TAKING A STAND WHERE SATAN SITS - REV 2:12-17
AD 312: AFTER THE EMPEROR’S DEATH ROMAN GENERAL CONSTANTINE HAD HIS FORCES IN NORTHERN ITALY AT THE MILVIAN BRIDGE. HE STATED THAT BEFORE A BATTLE HE LOOKED INTO THE SKY AND SAW A FIERY CROSS: HE HEARD A VOICE SAY TO HIM, ’IN THIS SIGN CONQUER’. HE WON THE BATTLE THAT DAY AND SOON ASCENDED TO THE THRONE OF ROME. HE DECLARED HIMSELF THE ’DEFENDER AND PROTECTOR OF THE CHRISTIAN FAITH’. What was once persecuted by Rome was now it’s official religion.
An accurate picture of the problem of the church in Pergamum. The name literally means, ’an exalted marriage’. Constantine tried to wed the church to the world, which is tragically still attempted to this day. The cost of the wedding is simply COMPROMISE.
Each of these churches struggle with different issues that are attatched to Satan’s strategies throughout the church age.
Ephesus-Poison the doctrine/Smyrna-persecute the Saints/Pergamum-Promote compromise.
1) Someone has said that the devil really only has two strategies: intimidation & enticement. Make you knuckle under the pressure or lure you into compromise.
2) He comes in one of two ways: A roaring lion or an angel of light
Look this morning & evening at Rev 2:12-17 and use the same outline we will use with all the churches we study in chapters 2 & 3: The Patient - The Physician - The Positive - The Problem - The Prescription - The Possibilities
THE PATIENT - (12) And to the angel of the church in Pergamum write;
1. THE CIVIC CLIMATE: 50 miles N. of Smyrna & 135 N. or Ephesus.
a. Pergamum was the capital city of Asia. It was called by ’The greatest city in Asia Minor’. Legend states that it was founded by the son of Hercules. No trade routes, no harbor
b. It was a sophisticated city that was a center of the Greek culture and education.
1) Had a great university, medical school and the world’s largest library at one time: 200,000 volumes with no printing press. Discovered a way of printing on dried skins: called parchment and actual word is same name as city (pergamena). Library was moved to Alexandria Egypt when it was given away. Marc Antony gave it to Cleopatra.
c. Strong Roman presence: Roman guilds which were the equivolent of modern day labor unions. You had to be in good with to find a job. You had to accomidate your morals to their celebrations.
2. The Religious Climate: Center for four cults
a) Temple to Caesar: First city in Asia to have such a Temple. This meant that there was an expectation of worshipping there and in so doing you would have to take a pinch of incense and drop in the altar fire and say, ’Caesar is Lord’.
b) Temple of Dionysius(Baccus) god of revelry. Quote such pagan scriptures as ’taste’s great/less filling’, or ’it’s miller time’. Worship centered around wine drinking. Pastor’s must have been bartenders.
1) He was the goat-god. He was depicted with horns but with the upper part of a man and his lower part, a goat with cloven feet and a tail.(make him red with a pitchfork and he is still seen today)
c) Temple to Asclepius(scalpel) god of healing. Chief god in town and people came from all over seeking healing at his temple. Caesar Augustus used to come each year mainly to dry out since he was an alchoholic) Asclepius’ insignia was a twisted serpent entwined on a staff(familiar: still a medical symbol today)
1) The Image of Asclepius was a serpent(again like satan)
HEALING PROCESS: Walk through long tunnels and above are holes that look like airholes for ventilation but are not. As you walk you hear voices saying, ’You are going to get well, you are going to feel better, you are going to be healed’. You go down to the hot baths where you are given a massage. There is a little theater that gives plays on healing. If none of that works they put you in the temple at night and turn lose nonpoisonious snakes which crawl all over you. You either get healed or go crazy.
THE PHYSICIAN - ’The One Who has the sharp two-edged sword says this:’
1:16 ’ out of His mouth came a sharp two-edged sword..’
1. TWO EDGED SWORD is a symbol of the Word of God:
Eph 6 ’ take up the sword of the Spirit which is the Word of God’
Heb 4:12 ’the Word of God is living and active and sharper than any
Two edged sword’. Sharp ’cut to the base’
2. In the midst of such error there is the truth: We are surrounded by many outlets of error in our society today: Politics - television - people’s opinions vary - schools teach different truths(what is right) Jesus comes and says that a people falling into compromise need to be reminded where truth can be found: It comes from the mouth of God. On Jesus know the difference between wheat/tares
a. 2 Tim 3:16 All Scripture is inspired by God ’God breathed’.
3. Word of God has two edges: Strikes the head and the heart: ’piecing as far as the division of soul and spirit and able to judge the thoughts and the intentions of the heart’(two directions)
a. Means we learn new truth and also are motivated to action. Day of Pentecost when Peter preached Acts 2:37 says the people were cut to the heart. Touched both there reason and their will.
b. Compromisers need a clear understanding of God’s Word. It is eternal truth!
THE POSITIVE - (13) I know where you dwell, where Satan’s throne is; and you hold fast My Name, and did not deny My faith even in the days of Antipas, My witness, My faithful one, who was killed among you, where Satan dwells.
