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"Pergamos: The Compromising Church"
(A Study of the book of Revelation - Lesson 5)
Revelation 2:12-17
by Joseph "Mike" Willmouth
(This Sermon was preached at Eastview Baptist Church
during the Evening Service on February 15, 2004.
All Scripture references used in this sermon are based
upon the NKJV®, unless otherwise stated)
Introduction: Over the
last couple of weeks we have been looking at Christ's message to the
7 churches. So far we have looked at the church of Ephesus, who
had forgotten their first love. And last week we looked at the
church of Smyrna, which was poor in material wealth, but rich in the
Lord. This week we are going to look at the church in Pergamos,
which is a church that compromised with the world.
I. The Church And The City (v.12a).
12a "And to the angel
of the church in Pergamos write,
1. Its name and location.
A. Pergamos, means "Marriage" and signifies the
spiritual adultery in which this local church engaged.
B. The ancient city of Pergamos was about 700 miles north of Smyrna
and 15 miles inland from the Aegean sea.
1) It has been estimated that Pergamos in its
heyday had a population of more than 160,000.
2) On the site of Pergamos today, sits a town called Bergama, which
has a population of about 20,000.
2. Its culture and religion.
A. While Ephesus and Smyrna were commerical cities,
the city of Pergamos was more of a cultural and religious center.
1) Pergamos was an intellectual center with a
university that had a library of about 200,000 volumes.
2) This may seem to be such a large library by our standards today,
but remember that in John's day there was no printing press and
all the books were hand written.
B. There were 4 Major pagan temples located there:
1) The temple to Athena (A-the-na)
A) The goddess of wisdom
B) Roman's goddess, Minerva (Mi-ner-va)
2) The temple to Asclepius (As-cle-pi-us)
A) The god of healing (whose insignia was the
entwined serpent on a staff, which is still the medical symbol today).
B) The Roman's god, Aesculapius (Aes-cu-la-pi-us)
3) The temple to Dionysos or Dionysus (Di-o-ny-sos/Di-o-ny-sus)
A) The god of vegetation and wine.
B) The Roman's god, Bacchus (Bac-chus).
4) The temple to Zeus (Zoos)
A) Which had the largest altar in the world
and was one of the 7 Wonders of the Ancient World.
B) The supreme deity, who rules over all the other gods and people.
C) Roman's god, Jupiter (Ju-pi-ter)
II. The Lord's Description (v.12b-13a).
1. He who has the sharp two-edged sword (v.12b).
12b These things says
He who has the sharp two-edged sword:
A. The sword is a symbolic representation of the Word of God's twofold
ability to separate believers from the world and to condemn the world
for its sin (BKC).
B. It is the assurance of Christ's judgment that will be on the basis
of absolute truth (Ryrie), and not on man's subjective
opinions and half-truths.
1) Christ's word is authoritative (RFEPH).
- Matthew 7:29, "for
He taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes."
2) His word discriminates between the false and the true (RFEPH).
- Hebrews 4:12, "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."
2. He who knows (v.13a).
13a "I know your works,
and where you dwell, where Satan's throne is.
A. Christ knows what the church is doing.
1) The word works
("ergon" {er'-gon}), speaks of that
which one is occupied, work or deeds.
2) The word know ("oida" {oy'-da}), is given in the indicative mood indicating
the certainty and reality that Christ knows exactly what we are
doing.
B. Christ also knows where Satan's throne is, which implies that Satan's
authority and power were honored openly here or were operating in full
force here.
1) The Lord takes note of the church's circumstances,
He knew that these believers were living in a very difficult place
(McGee).
2) Christ also reveals that Satan is loose and is the prince of
this world, controlling kingdoms and going up and down the earth
as a roaring lion, hunting for whom he may devour (McGee).
A) 1 Peter 5:8, "Be sober,
be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a
roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour."
B) It also appears that Satan had a headquarters in Pergamum
at that time.
