Revelation 2:12-17 The Church that Compromised. It is wonderful to be here with you all.

Transcription

1 Good Morning Church. Revelation 2:12-17 The Church that Compromised It is wonderful to be here with you all. P a g e 1 This morning we are going to continue our study of the Book of Revelation. If you have missed any portion of this study, the teachings are offered on our website or the church App found in your Google Play Store or Apple Store, also Curtis can make you a CD in the sound booth after service, all of which is free. This week we will continue our look at Jesus address to the Seven Churches. We have already looked at the first two churches, the First was the church found in Ephesus, remember this church was praised by Jesus for standing against false doctrine and false apostles. Jesus saw their faithfulness and perseverance in spite of great persecution.

2 But one thing had begun to come up missing, and it turns out it was the most important thing as far as Jesus was concerned. The church had left its first love and began to do ministry very well, but it was mechanical in nature. The early passion had begun to fade. Jesus encouraged the church to repent and return to their first works. Now as we have learned each church that Jesus addresses represents a certain time period in church History. Ephesus represents the early Apostolic Era of church history. P a g e 2 And we see toward the end of that Era the love began to wane. After Ephesus, Jesus turned His attention to Smyrna, a heavily idolatrous city, with a small suffering church within it.

3 P a g e 3 These Christians in Smyrna were facing tribulations and hardships that were debilitating and overwhelming. Jesus told them, that He knows their hardships very well, and encourages them to anticipate a crown of life, and great reward for their sacrifices. Smyrna here represents the next time period of church history from around 100 A.D. to around 312 A.D. which was a period that 10 different emperors brutally condemned and persecuted the church. This refining time period of persecution only made the church stronger and stronger. Although over 5 million Christians died during that time, the Gospel could not be stopped. During this time period Satan was known as a vicious enemy of Christ and His followers. It is to the suffering Christian Peter declared 1 Peter 5:8-9 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. 9 Resist him, steadfast

4 in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world P a g e 4 Now, this tactic of the enemy although it is full of fire and fury, it has never worked to destroy the work of Christ. It has only brought about steadfast faith in the believer. We will see in the next church, a more effective tactic of Satan, that is less fearful, and perhaps even looks harmless, but in the end brings destruction and demise. This tactic will be known as compromise, a Coexist kind of framework that will actually cause the church to relate to Christ through His Double-Edged Sword of judgement. Satan will be known to this church as he was to the carnal church of Corinth, where Paul said 2 Cor. 11:14 For Satan himself transforms himself into an angel of light.

5 So we come to the next letter to the church of Pergamos. The root word of pergamos means, married. Abeelen pg. 49 P a g e 5 We will see the tragedy of the church here in Pergamos is their marriage will not be solely to Jesus Christ, but will have a picture of polygamy, and a unholy union to many forms of belief. This marriage will be a mixed marriage. The city of Pergamos or also known as Pergamum was located north of Smyrna and about 20 miles inland from the Mediterranean Sea. Pergamos was a wealthy city that boasted in its worship of Athena, Asclepius, Dionysus and Zeus. There were many temples there devoted to different forms of pagan idolatry. This city along with Ephesus and Smyrna competed for prominence in the region.

6 P a g e 6 Ephesus became a great political center, Smyrna was a great commercial center, and Pergamos rose to be the great religious center. In addition to its many pagan temples, it too was a Royal city because of its temple to Augustus Caesar, and Caesar worship was a big part of the life there in Pergamos. It was visited by many Emperors as a retreat, and they utilized the healing spas and enjoyed the great climate. There was also a great pagan library within the city. It had over two hundred thousand volumes of literature. It was declared to be one of the greatest libraries the world has ever seen. Now as we look at this church within this spectacular pagan city, we will see that it historically represents the period of church History from around 312 A.D. to around 600 A.D. Now Satan could not destroy the church from without, using terror and persecution, so during this period of

7 church history, Satan joined the church, and enticed them to compromise. During this period of church history a turn of events happened for the Christian Church. P a g e 7 As the early part of the 4 th century began to unfold, the Emperor of Rome died, and he did not leave any plans of succession. This left too very powerful men in a fight for power. The forces of the west led by a man named Constantine was the smaller of the two forces. He came up against his powerful enemy of the east in Northern Italy. As they waited for the coming day to dawn before they battled. Constantine who had come into some contact with Christianity made a vow that night, that if he won the battle he would become a Christian.

