REVELATION: THE LETTERS TO THE SEVEN CHURCHES Class 4. Church of Pergamos The Compromising Church

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1 REVELATION: THE LETTERS TO THE SEVEN CHURCHES Class 4. Church of Pergamos The Compromising Church I. THE COMPROMISING CHURCH Rev 2: "And to the angel of the church in Pergamos write, '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." ' NKJV A. Pergamos And The Sharp, Two-edged Sword 12 "And to the angel of the church in Pergamos write, '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. Pergamos (per'-gam-os); Strongs # NT: 4010 (from NT: 4444); fortified; Pergamus, a place or town in Asia Minor, in Mysia, on the river Caicus about 50 miles north of Smyrna. Its name also means marriage or elevation. As the church became married to 1 R e v e l a t i o n C h u r c h e s L e s s o n 4

2 governmental authority and elevated to a place of acceptance, it declined in spiritual power. (Biblesoft's New Exhaustive Strong's Numbers and Concordance with Expanded Greek-Hebrew Dictionary. Copyright (c) 1994, Biblesoft and International Bible Translators, Inc.) 1. Pergamum was the capital of Asia until close to the first century. It was a city given over to a huge amount of pagan worship and idolatry. It included a 200 foot high alter to Zeus and was the center for Emperor worship. Because of the great amount of religious groups, the government couldn t keep a handle on all their differences and problems and therefore, commanded the cooperation of all these groups and entities to work together and in harmony with one another. The two most prominent religious systems in the city were the worship of Bacchus (the god of revelry) and the worship of Aesclepius (the god of healing), whose symbol was a serpent which to Christians symbolizes satan. Because Babylon had been the center and seat of corruption and pagan idolatrous worship thanks to Nimrod and his mother, after it s decline as a dominant world power, satan most likely found Pergamum as a suitable home base for his strategic work against mankind. Missionaries have been in areas so pagan in their religions that it seemed as though the very air was charged with the presence of satan. 2. Satan learned from his attack on Smyrna that the church of Christ will grow and flourish and continue in a perpetual state of revival in times of persecution. After Diocletian s unsuccessful attack on the church, Constantine succeeded him as Emperor. Roman history and church tradition states that he saw a fiery cross in the sky and heard a voice saying, In this sign conquer. He became a friend and protector of Christianity as is responsible for many early manuscripts being produced, which have been used to create our bible. He began to pour money into the church and many of the pagan temples were taken over by Christians. To please the Emperor, many leaders adopted customs that were paralleled to pagan 2 R e v e l a t i o n C h u r c h e s L e s s o n 4

3 practices. During the succeeding three centuries, many anti- Christian practices of pagan origin were adopted, which robbed the church of its fire and its evangelistic fervor. The church began to shroud itself in mystery and ritualism that had a strong resemblance to Babylonian mysticism. The Chaldean Tau, which is the elevation of a large T on the end of a pole, was changed to the sign of a cross. The rosary of pagan origin was introduced. Celibacy of priests and nuns, who had no scriptural verification but finds a counterpart in the vestal virgins of paganism, were conceived. (Page 59,59; Revelation Unveiled by Timothy LaHaye) A.D. 300 A.D. 300 A.D. 375 A.D. 394 A.D. 431 A.D. 500 A.D. 526 A.D. 593 A.D. 600 A.D. 600 Prayers for the dead Making sign of the cross Worship of angels and saints Mass first instituted Worship of Mary began Priests began dressing different than laypeople Extreme Unction Doctrine of purgatory introduced Worship services conducted in Latin Prayers directed to Mary (Roman Catholicism by Loraine Boettner Philadelphia 1962, page 8) From A.D. 312 on, the church became more Roman and less Christian in its practices. The Roman Catholic Church has a very hard time tracing itself back any further than A.D After the church became a state sponsored religion and Christianity became buried in the rich and powerful tradition of men, people began to believe that the world, which was being dominated by this governmentally run church, was getting better and better and that Christ s Kingdom had already been ushered in. People began to believe that after a thousand years, Christ would return to reign on the earth. This demanded a reinterpretation of the status of Israel, which many began to believe, was cast off forever and the blessings would then fall on the church. Not until fourteen hundred years later was the coming of Jesus Christ reemphasized, and with it came the return of evangelistic fervor. 3 R e v e l a t i o n C h u r c h e s L e s s o n 4

4 3. He Who has the sharp two-edged sword. We know that the Word of God is sharper than a two edged sword according to Hebrews 4:12. Heb 4: 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. NKJV a. It is safe to say that Jesus will examine and judge the church through the pureness of His Word. He has given us the ability to use His Word as a sword for our work on His behalf. The scripture is full of these references. b. Jesus shows up at this compromising church with a sharp, two-edged sword, which is His absolute, established truth. He will use His truth to discern the difference between Joints and marrow or good and evil, carnal things like or that which helps or hinders (movable parts) and that which gives life or takes it away (bone marrow which creates blood cells). Soul and spirit, or the emotions or intellect of a person versus the leading of his spirit as God s Spirit imparts vision, revelation and direction. Thoughts and intents, the motives of why we do what we do. Isa 49:2 2 And He has made My mouth like a sharp sword; In the shadow of His hand He has hidden Me, And made Me a polished shaft; In His quiver He has hidden Me." NKJV 4 R e v e l a t i o n C h u r c h e s L e s s o n 4