Application: Have you ever
pondered this thought, what does the Lord know about Eastview Baptist
Church? What does the Lord know about you? Do our actions
stand up to the test of the sword of the Lord, in other words is our church
obedient to God's Word? Are we really? Do our lives measure
up to the Lord's standards? If we cannot honesty answer yes to these
questions, then we better understand that it is by these standards that
God will hold us too. Here's another thought, Christ also knows where
Satan is right now. He knows where Satan is active. Does our
church behave as through Christ resides inside or as if we have moved
the throne of Satan inside? How about your life and home, who's
on the throne there? As believer's we cannot separate ourselves from God's
Word and live the Christian life; 1 John 2:3-6, "Now
by this we know that we know Him, if we keep His commandments. He who
says, ‘I know Him,' and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and
the truth is not in him. But whoever keeps His word, truly the love of
God is perfected in him. By this we know that we are in Him. He
who says he abides in Him ought himself also to walk just as He walked."
Transition: Now lets look at Lord's
counsel to the church. . .
III. The Lord's Counsel (vv.13b-16)
1. His commendation (v.13b).
13b 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.
A. First, the Lord commends the church for hold fast to His name
(Levy).
1) There was a remnant of believers in the church
who loved the Lord and remained loyal to Him in the shadow of Satan's
throne.
- They held fast to Christ's name in a city
that was heavily influenced by Satan.
2) They were loyal in their allegiance to the deity of Christ and
did not compromise by bowing before the false gods (RFEPH).
B. Second, the Lord commends them for not denying His faith (Levy).
1) They were willing to confess explicit faith
in Him as the only true God and in doing so, they put their lives
on the line in a society controlled by Satan.
2) They maintained an orthodox doctrinal position and practice
(RFEPH).
C. Lastly, the Lord recognized Antipas, referring to him as "My faithful
martyr" (Levy).
- Antipas, was martyred for his spiritual steadfastness
(RFEPH).
Application: How tight do we hold to the Lord's
name? When your at work and one of the guys tells a dirty joke,
do we laugh so no one will think that we are stick-in-the-mud Christian?
Are you willing to stand firm in your faith, even if it means you might
have to put your job or career on the line? Are you willing to compromise
to get along? Are you a secret Christian. Here's what the Bible says about
those who are faithful to the Lord in Hebrews 11:36-40, "Still others had trial of mockings and scourgings, yes, and of chains
and imprisonment. They were stoned, they were sawn in two, were tempted,
were slain with the sword. They wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins,
being destitute, afflicted, tormented -- of whom the world was not worthy.
They wandered in deserts and mountains, in dens and caves of the earth.
And all these, having obtained a good testimony through faith, did not
receive the promise, God having provided something better for us, that
they should not be made perfect apart from us."
Transition: It is plan that in
the city that contained Satan's throne, there was loyalty to Christ,
but there were some exceptions, which brings us to...
2. His condemnation (vv.14-15).
A. Some in the church held to the doctrine of Balaam
(v.14).
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.
1) The "doctrine" (KJV), or "teaching" of Balaam
is the lie that allows believers to lower their God given standards
of separation by compromising with the world (JITH).
A) Balaam was hired by king Balak, the king
of the Moabites, to curse Israel because they were a threat to him.
- Three times Balaam tried to curse Israel,
but each time God stopped him.
B) Since Balaam was unsuccessful in cursing the Israelites, suggested
to Balak (31:16) that the Moabites (25:1) and Midianites (v.6) convene
a religious feast to honor Baal, and that they invite the Jews to
attend.
(1) The feast, of course, involved idolatry
and abominable immorality and was a flagrant violation of Israel's
covenant with the Lord.
(2) Because of Israel's compromise, God judged them and 24,000
Israelites died (Numbers 25:3-9 & 31:16).
2) Here Christ compares what the false teachers were doing at Pergamos
with what Balaam had done to the Israelites.
A) The false teachers at Pergamos were enticing
believers to attend the feasts at the idol temples (BC).
(1) Intermarriage with heathen women was
a problem in Pergamum where any social contact with the world
also involved worship of idols (BKC).
- Usually meat in the marketplace had been
offered to idols earlier.
(2) The false teachers in the church were teaching that God's
grace gave His people the freedom to sin, but Jude called it "turn
the grace of our God into licentiousness" (Jude 1:4).
B) The church at Pergamos compromised with pagan immorality and
departed from their biblical faith which corrupted the church (BKC).
B. Some in the church held to the doctrine of the Nicolaitans (v.15).
15 "Thus you also
have those who hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitans, which thing I
hate.
1) The word hated ("miseo" {mis-eh'-o: indic}) carries the idea of detesting
or to strongly disapprove and reject.