8 P a g e 8 Some other stories about his conversion say he saw in the sky a vision of a cross, with the words by this sign conquer written in Latin under it. It is even said he put the symbol on his soldiers shields before they went into battle. Although the details vary, the fact remains Constantine made an oath with some spiritual power to join the church if he was victorious. Time would show however, Constantine may have called himself a Christian, but the deal he made was more likely with the angel of light, or the prince of this world, the devil. His life never showed the fruits of a born-again Christian, but more of an unconverted politician. Constantine was victorious in that battle and a few years later he assumed the throne of a unified Rome with the title Christian attached to him. And in a moment, the world changed, as the rumors quickly spread throughout the empire that the Emperor had become a Christian.

9 P a g e 9 In fact, Constantine declared that Christianity would be the new state religion. He gave the Edict of Milan, which granted freedom and equality to Christians throughout the Empire. Christians almost immediately went from the caves and hideouts, to prominent and powerful positions within the government. They went from having everything being viciously taken from them, to having property and wealth again. The cautious hymns that were sang at but a whisper in dungeons and back alleys were now being shouted from the rooftops. As Donald Barnhouse puts it The rags of persecution gave way to softer garments, the church began to feel silk upon its flesh. And during this stage of Church History the church became married to the world and all its luxury and comforts. And soon, that faithful church, that stood in faith even when fierce and frightening opposition pummeled

10 P a g e 10 against it, it found itself enjoying and even pursuing the lusts of the flesh, how could it ever go back to that misery after tasting such delicacies of the world. This opened the door to a powerful influence of the enemy. The pagan priests, who once held positions of honor and prestige, saw the popularity of this Christian God, Jesus. They switched alliances, for they knew how to put on a religious show, to receive honor. The weeds quickly immersed themselves among the wheat; the goats came into God s fold of sheep. The priests of Jupiter of Apollo of Venus, all came to the baptismal of the church in a false display of an allinclusive religious unity. And when they came, they brought not a converted repentant heart, but a deception so great, the church today still is grossly infected with this corruption, this yeast.

11 The pagans brought their worship, their ceremony, their idols, their gods, and put Christian names on them. P a g e 11 Constantine was a true politician through and through, and he allowed this to keep peace and unity throughout the empire. And they brought this Babylonian system of worship into the church, and today much of the church still accepts these compromises. In fact, the system we see introduced here in the Pergamos time period, we will see it again later in Revelation as Jesus destroys this apostate religion of Babylon once and for all. So let us get into it, and read this letter to Pergamos the compromising church We will come back through it, and break it apart after we read the letter in its entirety. The Compromising Church 2:12 "And to the angel of the church in Pergamos write,

12 P a g e 12 'These things says He who has the sharp two-edged sword: 13 "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 in which Antipas was My faithful martyr, who was killed among you, where Satan dwells. 14 But I have a few things against you, because you have there those who hold 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. 15 Thus you also have those who hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitans, which thing I hate. 16 Repent, or else I will come to you quickly and will fight against them with the sword of My mouth. 17 "He who has an ear, let 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."' Let us pray

13 Jesus declares here in verse 12 2:12 "And to the angel of the church in Pergamos write, 'These things says He who has the sharp two-edged sword: P a g e 13 To the pastor of the church in Pergamos, Jesus selects Himself to be known to this Compromising Church as One who has the sharp two-edged sword coming from His mouth. This is a term in reference to judgment, and specifically the judgment of the Word of God. Which Hebrews declares for us in Heb. 4:12-13 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. 13 And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are naked and open to the eyes of Him to whom we must give account.

