Revelation 2:12-13

Revelation 2:12-13 – The Church of Pergamos

I remember as a younger man, riding by houses with my parents. There were times though we would ride by a certain house, and I mean it was creepy looking. The grass was tall, the buildings around the house looked dilapidated, and the house itself looked like it was about to collapse, and there were symbols drawn on the house. Now I was a little naïve to what these symbols were at the time, but my parents told me they were satanic symbols. So, from that point on, that was the Satan house to me.

Could you imagine living near someone who practiced Satanism? How about living in a town that everyone was except a few were Satanic? That seems like that would be a horror film. Well, as we come to Revelation 2, we come across a church that was basically in a place just like that, the name of the church, Pergamum. Let’s begin our study tonight in verses 12-13.

“And to the angel of the church in Pergamos write”

· This message to this church begins like the previous letters, as Jesus is telling John to write the words that will be shared with the pastor and the congregation of this church.

· This specific letter is for Pergamos. Now let’s learn a little about this town and church.

· Pergamum was a university city, and it was famous for its library 200,000 parchment scrolls, second only in size to the library of Alexandria in Egypt. Indeed, parchment was invented in Pergamum, for when its king decided to establish a library and enticed Alexandria’s librarian to head up his library, the Egyptian king banned the export of papyrus to Pergamum. This forced Pergamum’s scholars to find an alternate writing material, and they invented parchment. Parchment lasts much better than papyrus, so this invention played a big part in preserving the Bible for us.

· Now this city worshipped several false deities, but the two prominent were Zeus and Asklepios “the deity of medicine” this is where we get the word scalpel, and where we get the sign of a coiled snake on a pole.

· Here was a church in the hotbed for false god worship and pagan activity. Zeus, who we learn from Greek mythology, was a false deity that was recognized in this city with statues and temples, but the most notable thing was that the throne-like altar that was constructed in honor of Zeus that stood 40ft high.

· Pergamos was under Roman rule, and it was also the site in the Asian province where citizens would come to the erected temple of Augustus and give a pinch of incense to Caesar on his altar and profess him as Lord. This was done on a yearly basis, and they would be given a certificate after this to worship whatever god they chose for the next year without impunity.

· Pergamos could be considered a coastal town, as it is located 16 miles from the waters of the Aegean Sea. It is the northern-most church of the seven churches.

· So, here was a church in the middle of a false worship for false gods.

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

· In this phrase, Jesus once again describes himself. In this case it is with a sharp sword.

· Now we are able to determine what this sword is by referring ahead to verse 16 of this chapter, and we learn that the sword is of his mouth.

· This then is referring to His Word, Hebrews 4:12 “For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged 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.”

· When we hear the Word of God, can it not pierce the hardest of hearts? Can it not cut the weeds of sin that has ensnared our life? It is sharp, and there is nothing that it cannot penetrate. It is the weapon of our Lord and the weapon he allows us wield as well.

o Isaiah 49:2 “And he hath made my mouth like a sharp sword; In the shadow of his hand hath he hid me, And made me a polished shaft; In his quiver hath he hid me;

· Now let’s consider why the Lord speaks of this sword having two edges.

o Now in terminology, when we use this phrasing, in takes on the meaning of something that can help you or hurt you. Now I think we can all agree that the Word of God has a way of helping us and hurting us spiritually. It blesses our hearts and it can cut to our hearts. But I do not believe this is what the Lord is referring too with this statement.

o The physical two edge sword has been around a long time, but the elegant two edge sword came into existence around the middle ages. But during the reign of the Romans a person hearing these words would have seen and been familiar with a Gladius or A Spatha.

o These swords were design for piercing and cutting in and out. It was a powerful weapon to have. However, the weapon of the Lord is not a physical weapon in the such that Jesus wields a sword with the hand, but he wields it with his lips. This again is referencing the Words that our Lord speaks.

· When Jesus speaks the Word, for some it will pierce them and some it will cut, but the weapon of Christ is undefeatable and cannot be stopped. No weapon made of man, can oppose the sword of the Lord. No craft of Satan can withstand the power of the Lord’s Sword.