2) The identity of the Nicolaitanes (nickel-lay-a-tons) is not
certain.
A) Some believe the name refers to the exaltation
of the clergy over the laity, which is concluded from the etymology
of the word Nicolaitanes, which means "Laity-conqueror"(Ryrie).
B) Others believe them to be followers of a heretic named Nicolas
who taught freedom to live without moral law (Levy).
C) Still others believe it is the heresy of compromise since
it is associated with the doctrine of Balaam here in this passage
(Ryrie).
D) One thing is clear, they apparently were a sect wrong in practice
and in doctrine (BKC).
Transition: We are reminded here of what Christ
taught in Matthew 6:24, "No one can serve two masters;
for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be
loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon."
Now lets look at the Lord's command to get the application of this passage
for you and me.
3. His command (v.16).
A. To repent from following after false doctrines
(v.16a).
16a 'Repent
1) The word, "repent," ("metanoeo"
{met-an-o-eh'o: v, imper, aor, act, 2per, sg}) means to change in
the way one thinks about or acts, repent.
A) In the Greek language, it is given as a
command to "repent, do it now!"
B) True repentance involves three "C's" (Levy):
(1) Contrition of heart (sorrow for sin arising
from fear of damnation).
(2) Confession of sin.
(3) Change in conduct.
2) The church at Pergamos was commanded to repent from their compromise
and worldly practices, and return to their biblical faith.
- The church body had the responsibility to
discipline the erring members (RFEPH).
B. Failure to repent would result Christ's judgement (v.16b).
16b or else I will
come to you quickly and will fight against them with the sword of
My mouth.
1) The word fight ("polemeo" {pol-em-eh'-o: v, indic, fut, act, 1per, sg})
means to make war against, or fight with.
- Those Christians who failed to repent from
their sins of following after false teachings, and immorality, Christ
said that He would make war against them.
2) Failure to take action would bring direct, divine judgment upon
the worldly professing believers (RFEPH).
A) The sword portrays judgment.
B) The Word of God is also called the "two-edged sword," by which
God cuts deep into a person's soul and spirit and through which
He judges the thoughts and intentions of the heart (Heb.4:12;
BHR).
Application: Doctrine does matter! What
others teach or say in the realm of Christianity matters, and we are not
to check our brains at the door! When we say that we shouldn't let
doctrine get in the way of fellowship with other believers, then we need
to stop and look at what the Lord says here about that subject.
There's an old saying that goes like this, "Sin will take you farther
than where you want to go, and keep you there longer than you want to
stay." When we shut off our brains, close our Bibles,
and open our minds to any teaching that blows through the door we are
in real danger of being taken where we don't need to be! What
this passage reveals, along with many other in the New Testament, is not
everyone who claims to be a Preacher, Prophet, or Teacher of God is.
11 Times in the New Testament we are warned about False Prophets (Mat
7:15; 24:11, 24; Mark 13:22; Luke 6:26; Acts 13:6; 2 Pet 2:1;
1 John 4:1; Rev.16:13; 19:20; 20:10). In 2 Peter 2:1, we are warned
about False Teachers. In 2 Corinthians 11:13, we are warned about
False Apostles and Deceitful Workers. In 2 Corinthians 11:26 and
Galatians 2:4 we are warned about False Brothers in Christ. In Matthew
24:24 and Mark 13:22, we are warned about False Messiahs (false anointed
ones). And we are even warned in 2 Timothy 3:3 and Titus 2:3, that
there are those in the Church who are False Accusers. All these
Falsehoods are compounded today because of TV, Radio, Magazines, and books.
Because of all of this media, we have unknowing Christians bringing in
all of these things into the church. It is even more critical today
that we know what the Bible teaches, so that we can refute and reject
everything else, and everyone one else who proclaims false teachings.
This is biblical! 1 John 4:1, "Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether
they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world."
The word "test" is given as a command in the Greek (imper, pres), and
carries the idea of examining and scrutinizing these false spirits (teachers)
right now and we are to keep on examining and scrutinizing anyone who
comes proclaiming to be of God. Not to do so, puts you personally
and your church in danger of being at war with Christ and starring down
the double-barrel's of His judgment. Christ didn't find these sins
very amusing, nor did He take them lightly and neither should we.