14 For the church in Pergamos Jesus reminds them His Word is the standard that they will be judged by. With this double-edged sword, He is able to see into the heart and life of the church. P a g e 14 We will see as this sword relates to the church, it acts as a corrective tool. Later on in Revelation in chapter 19, this same sword will be used as a weapon of war and destruction. As the very Word that was spoken, and the sun came flaming into existence, with the same fury used to create, it will be used to decimate. With the sword here as a discerner of the Church, we will see the Judge of all the earth, will clearly see faithfulness in some, and in others unfaithfulness and an unholy mixing of sacred and worldliness. Jesus says next 13 "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 in which

15 P a g e 15 Antipas was My faithful martyr, who was killed among you, where Satan dwells. Jesus speaks to the church here among such great idolatry and pagan worship; He actually says Satan at that time was ruling from the city. You see Satan from the very beginning has tried to lift his throne above God s throne. Unlike God, however, Satan is a created being, and he is not omnipresent. Although he does have many principalities, powers, and rulers of the darkness at his disposal, he is restricted in his movements. He is also referred to as Eph. 2:2 prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience It seems his realm of influence is even the first and second heavens.

16 P a g e 16 In the Book of Job, we see his movements are too and fro on the earth, and even has opportunity to be accountable before God s throne in heaven. He is very powerful and he works through his own hierarchy of those fallen beings that followed him in the rebellion. Perhaps he works as Hitler did in WW2, where every decision and command worked its way to and from the top of this hierarchy. He seems to maintain a throne here on earth at different places at different times, perhaps now he is in L.A. with the movie industry or in Washington DC with the politicians, who knows. But we do know, during the final days of the Apostolic Era, his throne was in Pergamos. Some think that perhaps this was a reference to the god Asclepius, who was depicted by serpents. He was the deity of healing, and today there is still a connection to his symbol to the medical field.

17 A staff with a serpent wrapped around it came to be his symbol. P a g e 17 Driving down HWY 18, if you look at the older medical buildings across the street from St. Mary s, almost every building has this symbol. You see pagan symbols are still very much a part of our culture, hidden in plain sight. But some think the serpent worshipped here in Pergamos is perhaps representing Satan s throne, where many came from around the empire to find healing in his temple. Others think this perhaps is a reference to the giant altar or throne to Zeus that was found in its midst. ***Picture*** It was a huge throne, that actually was moved to Berlin in around the year It is richly decorated and detailed with figures of pagan mythology.

18 P a g e 18 Some think because this Altar to Zeus sat high up on a hill, and from anywhere in the city it was visible, that this reference to Satan throne was perhaps this monumental piece of the city. Perhaps because of the enormity of all of the pagan false worship that was found in this prominent city, it is more likely that all of the wickedness and outright rebellion toward the One True God, made this a place where Satan himself dwelt. Satan s system is of any system that turns man s heart away from Jesus Christ. Now even in spite of Pergamos being the headquarters for this satanic antichrist system, we see Jesus has words of commendation for some. Within this church, there were those who held fast to Jesus Name. They refused to budge on the tenants of our faith. They held fast to the timeless and crucial belief that Jesus was God, he was not godlike, or a demigod, He was God and fully man.

19 Every heresy that has come through the ages stems from the compromise on this belief that Jesus was God. P a g e 19 There were those in Pergamos who would not budge on this issue. And because of this there were even those of the church there in the city that remained steadfast, even in the days of persecution. They even have a notable martyr, Antipas, who history is silent on, but Jesus knows him very well. Antipas means against all. Tradition holds that Antipas was tortured to death, seared alive inside a hollow brass statue in the form of a bull, which was heated until it glowed white-hot. Stedman. Antipas paid the ultimate price, and perhaps he literally had to stand alone against all. Jesus praises those Christians who are dwelling in the darkness of this city, a place where Satan dwells, for their faithfulness to His Name and right doctrine.

