Pergamos: The Comprimised Church

Praise the Lord. It is so good to see you. All this morning. As Lee said, it is great to be in the house of the Lord to Singin to pray and to hear and read God's word. If you would take your Bibles and turn with me to read Revelation chapter number to Revelation chapter number 2 or continuing our series and preaching through the letters from Jesus letters from Jesus. The letters that Jesus wrote to littoral churches in Asia Minor, which is modern-day turkey. A look at looking at the Third Church to whom Jesus rode in verse 12, Revelation Chapter 2 and verse. Number 12,

it says and to the angel of the churches pergamus. Write these things says he who has the sharp two-edged sword. I know your works and where you dwell, where Satan's Throne is. And you hold fast to my name and did not deny my faith even in the days and which Antipas was my faithful. Faithful martyr who was killed amongst where Satan dwells. But I have a few things against you because you have, they are those who hold to the doctrine of Balaam. Who taught balak to put a stumbling block before the children of Israel to eat things sacrificed to idols. And to commit, sexual immorality? Thus, you also have those who hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitans, which things I hate repents or else, I will come to you quickly and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth. He who has an ear that him hear what the spirit says, to the churches? To him who overcomes, I will give some of the Hidden Manna to eat, and I will give him a white stone and on the stone a new name written, which no one knows except him who receives. It was. Pray together, Our Father. Lord, it has been a blessing already to be in your house. To hear the richness.

Of the scriptural songs that remind us Lord of Who You Are. And how you saved us? Will those of us, all of us who were Sinners condemned, but Lord, you sent your only begotten son. Jesus to die for us. And we're thankful or for. Saving power. Your father, I pray as we look at this particular Church. I pray Lord that we would see the Arid lore. That's they were guilty of but also Lord that we would see the their devotion. I thought he had even in the midst of persecution. The Lord I pray that they there their example or would be an encouragement to us. As we live our Christian lives today. Follow me. This ask you to bless this time. Again. We have to all these things in Christ name. Amen. In October of 1992. A special edition of Time Magazine entitled beyond the year 2000. What to expect in the next millennium? It gives us a glimpse into the near future. As time's editors and sociologists projected into the future. The View was not a pretty one at all. What will a culture look like? Where are we headed as a society? James Dobson picked up on this magazine, the special magazine by Time magazine in 1993 and did a program on it. Because here are some of the things they spoke of him. Remember, this is written in 1992.

Here are some of the things I spoke. Number one, the family, as we have known, it will soon die. It is nothing more than a blip. It will be nothing more than a blip in human history. Speaking of the nuclear or nuclear family. It will dissolve. Replacing, it will be multiple marriages of all sorts.

Divorce will be so common that it will be seen as the normal. And couples. Who reach? Their 50th wedding anniversary. Wolves will be seen as extremely rare. Children will live with a bewildering array of relatives, Mother's and Father's multiple step, mothers, and stepfather, Step, Brothers, and stepsisters. Grandparents, and former grandparents. The taboo against incest will weaken. It goes on to say that theology. That is the study of God in the Bible will soon disappear. School children of tomorrow will have no knowledge of spiritual matters nor even have any interest in the topic.

My are we not already there? Are we already not there? Listen, are we not living in an era? Where the culture is becoming increasingly hostile to anyone who holds two biblical value values and morals? Are we not living at hell's headquarters as Jesus referred to the church at pergamus? I'll listen, here was a church, the church in pergamus that occupied the same neighborhood. So to speak as the devil. He was a church that served under the dark shadow of Satan's throne. The smell of satanic influence. Or idol worship was everywhere in pergamus. So we can quickly see, just by reading this, that pergamus was not an easy place to be Christian. Yet that is where God planted this church. Pergamus was situated about 15 miles. North of Smyrna. And located about 15 miles, Inland from the Aegean Sea. Pergamus was the headquarters of the Roman Empire in Asia.

