The Church at Pergamos

The Church at Pergamos

12 And to the angel of the church in Pergamos write; These things saith he which hath the sharp sword with two edges;

13 I know thy works, and where thou dwellest, even where Satan's seat is: and thou holdest fast my name, and hast not denied my faith, even in those days wherein Antipas was my faithful martyr, who was slain among you, where Satan dwelleth. 14 But I have a few things against thee, because thou hast there them that hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balac to cast a stumblingblock before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed unto idols, and to commit fornication. 15 So hast thou also them that hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitans, which thing I hate. 16 Repent; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth.

17 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth it.

Introduction: In our previous two letters to the churches in Revelation, Ephesus and Smyrna, we have learned something about God’s will for us and the church.

In the letter to the church at Ephesus, Christ commended the church for it’s doctrinal purity, for recognizing and confronting the false teachers, and for not tolerating evil within, but rebuked it because it had lost its first love.

The Letter to the Church at Smyrna shows an example of those united with Christ and his saving word, knowing that they may suffer for their faith, enduring trials and temptations, but reminds them that the eternal future outweighs any temporary trials or worldly price that we pay because of our faith.

Just a little about the city of Pergamos. Pergamos was situated around 40 miles past Smyrna along the ancient Roman postal road in the area known today as Western Turkey and near the modern city of Bergama, about 16 miles inland from the Aegean Sea. The city stood prominent on a hill of 1,000 ft, in the middle of a wide, fertile plain. The city’s history begins around the third century BC and the area became a Roman province, with Pergamum as it’s provincial capital, during the second century BC. By the first century AD there were three large temples located there in the city for worshipping the emperor and the first temple was built there in 29 BC. The city was also known for the huge altar to the false God Zeus, which is perhaps what is referred to by Satan’s throne in the letter to the church. Pergamos was one of the most technologically-advanced and religiously-oriented cities in all of the Roman empire. It had several temples for their pagan gods. The most famous was an alter to the Greek god Zeus.

The city was also a very cultural city, with a 10,000 seat amphitheater, and a library containing a reported 200,000 works, second only to the library at Alexandria. Due to the shortage of papyrus, a new material made from calf skin was developed in Pergamos and replaced the use of papyrus. It was much thinner a more flexible than either papyrus or vellum and was called pergaminus or pergamena after the city, a name that has become the anglicized “parchment”.

We begin today with a church engaged in compromise, the church at Pergamos. These letters to the churches can be viewed three different ways.

Practically – These are real letters to real churches living in a real world. 

Prophetically – These letters picture the church during different eras of history.  This particular church symbolizes the church as it existed during the years 313-590 AD. 

Personally – There is a word here for our church and for the individuals in our church today.

*****We begin with…..

The Author of the letter. Verse 12

A. The letter to the church at Pergamos is like all the other letters, at the beginning Jesus identifies Himself as the Author.

“he which hath the sharp sword with two edges;”

B. The two-edged sword is a clear picture of the Word of God. Jesus comes to them declaring that He has a word for them from God.

For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

C. God’s Word is powerful, and does not discriminate.

*****Jesus introduces Himself, then He commends them…..

13 I know thy works, and where thou dwellest, even where Satan's seat is: and thou holdest fast my name, and hast not denied my faith, even in those days wherein Antipas was my faithful martyr, who was slain among you, where Satan dwelleth.

II. Jesus gives them words of encouragement.

A. He knows what they are doing.

B. He knows the situation they live in.

1. This church operated right in the middle of a city chosen by Satan as his headquarters on earth. 

2. Satan was very active then and he is also active now. Satan has a seat of power somewhere today.

Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:

C. He sees their dedication to Him.

D. They were steadfast in their faith in God, they did not deny Him.

1. Even when Antipas was killed for Jesus, they remained faithful to Jesus.

2. They remained faithful to Jesus in the midst of Satan’s stronghold.

E. These words are used to let these people know that Jesus knows they are living in a tough place.  He knows where they are and He has a word just for them.

*****They set a good example for churches existing in this day. He knows our situation also!  He knows it when we face persecution.  He knows the pressures society places on the dedicated child of God.  He knows, He cares, He is there and He will help us, That is what

we need to remember!

15 For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. 16 Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.

5 Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. 6 So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me.

