Revelation 02 12 17
The Compromising Church: Pergamos
Revelation 2:12-17
Introduction:
So far we have seen the letter to:
· Ephesus: Church that left its first love
· Smyrna: Church that was suffering intense persecution
Today we want to look at the letter to the Church in Pergamos
A picture of the city of Pergamos:
* It was the capital of the Roman govt. in Asia
* Considered the greatest city in Asia: capital for 400 years
* It gives the impression of being a royal city: It stands on a rocky hill that stands huge and dominates the broad plain proudly and boldly.
*Notable about the city was its large library: second in the world at its time
* It was here that parchment was invented: taking the skins of animals and treating it to hold writing.
*Home of emperor worship: very first temple erected to a living emperor was built here in 29 BC in honor of Caesar Augustus
* At least 4 great temples were located here: temple to worship four great Greek gods: (1) Zeus. He was supposed to be the head of all gods. (2) Dinoysisus, the god of wine and drama. (3) Athena, the goddess of Wisdom in art and war. (4) Aesculapius, the god of healing. Aesculapius was a snake: guess what the medical fraternity symbol is even today?
City described by Christ v. 13: A place where Satan’s throne is:
o Could mean many things: many gods worshipped there
o I think it meant that this is where Satan exercised a great amount of power and influence
o In the midst of all of the worship of gods and emperors stood a little Church which by design would stand against all that was taking place in the city: Satan was having a field day with it!!
I. A description of Jesus Christ v. 12
He who has the sharp two-edged sword: see also 1:16
1. A common instrument of death in Pergamos: perhaps had been used against the Church
2. Hebrews 4:12
For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.
This was likely the idea in Revelation 1:16 with the sword from His mouth
3. Here though I believe that it refers to Jesus as the ultimate judge before whom they would give an account
The authorities in Pergamos would have made themselves the final authority that needed to be answered to: with the threat of judgment and death by the sword
So Jesus presents Himself as the one who held the two-edged sword
He is the one to who they would answer
Best example that I can think of is a child who is being forced to follow his friends pressuring and the parent saying: Listen, I am the parent, I am the one that you need to be concerned about!!
II. A commendation of the Church v. 13
They held fast to their faith in Christ even in the face of great persecution
1. Jesus knew the circumstances that they lived with
· They were in the midst of Satan’s seat!
· Mentions twice in this verse about Satan’s dwelling
2. Jesus knew the martyrdom of Antipas
Not much is said in Scripture about Antipas
Historically he was the Pastor of the Church in Pergamos
Because he cast out demons that were worshipped in the city
He was placed in to a bronze bull and roasted to death
*If you Google it you will find pictures of this
3. They held fast to the name of Jesus and did not deny their faith
How much would it take for you to deny Christ today?
Someone said that if we are not ready to die for Christ we are not ready to live for Him either
Pastor Ray used to ask regularly what we would do if presented with the opportunity to deny our faith or face death
Illustration: Jamaica and the Rastapharian
Often today Christians deny Christ not at the fear of death, but only the fear of ridicule or not fitting in!!
III. A Condemnation of the Church vv. 14-15
They were a compromising Church: while they had stood fast on naming the name of Christ they had begun to compromise the truth
1. The doctrine of Balaam v. 14
Some were in the Church who held to the doctrines of Balaam
Balaam was a pagan prophet for hire
For the right price he would entreat to gods to grant favors
Balak the king of Moab wanted to destroy Israel
He went to Balaam and offer to pay him to cause a curse to fall on Israel
As hard as Balaam tried he could not curse Israel: every time he opened his mouth out came a blessing
When that failed Balaam taught Balak how to put a stumbling block in the way to cause the Jews to stumble
Moabite women enticed the Jewish men to take part in idolatrous sacrifices and sexual immorality
In essence they were still naming the name of God, but practicing ungodly works
Satan was not successful in causing the Church to deny their faith, so he brought in some that taught that one could name the name of Christ (be a Christian) and live no differently that the world.
*They could still offer to idols
*They could still participate in sexual immorality
How prevalent this is in the Church today!!
*Someone said there have never been more Balaamites in the Church than there are today: we call them worldly Christians!!
*We are to be salt and light: If you life does not stand out in contrast to the world then you are compromising you faith!
2. The doctrine of the Nicolaitans v. 15
Saw this group mentioned in 2:6 as well
Little is known today about this group but it is believed that they taught that they had a special relationship with God which gave them special knowledge known only to them.
*Put their experience ahead of Gods written revelation
They were responsible for the division of the Church into the priests and laity. The priests had special knowledge of God that they laity did not have.
Today in many cases we have seen experiences replace Gods written revelation: who can argue with experience?
*Truth about God comes from written word in Bible!!
Compromise happens slowly and without notice:
Illustration:
Frank Sosienski was a postman in Louisville, Kentucky, who didn’t want to deliver some of his mail. Perhaps it was the hot summertime. Maybe the mail was heavy; maybe he wanted to quit his route just a little early each day. In any case, there were eventually complaints about mail not arriving, and they traced the problem back to Frank. When the postal authorities investigated, they found the mail that was missing. Most of it was in Frank’s attic. You see, over a six-year period he stashed away 15 tons of other people’s mail. They discovered over 1200 bags of undelivered mail in Frank Sosienski’s attic.
IV. The Challenge to the Church v. 16
Paraphrase: Clean up this mess or I will come and deal with it!!
Encouraging to me that when there is error: Christ convicts and points it out to give us the opportunity to deal with it ourselves. If we fail to then He steps in.
1 Cor. 11:27-32
Therefore whoever eats this bread or drinks this cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord. 28But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of the bread and drink of the cup. 29For he who eats and drinks in an unworthy manner eats and drinks judgment to himself, not discerning the Lord’s body. 30For this reason many are weak and sick among you, and many sleep. 31For if we would judge ourselves, we would not be judged. 32But when we are judged, we are chastened by the Lord, that we may not be condemned with the world.
Maybe this morning the Lord is convicting you: This is the chance that God is giving you to deal with an area of compromise in your life.
V. The Reward Promised to the Church v. 17
1. Eat of the hidden manna
Manna was Gods provision for His OT people
It was given daily
It was given miraculously
It was hidden: they could not see the provision till it came
I believe here God was telling them that He would provide for them
*They might be worried about repenting and turning away from their error: might cost them jobs, income, etc.
*God would provide for them
2. Be given a white stone
Many ideas:
1) White/black stone used in court to show guilt/innocence
2) Pagans wore charms like this around their neck with the names of their gods on them to seek protection
3) Likely: the victor in public games was given a white stone with his name engraved on it
· During his lifetime he would be cared for at public expense
· Given free access to all public events
· Came with great honor
They would be victors for Christ:
He would care for them
He would provide for their needs
He would know them intimately: new name known by Him