Pergamon still survives today under a different name in the country of Turkey, the name, bergama. I just church deals with the persecution of the Roman government as it deals with the persecution and deals with the sword of Rome because of their faith. Jesus and verse 12 reminds pergamus of the truth. And the power of His word a 12. It says into the angel. The Church of pergamum is right these things to say if he who has the sharp two-edged sword. Jesus has a word for them. Jesus also has a word for us today. It's very interesting that the word pergamus is a word that means married married. And here, we find a church that was being tempted to compromise and marry the church to the world. I want to speak to you on this stuff. This morning, pergamus, the compromised Church. The greatest threat. Or the greatest Temptation that we will continue to to fight against as a local church. Here. Is this temptation to compromise? It is a Temptation that we will fight until the Lord comes again. So this is a very, very helpful, passage of scripture as we think about pergamus the compromised Church. The first thing I want you to notice with me this morning, is this the position of the church? The position of the church if you will recall, when Christ wrote the letter to Smyrna that we looked at last Sunday. He warned them about the approaching persecution and verse number 10, but in the letter to pergamus, Jesus rights to Christians, who have already are dealing with persecution. They're already dealing with this thing of martyrdom for their faith. Again verse 13. It says Jesus has I know your works. And where you dwell, where Satan's Throne it and you hold fast to my name and did not deny my faith even in the days and which Antipas was my faithful, who is kill the Hmong you? Where Satan dwells. But one thing that we are very quickly made aware of is their Devotion to Christ. We see their strong Devotion, to the Lord, Jesus Christ. Jesus Praises them. He can manage them and says, hey, you hold fast to my name. You cling to my name and deny, my face, even the days and which Antipas was my faithful martyr who was killed among you. So here we see the Christians would not would not renounce Jesus. They would not despise his name even in the face of persecution, even in the face of death. And we don't know much about Antipas apart from what we read here in this text. He was probably one of the leaders. One of the pastors of the program has Church according to tradition. He was roasted to death. He was placed inside a Brass Bull. A fiery furnace during the persecution instigated by the Roman Emperor, domitian. But here was a man who paid the ultimate price for his refusal to compromise.

Is very, very interesting. The name Antipas means against all. And that is a very good name because he did, he stood against all that Satan could throw at him at him and he refused to Proclaim, Caesar was Lord. That is devotion. That is the motion. They? Clung to Christ name. They clung to their faith in him.

The truth is Jesus, mentioned Antipas, name and commence, his faithfulness and Courier, and his courage, as a rebuke to those at pergamus, who are tempted to compromise with the world and we'll see that just a moment. So, we see their devotion but notice also their dwelling, their dwelling. When we learn, where this church was located. It is not surprising whatsoever. That modern martyrdom had already. Come to pergamus since the church as Jesus says. Was where Satan's Throne is, and where Satan dwells, and verse 13. Now, why would Jesus say something like that? Well, there were a number of reasons why Jesus would say this about the city of pergamus. Like Ephesus. And like some Myrna pergamus was a large important city. But pergamus had it had an even stronger concentration of idolatry and false religion. If you were to go back in time and to the days, when Pergo pergamus was a thriving City during this time, you would see above the city streets.

Sitting upon a high heel a high Terrace, you receive a terrorist filled with temples and government buildings. The shape of this city, he'll are the shape of this Acropolis would appear as a giant Throne towering above the plane below. This would have been very intimidating. If you were a Christian and seeing above the heel, the smoke of the idol worship. The sacrifices being being burned in the Smoke ascending into the heavens and people who were crying out, Caesar is Lord. A Grimace, there were four different calls that were headquarters and headquarters in this city, including the god of Zeus, the god of a scene, the god, of the honest eyes and especially a asclepius. Asclepius the god, the Greek goddess sleepiest was very famous store. So-called healing and restoration. Because of this pergamus attracted people from all over the world seeking healing and restoration from the Temple of asclepius. Some have thought that this Temple of asclepius is why Jesus makes the reference here just Satan's Throne since since the symbol of its lease. Pious was a coiled serpent as seen today in symbols dedicated to the medical profession. As I said earlier was also the headquarters of the Roman Empire in Asia. At 1 Ryder says this. If Ephesus was the New York of Asia pergamus was its Washington for their Roman Imperial, power had its seat of government. And for this reason pergamus was very extremely devoted to the Roman Imperial cult that that is the Caesar worship. And the place where Christians were most likely to be persecuted for refusing to worship Caesar as God. And so the throne and pergamus belonged to Caesar who was Satan's Chief instrument and persecuted the Christians. Now, we see are we saw last week that the Smyrna Believers endure persecution that stem from unbelieving Jews. But here in contrast to that pergamus, the Christians face, the hostility hostility of pagans who demanded their Conformity to their idolatrous, cultural norms.