5 Ps 149:6-9 6 Let the high praises of God be in their mouth, And a two-edged sword in their hand, 7 To execute vengeance on the nations, And punishments on the peoples; 8 To bind their kings with chains, And their nobles with fetters of iron; 9 To execute on them the written judgment-- This honor have all His saints. Praise the LORD! NKJV Isa 11:3-4 3 His delight is in the fear of the LORD, And He shall not judge by the sight of His eyes, Nor decide by the hearing of His ears; 4 But with righteousness He shall judge the poor, And decide with equity for the meek of the earth; He shall strike the earth with the rod of His mouth, And with the breath of His lips He shall slay the wicked. NKJV Eph 6: Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. 11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. 13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. 14 Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, 15 and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; 16 above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. 5 R e v e l a t i o n C h u r c h e s L e s s o n 4

6 17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; 18 praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints 19 and for me, that utterance may be given to me, that I may open my mouth boldly to make known the mystery of the gospel, 20 for which I am an ambassador in chains; that in it I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak. NKJV Rev 19: Now I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse. And He who sat on him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and makes war. 12 His eyes were like a flame of fire, and on His head were many crowns. He had a name written that no one knew except Himself. 13 He was clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God. 14 And the armies in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, followed Him on white horses. 15 Now out of His mouth goes a sharp sword, that with it He should strike the nations. And He Himself will rule them with a rod of iron. He Himself treads the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. 16 And He has on His robe and on His thigh a name written: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS. NKJV B. Jesus Commendation To Those In Pergamum. Vs 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. 1. This is a church where satan s greatest influence was seen all around it. Antipas was the "faithful" martyr mentioned in Rev 2:13, who lived before 100 A.D. He is said to have been one of our Savior's first disciples and a bishop of Pergamum, and to 6 R e v e l a t i o n C h u r c h e s L e s s o n 4

7 have been put to death in a tumult there by the priests of Aesclepius, who had a celebrated health center and temple in that city. The city was run by heathen intellectuals who through satan s power had put pressure on the little church, but the believers refused to quit, or back off. They remained determined to be a voice in the midst of the rulers of darkness in this city. Therefore, Antipas was killed in the midst pf God s people as an example and deterrent against the power of God which was greater and much more profound. Remember The faithful honor God and God honors the faithful! C. What Was The Problem? Rev 2: 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. NKJV 1. The Doctrine of Balaam was to teach Balak that if he would give his most beautiful women to the Israelite men and cause them to commit idolatry and adultery that God Himself would curse them. Num 25:1-9 1 Then Israel remained in Acacia Grove, and the people began to commit harlotry with the women of Moab. 2 They invited the people to the sacrifices of their gods, and the people ate and bowed down to their gods. 3 So Israel was joined to Baal of Peor, and the anger of the LORD was aroused against Israel. 4 Then the LORD said to Moses, "Take all the leaders of the people and hang the offenders before the LORD, out in the sun, that the fierce anger of the LORD may turn away from Israel." 5 So Moses said to the judges of Israel, "Every one of you kill his men who were joined to Baal of Peor." 7 R e v e l a t i o n C h u r c h e s L e s s o n 4

8 6 And indeed, one of the children of Israel came and presented to his brethren a Midianite woman in the sight of Moses and in the sight of all the congregation of the children of Israel, who were weeping at the door of the tabernacle of meeting. 7 Now when Phinehas the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron the priest, saw it, he rose from among the congregation and took a javelin in his hand; 8 and he went after the man of Israel into the tent and thrust both of them through, the man of Israel, and the woman through her body. So the plague was stopped among the children of Israel. 9 And those who died in the plague were twenty-four thousand. NKJV 2. Because God stopped Balaam from cursing Israel when he was given money to do so, (a prophet offering his gifts for money) he taught Balak to cause the children to intermarry with the beautiful women of Moab who then led the Israelites into sexual sin and idolatry. In the same manner, there were some in the Pergamum church who believed that a little sex or certain kinds of sex were OK. Just like today, many are saying that people can fool around and do just about everything short of actual fornication, and God will allow it. This is the teaching of Balaam in the body today, and more so with our youth in this country today. 3. The doctrine of the Nicolaitans - was more complicated in that they believed that a person s spirit was inherently good and perfect and a person s flesh was inherently corrupt and evil. They believed that no matter what one did in the flesh, it had no effect on the spirit because sin dwelt in the flesh and nothing could be done about its ability there. Your spirit was not attached to the flesh and so you were still justified because your spirit was clean even though you sinned in the flesh. This became a precursor to the once saved always saved doctrine found in some denominations today. Rom 8:1-8 1 There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. 8 R e v e l a t i o n C h u r c h e s L e s s o n 4

9 2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death. 3 For what the law could not do in that it was weak through the flesh, God did by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, on account of sin: He condemned sin in the flesh, 4 that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. 5 For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. 6 For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. 7 Because the carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be. 8 So then, those who are in the flesh cannot please God. NKJV Rom 8: Therefore, brethren, we are debtors--not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh. 13 For if you live according to the flesh you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. 14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. NKJV Rom 6: What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound? 2 Certainly not! How shall we who died to sin live any longer in it? 3 Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? 4 Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. 5 For if we have been united together in the likeness of His death, certainly we also shall be in the likeness of His resurrection, 6 knowing this, that our old man was crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves of sin. 7 For he who has died has been freed from sin. 9 R e v e l a t i o n C h u r c h e s L e s s o n 4

10 8 Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with Him, 9 knowing that Christ, having been raised from the dead, dies no more. Death no longer has dominion over Him. 10 For the death that He died, He died to sin once for all; but the life that He lives, He lives to God. 11 Likewise you also, reckon yourselves to be dead indeed to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord. 12 Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body, that you should obey it in its lusts. 13 And do not present your members as instruments of unrighteousness to sin, but present yourselves to God as being alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God. 14 For sin shall not have dominion over you, for you are not under law but under grace. NKJV D. What Was Jesus Solution? 1. Repent or be judged by the Word of God. Unless we are willing to repent of our sins or our violations of the stated Word of God and return in obedience to the Word, we will be judged by the Word, which is the double-edged sword. If there is a principle in the Word of God that you refused to submit yourself to in this life, you will most likely face that principle when you stand before Him at His coming. 1 Cor 11: For if we would judge ourselves, we would not be judged. 32 But when we are judged, we are chastened by the Lord, that we may not be condemned with the world. NKJV 1 John 1: This is the message which we have heard from Him and declare to you, that God is light and in Him is no darkness at all. 6 If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. 7 But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin. 10 R e v e l a t i o n C h u r c h e s L e s s o n 4

11 8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us. NKJV 2. He who overcomes can expect two wonderful rewards that have very awesome meanings. a. The Hidden Manna is the heavenly food sent by God to the children of Israel while they journeyed in the desert. It is the example of spiritual food provided by God in His Word to us but more importantly divine revelation revealed in the Word as revealed by God and His Spirit. This could be the rhema Word needed at any given time to help us overcome some trial or obstacle or to manifest the divine plan and purpose of God for our lives. As manna was given to sustain the children of Israel in their time of need and adversity, this hidden manna would also sustain us in the time of adversity, tribulation and need. b. The White Stone This may be a little harder as most bible commentators have an idea but are not totally sure of it s meaning. I believe that the color white is symbolic of righteousness and cleanliness, which would be found in a sanctified, redeemed believer. It speaks of the assurance of a believer in the righteousness of God given to us in Christ Jesus. In some ancient civilizations, a white stone meant acquittal such as seen in Mars Hill. If a man was tried for a crime by a court and found not guilty, a white stone was placed in a particular spot as a vote of acquittal for the defendant. This would mean that the white stone Jesus would give meant an eternal acquittal from the consequence of the judgment for sin. Rom 3: But now the righteousness of God apart from the law is revealed, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets, 11 R e v e l a t i o n C h u r c h e s L e s s o n 4

12 22 even the righteousness of God, through faith in Jesus Christ, to all and on all who believe. For there is no difference; 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, 25 whom God set forth as a propitiation by His blood, through faith, to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His forbearance God had passed over the sins that were previously committed, 26 to demonstrate at the present time His righteousness, that He might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus. NKJV Rom 3: But now God has shown us a different way to heaven --not by "being good enough" and trying to keep his laws, but by a new way (though not new, really, for the Scriptures told about it long ago). Now God says he will accept and acquit us-declare us "not guilty"-if we trust Jesus Christ to take away our sins. And we all can be saved in this same way, by coming to Christ, no matter who we are or what we have been like. 23 Yes, all have sinned; all fall short of God's glorious ideal; 24 yet now God declares us "not guilty" of offending him if we trust in Jesus Christ, who in his kindness freely takes away our sins. 25 For God sent Christ Jesus to take the punishment for our sins and to end all God's anger against us. He used Christ's blood and our faith as the means of saving us from his wrath. In this way he was being entirely fair, even though he did not punish those who sinned in former times. For he was looking forward to the time when Christ would come and take away those sins. 26 And now in these days also he can receive sinners in this same way because Jesus took away their sins. But isn't this unfair for God to let criminals go free, and say that they are innocent? No, for he does it on the basis of their trust in Jesus who took away their sins. TLB 12 R e v e l a t i o n C h u r c h e s L e s s o n 4

13 2 Cor 5: Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ's behalf, be reconciled to God. 21 For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him. NKJV 13 R e v e l a t i o n C h u r c h e s L e s s o n 4