Seven churches of revelation PERGAMUM THE COMPROMISING CHURCH

Seven churches of revelation PERGAMUM - THE COMPROMISING CHURCH (Revelation 2: 12 -17) Allen Lo – May 12, 2019

SEVEN CHURCHES OF REVELATION 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. Ephesus - The Loveless Church (Rev 2: 1 -7) Smyrna - The Suffering Church (Rev 2: 8 -11) Pergamum - The Compromising Church (Rev 2: 12 -17) Thyatira - The Adulterous Church (Rev 2: 18 -29) Sardis - The Dead Church (Rev 3: 1 -6) Philadelphia — The Faithful Church (Rev 3: 7 -13) Laodicea — The Lukewarm Church (Rev 3: 14 -22)

KEY VERSES: REVELATION 2: 1217 • Rev 2: 12 “And to the angel of the church in Pergamum write: ‘The words of him who has the sharp two-edged sword. • Rev 2: 13 “‘I know where you dwell, where Satan's throne is. Yet you hold fast my name, and you did not deny my faith even in the days of Antipas my faithful witness, who was killed among you, where Satan dwells. • Rev 2: 14 But I have a few things against you: you have some there who hold the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to put a stumbling block before the sons of Israel, so that they might eat food sacrificed to idols and practice sexual immorality.

KEY VERSES: REVELATION 2: 1217 • Rev 2: 15 So also you have some who hold the teaching of the Nicolaitans. • Rev 2: 16 Therefore repent. If not, I will come to you soon and war against them with the sword of my mouth. • Rev 2: 17 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who conquers I will give some of the hidden manna, and I will give him a white stone, with a new name written on the stone that no one knows except the one who receives it. ’

BACKGROUND • Pergamum (Pergamos) is 68 miles north of Smyrna • The Greek word means 'Marriage or United' • Ancient capital of the province of Asia • Sixth largest city of the Roman empire • High level of culture including medical art of psychotherapy • Primary center for emperor worship • Pergamum was nicknamed “Satan’s City. ” • A place that you can find all kinds of temples and worships

GALLIPOLI, PERGAMUM - THE BEAUTIFUL CITY (THEATRE) 10000 SEATS

LIBRARY OF PERGAMUM - HOUSE APPROXIMATEL Y 200, 000 VOLUMES

SERAPEUM - A TEMPLE TO THE ANCIENT EGYPTIAN GOD OF THE UNDERWORLD

THE ALTAR OF ZEUS -KING OF KINGS AND GOD OF GODS

THE TEMPLE OF DIONYSUS - DRINK AND PLEASURE

GODDNESS DEMETER -FOOD AND CROPS

ASKLEPION - HEALING CENTER (SNAKE DOES THE HEALING)

ASCLEPIUM - THE GOD OF HEALING

TEMPLE OF ATHENA - WISDOM

TEMPLE OF TRAJAN - SAFETY AND PEACE (ROMAN EMPEROR FROM 98 -117 AD)

PERGAMUM ACROPOLIS - THE TRAIANEUM (TEMPLE OF TRAJAN)

TEMPLE OF TRAJAN - MARBLE TEMPLE DEDICATED TO THE EMPEROR

CHURCH OF PERGAMUM • Not sure on how the church was started • Acts 16: 8 it says Paul passed through there • Probably was found during Paul’s ministry in Ephesus mentioned in Acts 19: 10 • The Christians in Pergamum were surrounded by pagan beliefs and practices • Many Christians there were heavily influenced by the world

GENERAL PATTERN OF THE LETTERS • Author and receiver of the letter • Praises • Rebuke • Remedy • Warning • Promise (Overcomers)

AUTHOR AND RECEIVER OF THE LETTER • Rev 2: 12 “And to the angel of the church in Pergamum write: ‘The words of him who has the sharp two-edged sword. • To: • The minister (pastor)/messenger of the church in Pergamum • From: • Rev 1: 16 In his right hand he held seven stars, from his mouth came a sharp two-edged sword, and his face was like the sun shining in full strength. • Heb 4: 12 For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. (Judgment and punishment) • He is Jesus Christ

PRAISES • Rev 2: 13 “‘I know where you dwell, where Satan's throne is. Yet you hold fast my name, and you did not deny my faith even in the days of Antipas my faithful witness, who was killed among you, where Satan dwells. • Satan’s throne - emperor worship? Altar to Zeus? • Satan’s influence (Satan’s throne, Satan dwells) • All kinds of temple and idol worshiping in Pergamum • Keep the faith even during persecution • Antipas was roasted alive in a hollow life-size brass bull • Antipas means ‘against everything’ – some say it is a group of people

REBUKE • Rev 2: 14 But I have a few things against you: you have some there who hold the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to put a stumbling block before the sons of Israel, so that they might eat food sacrificed to idols and practice sexual immorality. • Rev 2: 15 So also you have some who hold the teaching of the Nicolaitans. • Tolerate false teaching in church • You have some… (not taking any action) • Teaching of Balaam, Teaching of the Nicolaitans • Compromise and become a ‘Worldly’ and ‘liberal’ church • Eat food sacrificed to idols and practice sexual immorality.

REBUKE • "The church is never to be a place of the mingling of those things (false teaching and sinful things). It’s never to be a place where unbelievers feel safe and secure. It’s to be a place where unbelievers feel frightened though loved, fearful though welcome, and where they can hear the truth and be saved. You can never suppress error by compromising with it. ” - John Mac. Arthur

‘TAKE A PAUSE AND THINK …’ • Can we identify false teaching? • Are we tolerating false teachings and sinful things at church (and at home)? • How does all these idol worships related to us? • What could be our idols? • Are we ‘wed’ with the world? • Roman 12: 2 “ 2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind…” • Do you ‘compromise’ when things get tough?

REMEDY • Rev 2: 16 Therefore repent. If not, I will come to you soon and war against them with the sword of my mouth. • • Repent • Recognize the issue and Turn around • What is the issue? (tolerate sins and compromise) • The only thing that was mentioned

WARNING • Rev 2: 16 Therefore repent. If not, I will come to you soon and war against them with the sword of my mouth. • Judgment (Come to you soon) • Punishment (War against them with the sword of my month) • Why we have to be so tough? • I Corinthians 5 : “Do you not know that a little leavens the whole lump? ” • Need to treat it as cancer

PROMISE (OVERCOMERS) • Rev 2: 17 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who conquers I will give some of the hidden manna, and I will give him a white stone, with a new name written on the stone that no one knows except the one who receives it. ’ • Who is the Overcomer? – True believer • What is it that overcomes? – Our faith, our belief • Hidden manna – represents the bread of life (eternal life) • White stone with a new name – Admission to eternal heaven

CONCLUSION • Satan’s strategy: “What you can’t curse and crush, you can corrupt through compromise. ” • Key message: • Do not tolerate false teachings or those who promote them • Guard against the dilution of true doctrine by false teaching and authoritarian leaders. • Be careful of slowly giving ground to the world - compromise causes people to stumble • Learn how to be ‘In the world but not of the world’

GETTING REAL • Personal reflection of where we are spiritually • Are we tolerating false teachings and sinful things at church? • Is our value aligned with the Bible or more aligned with the world? (e. g. success, money) • Are we conforming to the pattern of this world? (e. g. clothes, life style) • Are we compromising our faith with the world? (e. g. skipping Sunday worship to attend a game) • Any need to repent? If yes, what? • What does this mean to you - “deny himself and take up his cross and follow me”? (Matt 16: 24)