02.07. 7 Churches- 3- Pergamos
PERGAMOS Revelation 2:12-17
Introduction:
1. Pergamos (Pergamum ASV), the northern most of the seven churches in Asia Minor that received a letter from Jesus, was noted for its vast library of 200,000 volumes. It rivaled that of Alexander. The art of preparing animal skins for writing manuscripts was perfected at Pergamos, and "parchment" came into use from the name of the city.
2. The seven letters all follow a similar pattern.
a.In each church Jesus found something to commend with the exception of the church at Laodicea. b.In all but Smyrna and Philadelphia Jesus found things to condemn. c.All that had anything wrong in them were told to repent.
1. ADDRESS Revelation 2:12
1. The letter is addressed to the "messenger" of the church at Pergamos. It was then his duty to announce (read) it to the congregation (Revelation 1:3).
2.DESCRIPTION OF THE SPEAKER -- Revelation 2:12 "These things saith He which hath the sharp sword with two edges."
1. This is a reference so some attribute of Jesus which was seen in the opening vision of John. Revelation 1:6 states "out of his mouth went a sharp two-edged sword."
a.The image is a reference to the teaching of Christ by which we will be judged (John 12:48). 2."The sharp sword with two edges" is a symbol of the word of the Lord by which His conquests are won. a.We who are Christians are instructed to equip ourselves with "the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God." (Ephesians 6:17) b.Hebrews 4:12 declares "For the word of God is quick (living, ASV), and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword."
2. The sword (the word) pricks and cuts to the heart. Lydia heard Paul preach and the Lord opened her heart with that WORD (Acts 16:14; Acts 2:37, Acts 7:54)
3. How appropriate then is this salutation! Owing to the fact that conditions were to be found in this church which called for refutation by the Word of God it was altogether fitting that the two-edge sword should be the symbol under which Christ presented Himself to the church.
a.The significance of this is seen in Revelation 2:16, where speaking of those whom He had just reproved, the Lord says, "repent or else I will come quickly, and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth." b.This implies that he had the authority to punish.
3.WHAT IS RIGHT WITH THE CHURCH -- Revelation 2:13 1."I know thy works..." Revelation 2:13.
a.This statement indicates that Jesus is thoroughly acquainted with the conditions which exist. He observes all our difficulties and knows the good points to commend and all the bad that needs to be reproved. b.Hebrews 4:12-13 c.They remained faithful to his name under the pressures of an environment that was evil.
2. "And where thou dwellest, even where Satan’s throne is."
a.Satan’s "seat" (throne, ASV) and "where Satan dwelleth" refers to the general environment in Pergamos and the persecution they endured. At Pergamos there was idolatry and pagan worship in many forms. b.In addition to several heathen temples to worship various man-made gods, there was a temple for emperor worship where the followers offered incense to the image of the emperors and proclaimed "Caesar is Lord." c.Satan’s influence here produced the persecution resulting in the death of Antipas. d."Throne" signifies power. Christ views Satan as a real personality who is fighting a spiritual warfare against man. Pergamos was one of his positions of strength. BACKGROUND INFORMATION !"Satan’s throne"-- Pergamos it was internationally famous as a center of Asclepias worship. Asclepias was the god of healing. People would come thousands of miles to Pergamos to be healed. Asclepias’ symbol was that of a serpent intertwined around a pole. The same symbol the medical profession uses today. Asclepias’ chief descriptive title was "Soter" or Savior. !Expensive and splendid temples were erected to Zeus, king of the gods among the Greeks; to Athena, goddess of wisdom; Apollo, the sun god; and to Aseculapius, the god of healing. Particularly the first two had very sensuous and lascivious type of worship and orgies. They promoted sensuality, fornication, and immorality in the city. Overall, Pergamum was a perfect pantheon of the pagan deities. !But further, Pergamos was a center of the Caesar cult, the worship of the Emperor as god. In BC 29 a temple was built to Augustus and emperor worship became a prevalent practice. But the church at Pergamos remained faithful to the name of Christ, they acknowledged only one Savior (not asclepias) and one God (not Caesar) but rather the Lord Jesus Christ.
3. "And thou holdest fast my name--" In the semitic background, a name stands for the person it represents. The name of Christ is important Acts 4:12; His name "is above every name" Php 2:5-11.
a.In all things Jesus was the "preeminent." Colossians 1:17-18. b."By inheritance" Jesus "obtained a more excellent name" Hebrews 1:1-5.
4. "And hast not denied my faith" The Christians at Pergamos would not compromise under persecution, even under martyrdom. There is one faith (Ephesians 4:5) we should contend for it (Jude 1:3)
5. "Even in those days wherein Antipas was my faithful martyr, who was slain among you," Revelation 2:13. The persecution and imprisonment, and martyrdom mentioned as being eminent at Smyrna is already being felt at Pergamos. Nothing more is known of this Antipas than is given here. But the example of Antipas, though dead, yet speaks a great lesson for us (Hebrews 11:4). Rather than worship idols "where Satan dwelleth" he was "faithful unto death" and therefore, Jesus will give him "a crown of life."
6. "Where Satan dwelleth" Again this idea is presented. The word dwell shows that Satan was a permanent resident, and not a sojourner or stranger. Satan did not drop in and out of the city, it was his constant home base, so to speak.