1. Jesus knew the circumstances in which they lived. ’where Satan’s throne is’. He knows the pressures we face each day to compromise. He knows how evil our society has become. He is fully aware and one truth we see in Scripture is the stronger the challenge the greater the grace He gives. In our weakness He is made strong… I can do all things through Christ….No temptation has overcome you but that which is common to man and GOD IS ABLE to make you stand
2. Satan’s throne: Fourth cultic element in town. Temple of Zeus.
a. In approaching the city of Pergamum by day it would be impossible to not notice an 800ft high hill upon the top of which was one of the 7th wonders of the ancient world: The Throne of Zeus
1) 40 ft high( LINCOLN MEMORIAL). Built in the image of a great chair overlooking the city. Smiling devil proudly viewing a society sold out to his ways. Smoking & eerie
1880’s: German archaelogist working in the city of Pergamom removed that throne from the hillside and took it to Europe. It was taken to a Museum in the city of East Berlin. For over 100 years it has been there to the see the rise of Hilter and to become the headquarters of the Nazi rite.
TWO BABYLONS: traces the removal of the Babylonian priesthood. The demonic worship which is spoken of all the way back to the book of Genesis and person of Nimrod. After the fall of Babylon this priesthood was moved to Pergamum.
Where Satan dwells: Jesus says I know how power an element in town that the presence of Satan is and the freedom with which he operates.
a. Misconception that the devil is in hell hanging out. Hell won’t open for business until the event described in Rev 20. Bible says Satan is like a roaring lion prowling about seeking whom he can devour.
He is a liar, an accuser of the brethren, tempter, the ultimate loser who’s days are numbered but is attempting to destroy as many lives as possible before the game is over.
MISSIONARY FRIIEND: Described going into certain villages in Zimbabwe in which literally 1 of every 8 inhabitants was a witchdoctor. Powerful oppression and heaviness. Feel the despair, and discouragement, the hopelessness. It was a constant fight against depression.
CT STUDD: Some want to live near chapel bells but I want to build a rescue station a yard from the gates of hell’
3. When Satan is in charge what is in danger:
a. The Name of Jesus: and you hold fast My Name, and did not deny My faith.
1) No name has been so abused and misused: used as a curse word. Use mine please instead. People in Middle east curse using ’mohammed’ or in Asia using ’Buddha’. Why is the name of Jesus and of the one true God the names mankind has chosen to use as gutter language? Satan is in charge.
Mid 1800’s: Man was taken to court in America for using God’s name in vain. Went to Supreme Court who judge this way against the man: Using God’s name in vain is an act of treason. It invites his wrath upon us and removes his blessing.
2) Almost every heresy in the world today flows out of a denial of the diety of Jesus. Every cult holds a different Jesus.
Two of our youth: were in my office just up to trouble and noticed on my desk was a copy of the JW scriptures which was left here by somebody who thought it was an acceptable Bible. In Jn 1:1 where my Bible says, ’In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and the Word was God’, it states ’the Word was a god’. Jesus is only a creation, an angel, Michael the archangel. Morman make Jesus the brother of the devil and the son of an exalted man who is the god of this earth. Popular to day to attack the trinity which removes the uniqueness of the person of Jesus.
Chaplaincy Training in Seminary: Sent throughout the hospital to spend time with people who were sick: Two Directives: Don’t witness and don’t use the name of Jesus.
a) 1 Cor 1 - the word of the cross is an offense to those who are persishing as is the Person of the cross.
3) They did not deny His name but held fast: Living where Satan is in charge demands that citizens water down their walk with Jesus.
COMPROMISE IS ANY DEVIATION FROM THE WORD OF GOD IN ANY AREA OF YOUR LIFE.
a) Greatest folly the devil can convince you of is that to win people to Jesus you need to begin acting like the lost world.
Drowning: send me a swimmer not someone to drown with me. Families, people’s lives are going under and they desperately need to see in your life something different, they need to see Jesus.
Acts 4:12 And there is salvation in no one else; there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men by which we must be saved.
b. The People of Jesus: even in the days of Antipas, My witness, My faithful one, who was killed among you,
1) God’s people are in danger when the devil is in charge.Jesus reminds this church of how one of their own stood strong and paid the ultimate price.
TRADITION: He refused to offer worship to Caesar. He was brought before a statue of Caesar and told to swear that Caesar was God. Boldly proclaimed that Jesus alone was the Lord. ’Antipas don’t you know that the whole world is against you? Then antipas is against the whole world! A brazen bull was heated to while heat and he was roasted to death inside.
2) Many who compromised had probably talked often of Antipas. Fanatic, should have just given in, family suffered for his foolishness. People today ridicule committed believers: letting religion rule their lives, going too far with this Christianity thing, need to tone it down.
3) Jesus comes to say that this one is MY WITNESS, MY FAITHFUL ONE.
TONIGHT:
1. In spite of their commitment to the diety of Jesus there were two areas of compromise where they had given in.
2. How would they be judged if they did not deal, how will we be judged if we do not deal with areas identified in our lives as points of compromise in our walk with Jesus.
3. Special look at intimacy that develops in our relationship with Jesus when we live uncompromising lives.