20 P a g e 20 Now, we will see this church closely represents an idolatrous part of the Universal Church at large today. This time period of church History represented here correlates with the beginning of the Catholic Church. But may this serve as a warning for us protestants, may we not be too quick to judge the salvation of an individual by the church they attend. Within the Catholic Church there are many clashes with the Word of God, but within that system there are found true believers, though perhaps they are not thriving, and they are more like Lot living too close to the pagan systems of this world. Philip Story We see that Jesus finds within that church those He can commend. And during the early stages of the Catholic Church, as Christians found their freedoms and comforts once again.

21 P a g e 21 History tells us they still managed to stand against damaging heresies that came about during that time period. Gnostics were put down as heretics, as they believed God only dealt with the spirit, and Jesus was only spirit, that meant a Christian could do whatever he desired in the flesh, because that part of the person God did not deal with. The church also during this period stood its ground against many other false doctrines, many of the early councils were held during this time period. From which the scriptures were canonized, and heretics were silenced, the Trinity was even affirmed. However, there were many things that still needed to be addressed, and Jesus speaks to that next 14 But I have a few things against you, because you have there those who hold 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.

22 Jesus explains here that the church was being compromised by the same tactic Satan used against the Nation of Israel. P a g e 22 In Numbers the Moabite king Balak, saw the millions of Hebrews descending upon him and upon his people. The mighty stories preceded them, on how their God decimated the Egyptians and had been working wonders on their behalf. Balaam was a Gentile prophet, who was hired by Balak to pronounce a curse upon this powerful group of people. Balaam, was promised land and fortune, and at that he was motivated to work for Balak. However, each time he went to pronounce a curse, the God of Israel used the evil prophet to bless them. He was discouraged, and Balak was enraged. However, Balaam being motivated by the fortune that awaited, and not by truth itself, he explained to Balak, that their God was a jealous God.

23 P a g e 23 They could never attack Israel from without, but they could entice them from within. He told the king to send beautiful Moabite women in their miniskirts to go and seduce the Hebrew men. And as the men committed fornication and even took them as their wives, the fleshly motivated men could be seduced into compromising their worship of God, and they even incorporated the false forms of worship into their lives. They ate sacrifices to other gods and committed sexual sins contrary to the Law of the Covenant. The plan worked, as the Jews began worshipping false gods, God wiped out 24,000 people in the Jewish nation. Now, in Pergamos the devil was using this same doctrine of compromise. The church there had befriended and joined themselves to the false worship that surrounded them. They were compromised to the world, and they allowed their flesh to overrule the Word of God.

24 Now during this time period of Church History, the church began to incorporate idolatry and pagan practices within the church. This is when the church began to look to icons and religious merchandising began to invade the church. P a g e 24 All of the pagan idol makers needed a steady source of income still, so they turned their attention to making images of Christian characters, the Lord Jesus mother was exalted, and she was lifted to a place the Scriptures never put her. They turned pagan holidays into Christian themed celebrations, many of which we still celebrate today. Many other concessions were made to the pagans. Also, church and state came together for the first time in marriage, and for centuries the church even ruled over the kings of the earth. Corruption and greed began to overcome the Christian heart.

25 P a g e 25 The council of Nicaea was the first council of the churches, and Constantine was declared president of the council, he also participated from a throne of gold. The church loved their freedoms and comforts so much, they did not care their president was perhaps not even a Christian. The passion that was in the church because of the belief that Jesus was coming at any moment had all but left, as the Christians found themselves pretty happy with this world, no longer were they anticipating the next life. Satan appealed to the churches flesh, and he won over its heart with trinkets of gold, pleasure and full bellies. Today this doctrine of Balaam is still Satan s best strategy to threaten the church. He whispers in the believers ear pornography is good, do not be ashamed of it. It brings pleasure and passion to your life.