And we know from a letter. From the Roman governor governor Pliny. In a d 111 that accused Christians, those Christians who were accused and found guilty. Of.

Not giving Caesar his lordship. They could avoid death, only by cursing, the name of Jesus Christ.

So he wrote a letter to the emperor trajan and it is really a sympathetic letter saying, hey, I'm trying to get them to save their lives by curse, the name of Jesus and they can be saved. But they would not do it. They would not curse the name of Christ. The Christians would not accept another Lord in Jesus place.

They would not renounce the central biblical doctrines of salvation.

And do this faithful stance?

Very well may threaten the Christians lives. Jesus reminds them and verse 12, that he Wills the true sort of judgment and that he will overthrow any verdict, any verdict that is given by the Roman government. Again, verse 12 tells us, and to the angel of the Church of pergamum to write the words of him who has the sharp two-edged sword. Tips for making the most of their persecution, the Saints and pergamus earned price, fervent, praise that even though they dwelled where Satan dwelled. They were devoted to Lord Jesus Christ. All this and that gives us great encouragement today. So we see the position of the church but noticed quickly. The problem of the church not all was well with this particular Church in pergamus, Jesus mentions another serious threat that the church in pergamus must deal with Persecution was not the only serious threat facing this church. A second threat was false teaching from was in. And in this respect, Jesus's expresses serious concerns for pergamus, notice and verse 14.

Jesus says, but I have a few things against you because you have their those who hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Bailey to put a stumbling block before the children of Israel to eat things sacrificed to idols. And to commit, sexual immorality. Thus, you also have those who hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitans, which thing I hate until we see first of all, there compromise the compromise.

The strange figure Balaam. If you're familiar with the Old Testament is a famous biblical example of an enemy. Who first tried to persecute Believers? But found greater success, not by persecuting the children of Israel, but by seducing, the children of Israel into sin. In the book of numbers and numbers chapters, 23 and 24. You can read when the Israelites were advancing through the Wilderness and they came near Moab and the king of Moab was the king of its pagan anti-god Nation. Sought to destroy the children of Israel by having Balaam who was a wicked prophet. He wanted Balaam to declare a curse on the children of Israel. Well, this attack failed because when Bailey began cursing is real, the holy spirit will come upon him and change his curse into blessing. And like Satan and pergamus. Balaam realize that persecution was only making God's people stronger. So what it, what did he do? He changed his methods. Jesus message says that Balaam. Put a stumbling block before the children of Israel. So that they ate the foods that they were not supposed to eat. And that led them into sexual immorality. Now, what did Balaam do? What was the stumbling block that he did, but he put in front of the children of Israel. Well, he did this by sending the daughters of Moab. Prostitutes into the Israelite Camp to lure the men into sexual sin and idolatry. He cannot Curse God directly. God would not allow him to

So we came up with a plan for Israel to bring a curse upon themselves. End in number 25, a record that God judge Israel for the sins. And he's Schlage on, slay 24,000 a plague. And so in referring to the example of Balaam and also the false teachers known as the Nickelodeon's, it is very likely that Jesus was speaking here of the same group of people because the oceans and Balaam have the same meaning. The first a Greek word in the s a Hebrew word, meaning a conqueror of the people. So Jesus here at Quakes the two saying he'll also you have some who hold to the teachings of the Nicolaitans. Now it considering Jesus description of false teachers under the name of Balaam. We should know that Balaam reach his habit by means of what bye means of false teaching. He taught Bailey. He talked the king, Bailey how that he could put a stumbling block into the presence of the children of Israel. That was the Compromise. I noticed the corruption. notice the corruption again, in verse 14,

Similar false teaching, encouraged Christians, to eat food, sacrificed to idols and practice, sexual immorality. It seems that the nickel Asians were the type of people. They named The Name of Christ. They would have said that they were Christians, but they were the type of people who believe in this cultural accommodations. They were the type of people who believe that you can live your Christian life and you can have your sexual a secular living as well. They believe that you can marry the two together and be without seeing you can marry the world and Christ together and everything would be fine.