4.WHAT IS WRONG WITH THE CHURCH -- Revelation 2:14 1."But I have a few things against thee."
a. It is significant that first the Lord commended them before expressing reproof for their sins. We note that Paul also did this in writing to the Corinthians.
2. "Thou hast there them that hold the doctrine of Balaam."
a.The Lord specified the sins they were guilty of. Apparently the congregation as a whole had not participated in nor encouraged the evil-doing, but had tolerated some members. To tolerate any serious error is kill the influence of the church. b.This is ample warning that the Lord is not merely concerned with the church as a whole, but for every individual claiming membership in it. Many congregations today look on the surface to be progressing and successful; but what of the belief and behavior of "every" member? It is not a simple matter of how many are faithful, but a matter of how much evil is tolerated? So the gage for measuring strong congregations is not how many good members you have, but how much sin and evil you let continue.
3. What was the doctrine of Balaam? Numbers 22:1-41, Numbers 23:1-30, Numbers 24:1-25; Numbers 31:16; Jude 1:11; 2 Peter 2:15
a.Balaam taught Balak, the King of the Moabites, to cast a stumbling block before the children of Israel. Balak wanted the children of God cursed, but God would not permit Balaam to curse them as long as Israel was faithful to God’s commandments. So Balaam then taught Balak to induce the children of Israel to indulge in heathen worship and orgies, and then, of course, they would fall under the curse of God. This was accomplished through the women of Moab, by whom the Israelites were seduced into taking part in idolatrous practices and to commit fornication (Numbers 25:1-18). [Commentaries generally agree that "the doctrine of the Nicolaitans" is in essence the same (Revelation 2:6).] b.Apparently the church at Pergamos had members who had been enticed and were enticing others to commit spiritual fornication by participating in the ceremonies, and rituals, feasts, and revelry of the pagan deities. c.This was a doctrine of indifference toward the Word of God. They were a "stumbling block" to others. A "stumbling block" is something which one would fall over, something which leads into sin. As Balak and Moab led Israel into idol worship and fornication, somehow some of the members at Pergamos were teaching the same thing for Christians, and the worse part is that the church tolerated such. d.Idolatrous festivals were characterized by immoralities. (See 1 Peter 2:11; 1 Thessalonians 4:3-7) (1)It was wrong because of its immorality. (2)Honoring pagan gods was also spiritual fornication. (3)It was fellowshiping error. (Refusal to join in the heathen feasts often meant that a man would lose his job, and be ostracized from a great part of the social life of that time.) (4)Some were weak in opposing erroneous doctrine and thus were supporting false teachers. (5)Most false teachers cannot merely hold their doctrine as a personal opinion, but they begin to teach it; if not publicly, privately. Then trouble and division results.
4. The Ephesus church had hated the deeds of the Nicolaitans but this church tolerated them. By tolerating it, they were bidding it god-speed (2 John 1:9-11).
5. THREAT -- the exhortation to make CORRECTION. Revelation 2:16.
1. "Repent; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth." Revelation 2:16 The church was given a choice of two courses.
a."Repent" This exhortation for correction was not, strange to say, only against those holding the doctrine of Balaam and the Nicolaitans, but also against the church for tolerating such to exist. b.If the church did not repent and bring about disciplinary action against those with the wrong doctrine, Christ says, "I will come unto thee, and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth." c."For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal.." 2 Corinthians 10:4-5
2. The Word of God will prevail. When laxity is tolerated, the end will be far worse. When we face God’s word in the judgment we will find no toleration for evil or false doctrine.
3. In the story of Balaam, Numbers 22:21-34, we see an angel with a drawn sword who stands in the path of the false teacher.
a. The one who does not heed the warning at Pergamos (or anywhere) will be slain by the sword (Cf Numbers 31:8; Ephesians 6:17; Revelation 2:16).
6.PROMISED REWARD -- (An Encouragement) Revelation 2:17 1."He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches"
a.The lesson for Pergamos is a lesson for all who will hear. This makes an application of these letters to us today. b.It is imperative that we hear and obey the teaching of the Holy Spirit. (Romans 8:14, Galatians 5:25) 2."To him that overcometh ..."
a."will I give to eat of the hidden manna" b."and will I give him a white stone." c."and in the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth it."
3. Jesus is the true manna himself (John 6:32-33, John 6:48-49). He is the unseen influence which sustains the overcoming one. He is unseen, but he is walking among the churches. Perhaps this appears in contrast to eating things sacrificed to idols.
4. "White stone" -- Among the Greeks a white stone was a symbol of acquittal, as a black stone was one of guilt. This white stone speaks of victory, and the admission symbol into the glorious house of blessing for the victorious.
3. "In the stone a new name.. " From the O.T. we see that a new name indicates advancement in one’s life, in his blessings, and in a new relationship to God (Cf. Abram --> Abraham; Jacob --> Israel; etc.)
a.As God’s children we have received one new name already (Christian, Acts 11:26; Isaiah 62:2). b.No need to speculate on this new one, no one knows. "It is our business to overcome: the white stone and the new name we can leave to God to make plain in his own time."
CONCLUSION:
1. "Blessed is he...
a."that readeth, b."and that hear the words of this prophecy, c."and keep (obey) those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand." Revelation 1:3