PERGAMOS THE COMPRIMISING CHURCH – REV. 2: 12-17
This is the third church of the seven that we will look at. Remember we said that the question is not what type of church are we looking for, but what type of church is God looking for. These 7 churches were actual churches and they are also symbolic of church ages, church members, and kinds of churches that are alive today. Ephesus was the “careless church”, Smyrna was the “crowned church” and Pergamos is the “compromising church”, or the worldly church. Not much said today about worldliness, yet the Bible has much to say about it.
I. THE DESCRIPTION OF THE CITY (12)
(Located about 100 miles from Ephesus and Smyrna was ½ way) ( Modern day city of Bergama, Turkey)
A. It was a Culture Center – Library of 200,000 vols.
B. It was a Place of Colleges – Higher Education – Medicine
C. It was a Place of Cults – worship of many gods – Zeus – Aphrodite – god of healing was symbolizes by a snake – Emperor worship. Place were Satan seat is.
II. THE DESCRIPTION OF CHRIST (12)
A. His Possession – He owns the church- He is the head & husbandman
B. His Power – “sharp sword with 2 edges” (Heb. 4:12, Eph. 6:17)
C. His Purity – Christ was sinless and he wants a sinless bride (Eph. 5:26)
III. THE DESCRIPTION OF THE CHURCH (13-15)
(Christ has his church in the darkest places)
(This is the church age of 316-500 AD – Constantine)
A. His Commendation
1. They were working
2. They held fast to His name – So many names were worshiped –but they held to the name of Jesus
3. Did not deny the faith
4. They had a member who was a faithful witness.
B. The Condemnation
1. The doctrine of Balaam – doctrine of compromise
(DOCTRINE DOES MATTER)
a. stumbling blocks
b. eat things sacrificed to idols
c. commit fornication
( 1 Peter 2:15, Jude 10-11, 2 Cor. 6:14-17)
2. Doctrine of the Nicolaitans – clergy rule
IV. THE CALL OF CHRIST (16-17)
A. A Call To Repentance – change of mind and action
Antipas was a witness against them
B. A Call for Reliance Upon Christ
1. Hidden Manna – Source of life
2. White Stone – acceptance, victory, and special privileges.
3. New Name – in quality ( use to be when pagans became Christians they were given new names)
Conclusion – How is your daily walk? Have compromised with the world? Are you wanting to be the fox and the hound?