In a place, where it seemed impossible that Christians could survive by refusing, to accept the emperor worship the urge, then Believers to say words and participate in ritual, feast. In other words, just just blend in. Accommodate yourself. We call that lizard, that changes colors a chameleon, just just blend in and just go along with the flow.

Maybe just, maybe they said, you know, that since Jesus died to forgive sins, Christians should not worry about sinful patterns such as sexual immorality. That would, that would enable us to get along better in a pagan world.

William, Barclay comment, Stephanie collations sought to persuade Christians if there was nothing wrong with a prudent, Conformity to the world's standards. So per game, as he reminds us of two of the great strategies, that Satan uses to really attacked the church. The first as we have already seen persecution with the Believers, the Believers at pergamus have already withstood. The second when persecution did not work. The second was false teaching that is leading to Unholy and worldly living. So that, and to this pergamus church was in danger of succumbing to this false teaching. I noticed the confrontation in verse 16 The confrontation Jesus warns here. He says therefore repent. Repent, turn from this mindset turn from this stall. Now, the question is, do we have Nick relations today? Absolutely. Absolutely. We are dealing with this kind of junk today.

The Nicolaitans today would be among those urging the ordination of homosexuals as ministers.

And they pushed these things and they promote these things. Because it is demanded by secular culture. And to give into secular culture, they compromised a scripture. And in a merry together, the world and the church. The problem is some are many leading evangelicals who may be opposed to such things.

They do not publicly rather. Peach against it. They do not take a strong stand against it. They do not ever mention these things in their sermons. They have this feel good mentality. They want to keep that feel. Good atmosphere going and so they're not going to talk to anything. Talk about anything that is controversial whatsoever. And so by refusing to teach on on, on on unpopular topics such as Sin and divine wrath, and eternal Judgement, they are, in fact, they are propagating. They are spreading the very thoughts approach to the Bible, which leads some more Christians compromising to the world standards and it throws us as a nation steeper and steeper indecline. Spiritually. Listen, if pastors will not speak up against what is right? And what is wrong? Then we are in a mess because the Christian who sits in the Pew will never hear anyone. Speak out against it and therefore more apt to receive such false teaching. Jesus warning to pergamus teaches us that Christian Christians and church has must be vigilant about false teaching. This was a council that Paul charged the Elders of Ephesus to watch out for he said, hey, watch out for the ravenous wolves, who will come in among you, not sparing the flock. He said there for be alert.

The Nickelodeon Spirit, however, tells us not to be rigorous about this teaching. We're not to be rigorous concerning practicing God's word. If worship Innovations are popular with unbelievers. Nicolaitans, adopt them. even if they are in direct violation, in Holy Scripture, Listen nikolaisen, ISM prevails today. It is a live today by a general dread of controversy. It is alive today by General dread of speaking about any Doctrine. And those who do free consult on such things are demons, troublemakers. or they are deemed as heresy Hunters. I'll listen to me. The problem is those who hold? This opinion seem to overlook every page of the New Testament that lays before us been in all the history of the Lord, Jesus Christ. We never find him out of controversy. His entire Ministry was a controversial Ministry.

And like the Christians and pergamus, most of us today would like to get along with everyone. We like to enjoy the positive esteem of everyone. But Jesus says that this is one of the worst things that could be said about any Christian. This is the worst thing that anybody that is in the Lost World could say about a follower of Jesus. And Jesus said this quote, to you, when all people speak well of you for. So their fathers did to the false prophets. Hey, listen, I do not want everyone loving me. Honestly, because listen if everyone loves me. I'm speaking about the lost world and I'm speaking about the Liberals. I'm speaking about those. Haters, hate me and I count that as a badge of honor for the Lord Jesus Christ, and I'm not trying to win a popularity contest. I'm trying to please the Lord Jesus Christ and everything that I do fruits on those things that are controversial. I'm going to preach on Doctrine. That's that most churches. Do not want to speak to speak to, because I want to be faithful to the Lord. It is, he who I must give an account to not any individual here, nor any individual outside of these walls.

