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Revelation
Letter to the Church at Pergamum
Scripture: Revelation 2:12-17
Introduction: Winter was coming on and a hunter went out into the forest to shoot a bear out of which he planned to make a warm coat. By and by he saw a bear coming toward him and raised his gun and took aim. “Wait,” said the bear, “why do you want to shoot me?” “Because I am cold,” said the hunter. “But I am hungry,” the bear replied, “so maybe we can reach an agreement.” In the end, the hunter was well enveloped with the bear’s fur and the bear had eaten his dinner.
We always lose out when we try to compromise with sin. It will consume us in the end. A great mistake a child of God commits is to compromise his/her Christian faith with this world. We often feel biblical principles are tough and rigid and we decide to compromise on certain issues (its okay attitude). Anytime you compromise with evil, evil wins every time. Anytime you compromise with the Word of God, the devil wins and you lose. This morning I want to speak to you about compromising Christian standards.
Read Revelation 2:12-17
Background of Pergamum
Pergamum is the third of the 7 cities in the Turkish coast. It was a great administrative centre and the Roman capital of Asian province. They were the first to invent parchment scrolls, a method were animal skin was pressed and treated to contain writings. They had emperor worship and the city was also called Neo-koros. Pergamum was also famous for having other Greek gods like Zeus, Dinoysisus, Athena, and Aesculapius and had 4 big temples for these Gods.
See what the Bible says about this city. Revelation 2:13 13 I know where you live—where Satan has his throne. In the midst of all the evil there was a church at Pergamum. Jesus had a word for that church and He wants to speak to us today through that message.
Compliments of Jesus to the Church at Pergamum.
Revelation 2:13. Firstly Jesus is complimenting the church for holding fast to His name. Jesus is complimenting the Church at Pergamum because they did not renounce their faith even in severe persecution. It says in the days of Antipas (The Bible does not describe much about him.) they were faithful to Jesus. History says Antipas was roasted in a brazen bull for his faith in God. Sometime in the past persecution came to them but they were faithful. Child of God Jesus knows the price we pay for being a Christian.
Criticism of Jesus to the Church at Pergamum. Revelation 2:14-15
We find here though the church was fine not every member was faithful. They had active members in the church who still held on to the doctrine of Balaam and the doctrine of Nicolaitans.
a. Doctrine of Balaam. Read Numbers 23-25.
Balaam was a prophet in the Old Testament. The Israelites were on there wilderness journey and came to the border of Moab. They had just conquered the Ammorites and the Moabites felt they were the Israelites next target. So Balak, King of Moab sent messengers to Balaam with a reward to curse the Israelites. Balaam prayed to God before answering the messengers and God asked Balaam not to curse the Israelites and not to go to the King of Moab. Now Balak sent another set of messengers to Balaam now with a higher reward to curse the Israelites. Again, God said not to curse the Israelites. However Balaam in his heart probably desired the good reward King Balak offered and finally God asked Balaam to go to King Balak but asked him to tell only what God told him to tell. Four times Balaam prayed to God in Moab and all the 4 times God put words of blessings for Israelites in Balaam’s mouth. Balak actually summoned Balaam to curse Israelites but Balaam blessed the Israelites 4 times. Balaam spoke only what God wanted him to speak, he did not add anything to the prophesies given by God. Balaam probably did not want to lose the reward offered by King Balak. We find Balaam eventually became close to Balak and giving him tips to defeat the Israelites. Balaam knew God hated sexual immorality, adultery, and idolatry. Balaam tipped King Balak to send the Moabite woman to the Israelites and seduce them and to lead them to idol worship, this plan succeeded. This is the doctrine of Balaam. Balaam when prophesying spoke exactly right but when he was with the Moabites the became close to them (identified with them) and supported idol worship and adultery.
The Pergamum church had such believers. When such people come to church they are perfect Christians but once outside the church they act like worldly people. Such members are in present day churches too who have no separation and sanctification from this world. They compromise on Christian values and principles outside the church. Nowadays believers find nothing wrong in watching movies that have sex and violence in them. God’s people watch pornography in the internet. Believers change hair styles according to the worldly trends. We use worldly songs and remix them to suit our Christian faith and style. People are very liberal minded nowadays. They participate in all types of idol worship and orgies outside church and Sunday they are holy believers. They compromise the Christian values and standards.
Doctrine of Nicolaitans
It is not clear who these people were from the Bible. History says the Nicolaitans claimed to have special revelation from God. They were once priests in the Judaism. They have now become believes and they exercise religious power in the church. They felt they were always close to God. They prophesied and taught the Word of God but their personal life was always a big compromise. They committed sin but continued ministering the Word of God.
