The Church at Pergamos

Revelation 2:12-17 Central Baptist Church Church at Pergamos Pastor James Woodley, Th. D. I. (Vs. 12) ADDRESS “And to the angel of the church in Pergamos write” II. (Vs. 12 ) VISION REFERENCE “These things saith he which hath the sharp sword with two edges” III. (Vs. 13 ) PRAISE “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” IV. (Vs. 14-15 ) REBUKE “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.” “So hast thou also them that hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitans, which thing I hate” V. (Vs. 16) CORRECTION “Repent; or else I will come unto thee quickly,” “and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth” VI. (Vs. 17 ) INVITATION “He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches” VII. (Vs. 17 ) PROMISE “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.” Revelation 2:12-17 Central Baptist Church Church at Pergamos Pastor James Woodley, Th. D. I. (Vs. 12) ADDRESS “And to the angel of the church” • The pastor of a real local church. “in Pergamos write” • Pergamos was the political center for the Roman province of Asia. • It had beautiful buildings. • It was considered the most wonderful city of the East. • Its most famous structure was a 40 foot tall altar to Zeus (Greek god). • It had a combination of heathen and Rome worship. • The word “Pergamos” means a lofty union, such as a special marriage. • It represents approximately 300 – 500 in church history. • It signifies the union of church and state. • The Diocletian persecution ended in 305. • Emperor Constantine’s Edict of Toleration in 313 heralds a new era. • The Council of Nicea in 325 started a new, unholy union of church and state. • This opened the door for the world to infiltrate the ‘state approved’ church. II. (Vs. 12 ) VISION REFERENCE “These things saith he which hath the sharp sword with two edges” • As a political center, Pergamos had officially proscribed Christianity. • They backed this up with the sword. • • • • • • • • • Christ is Greater, and has His own sword. The sword is for death. It has two edges: one for church, one for world. In church, it is the Word dividing soul and spirit. Hebrews 4:12 “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.” This pictures death to carnal logic, and surrender to authority of Word. Romans 12:1-2 “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.” This is further described in Ephesians 6:17 as the believers armor. This pictures using the Word against Satanic attack. Thus, the church is to be divided from the world, not yoked to it. II Corinthians 6:14-18. In the world, it is the Judgment of God upon the lost for their sin. Revelation 19:15 “And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God.” • This church violated the intended separation by yoking with the world. • While it seemed like a good idea at the time, the results were disastrous. III. (Vs. 13 ) PRAISE “I know thy works, • This church started out serving the Lord. “and where thou dwellest, even where Satan’s seat is:” • Word ‘satan’ means adversary. • His religious system is easily traced back to Nimrod (Genesis 10:8-10). • What started at Babel continued in Babylon. • It was known as the ‘mystery religion’. • From Babylon, the leaders moved their HQ to Pergamos. • Thus Pergamos, at this time, is the HQ for the prototype Satanic religion. • Satan also seeks to control the world politically. • Pergamos was a political center, with Rome worship. • Satan also spreads pagan religions. • Pergamos was a center for pagan religion (I.e. Zeus). “and thou holdest fast my name,” • They were true believers who sought to stay faithful to Christ. “and hast not denied my faith,” • They held that salvation was by faith, not works. • All false religions teach salvation by works. • This church never sought to deny Christ, but they did compromise. “even in those days wherein Antipas was my faithful martyr, who was slain among you,” • He was burned to death inside a brazen ox by a fire built under it. See Martyr’s Mirror, pages 95-96. • Relatively few people were martyred during this time. “where Satan dwelleth” • Satan lives in false religion and antichristian politics. • The result of the Council of Nicea was the birth of the Roman Catholic Church. • The book of Revelation traces Babylon as a major theme, and it is connected to this church. IV. (Vs. 14-15 ) REBUKE “But I have a few things against thee, because thou hast there them that hold the doctrine of Balaam, • The Bible defines three things about Balaam: • The DOCTRINE of Balaam (Numbers 22-25) is to cast a stumbling block before God’s people. • The WAY of Balaam ( II Peter 2:15) is the love of money over the love of God. • The ERROR of Balaam (Jude 11) was to use the prophetic office for financial gain, not spiritual gain. • They were basically good Christians who didn’t understand separation. “who taught Balac to cast a stumblingblock before the children of Israel,” • This explains the doctrine of Balaam. • This church allowed a stumbling block to be cast before believers by supporting the union of church and state. “to eat things sacrificed unto idols,” • Moab invited the Israelites to a feast. Many attended. • At the feast, they bowed down to the Moabite gods (Numbers 25:2). • They had compromised themselves. • This pictures those who attended and supported Constantine’s union of church and state. “and to commit fornication.” • The idolatry led to more literal sin. • I Timothy 1:19 “Holding faith, and a good conscience; which some having put away concerning faith have made shipwreck:” • James 4 refers to spiritual friendship with the world as spiritual adultery. • Christ views the union of church and state as spiritual fornication. “So hast thou also them that hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitans,” • Nike = ‘to conquer’. Laos’ = people. Meaning together = People conquerors. • No one knows from history who exactly they were. • Commonly thought this is the start of ‘priestcraft’. “which thing I hate” • Whatever it was, it was doctrinally wrong. • Allowing error of any kind into the church is hated by Christ. • We must have a strong emphasis on doctrine. I Timothy 4:16 “Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee.” V. (Vs. 16) CORRECTION “Repent;” • Repent = a change of mind (about their compromise). • Christians can be right in one area, but wrong in another. “or else I will come unto thee quickly,” • Quickly means that when it happens, there will not be time to clean up the life then. • Not ‘soon’, as in this era of church history. • There will be Pergamos type churches until the end of the church age. “and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth” • First, He will take the church out in the Rapture. • He will fight against the unsaved at His Second Coming. • We will study the Second Coming in detail in Revelation 19. VI. (Vs. 17 ) INVITATION “He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches” • Same to each church. See previous notes. VII. (Vs. 17 ) PROMISE “To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna,” • This is a contrast to eating things sacrificed to idols. • In Exodus 16:33-35, some manna was placed in the ark of the covenant. • In John 6:49-51, Christ reveals that the manna is a type of Him. • Those who ate the idol food died in the wilderness. • Those who partake of Christ live forever. • The mystery religions bragged they had secret information about God. • The Jews did not understand the lesson on the manna. • Learning the types of Christ in OT is better than Nimrod’s religion. • The promise is that the believer has Christ in Heaven to look forward to. “and will give him a white stone,” • White stones were used to vote for innocence by a jury. • They were also used in elections for a ‘yes’ vote. • This affirms that we are freed from death and received by Christ. “and in the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth it.” • Priests wore a breastplate that had stones with names on them. • The name may be a new one for us, or it may be Christ’s new name. • In light of Revelation 19:12, and in contrast to the mystery religions, it is probably Christ’s.