*****Jesus commends them for what they were doing right, but He also told them where they are messing up. Jesus gives…..

III. His Words of Confrontation.

A. He Confronts The Compromise In The Church.

1. Some hold false doctrine and the church welcomes it.

B. Some hold the doctrine of Balaam.

1. Balaam was a priest that displeased God.

2. Basically, the “doctrine of Balaam” is wickedness and worldliness.  The church at Pergamos was tolerating people in their midst who claimed to be Christians, but who lived like the world around them.  Some of their membership were living immoral lives and participating in pagan worship.  Jesus is not at all pleased with these things.

3. Balak, the king of Moab wanted to curse the nation of Israel, so he called for Balaam to come do the dirty work.  He promises him wealth and promotion for his services.  Four times Balaam tries to curse Israel, each time the Lord turns his curses into blessings. 

tells this story

4. This same problem is in the modern church. 

C. Some hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitans.

1. The word “Nicolaitans” means “to conquer the people” and probably refers to a priestly class that had developed within the church. 

2. In its ecclesiastical setting, Nicolaitans means the bishops and prelates of the Church have gained a triumphal victory or conquest over the laity. Members are compelled and forced to submit to the arbitrary dominion of men who have become that thing which the Eternal hates. The Apostle Peter warned that those who were leaders among God's people were NOT to dominate over the faith of others but rather exhort them to do right.

1 The elders which are among you I exhort, who am also an elder, and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed: 2 Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind; 3 Neither as being lords over God's heritage, but being ensamples to the flock.

D. He Confronts The Consequences For The Church

1. Repent, or

2. Repentance is really “a change of mind that results in a change of direction.”

3. He will judge.

4. The Lord knows who belongs to Him and who doesn’t.  He will come to His church and afflict those who are not really His people, but who would bring trouble into the church.  Those who will not repent are going to have to face the Lord in judgment.

5. It is a fearful thing to be found on the wrong side of the Lord.  It is dangerous business to be found fighting against and causing trouble in the church. The Lord loves His church!

It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.

*****In these verses we have first Commendation, then Confrontation, and finally we have…..

III. His Words of Consolation. Verse 17

17 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth it.

A. To the Overcomer a twofold promise.

1.The manna was given by God to feed them and to keep them alive during their wandering upon this earth. Now, what does the hidden manna mean? What is the bread of heaven? It means Christ Himself. The overcomer is given the right to feed upon Christ. This is exactly what Christ Himself said.

2. Physical and material bread is not what Christ was talking about in this passage. Physical and material bread lasts only for a short while. Once consumed, it is gone. Its satisfaction passes and man's gnawing hunger arises again. But the bread God gives is spiritual bread, that is, spiritual food for the soul that lasts forever.

32 ”Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Moses gave you not that bread from heaven; but my Father giveth you the true bread from heaven. For the bread of God is he which cometh down from heaven, and giveth life unto the world”

3. Notice the mana is “hidden” I think this means that Christ is hid to the worldly people of the earth. The worldly do not see nor feed upon the bread of heaven. Christ is hid from the worldly.

(KJV)

1:26 Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints: 27 To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:

2. The white stone.

A new name written in it.The overcomer is given a white stone with a new name written on it. There are an endless number of guesses about what this stone is. Only one thing is clear in this reference to it, and it is best to stick to the Scripture. The white stone is the means of being admitted into heaven, into God's presence. The overcomer is allowed into God's presence because of the white stone. In those days, a white stone was put into a vessel by a judge to vote acquittal for a person on trial. It was also used like a "ticket" to gain admission to a feast. Both would certainly apply to the believer in a spiritual sense: he has been declared righteous through faith in Christ, and he feasts with Christ today () and will feast with Him in glory (). If the name is that of Christ, then the meaning is this: the name of Jesus Christ is the only name accepted for entrance into heaven. A person must have the white stone with Christ's name written on it in order to be admitted into God's presence.A new name written in it that only the one receiving it will know it.

Conclusion: Jesus promises those who are faithful to Him that He will reveal Him self to them in a personal, intimate way. When I read this, I think of the song; “There is a new name written down in Heaven.”

You see, He is my Savior and I hope He is your Savior too.  But, I have a relationship with Jesus that you cannot have.  You have a relationship with Him that I cannot have.  We are all saved the same way, but our relationships are different.

We each have a special relationship.  And, those who walk with Him and separate from the world will see this intimacy heightened and taken to new levels as the years go by.