One, Taylor said this to New Testament. In fact, the whole Bible commands us to watch out for anyone and anything. He will lead us astray not because we are to be obsessively Papa's about our theology. But because our God is the god of truth. That's why. And it listen to me if we compromise one of Truth. Then we will compromise and all areas of Truth. Very important that you don't compromise God's word. There will come a time. If you compromise in one area, then there will be a Temptation for you to compromise and such things as There's only one way to Salvation and that is through Jesus Christ. They'll be a Temptation for you to say, like Joel Osteen did a few years ago. Well, I'm not going to say that Muslims can't be saved. Compromiser. Compromiser. I notice.

This is why Jesus tells them a verse 16 to repent. Or else. I will come to you quickly and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth. Hypergamous repentance would mean, exercising church, discipline, which is absolutely unheard of in most churches today. And refusing to tolerate Nickelodeon teaching. Jesus says that unless churches are willing to oppose false Doctrine and false practice, not accepting or even tolerating heresy. The Romans sort of persecution would not be needed since Christ on sort of discipline would fall on his church. Notice lastly, the provision for the church. We seen the position. We see. The problem. Is this. Look at the provision. That Jesus gives to the church. You see this conclusion, very similar, all of the seven letters letters that Jesus writes in verse 17.

He who has an ear that him here, with the spirit says, to the churches, to him who overcomes, I will give some. Are the hidden Manna to eat and I will give him a white stone and on the stone a new name written, which no one knows except him who receives it. to be sure that Jesus does not mean that Christian will In this life overcome, all all difficulties. That is not what it means. When it says to the one who overcomes. It does not mean that the Christian if you're saved, you're going to avoid difficulties and trials. No, rather Jesus refers to his true people. Those who are true, true believers who refused to renounce him, but hold fast against all persecution. Who's Alice Lee a true Doctrine while refusing to reticle teaching, and who embrace the, Bible's called to Holiness, refusing to give in to the immoral and self-serving standards of a world under God's judgment. You know, how we are to overcome? This world. The Apostle John tells us in first John, 5:4 blessed is the victory that has overcome the world? Our faith as the old song says faith is the victory. To all who conquered through faith. Jesus promises three Rich blessings. The point of these promises is that Believers Believers have no reason to accommodate the world. They have no reason to seek the world favor given all that we have. In Jesus Christ, notice number one, Jesus promises. Hidden Manna. He promises hidden manna manna refers to the supernatural food that fell from heaven during The Exodus. During the children of Israel's. Exodus out of Egypt, which enabled God's people. The man enabled, God's people to live and making them strong to follow after God's leading. We think about the mysterious nature of that, Heavenly Manor, that came down out of the heavens. Those, those the children of Israel did not know where it was. Stored. Didn't know how it came out of the out of the heavens. They just woke up every morning and there was fresh. Mana on the ground. But listen to Hidden, Manna is a symbol and a picture of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Just as the manager of the Exodus, Exodus sustained and strengthened the children of Israel. So to Jesus strengthens us, he sustains us spiritually. As we walk through this present Wilderness. He is after all the Bread of Heaven, Jesus is the man of Heaven. He is a spiritual sustenance that we need, and to those who are going to overcome it. Is those who Feast upon the hidden manna, The Lord Jesus Christ.

Jesus promises. The true believers.

