To The Church Of Pergamos And Thyatira Series

THE CHURCH OF PERGAMOS

** (Revelation 2:12)

**Pergamon was an ancient city located in the Anatolia region, approximately 25 kilometres from the Aegean Sea in present-day Bergama, Izmir Province of Turkey. The city had great strategic value, since it overlooked the Caicus River Valley (modern name Bakirçay) which provided access from Pergamon to the Aegean coast.

**According to the original language, the word "Pergamos" has two meanings:

(1) united in marriage, which refers to the relationship between the church and the world.

(2) high tower, which refers to the position of the church in the world

** "These things says He who has the sharp two-edged sword."

__The sharp sword has two functions: one is to sever the union between the church and the world, and the other is to judge the church which is united to the world.

**Revelation 2:13

"I know where you dwell, where Satan’s throne is; and you hold fast My name and have not denied My faith, even in the days of Antipas, my witness, my faithful one, who was killed among you, where Satan dwells."

__The responsibility of the church in the world should be to fight against the enemy, but she now has a dwelling place which has been occupied by the throne of Satan

__ “even in the days of Antipas, my witness, my faithful one, who was killed among you, where Satan dwells.”, According to Christian tradition, John the Apostle ordained Antipas as bishop of Pergamon during the reign of the Roman emperor Nero.

__this man was “martyred” ---- a person who willingly suffers death rather than renounce his or her religion. a person who is put to death or endures great suffering on behalf of any belief, principle, or cause.

__Antipas willingly suffered death rather than renounce His faith, he was put to death and endured great suffering on behalf of His faith.

** Balaam was a prophet who was greedy for wealth (Revelation 2:14)

__ Today there are many people who come out to preach for the sake of money

__ Balaam’s teaching was intended to cause the Israelites to unite with the Gentiles.

__ Balaam was hired by Balak.

__ the consequences of Balaam’s teaching were:

(1) "to eat idol sacrifices," that is, to mingle with other religions; and

(2) "to commit fornication," that is, to make friends with the world.

**there were some believers in this church who were clinging to the teaching of Nicolaitanes of occultism (Revelation 2:15)

__they were trying to serve the Lord and at the same time worshipping idols.

__idols today can mean money, or any valuable position or possession, and today we have believers who worship money and at the same worship God.

**Jesus warns them that if they don’t repent, He will come soon to fight with them (Revelation 2:16)

__ “ ….. the sword of my mouth” ---- the sword here is the Lord’s word, which is for cutting our relationship with the world, If we hear the Lord’s word but do not repent and break off from the world, this word will be the sword that judges us.

** Revelation 2:17

"He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes, to him I will give of the hidden manna, and to him I will give a white stone, and upon the stone a new name written, which no one knows except he who receives it."

__ Here are two promises given to the overcomers:

(1)"To him I will give of the hidden manna."

__Manna signifies Christ (John 6:49-51). The open manna was possessed by all the Israelites, but the hidden manna was kept for Canaan (Exo. 16:33). All believers receive the salvation of Christ, but only the overcomers enjoy the hidden portion of Christ, a portion which the common people cannot enjoy.

(2)"To him I will give a white stone."

__At the apostles’ time, elections were carried out by placing pieces of white stone into a jar with names written on them. Although the overcomers lose the opportunity to be elected in the world, the Lord will give them a white stone on which a new name is written, a name not known by others. This shows the Lord’s approval of us.

**let us continue work and remain faithful to Him who called us, even at the throne of satan’s temptation, let us fight the good fight.

THE CHURCH OF THYATIRE

** Thyatira was the smallest of the seven cities, but the one that received the longest letter. It lay about 45 miles to the southeast of Pergamum and was famous for its textiles, especially the production of purple dye and its trade guilds.

__ This church was doing many things well, but they were being led astray by someone teaching false doctrine