26 He invites the believer to indulge in adultery, fornication, cohabitation, homosexuality, and other behaviors. P a g e 26 And many in the church today are okay with these ideas, even whole denominations have corrupted the truth of scripture to send people comfortably to hell in their sin. They openly tolerate and endorse sin, for the sake of filling their pews. And those who are involved in such behavior slowly drift away from God. The doctrine of Balaam is sweeping through the church today separating man s soul from God. The Sword of the Spirit replies to the false doctrine of Balaam, and in its stark reply it says 2 Cor. 6:14-18 Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness? 15 And what accord has Christ with Belial? Or what part has a believer with an

27 P a g e 27 unbeliever? 16 And what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For you are the temple of the living God. As God has said: "I will dwell in them And walk among them. I will be their God, And they shall be My people." 17 Therefore "Come out from among them And be separate, says the Lord. Do not touch what is unclean, And I will receive you." 18 'I will be a Father to you, And you shall be My sons and daughters, Says the Lord Almighty." We are not to marry to the world or yoke up with them in these days of being relevant to culture. Do not touch what is unclean, be separate! Even if you find yourself as Antipas the lone Martyr, hold fast to the truth of Jesus Name and true doctrine. The lines are being blurred in the church today, and the church is looking more and more like the world, we must stand fast on His Word, and hold tight to His Holy Name. Next, we see another compromise here, to the pagan ways in the church in Pergamum.

28 P a g e Thus you also have those who hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitans, which thing I hate. 16 Repent, or else I will come to you quickly and will fight against them with the sword of My mouth. Here in Pergamos, the belief that the Ephesian believers hated, has been introduced and accepted into the church. Remember from our study of the letter to the church in Ephesus, we found out the only clue we have about this doctrine is found in the name Nicolaitans. It means to rule over the laity or the people. So here in Pergamos, the priesthood has been established. The belief that some men deserve more honor and respect, that some are closer to God, and must mediate between men and God. What a mockery to the sacrifice of the cross. It is the blood of Christ that brings man into a relationship with God.

29 P a g e 29 Jesus says He hates this priesthood. And again some sects of Christianity today would do well to understand this. 1 Tim 2:5 For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus, Jesus came to open the door for every man to come to God, the veil of separation was torn, and the priesthood was done away with. God hates those who would take the place of His Son. Whether it is the Catholics, the Eastern Orthodox Church, or any other system set up that puts man between the people and God, it is in opposition to the Word of God. God set up His church so simply in the beginning, He appointed twelve apostles, and appointed a few deacons, some elders, and pastors to teach His Word in every church. It was simple, and today s monstrosity would be hardly unrecognizable by the early church.

30 P a g e 30 We have CEO Pastors and celebrity pastors, we have people kissing the rings of those who are entrusted to shepherd the people of God, and the church today scarcely looks any different from the worlds Babylonian system set up all around it. Jesus says here, to repent, or He will come with His weapon of war and judgment the sword, the Word of God. There is only one way for the church in Pergamos to get right, and that is to repent, turn from the compromise in their lives. To set themselves apart distinctly from this world. If they do not, the horrible reality that is set forth for them is they will find themselves fighting against God. What a sad fate for a group of people who are supposed to be the called out ones, the Church. God s Word will oppose them. Now doesn t it seem like the church today is fighting against God s Word.

31 P a g e 31 The church today instead turns education, psychology, and other worldly platforms to justify the abominations found in God s Word. And the church at large for the sake of filling up pews will ignore, or downplay, or even come up with new meanings to God s changeless Word. And people today, sit very comfortably in their sins through a church service especially designed not to upset them, or challenge them in any way. The compromise in the church today has reached new heights, and there is only one hope, it needs to repent, and turn back to God s Word, to stop tampering with its truths to fit this new world order. The church needs to come back under the authority of God s Word, or it will find itself under the Judgment of His Word. Jesus says next to the individual believers within the church in Pergamos and of us here this morning 17 "He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes I will give

