The Church of Pergamum

Introduction

Recap Series

Church of Ephesus

Church that stood up for the truth, but left their first love

standing for the truth is good, but it must be motivated in love for the Lord and his people

Church of Smyrna

Church that was facing trials, but soon would face real persecution even unto death

we do not live for the comforts of this world, in this world we will face trials and persecutions.

We live with eternity in sight

Today the Church of Pergamum

Revelation 2:12–17 (CSB)

12 “Write to the angel of the church in Pergamum: Thus says the one who has the sharp, double-edged sword:

13 I know where you live—where Satan’s throne is. Yet you are holding on to my name and did not deny your faith in me, even in the days of Antipas, my faithful witness who was put to death among you, where Satan lives.

14 But I have a few things against you. You have some there who hold to the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to place a stumbling block in front of the Israelites: to eat meat sacrificed to idols and to commit sexual immorality.

15 In the same way, you also have those who hold to the teaching of the Nicolaitans.

16 So repent! Otherwise, I will come to you quickly and fight against them with the sword of my mouth.

17 “Let anyone who has ears to hear listen to what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who conquers, I will give some of the hidden manna. I will also give him a white stone, and on the stone a new name is inscribed that no one knows except the one who receives it.

A letter of Judgment

this is in contradiction the the letter that we looked at last week

there was not a condemnation in the letter

a commendation for for withstanding the trials and poverty

a warning of the coming persecution unto death

this letter is not about the trials that they will face in this life, but the judgment that will come if they do not turn to the Lord

Revelation 2:12 (CSB)

12 “Write to the angel of the church in Pergamum: Thus says the one who has the sharp, double-edged sword:

Double-edged sword

weapon of judgment

Hebrews 4:12 (CSB)

12 For the word of God is living and effective and sharper than any double-edged sword, penetrating as far as the separation of soul and spirit, joints and marrow. It is able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart.

Revelation 19:15 (CSB)

15 A sharp sword came from his mouth, so that he might strike the nations with it. He will rule them with an iron rod. He will also trample the winepress of the fierce anger of God, the Almighty.

this idea of judgment sets the tone for the letter

this is not supposed to be a feel good letter, but a warning

yet, like all of the warnings of God, there is a ray of hope that you can look too and grab hold of

Judgement will come on false teachers and the churches that tolerate them

Committed to Christ

Words are constantly being redefined.

Marriage

1991 Webster’s New World Dictionary - state of being married; relation between a husband and a wife

2021 Mariam Webster’s Dictionary - the relationship that exists between two people who are united as spouses : the state of being married

I believe that another word that has changed meaning is committed

when we think of the word committed, we see it as meaning, I would not pick anything else

I am not going to start worshipping Muhammad, Buddha or anyone else

we think that it is funny when we look back and see that people worshipped things carved of wood or made of gold

This is not the type of commitment that Christ demands, yet this is where we find ourselves and where the church of Pergamum was

Revelation 2:13 (CSB)

13 I know where you live—where Satan’s throne is. Yet you are holding on to my name and did not deny your faith in me, even in the days of Antipas, my faithful witness who was put to death among you, where Satan lives.

Committed to Christ even in evil places

Where Satan’s throne is… where Satan lives

The altar of Zeus - huge place on the acropolis, the highest hill in the city, to draw the most attention

Temple of Escolapius - The god of healing

pictured as a snake, people would sleep in the temple that needed healing. This god would come to them in a dream and administer medicine that would heal them.

Christians would not deny the power of miraculous healing, but that anything other than that of Jesus Christ was demonic power

Committed to Christ even in evil times

Dionysus - god of wine

a belief system where the followers would worship in drunkeness and orgies

would also rip apart small animals by their hands

Martyrdom of Antipas

do not know anything about him, other than his faithfulness to Christ

the church did not deny the name of Christ even in his death

I do not think that evil has changed much in the last couple thousand years.

still have people worshipping other gods

still have drunkeness and sexual immorality

and these things still plague the church

The problem is that though our commitment is strong to following Jesus, we are still plagued by the same apathy toward false teaching

Communing with False Teachers

I will admit that is a strong statement meant to get the attention of the hearer

is it true that we are apathetic toward false teachers

no, if I were to ask everyone if you would put up with false teaching you would say no

yet, there are so many false teachers that are believed because of their celebrity status in the Christian community

We also look at things as if they do not effect us, so why bother

I made a comment to the Elders about what I would do if I felt that there was false teaching done here at the church

I would correct it at that time, not allowing it to be mistaken that we believed that

One asked if I meant that I would correct that person, I said no. I would in front of all that heard the untruth speak the truth

that is not a way to get followers, that would not make me popular, and might even shrink the size of the church

but I have been tasked to shepherd a body of believers, to lead them in the way of truth

I love you too much to allow you to live in untruth

Revelation 2:14–16 (CSB)

14 But I have a few things against you. You have some there who hold to the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to place a stumbling block in front of the Israelites: to eat meat sacrificed to idols and to commit sexual immorality.