A white stone. It says, I Jesus said, I will give him a white stone. And then there were many significant uses in the ancient world of a white surmount ceremonial Stone. I will give you all of the reasons and significant uses of them. But the most significant and the most important use of the Whitestone was that in courts of law. Jurors would vote for acquittal by setting forth, a white stone. If they set forth a white stone, then you were acquitted in contrast. If they set out a black stone, that meant that you were found guilty. And so where Satan's wealth and power They're a Gomez faithful Christians were accused and condemned in some like Antipas were put to the sword for their conviction of Devotion to the Lord Jesus Christ. And so Jesus is saying that, but he will place your faith in him. Jesus Will present a white stone to. He is Justified people. Though, we are guilty of seeing Jesus, acquits us. Jesus puts us, one writer said, Jesus promises to give them the Whitestone of acquittal and Assurance of eternal life. All praise the Lord for that noticed. Also Jesus Promised has a new name written on the stone. That no one knows except the one who receives it. This new name is more than likely the name of Christ, the lord. Engraved on each Whitestone. A name known only by those who receive salvation through faith and was a significant. So having a name written on this white, stone wealth, knowing Christ, new name, indicates the Believers intimate relationship with the Lord Of Glory, isn't it amazing? That we are able to have an intimate relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ. The God who spoke this world into existence. The God Who is seen here? Symbolically as the one, as a two-edged sword comes out from his mouth, were able to have an intimate relationship with this Lord. The Lord Of Glory of these are the promises of those who overcome were able to Feast on the hidden Manna. We're able to receive the white stone of acquittal and were able to be given a new name on that stone. That no one knows except the one who receives it and that is Christ the lord. and by way of confusion, since Jesus, denounce has the city of pergamus and he calls it as Satan's throne. Some Christians might conclude that there is a way that this is no place. Then for a church in such a city. But Jesus would disagree with that, right? Somebody might say well, Las Vegas if we're going to have a city that would be similar to pergamus. Las Vegas would be yet.

What a better spot. In Las Vegas. That needs the gospel of Christ.

To listen to me. We should never. Look at a situation. Look at a particular country or a city and say well no, we don't, they don't need a church there. No, they do need a gospel preaching Church there.

But once again, listen how we have been challenged by this text. It's such a challenge because there is such a strong push in our date to abandon sound Doctrine and the fundamentals of the faith in order to join the modern movement. Some call for compromise, for the sake of cooperation, but my new friend listen to me, I want my desire is to stay true to the ways of God. Several years ago. When the Southern Baptist convention was battling liberalism, that was infiltrating. Adrian. Adrian Rogers, one of my favorite features. Said this.

He said, I'm willing to compromise about many things. But not the word of God. So far as getting together is concerned. We don't have to get together. The Southern Baptist convention. As it is does not have to to survive. I don't have to be the pastor of Bellevue, Baptist Church. I don't have to be loved. I don't even have to live, but I will not compromise the word of God and I say, Amen to that. And by God's grace.

May I be able to say the same until the Lord calls me home? Alyssum has a lord spoken to you today. We think about this church in Paramus. Are you committed to living for the Lord? Even within a culture. That is so anti-god, you're going to be facing some things in the next few years. That you would have never thought of.

And the time to be committed to commit yourself to the Lord is now. I mean, who, Who Would Imagine when I first entered into the ministry started, pastoring, the first church in 1998? But I would even feel the need to put on a church sign. That there are only two genders.

I would have never thought that we would be at this place when I first started in the ministry, but this is where we're at. And to post something like that. For some would be all that's controversial. No, it should not be controversial. But if it is, it's only controversial because it's the truth. We should never back down.

Never stray away from controversy.

If there's truth involved. We must stay strong until the very end. Let's pray together by father.

We thank you, Lord, for this reminder.

This very Vivid reminder of a church that had to deal with. Things that we're dealing with just starting to deal with today.

Lord, I Thank you Lord for their devotion. And father, I pray that we would be just as devoted. To your name. That we would cling to the faith that was once delivered to us. By the apostles. And Lord, I pray that we would see the dangers and the warnings that that they missed concerning the false teaching. That we would constantly be on guard. Knowing how?

Fly in. Slick Satan is to get in a foothold in an in a church. And again. Drawing people away.

Oh Lord. I pray that you would give us wisdom. Fill us with your spirit. And father, I pray. But the one that is here today that has never trusted Christ. Father, I pray that you would roll them to your son, Jesus Through the Holy Spirit. Father, grants in faith and repentance.

I pray, Lord that those that are here. That today would be the day of salvation.

That today that would cry out.

And be saved. Father, again Lord help us to be faithful to you in all things. We ask all these things in Christ name. Amen.