Watch Your Investments

Introduction

Pergamum

Revelation 2:12–13a ESV

“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.

Revelation 2:12 ESV

“And to the angel of the church in Pergamum write: ‘The words of him who has the sharp two-edged sword.

Revelation 2:12 ESV

“And to the angel of the church in Pergamum write: ‘The words of him who has the sharp two-edged sword.

Revelation 2:12–13 ESV

“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.

,

Commendation

Revelation 2:13 ESV

“ ‘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.

Satan’s Throne

The acropolis in the center of the city

At least 4 different temples (kinda like the food court at the mall)

Didn’t Deny my Faith

Your faith in me

Even in the face of martyrdom

Evidently very hostile to Christianity

The Values of this World

Revelation 2:14 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.

rev

Balaam

Numbers 31:16 ESV

Behold, these, on Balaam’s advice, caused the people of Israel to act treacherously against the Lord in the incident of Peor, and so the plague came among the congregation of the Lord.

Even though it was Balaam that helped Balak, they were still responsible for their own choices.

Values of this world

Cost us time and Money

Sporting events

The Shopping Mall

Careers

We support their propagation

The Philosophies of this World

Revelation 2:15 ESV

So also you have some who hold the teaching of the Nicolaitans.

Nicolaitans

rev 2:

Colossians 2:8 ESV

See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ.

Thought to be a form of Gnosticism

Gnostics from the word knowledge, there was a secret knowledge

Probably why Jesus promises a new name written on a stone that no one knows

Philosophies that cost us time and money

Education is the answer

Health Care is the answer

Science - the worship of Mother Earth

God’s Word is the Antidote

Revelation 2:16 ESV

Therefore repent. If not, I will come to you soon and war against them with the sword of my mouth.

Rev 2:

Hebrews 4:12 ESV

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.

The Reward is Jesus

Revelation 2:17 ESV

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.’