Revelation: The Message To The Church

Subject: The Church At Pergamon

 by Rick Welborne

Revelation 2:12-17 (NKJV)

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.
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." '

–Pergamos was located near the west coast of Asia Minor and was the center of Greek Culture and thought.
–The city teemed with many gods (both Greek and Asiatic) with the site it is most famous for...the Great Altar of Zeus.
–Toward the end of the First Century Pergamos was much like Smyrna in that persecution of Christians became savage as the church attempted to stand for Christ.
–It is difficult to truly appreciate Christ message to the church here unless you can comprehend the extra-ordinary darkness and wickedness in the city.
–The worship of pagan deities permeated every aspect of the people’s lives there. It was the epitome of idolatry...America getting there...Temple of Baal in Time Square.
–Again Jesus is addressing the angel (messenger or pastor) of the church at Pergamos...I hope by now you really see that Jesus is addressing the church today...Life Church.

1. To the pastor and to the church at Pergamos Jesus appears with a sharp two edged sword.

Revelation 2:12 (NKJV)
12 "And to the angel of the church in Pergamos write, 'These things says He who has the sharp two-edged sword:

–This image of Jesus with a mighty sword and irresistible authority makes us ask the question "why" when He addresses the church in Pergamos. Says this to no other churches.
–The Christians there would have seen the imagery that we might miss because the city had what was called the "right of the sword". Equal to life or death...legal authority.
–The sword was the symbol of the highest official order in the Roman Empire.
–In this verse the Head of the Church (Jesus) was proclaiming Himself to be the One Who had the ultimate power of life and death...not the proconsul of the province.
–How many of you know that Jesus is the Head of the Church and that He is in full control.
–If you do not love Him it is because you do not know Him. To know Him is to love Him!
–So what was Jesus saying...Because the Christians and the city lived under the proconsul’s deadly sword continually...they would have quickly understood what Jesus was saying.
–He was saying...I am the One Who ultimately holds the sharp sword with two edges.
–Even though human leaders may try to exert power over you for a short time, just remember I am the One Who has the final say over your life or death.
–With our world in a mess, with Isis on the rise, with Christians being martyred, with chaos in America, when it seems everything is going to hell, please know Jesus has the sharp sword...He is the ultimate authority!
–Another meaning of the sharp sword would be this...word sharp "oxus"...denotes a sanitizing effect as of a medical cleanser...an astringent to remove infection.
–Pergamos had been strongly affected by the doctrines of the Nicolatians and of Balaam and Jesus was saying if they do not repent I will come and cut them away.

John 17:17 (NKJV)
17 Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth.

–Sometimes God’s Word...His truth has to come and cut away things in His church that should not be there...Thought we were talking about the Sword...we are!

Ephesians 6:17 (NKJV)
17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God;

–Sometimes there are those who come into a church with (let’s say) less than godly intentions and God surgically has to remove them...painful but necessary.

Hebrews 4:12-13 (NKJV)
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.
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.
–This brings us back to the point of every church where Jesus says...I know...I see!

2. To the pastor and the church at Pergamos Jesus says it is time for the doctrine of the Nicolaitans to go.

Revelation 2:15 (NKJV)
15 Thus you also have those who hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitans, which thing I hate.

–This doctrine was also found in the hard working missions church at Ephesus:

Revelation 2:6 (NKJV)
6 But this you have, that you hate the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate.

–So where did this thought or doctrine come from?

Acts 6:5-7 (NKJV)
5 And the saying pleased the whole multitude. And they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and the Holy Spirit, and Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolas, a proselyte from Antioch, 
6 whom they set before the apostles; and when they had prayed, they laid hands on them.
7 Then the word of God spread, and the number of the disciples multiplied greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests were obedient to the faith.

–Have you ever wondered when the Word gives us list of people who were chosen to do something for the Lord...what happened to them.
–Let’s look at Nicolas a proselyte from Antioch...what happened to this deacon...must have gone on to do something great! You think?
–Acts 6:5 tells us he was a proselyte...not born a Jew but had converted from paganism to Judaism. Then he converted from Judaism to Christianity. Why is this important:

* This means he had deep pagan roots (unlike the others) - involved in the occult.
* He was not afraid of taking opposing views...converted twice.
* He could really care less what people thought about him...very liberal thinking.
* He could easily shift from being a pagan...Jew...Christian...this might be a flag!

–According to early church writers Nicolas taught a doctrine of compromise implying that total separation from paganism and Christianity was not necessary. Lots of baggage!
–Yet he was chosen to be a deacon (leader) in the church. Where does Nicolas show up next? Rev. 2. Nicolaitians...Evidently he had gained influence and a following.
–Here is a man who was embraced by the apostles, the people...they even laid hands on him and blessed him to do what God had set before him...interesting.
–Jesus and the Ephesians hated what this man was doing to the church and their relationship with God...The word "hated" - loathed - totally rejected - was repulsed by.
–Hated what? Their deeds, works, behavior, actions, beliefs, conduct, words, and attitude!
–Nic was a trouble maker...telling people they could live with one foot in the world and one foot in the church.
–This type of doctrine led to a Christianity that was without power and without conviction. A defeated worldly type of Christianity...the kind which made it hard to tell who was in...
–Can I remind us that Jesus hated this doctrine. What am I saying? Glad you asked!

A. We need to watch and pray as folks come into our church and get into leadership.
B. We need to consider a person’s background...what were they involved in, how many times have they changed churches or denominations. Careful in judging them though.
C. We need to remember Jesus hated a doctrine of compromise...a doctrine of intermingling Christianity and the world...one foot in and one foot out!

1 John 2:14-17 (NKJV)
14 I have written to you, fathers, Because you have known Him who is from the beginning. I have written to you, young men, Because you are strong, and the word of God abides in you, And you have overcome the wicked one.
15 Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.
16 For all that is in the world--the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life--is not of the Father but is of the world.
17 And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever.

3. To the pastor and church at Pergamos Jesus said I know you live where Satan has his throne but hold on!

Revelation 2:13 (NKJV)
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.

–How would you like to live in a city where Satan’s throne was basically the seat of power, and because of the pagan gods and cults, people bowed their knees to him.
–One of Satan’s main attributes or names is that he is "The Accuser of the Brethren." You live in a city and attend church (influence of Nicolas) where false accusations were rampant.
–In Pergamos if anything happened bad, it was because of the believers...no rain, failed crops, bad weather, pestilence, disease...they had offended the gods of the city.
–Satan’s seat or throne was there...it meant that he was the supreme authority in that city and no one had a choice but to submit. How many of you know we always have a choice?
–Antipas had a choice...he choose to die for Christ rather than to live for Satan...Jesus called him my faithful martyr...my faithful witness.
–Even though letters had been sent out against the Christians, even though they were warned to keep quiet...Antipas went out daily sharing his faith in his Savior Jesus Christ.
–The leaders of the city accused him of running off the gods who were there to protect them...Antipas found great humor in that one man could run off all their gods.

Antipas - Maybe you should reconsider who you are serving. If your gods cannot withstand one follower of Christ, it may be time to follow Christ Who provided salvation for you!
　
--Antipas held fast to the Name of Jesus like all of us must do in these last days! There is no other Name but the name of Jesus!

Acts 4:10-12 (NKJV)
10 let it be known to you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead, by Him this man stands here before you whole.
11 This is the 'stone which was rejected by you builders, which has become the chief cornerstone.'
12 Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved."

–One day soon and very soon we will bow before our King...all will bow before Him!

Philippians 2:9-13 (NKJV)
9 Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name,
10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth,
11 and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
12 Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling;

13 for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure.