THE COMPROMISING CHURCH (part 2) Revelation 2:12-17 April 27, 2014 Dr. Danny Forshee

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1 1 THE COMPROMISING CHURCH (part 2) Revelation 2:12-17 April 27, 2014 Dr. Danny Forshee - Today we will complete our study on the third church in Revelation 2-3, the church at Pergamos. As we study these seven churches of Asia Minor dating back to the first century we learn much about Jesus and His views of the church He started and it is in many ways a theological and historical study, but that is not all. As we study these seven churches I cannot help but make application to our own church, GHBC here in Austin TX. So there is a very practical, utilitarian dimension to this study of Revelation 2-3. I cannot help but be introspective and contemplative as I walk through this study with you at this time in the life of our dear church. - God is working in and through our church and for that I am most grateful. We are becoming this healthy, growing, vibrant, and radiant church that worships God, teaches His Word, and reaches out to those who do not know Jesus. Last Sunday was just a blessed day. We had 1500 on campus, baptized 12 people, and we also had 143 online units watching our broadcast, so we can add another people watching us in the cyber world. I hear of our people going out and sharing Jesus, and we are continuing our efforts of reaching our UUPG in India. It was a blessing to see so many at the hospital from GH as we at with the Lemon Family during John s surgery. And I watched, as our people would go up to others in the waiting room and just love on them and share Jesus with them. It was such a blessing! One more word of good news. I am currently praying about and seeking to broadcast our messages preached here at GHBC to a potential audience of 185 million people worldwide. - Last time we noticed some important things about the church at Pergamos-- I. IDENTIFICATION (VS. 12) - A. THE CITY - The city of Pergamos is the modern day city Bergama in Turkey. It was the capital city of Asia Minor and a city of much cultural, educational, medicinal, political, and religious influence Pergamos was home to the second greatest library in the world at that time with 200,000 scrolls; Alexandria had the largest, and there was competition between the two.

2 2 The city was also known for its developments and research in medicine. The prominent doctor, Galen, was born and studied in Pergamos. Pergamos was a city of influence and beauty. Pergamos was also a very religious city with multiple pagan shrines and temples. There were 3 temples alone dedicated to the roman emperors. Jesus referred to Pergamos in vs. 13 as the place where Satan s throne is and where he dwells. There was a famous temple to Greek god of healing called Aesculapius. There were thousands of harmless snakes around the temple. (Believers Study Bible p. 1805) There was also a large monument called the ltar of Zeus. It was 40 feet high. North writes, This lofty pagan shrine could have been the Satan s throne of Revelation 2:13, either because it was of imposing height... or because it symbolized Rome s power administered at Pergamum. (North, ISBE, p. 769.) - B. JESUS (VS. 12) - Jesus identified Himself as He who has the sharp two-edged sword. There is a similar description found in 1:16. The sword protects and punishes, and it represents judgment. (David Jeremiah, p. 68) The church at Pergamos had some people within who were compromising with those who held false beliefs and Jesus warned them that He was going to fight against them if they did not repent (vs. 16.) II. COMMENDATION (VS. 13) - Jesus commends them for three specific actions. - A. WORKS - B. DWELLING - Jesus told them He knew where they dwelt. They lived in a very difficult place as we mentioned earlier. - C. CHRIST-CENTERED - Notice the two things Jesus said about their commitment to Him - 1. You hold fast to My name. - The word translated hold is krateis present active indicative, they were continually holding fast, and it means to seize, to use strength, to lay hold on, and retain. (Strong s Concordance) - 2. Did not deny My faith. - They too faced persecution like the believers in Smyrna, and they remained steadfast and faithful in the midst of the persecution. III. EXHORTATION (VS )

