personal sincerity, and even of their faithfulness to God and conscience. But, those who deny the faith given by God, have no part in Christ. Galatians 5:4 (ESV) You are severed from Christ, you who would be justified by the law; you have fallen away from grace. Antipas gave his faithful life for the name of Jesus. And not even that shook the faith of the Christians at Pergamum.

          3. He reproves them for their sinful failures: Revelation 2:14-15 (ESV) 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. Considering the law of Love, teaching people that they could participate at the table of the Lord and the table of demons without harm to their faith or conscience was loveless and did not take into account the conscience of the weaker Christian. Some even taught that fornication was no sin, and that they could go to the temple prostitutes without harm to their faith or conscience.

          (1.) The filthiness of the spirit and the filthiness of the flesh often go together. Corrupt teachings leads to corrupt worship which leads to a corrupt life and loss of faith.

          (2.) Historically, several figures have distressed the faithful with false teachings. Affixing the name of the false teachers lets everyone know the source of the name they also bear as adherents to false teaching. It is far better to bear the name of Jesus even unto death. He alone has the sharp two-edged sword that can condemn and heal.

          (3.) The church has no power to punish people for heresy or immorality with corporal punishment.  It does, however, through the office of the keys, have the authority to exclude such people from its communion. In fact, if they do nothing, Christ, the head of the church, is displeased, and will war against them with the sword of his mouth.

          4. So, He graciously calls them to repentance: "Therefore repent. If not, I will come to you soon and war against them with the sword of my mouth." (Revelation 2:16, ESV)

III. Then the conclusion of this epistle, which offers the promise of great favor to those that overcome. "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.’" (Revelation 2:17, ESV)

          1. The hidden manna is hidden only to the world of unbelief. The Holy Spirit influences and comforts those who faithfully bear the name of Jesus. Who is that person but the one who keeps the faith and trusts the name of Jesus Christ!

          2. The one who faithfully bears the name of Jesus has their name written on a symbol of absolute purity. This white polished stone is the sign of God’s absolution from the guilt of sin. It is kept safe in heaven for the believer. 1 Peter 1:3-5 (ESV) 3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, 5 who by God’s power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. The white stone alludes to the ancient custom of giving a white stone to those acquitted on trial and a black stone to those condemned. The new name is the name of adoption into the family of God. Adopted persons have the name of the family into which they were adopted given to them. Rejoice, then, in your fellowship with Christ Jesus as the sharp two-edged sword has its proper effect on you.