32 P a g e 32 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."' Jesus speaks to the overcomer, the person who hears God s Word and Obeys. Jesus says it may cost them in this life, but their choice to follow Jesus will be all they need in this life. They will receive the hidden manna Jesus says here. Manna was this angel food sent down to the children of Israel while they were wondering in the wilderness. A pot of that manna was hidden away in the Ark of the Covenant by Moses. Jesus is explaining to those who have abstained from compromising and eating meat sacrificed to idols to the overcomer that they can feast upon Christ in the hidden place. The greedy, and evil person would prefer to take part in the banquet and feasting of this world.

33 P a g e 33 They will compromise to this world to fulfill their passion for comfort and luxury, instead of sacrifice and spending time alone with God and enjoying the spiritual food. Jesus says in John 6:48-51 I am the bread of life. 49 Your fathers ate the manna in the wilderness, and are dead. 50 This is the bread which comes down from heaven, that one may eat of it and not die. 51 I am the living bread which came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever; and the bread that I shall give is My flesh, which I shall give for the life of the world." The overcomer is promised this eternal nourishment that is provided by Jesus Himself. Jesus also promises to give the overcomer a white stone, which in that day would be what the judges used to pronounce a person innocent. They either had a black stone or white stone, the black stone of course meant guilty. It is where the term Black-Balled came from.

34 P a g e 34 Because of Jesus blood the believer is determined to be innocent, white is also a depiction of purity and holiness. On this stone will be written a special name only known to the overcomer and Jesus. My little Sofia gets excited that Jesus will have this special name for her. Our family is a family with many nicknames, and Sofia is known my one grandmother as Phia, and the other grandmother as Honey, I call her my Sof or Wisdom. We all have special names with different people, it is a sign of intimacy and something special between individuals. God throughout scripture, as He and a person s relationship gained depth; He often changed their names to something else that was special to Him. Abram was changed to Abraham, Sarai to Sarah, Jacob to Israel, in the New Testament Saul was changed to Paul.

35 P a g e 35 And for you here this morning, who have put your faith in Jesus Christ, you will have a new name to define your relationship with Him, that is unique to your relationship with Jesus. What a loving God we serve, what intimacy and such a strong bond there is between us and Him. Now, if you do not know Jesus this morning I want to encourage you to come to Him, and have this assurance for your own life. Such sweet promises for the overcomer this morning. Now, the Word of God was sharp this morning, and perhaps God has spoken to you on your own compromises you have made in life. Perhaps you have found yourself pretty comfortable with the worlds system, you no longer anticipate the return of Jesus Christ, in fact, your- commitment to Him has come second to other pursuits in your life. You are worshipping on the altar of success and comfort this morning.

36 P a g e 36 You have bought into the mantra of the compromised church, and you fellowship with people immersed in pagan ways. It is hard for you to maintain your witness because truth is; you look more like the world then a person walking in the fruits of the Spirit. Gal 5:22-23 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. Your life is lined up more with the ways of this world, you have compromised, your life is fleshly motivated. Perhaps you even mock the Word of God, and justify those sinful passions. Paul describes a life lived by the flesh in Gal 5:19-21 Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, 20 idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, 21 envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand,

37 just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. P a g e 37 If this is you this morning, there is only one way to find healing in your life, it is not through justifying your sin, or downplaying the Word of God, but instead submitting yourself to the Word of God. You need to repent, turn from your sins. It is a one-step program to come back, confess to Jesus your compromise, and find healing. The pastors and Elders will be available during this last song and after service to pray with you this morning. Come to Jesus, humble yourself under His Word, and regain the passion you were meant to have for Jesus. Do not get to comfortable here in this world, this is only but for a moment, the decisions you make here will affect your eternity. Now, whatever your prayer needs are this morning, we are here for you, please take advantage of this precious time of prayer after each service, there is

38 much fruit, and many lives are being touched by this prayer time being offered. We love you Let us pray P a g e 38