3 - Notice the first word in vs. 13 but. Jesus said you have those, plural. There was a group of people in the church who were adhering to some harmful doctrines and practices and Jesus rebuked them and the church for tolerating them. The church compromised with these unfaithful members, and Jesus called them on the carpet in their compromise and tolerance. - David Jeremiah has these insightful comments about our text p. 70: In each of the churches we have examined so far, Satan has had a different strategy to try to undermine the Church. Just as Satan knows our weaknesses and tries to trip us up accordingly, he knows the weakness of churches as well. His strategies are not random; rather, they are specific and calculated. Removing love for Christ was his strategy at Ephesus, and persecution by the Roman Empire was the strategy in Smyrna. In Pergamos he is going to try to weaken the church through compromise. - A. THE DOCTRINE OF BALAAM - It is interesting to note that the word translated hold in vs is the same word we looked at earlier krateo. In these verses, it is a present participle. They were continuing to hold tenaciously or with strength to these false doctrines. - Revelation has numerous references to the Old Testament. - The story of Balaam is recorded in the book of Numbers. He was an Old Testament prophet whom kings hired to go and curse other nations. Balak the king of Moab hired him to curse the Israelites but each time he went to curse them he blessed them instead. Remember it was Balaam that God used a talking donkey to spare his life. Since Balaam could not curse Israel he informed Balak how he could. In vs. 14 the verb taught is in the imperfect tense, continual action in past time Balaam kept on teaching Balak how to make Israel stumble. Numbers 25:1-3 states, Now 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. Numbers 25:9 says 24,000 Israelites died as a result. There were those in the church at Pergamos who indulged in pagan practices such as attending pagan feasts and eating food sacrificed to idols and committing sexual immorality. David Jeremiah insightfully points out that these people thought they could do these things without it hurting their spirituality. (p. 71) - In a word the church at Pergamos was compromising. Many churches and Christians do the same nearly 2000 years later. They rationalize and 3

4 4 compromise and by the time they are through, they feel totally justified in their sins, and have thoroughly departed from the teachings of Scripture. - Some of the members of this church at Pergamos like believers in churches today camped when they should have been climbing. - Michael Tait was the former singer with the Christian band DC Talk, went on his own, and now is the lead singer with the Newsboys that we had in concert here at GH last year. In the new movie, God s Not Dead, they are featured and they are shown in concert. In an article in the Christian Music Planet, p. 33 May/June 2003 Vol. 2 Issue 3, I was very impressed with what he had to say. He said: I look at life from a wide-eyed view and I keep a very positive outlook on life....i threw away the old formula because that s the old formula. I look for new material, new direction. I think what I m feeling and what s going on in my head, a lot of human beings are thinking the same thing. My walk with Christ is definitely a pursuit of holiness. A lot of times a person thinks, I m not perfect, No, we re not; we re human. That s a fact, but that s not an excuse. Christ was human too, so we need to give it our best shot every day. - Tait also says, (p. 33) I believe in my heart that we ought to be more than just survivors. We ought to be conquerors. Survivors get by, but conquerors break through. That s what God has been teaching me. I just want to get by to survive. But God says, Hey don t just make it through. Don t endure, enjoy! I have been praying to be a conqueror. Conquerors end up victorious. God has been laying on my heart to approach things with the power and might of God, not to just get through, but to conquer. (See p. 35.) - B. THE DOCTRINE OF THE NICOLAITANS (VS. 15) - We looked at this group when we studied the church in Ephesus in Revelation 2:6. Part of their heresy was linked with immorality and antinomianism where because of their freedom in Christ they did not concern themselves with holiness. I believe the two heretical doctrines of Balaam and Nicolaitans were related and included what is mentioned in vs Read 2 CORINTHIANS 6:14, Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness? 17 Therefore Come out from among them and be separate, says the Lord. Do not

5 5 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. - Remember that not all in the church were participating in these heretical doctrines; however, the problem in the church at Pergamos was that the leadership was not confronting those who were in error. - First Corinthians 5:6-7 says, a little leaven leavens the whole lump. And we are to purge out the old leaven. IV. COMMAND (VS. 16) - Jesus tells the church at Pergamos what they are to do they are to repent. It is in the imperative mood, the language of command. Whenever there is sin among God s people the remedy or advice is the same repentance, which means to change one s attitude or behavior. In this verse it is like Jesus is telling the leadership of the church either you deal with them or I will deal with them. - John MacArthur (p.90) states, Error will never be suppressed by compromising with it. Today s nonconfrontive church is largely repeating the error of the Pergamum church on a grand scale, and faces the judgment of the Lord of the church. V. PROMISE (VS. 17) - Notice the 3 promises Jesus gives to the church at Pergamos - A. HIDDEN MANNA - For those who are overcomers and do not eat things sacrificed to idols Jesus promises them heavenly food. Manna was the food God provided to the Israelites during their wilderness wanderings in Exodus 16: Also, they placed a pot or jar of the manna before the Ark of the Covenant to serve as a reminder of God s provisions. (vs ) - This manna or heavenly food symbolizes the provisions the Lord gives to those who serve Him (see MacArthur, p. 91) G. Campbell Morgan believes this hidden manna points to divine sustenance. Manna was divinely supplied, and yet had to be humanly gathered. (The Letters of Our Lord, p. 54) The hidden aspect may refer to the way God provided for Israel in the wilderness and how the Egyptians must have wondered how did they survive, or what did they eat when they were stranded in the wilderness? Likewise the world will be amazed and astonished in the way God sustains and provides for His children in their time of need, for those in His churches that overcome. (Patterson, p. 109)

