The Church in Pergamum

Mission and Vision

Dear Church

We are continuing our sermon series entitled Dear Church.

We are looking at the 7 messages to the churches in Asia Minor

These are messages delivered from Jesus Christ through his apostle John while on the isle of patmos

We’ve already heard his message to Ephesus, Smyrna, and today we are going to talk about this message to Pergamum

CONTEXT

Pergamum was another wealthy city in the Roman province of Asia

Unlike the other two, this city was not a commerce city

Pergamum would have been akin to Washington DC

It was the center of the political power of the province of asia

Not only was it the center of political power… but it was home to several religious cults as well as 2 temples dedicated to Rome and its Emporers

The first temple to the worship of an emperor was built here in pergamum

There was a temple to Athena, Dionysus, there was worship of Asclepias, as well as the altar to Zeus where human sacrifices were held

Asclepias is the greek god of medicine and of snakes. He is always pictured with a staff that has a snake wrapped around it… actually the same symbol we use today for a lot of medical stuff… like ambulance and first responder symbols

They actually had a hospital/spa here in Pergamum where even the cesar would travel from rome to be treated

Pergamum was also home to a massive ancient library only second to the library in alexandria. Antony actually gifted the library of Pergamum to cleopatra for thier wedding

Word Studies in the New Testament Chapter 2

The city has been described as a sort of union of a pagan cathedral-city, a university-town, and a royal residence

We see in the city of Pergamum the height of human and demonic worship

People are worshipped as gods

idols are worshipped through temple prostitution and other lewd acts

THere are temples and sacrifices and altars and high places everywhere

This is the town where this letter is being sent

Jesus again starts off his message to the church by giving them his credentials

Jesus is making sure they know who is about to speak to them

The words of him who has the sharp two-edged sword

Jesus is letting them know that he is the one who has not only the authority to judge but the ability to strike

The word sword here speaks of a long broadsword. Its the same word used to describe Goliath’s sword

The image here is of a sharp two edged sword that was not one of symbolic authority but of practical use to wage war.

The image here is of warrior Jesus with his sword ready to destroy those who wage war against him

So we see that the message that is coming is the word from the warrior God who has not only the authority but the power to exact judgement on the hearers of the word

He starts off giving them a word of encouragement

I know where you live

I see you. I see your surroundings. I see your circumstances. I see the mess of a city you live in. I see that you are surrounded by wicked people.

Where Satan’s throne is

He’s not just saying there are some bad people… which of course there where

He’s saying that this City is so wicked and bent on evil that it’s actually a place where satan feels comfortable to sit and dwell

This church is present in the town where Satan has authority in the culture, in the politics, in every aspect of life. Saying that his throne is here is like saying this is where Satan rules from

It’s interesting that Jesus says that satan rules from a political and cult-like hub. He’s saying that Satan uses his power to rule through Rome.

The church in Pergamum was experiencing growth and seeing the power of God work to heal and to drive out demons so that the political powers executed the bishop of Pergamum, antipas, Who Jesus calls his faithful witness or martyr for the faith

Jesus commends them and says even in this context you did not deny my faith. Even when Rome was demanding allegiance or death.. you held fast to my name

In the biblical context someone’s name carried a lot of weight.

It was their name that represented their character and their legacy.

It was in and by a kings name that their servants executed the power of the king

Jesus is saying that as a church you guys have been faithful to hold tight to my name and not deny faith in Christ

So far so good....

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 theymight eat food sacrificed to idols and practice sexual immorality

So lets talk about this dude Balaam for a second

Book of Numbers

Balaam was the dude who was really good at blessing or cursing people and the king of the moabites came to him and told him to curse israel and God sent the angel to stop him and the donkey started talking… you guys remember that story loosely?

Well after he realized God wouldn’t allow him to get rich cursing the children of israel… He found a way to make money by helping Israel’s enemies

He told the Midianites a way to trap and destroy the Israelites. He told them to put sensuality in their path and they will be led astray

Jesus is saying to the church, listen I know you guys as a whole are sticking to my name… but there are some among you who are teaching licensciousness

This license to do whatever you want is something that is present in our churches today

If you think about it… sin is going after a good thing outside of God’s will

God created food. Food is good. If you spend your life feeding your gut at all costs, even at the cost of your health… then that food becomes sin. You have just sought a good thing otuside the will of God

Sex was created by God. But when you start to seek the gratification outside of the bonds of marriage then you start to see the damage that sex does

Being confident is good. God wants you to be able to walk boldly with your head held high… but when that confidence becomes arrogance or a thought that you are better than anyone… that’s when it becomes a sin

You can take anything… any good thing can be turned into a sin when you seek it outside of the will of God

That is these folks are teaching people to put a false God… the god of self pleasure… above the one true God

Those who follow Balaam and the nicolaitans are both a type of people that are seeking to tear down the church by leading people into a false Gospel

A gospel of self… a gospel of gratification. A me first gospel

Jesus’ is telling the church as a whole… look you guys are doing some good stuff… you are faithful to my name even while living int he seat of satan… but you have allowed this false teaching to live in your midst

Jesus is saying that it is the responsibility of the church to weed out any teaching that would lead people to a false Gospel

He

He tells them to repent

turn from allowing the balaams and the nicolaitans to abide i the body

if not… I will come to you soon and war against them with the sword of my mouth

He tells them that if you as a church don’t step in and repent. If you don’t change the way things are going… I will come against them. I will War against them.

That’s not something that you want. You don’t want Jesus warring against you

Jesus is warning them in order to allow the church to save the brothers and sisters who have fallen away

Then he tells them…to the one who conquers I will give some of the hidden manna and I will give hima white stone with a new name written on the stone that no one knows except the one who receives it

Manna - eternal food. God provision. Good thing given in the will of God

White stone - This new name is the name of Christ