15 In the same way, you also have those who hold to the teaching of the Nicolaitans.

16 So repent! Otherwise, I will come to you quickly and fight against them with the sword of my mouth.

Condemnation

Teaching of Balaam - Numbers 22-24, Balak tried to hire Balaam to come and put a curse on Israel

He tried three times, it did not work, he ended up blessing them instead

but the Moabite women became a stumbling block for the men if Israel, some took them as wives and led them to worship something other than the Lord

stumbling blocks

literally means trap, snare or bait

food sacrificed to idols

people who have come out of worshipping these idols that they would have a big feast and celebration are told it is okay to go ahead and eat that meat

go ahead and join in the celebration to another god

Sexual immorality

we looked at the Dionysus, and those that worshipped that false god

there is a reason sexual immorality is mentioned so much in the Bible

people struggle with this, when we become apathetic towards it, as if it does not hurt them

we should not become militant against those who struggle with this

homosexuality, pornography, any adulteress immoral activity should all break our hearts

but we also cannot sit back and say that it does not hurt us if others struggle, there is evidence all throughout scripture that not calling out this type of sin is terrible for a society

Teaching of the Nicolaitans

again, we do not know exactly what this group taught

the sense that we get with all three of these is that the church is looking more and more like the world

they are tolerating and communing with those that are teaching that these things are okay

Remedy - Repent

individual repentance of the false teachers

Corporate repentance for the church

this means not allowing the false teachers to commune with the body until they have repented

it is more unloving to allow those in sin to continue as if it was not sinful

not as the church in Ephesus, who did this without love

but in the love of Christ, to see people made whole, and in the image of Christ

Consequence - Judgment

when we think consequence, we think of this life

the one with the double-edged sword will come

and we should desire for all to be with Christ for eternity

Communing with Christ for Eternity

There are things that I feel like I talk about a lot

grace… love… salvation… eternity…

so much that I wonder if I am just talking about it to talk about it

but one of the great things about exegetical preaching, is that I am only sharing with you what the bible says

so if you get tired of me talking about those things, take it up with God, he is the one who wrote the book, I am just a messenger

Revelation 2:17 (CSB)

17 “Let anyone who has ears to hear listen to what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who conquers, I will give some of the hidden manna. I will also give him a white stone, and on the stone a new name is inscribed that no one knows except the one who receives it.

Anyone who has ears to hear, listen

we have seen this in each of the letters so far

it means to get your spiritual ears open and listen to what God is trying to tell you before it is too late

The one who conquers, the one who sees this through to the end, the believer at the end of time will receive two things

Hidden Manna

remember what manna is… the bread that was given to the Israelites to nourish them while they were in the desert

those who conquer will be nourished by God

your needs will be provided, remember, he is gone to prepare a place for his bride the church

White Stone with a new name (don’t ask what that name is)

adoptive name

when one is adopted, they take the name of the family that has adopted them

for those whose name is in the Lamb’s book of life,

those who confessed that Jesus is Lord and believed that God raised him from the dead

their new family name is written in that book, on that stone

what is the stone for

two thoughts both are accurate based on the understanding that this will take place in future events so we can only look to the past and see what white stones meant at the time the reader would have received this letter

Matthew Henry - when somebody was on trial, they would receive a stone at the end.

black stone would reveal guilt, a white stone would reveal your innocence

all those who conquer, who are faithful to the Lord, whose names are written in the Lamb’s book of life will receive a white stone showing that you are declared innocent

that your debt has been paid by the death of our Lord Jesus on the cross

MacArthur and Evens - when somebody would win an athletic event they would receive a white stone as we might give out a gold medal

that white stone would reveal them as the one who conquered that event

that white stone was then a ticket to the feast celebrating all who conquered

Not only is Christ preparing a place for us, but he also preparing a table, a feast for his bride the church.

that white stone with our new adopted name written on it is our admittance to the lamb’s wedding feast

Revelation 19:1–9 (CSB)

1 After this I heard something like the loud voice of a vast multitude in heaven, saying, Hallelujah! Salvation, glory, and power belong to our God,

2 because his judgments are true and righteous, because he has judged the notorious prostitute who corrupted the earth with her sexual immorality; and he has avenged the blood of his servants that was on her hands.

3 A second time they said, Hallelujah! Her smoke ascends forever and ever!

4 Then the twenty-four elders and the four living creatures fell down and worshiped God, who is seated on the throne, saying, Amen! Hallelujah!

5 A voice came from the throne, saying, Praise our God, all his servants, and the ones who fear him, both small and great!

6 Then I heard something like the voice of a vast multitude, like the sound of cascading waters, and like the rumbling of loud thunder, saying, Hallelujah, because our Lord God, the Almighty, reigns!

7 Let us be glad, rejoice, and give him glory, because the marriage of the Lamb has come, and his bride has prepared herself.

8 She was given fine linen to wear, bright and pure. For the fine linen represents the righteous acts of the saints.

9 Then he said to me, “Write: Blessed are those invited to the marriage feast of the Lamb!” He also said to me, “These words of God are true.”