They Pergamum church had such believers. Today there are such believes in our churches too. They say they are in ministry; preaching, teaching, prophesying, singing, etc but their personal life is full of sin. They do not practice what they preach. We can find some evangelists and pastors who elevate themselves so high that they feel they always do right and many a times they are in sin.
So the doctrine of Balaam and doctrine of Nicolaians entered the Pergamum church. Today such members are widely presently in our churches too. See what Jesus has to say to such believers. Revelation 2:16 16 Repent therefore! Otherwise, I will soon come to you and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth. Living in a city which was throne to Satan was no excuse for the believers to compromise with the world and commit sin. God hates hypocrisy and compromising biblical standards. God says he will fight against them with a sword, sword of His mouth. The consequence for not repenting is that we will face God’s word - his sword - this time in judgment and condemnation. His word is a powerful opponent - it calmed storms, healed sick people, drove out demons. God says if your do not repent God’s sword is going to come against you.
God’s Remedy for the Pergamum church.
Revelation 2:16 16 Repent therefore! Otherwise, I will soon come to you and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth. God wants immediate repentance. He wants us to change our ways immediately or else God will not be patient towards us.
God’s Promise for Repentance. Revelation 2:1717 Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To those who are victorious, I will give some of the hidden manna. I will also give each of them a white stone with a new name written on it, known only to the one who receives it. God promises hidden manna and a white stone with a new name for the ones who repent.
1. Hidden manna. You would remember that the manna was given to the people of Israel during their desert wanderings. Jesus, the bread of life gives us hidden manna, the Word of God which feeds our spiritual man. John 6:47-51 47 Very truly I tell you, whoever believes has eternal life. 48 I am the bread of life. 49 Your ancestors ate the manna in the wilderness, yet they died. 50 But here is the bread that comes down from heaven, which people may eat and not die. 51 I am the living bread that came down from heaven. Whoever eats of this bread will live forever. This bread is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world." The hidden manna gives us spiritual food and gives us eternal life. It is available if we repent and overcome this world, not for the ones who compromise with this world.
2. White stone with a new name. White stone was mined at Pergamum and was a commercial product. We are not sure what is meant by this white stone, but there were many customs of the day which may be relevant.
a) Black and White stones were used by juries in courts. If they believed that a person was guilty, they symbolized this by offering their black stone. If they believed they were innocent, they would offer their white stone. The White stone therefore may speak of our innocent status before God once we are forgiven.
b) White stones were also used as medallions in the Olympics and other sporting events and were also given to members of a conquering army. The White stone here may therefore be a symbol of our triumph of faith.
c) White stones were also used as tokens (tickets if you will) into banquets or feasts or used as place cards at the dinner table. The White stone then would be a ticket ensuring that we could participate in the heavenly banquet with Christ.
d) They were given to a man freed from slavery as proof that he had been made a citizen of the province. The white stone then speaks of our citizenship of heaven.
e) White stones were sometimes carried around as lucky charms - often with a name of a protectorate god. If this was the meaning, the White stone would speak of the assurance we have that Christ would protect us.
Whatever the meaning, the white stone spoke of the redeemed position we have through a relationship with Christ. The stone is also important because it has a name on it - a New Name. God is promising a new identify for us. Whatever the world calls you my dear child of God, if you repent and come to God he will give you a new identity.
Conclusion: Child of God are you living in sin? Do you compromise your Christian values and Christian faith? We compromise mainly because we fear rejection, conflict, and fever being intimidated. It is worth to reject this world and follow God. Understand anytime we compromise with evil, evil wins over us and we lose. If you stand for God he will give you the victory, he will give us hidden manna and a white stone with a new name on it.
Understand we are called to be separate from this wicked world. 2 Corinthians 6:14-15 14 Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness? 15 What harmony is there between Christ and Belial? Or what does a believer have in common with an unbeliever? 16 What agreement is there between the temple of God and idols? For we are the temple of the living God.
2 Corinthians 6:14-18 14 Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness? 15 What harmony is there between Christ and Belial? Or what does a believer have in common with an unbeliever? 16 What agreement is there between the temple of God and idols? For we are the temple of the living God. As God has said: "I will live with them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they will be my people."17 Therefore, "Come out from them and be separate, says the Lord. Touch no unclean thing, and I will receive you." 18 And, "I will be a Father to you, and you will be my sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty."
1 Peter 6:9-12 9 But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. 10 Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy. Living Godly Lives in a Pagan Society 11 Dear friends, I urge you, as foreigners and exiles, to abstain from sinful desires, which war against your soul. 12 Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us.
Understand we are God’s chosen vessel and we cannot compromise with this world. May God guide us to lead a uncompromising Christian life. Amen.
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