Revelation of Things Unknown

Syncretism for the Sake of the Body

Throughout all time we have seen the effects mixing worldly with scripture.

More to the point we note in the United States something that is plaguing the church is the rampant biblical illiteracy.

We take what the world says and place more value on their belief than we do in scripture.

We are warned in scripture how some in these days would not tolerate sound doctrine, and there would be a falling away.

In Malachi we are told how the Leadership is the cause for why the church body detests the food that is on the Lord’s table.

LEADERS have sold the pulpit and have led the church into compromise.

Today I will address those in leadership and those who desire to be in leadership but I address them to express to the body how we all need to engage with what God wants to give.

There is a victors crown for the one who does not compromise the word of God.

Revelation 2:12–17 ESV

“And to the angel of the church in Pergamum write: ‘The words of him who has the sharp two-edged sword. “ ‘I know where you dwell, where Satan’s throne is. Yet you hold fast my name, and you did not deny my faith even in the days of Antipas my faithful witness, who was killed among you, where Satan dwells. But I have a few things against you: you have some there who hold the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to put a stumbling block before the sons of Israel, so that they might eat food sacrificed to idols and practice sexual immorality. So also you have some who hold the teaching of the Nicolaitans. Therefore repent. If not, I will come to you soon and war against them with the sword of my mouth. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who conquers I will give some of the hidden manna, and I will give him a white stone, with a new name written on the stone that no one knows except the one who receives it.’

People who live in the Middle of Great Pagan practices

Greek gods worship

Emperor worship

Literally a temple with a throne to foreign gods

Compromise with Paganism

Compromised Pulpit

Pulpit is put up for sale

Heresy taught from the pulpit

People of God fed codified lies

Leaders misleading the flock

Even in their broken condition the Lord graciously gives the way out and with it a crown to be earned.

Revelation of Jesus Christ

Revelation 2:12 ESV

“And to the angel of the church in Pergamum write: ‘The words of him who has the sharp two-edged sword.

Revelation is Not Just for Pergamum

By now we can see Jesus’ description is very much like Ch. 1

Remember those who read, hear, and hold this word are blessed.

Note Where the Sword is:

Revelation 1:16 ESV

In his right hand he held seven stars, from his mouth came a sharp two-edged sword, and his face was like the sun shining in full strength.

This sword comes out His mouth

the very word of God and He is about to speak over this church.

Posture of Judge

Not Just Offended He is Angered

Stands with a threat from the open because the church’s sin is pervading the entire region

He judges all things by the word of God.

Commendation for Holding to His Name

Revelation 2:13 ESV

“ ‘I know where you dwell, where Satan’s throne is. Yet you hold fast my name, and you did not deny my faith even in the days of Antipas my faithful witness, who was killed among you, where Satan dwells.

Intimately Knows Where They Dwell (Satan’s Throne)

He walks in the midst of the Churches (Eph)

Aware of your Condition (Smyrna)

Aware of where you are (Pergamum)

In the middle of a culture where its easier to sin than to serve the Lord

the church is called bigoted or hateful because it refuses to look like the world

You Hold fast my name

They haven’t stopped believing

Antipas Roasted alive

Told the world is against him for his belief, His response was Then I am against the world… facing severe satanic evil

Refused to renounce his faith people of Pergamos place him into a hollowed out metal bull light a bonfire and celebrate to the sound of his suffering

The Commendation would have gone well but they have a problem

Rebuke for Compromise

Revelation 2:14–15 ESV

But I have a few things against you: you have some there who hold the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to put a stumbling block before the sons of Israel, so that they might eat food sacrificed to idols and practice sexual immorality. So also you have some who hold the teaching of the Nicolaitans.

Problem that Existed in Pergamos

Religious Syncretism

Not outright lies but codified lies

Balaam was a diviner who knew that if the people of Israel worshipped another god then the Lord would withhold His blessings from them…

taught them to eat food sacrificed to foreign gods...

Symbology, Typeology, Figurative

literal sense food

(figurative) not so literal Sense doctrine

Nicolaitans were antinomialist

Based on a man who had changed his religion at least twice pagan > jew >Christian

Christ paid it all on the cross therefore we are free partake in even in the pagan practices

One foot in one foot out

The Pulpit Sells out

Internal Struggle the greater threat

Popularity

Filling Seats

Making Money

Prosperity Gospel; Cheap Grace; New Age Mysticism

Ease of access to information progress heresy

Fast quips spewed from pulpit make us sound more like Fortune Cookies.

2 John 8–10 ESV

Watch yourselves, so that you may not lose what we have worked for, but may win a full reward. Everyone who goes on ahead and does not abide in the teaching of Christ, does not have God. Whoever abides in the teaching has both the Father and the Son. If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not receive him into your house or give him any greeting,

They must bring the whole Gospel…not just the nice things

Jesus Hates, Detests, Abhors… who present only partial truths

Warned to Repent

Previously in Ephesus there was an exhortation and a warning… Jesus speaking as an angry Judge simply warns REPENT

Revelation 2:16 ESV

Therefore repent. If not, I will come to you soon and war against them with the sword of my mouth.

He extends more Grace…

Repent from your compromise

Spiritual leader preach the truth and teach according to His word not your emtion

Congregation if you have someone who is misleading you rip out the root…

Failure to Repent

He will go in and rip them out… Speak against them with the Sword that is in His mouth

Church fails to thrive, fails to overcome

Church will eventually fall to the world

Later in Revelation we note all of creation shouting Hallelujah for the Lord God Almighty reigns… The bride has made herself ready

He who has an ear is a play on OT and NT Hebrew warnings…

It is spoken to the ones who are at the point where they would have no longer cared to hear… Seeing and Hearing they could not perceive

It is spoken to the one who is holding on and will press into the Lord to know…

Reward for Victory

Revelation 2:17 ESV

He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who conquers I will give some of the hidden manna, and I will give him a white stone, with a new name written on the stone that no one knows except the one who receives it.’

Hidden Manna, New Name (no one excepts the one who receives it) White Stone

All of these are hidden

All speak to a new nature

Is 45:3

Treasures hidden in the darkness

Secret riches

Jer 33:1-3 j

Ask me not foreign Gods

I will give you great and hidden things you have not known

Hidden Manna was for the Angels and is now promised to you… This is why some pulpits deliver strong word from the Lord, while the sell outs keep teaching agreements with the world

New name… something that is given to those who crossed a tremendous crevasse of faith..

Abram to Abraham

Jacob to Israel

Saul to Paul

Michael… Who is like God

The stone is given to the victor…Access

Stop the compromise… uproot the false teachers… receive the things both now and when His kingdom comes.