Transition: But to those who repented
and turned away from these sins. . .
IV. The Lord's Promise (v.17).
1. The overcomers will eat of the hidden manna (v.17a).
17a 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. . .
A. The church at Pergamos had strayed from sound Biblical teaching
and was following after the doctrine of Baalam - a doctrine of compromise
with the world.
B. Christ commanded the believers to repent, and promised for those
who did that they would receive "hidden manna."
1) The hidden manna recalls the food from heaven
that sustained Israel in the wilderness (Ex.16:4-31).
2) Here it may refer to Christ as the Bread from heaven, the unseen
source of the believer's nourishment and strength.
A) Whereas Israel received physical food, manna,
the church receives spiritual food.
B) John 6:48-51, "I am the bread of life.
Your fathers ate the manna in the wilderness, and are dead. This
is the bread which comes down from heaven, that one may eat of
it and not die. 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."
3) Christ promises those faithful believers who obey His Word, that
His sufficiency is greater than allurements of the world, and they
will be able to overcome the compromise in morals or teachings of
this world.
Transition: He goes on to promise.
. .
2. The overcomers will receive a white stone and the new name (v.17b).
17b To him who overcomes.
. .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.
A. The meaning of the white stone with the new name written is derived
from customs of the day.
1) Judges would determine a verdict by placing
in an urn a white and a black pebble (REV).
A) If the white one came out, it meant acquittal.
B) A black stone would be guilt.
C) Thus the white stone would mean the assurance that there is
no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus.
2) An other custom was the wearing of amulets as good luck charms
around the neck (REV).
- If this is the reference, then the stone
is the Lord's way of reminding the people that they had Him and
needed no other thing.
3) It was also a custom in the Greek athletic games for giving a white
stone to the victor in a contest or to gladiators at the Roman games
who had won the admiration of the public and had been allowed to retire
from further combat (NSB).
- This is probably the best view in light of
what Christ is teaching about rewards.
B. The new name written upon the stone is a symbol of the personal and
intimate relationship believers will experience with the Lord in heaven
(RHLW).
Application: The Lord promises
to reward overcomers who do not succumb to compromising with the world,
with some level of special admiration. You too can be an overcomer
if you remain faithful to the Lord and His Word. If you haven't
been faith, you can be an overcomer by repenting of your sins, and by
putting your life back upon the straight and narrow path of the Lord's.
Don't miss the Lord's blessings.
Invitation: Taken as a whole, the message
to the church in Pergamum is a warning against compromise in morals
or teachings, and against deviating from the purity of doctrine required
of Christian faith. The letter to the church of Pergamos reminds Christians
of all times that it is God's purpose to keep His children separated
from all evil and all compromise with the world whether it be moral
or doctrinal (JITH).
1. What does the Lord know about your service to Him? What does
He know about your church’s works?
2. Which is more important for a believer, to hold fast to the Lord’s
name or to be willing to compromise with the world to get along?
3. Would the Lord commend you for your faithfulness to His name instead
of compromising with the world?
4. Have you been discerning when it comes to what is taught in your
church or by others (i.e., does it line up with God’s Word), or do you
just accept it as fact?
5. Do your beliefs line up with God’s Word? How do you know?
6. Would the Lord commend you for the doctrine that you hold to, or
would He condemn you for holding to false doctrines?
7. After seeing what the Lord said to the church at Pergamos about
doctrine, would you say that it is important to Him? Should it
be important to you and your church?
8. Based upon what Christ said here, should we tell others that doctrine
isn’t important, or we shouldn’t let it interfere with getting along
with other churches?
9. If any of these questions have convicted your heart, what are you
willing to do about it?
Study References
BHR - A Bible Handbook To Revelation, Mal Couch
BKC - John Walvoord & Roy Zuck, The Bible Knowledge
Commentary (New Testament ed).
JITH - Tommy Higle, Journey Into The Heavenlies.
LBC - Liberty Bible Commentary on the New Testament.
Levy - Revelation, Hearing The Last Word, by David M. Levy
McGee - J. Vernon McGee, Thru The Bible Commentary
RFEPH - Revelation, Future Events, Present Hope, Regular
Baptist Press
Ryrie - Revelation, Everyman's Bible Commentary, by Charles
C. Ryrie
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