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
__ Evidently a woman claiming to be a prophetess had been influencing some in this church to join the local trade guilds without which a tradesman could not work in Thyatira.
__ This meant participation in the guild feasts that included immoral acts and the worship of idols.
__ Sometimes the pressure of “fitting in” with the world is overwhelming, but we are to stand firm in our faith, trusting God to provide and to take care of us.
__ We are also to stand firm on the truth of God’s Word and not tolerate those who disregard and distort it.
__ Thyatira was a wealthy town on the Lycus River in the Roman province of Asia (modern-day Turkey).
__ (Revelation 2:18) ……. “who hath His eyes like unto a flame of fire” …... that is to depict that Jesus sees everything that we do and “…. His feet are like fine brass” ……depicting His judgement
** Jesus knows their works and charity (Revelation 2:19)
__ love, faith, service, patient endurance, greater works.
** Jesus notes their sin: “Nevertheless, I have this against you: You tolerate that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess. (Revelation 2:20).
__they were tolerating the woman Jezebel, this tells us we are ought not to tolerate sin, because we will face the sword of the Lord
__fornication and eating things sacrificed unto idols, this tell us we are to keep ourselves pure up until to the right moment that is after marriage and we are to stay away from idols that is money or any other possession we might have
**God will give us enough time to repent, He is a loving God, He will not condemn us but give us an opportunity to repent as He did by Jezebel (Revelation 2:21)
**God will cast those who do not repent into a bed of anguish that is a space of regret or a point of no return, and thus those who continue to sin and not repent will experience the wrath of God that is the tribulation (Revelation 2:22)
__ after the rapture there is going to be a seven year of tribulation, that is the killing of Jews and all the Christians who would have believed after the rapture
__the only way to avoid this tragic moment is to repent of our actions
** “… killing of her children with death…” (Revelation 2:23)
__Jezebel descendants will be put to death and all the churches will know, which means it shall be a public event
__Jesus knows our heart and even till today he searcheth our hearts
__He repays us according to what we have done, not based on sin, but based on deeds.
** hold fast what you have until Jesus comes (Revelation 2:25)
__be faithful to what the Lord has bestowed upon you.
__don’t loose those gifts and talents
__use them in love to serve one another and help the weak and the poor.
**those who will overcome and keeps His works to the end to Him will be given power over nations (Revelations 2:26)
__this is after the second coming of Jesus during the thousand millennial kingdom o be established, we are going to reign with Him.
**Jesus will reign with a rod of iron (Revelation 2:27)
__ Jesus is not a harsh Lord. He is quick to hear, slow to anger and His mercies are forever.
__So, it is important to realize that these verses were translated as “ruling even shepherding” with a rod of iron, but it is in the sense of ruler-ship that He uses the rod of punishment to destroy the wicked.
__ to rule a country, area, group, etc., in a very strict and often cruel way the dictator ruled (the country) with a rod of iron.