6 6 - B. THE WHITE STONE - The white stone was used in a variety of ways in Pergamos. I read where jurors cast their vote of innocence with a white stone and one of guiltiness with a black stone. (David Jeremiah, p. 72) The admission ticket to the theatre for some of the shows was a white stone (North, p. 769). The Romans would reward the victors in some of the sporting events with a white stone. This stone would also have the name of the athlete inscribed on it. He would take the inscribed stone and it would be his entry ticket to a special award s banquet. (MacArthur, p. 91) - C. A NEW NAME - Taken figuratively, this stone with a new name would represent untold and special blessings for the overcoming believer in eternity. Taken literally, this would be a stone with a new name given to the overcoming believer when he or she goes to heaven. - There is another place in the Bible that speaks of a name no one else knows and that is Revelation 19:12 when Jesus returns He has a name written that no one knows except Him. In verse 16 there is a descriptive name written on His robe and thigh and it is KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS. And for the believer we shall have a new name given by Jesus that no one knows but Him and us. This act speaks of the authority of Jesus over our lives and the personal intimacy He shares with each of His children. In all other religions then and now, to have intimacy with the god worshiped was unthinkable. But not so with the follower of Christ! - The primary meaning is that Jesus will greatly reward and bless His people, the overcomers. They do not need to compromise with this world. They are to remain true and loyal to Him, and He will bless. They need not to eat at the pagan feasts because He gives manna from above. They need not commit sexual immorality because He rewards purity. They need not fear or worry about this life for Jesus knows those who are His and He personally and perfectly knows how to reward them. - Or as one writer concludes in his comments on the church at Pergamos, So the promises for the overcomers at Pergamum include sustenance with heavenly manna, holiness indicated by acquittal and recognized by a white stone, and a certain intimacy given by the authority of Christ Himself to the individual believer. (Patterson, p. 111) CONCLUSION AND INVITATION - Scott Bardow has written an excellent article entitled, The Admirable-- Here s to You, Mr. Robinson. It is an article on the life and influence of

7 David Robinson, the former All Star center for the NBA San Antonio Spurs, who I would personally like to win the NBA Championship again this year. His accomplishments as a player are many 1995 MVP Award, the NBA Championship in 1999, 10 All Star Games appearances, 3 Olympic Teams, Defensive Player of the Year Award, etc. Bardow says that he will be remembered more for being a better man than a player. Robinson is a dedicated follower of Jesus Christ. Sean Elliot says Robinson walks the walk, and he is not a hypocrite. Phoenix Suns Vice President, Mark West who played at ODU says the Naval Academy graduate Robinson is a sailor, but he never heard him cuss. Never. Avery Johnson, who played with Robinson with the Spurs, gave the following anecdote that typifies Robinson, When David gets bad service at a restaurant, he still leaves good tips. David Robinson is a good example of a follower of Jesus Christ who stands for God in the midst of much temptation and opportunity for sin. Sexual promiscuity and compromise do not characterize him. Spurs team chairman Peter Holt says, How many David Robinsons are out there? There just aren t any. - If you have never been saved and given your life to Jesus Christ I invite you to make that commitment today. Believe on Him and repent of your sins. - Those who know the Lord I admonish you to abstain from fleshly lusts which war against the soul. (Peter 2:11) Be committed in your life and devotion to Jesus Christ and do not compromise with the allurements and temptations of this world. God blesses and rewards overcomers. - Along with a number of men from our church and many others in Austin, I got to hear Joe Gibbs share his testimony at an event at the Palmer Center. He has quite a number of accomplishments such as winning 3 Super Bowls as the head coach of the Washington Redskins, and a successful owner of a NASCAR Team. It was interesting how Gibbs personified all three aspects of my Easter sermon, as he is very generous, works extremely hard even at age 73, and boldly tells people about Jesus. He gave a strong invitation for the men to receive Christ as their Savior and Lord. And he closed the message by giving people an opportunity to rededicate their lives to Christ. I remember Billy Graham said in Birmingham AL 1964 he made a very important spiritual decision to rededicate his life to Christ. Some need to do that this morning. Whether you are listening online or TV or hear today, you are walking away not with Christ and you are perfecting your craft of compromise and if you do not stop you are heading toward disaster and some could perhaps lose everything valuable to you. Repent and turn back to Christ. Allow 7

8 yourself to be help accountable by other believers. Get involved and serve Christ and give no place or opportunity to the devil to work in your life. - Come forward this morning and allow one of our decision counselors to speak with you and pray for you. 8