“I know thy works”

· Now Jesus here in this portion of the scripture makes the church aware that he knows their works.

· Remember, Jesus is watching us as individuals and as a church. The way we work in this church and how we impact the community is something that Jesus sees of us and we will have to give and answer for.

· We should not think that just attending a church is all that is required of us, but that we are to be engaged in the church also.

· But not only is Jesus looking at the church as a whole, he is looking at the individual in the church as well. Now, lets ask ourselves, how are we working for Christ?

· I believe every word in the word of God is meant for us to learn by. That it is important. So, when we read this, we should remember that it is Christ who is observing and recording our life.

“And where thou dwellest, even where Satan’s seat is:”

· Now we must remember that Satan is a literal being, he is not just some name that we put to evil but he is evil. He is the fallen angel that is trying to destroy the Lord’s creation and take the throne of God.

· Satan’s throne is not in Hell. Many people misunderstand the place of Hell as being the place where Satan dwells. Hell is a prison that was a place for the fallen angels to be put at. This isn’t a command base for Satan, it is a prison for Satan.

· Satan’s throne is not in Heaven. Satan may enter into Heaven to accuse the saints, but he has no seat in heaven.

· Satan’s throne is here on this world. And at time, we read that it was there in the city of Pergamos. This was the very place that Satan commanded his ranks from.

· Now could you imagine operating a church out of this location? This would have been like the Jew operating a synagogue right in the heart of Berlin during WWII. They were in the hornet’s nest for sure.

· Now you could only imagine what this church was surrounded by. Immorality, idolatry, violence, this was a horrible place! Yet, in the middle of this was a little colony of heaven.

· Which brings me to say to some of you who are making excuses for not living as you ought to live because of the office where you have to work, or because of the plant where you have to work, or because of the school that you have to attend, or because of the family that you live in, and you say, “Nobody can be a Christian and live where I have to live, or work where I have to work”[1] If here was a church in the backyard of Satan, who were able to live for God, then we can too!

“And thou holdest fast my name, and not denied my faith,”

· Now I want you to know, not only were they in a terrible community, they were a thriving church. Why were they able to thrive in such terrible conditions? Because they held on to Jesus Christ and never let go.

· I will tell you, and many of you know it, but some people are not holding on to the name of Jesus. Their holding on to their name, thinking that they are sufficient enough. I’m going to tell you that you are not going to get in to heaven on your name. But only through the name of Jesus.

· Philippians 2:9 “Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name:”

· Listen, when you claim the name of Christ, don’t sit it to the side, put a grip on it that will never let go.

· They didn’t deny the faith. Here was a church that still had faith in Jesus. I know with things the way they are; some people are walking away from the church; they are walking away from God. They are walking right back to a worldly lifestyle. But here was a church that didn’t deny the faith.

· Let me ask you, have you ever been really questioned by someone about your faith? Did you get uncomfortable about it? Did you try to come across in a favorable view with them? Did you deny your faith by doing that? Listen, we don’t need to be ashamed of Christ, even if someone else doesn’t agree with us.

· Here was a church that didn’t give up and neither should we.

“Even in those days wherein Antipas was my faithful martyr, who was slain among you, where Satan dwelleth.”

· Now very little is known about the man named Antipas, but what we do know is this. He was faithful to God with his life. He was willing to die for his belief. He was willing to be a Christian in the most hostile place for Christianity.

· The story is told from some ancient texts, that Antipas was martyred by being put into a brazen bull and had a fire built underneath it to cook him in this torturous prison.

· Giving our life seems a farfetched in the world we live in today, but in reality, is it that farfetched? Listen, this is the world of Satan right now, and we have to be willing to be put to death to live for Jesus Christ.

[1] Rogers, A. (2017). Hell’s Headquarters. In Adrian Rogers Sermon Archive (Re 2:12–17). Signal Hill, CA: Rogers Family Trust.