The Corrupted Church (Church Of Pergamos)

Why?

They get in a hurry wanting to read about the Anti-Christ, the Two witness and the 144 Jewish missionaries and etc.

But in skipping the SEVEN CHURCHES of REVELATION they are missing out on some of the good teachings of Christ we learn from His live.

Such as:

We can see from the SEVEN CHURCHES that the Lord was always looking for something good to compliment His church about.

HE WAS AN OPTIMIST….ALWAYS LOOKING FOR THE GOOD…If it can be found.

Illus: This looking for the good, reminds us of the story of the man who asked a policeman WHO WAS AN OPTIMIST how he liked his job.

• The policeman answered, "Well, it is dangerous job, and the pay is not so good."

• Then, being a good optimist, he added, "But the good thing about my job is the customer is always wrong!"

Regardless what job you may have, or what situation you find yourself in, you can always find something good about something if you really TRY HARD ENOUGH.

Illus: Two brothers who were known as the two meanest men in town.

• One of them died and the other one asked a preacher to preach his funerals.

• He said, I will give you five thousands dollars if you will say something nice about him.

• The preacher took the five thousand dollars and he was trying to think of something he could say about him that was nice.

• The day of the funeral he stood before the crowd that had gathered.

• He said, this dead man that is before me was one of the meanest man in town. He was a liar, thief, and cheater BUT COMPARED TO HIS BROTHER WHO IS BEFORE ME ---HE WAS AN ANGEL!

Some of these seven churches it is difficult to find something good you can say about them.

But the Lord being the OPTIMIST HE WAS, He was able to find something good about the worst of them!

Wouldn't it be wonderful if everyone who is associated with God's church was an optimist?

If we follow the example of the Lord Jesus in the book of Revelation, we will always try to find something good about the church.

Illus: They remind me of the panhandler who was on the streets begging for a handout. A man came along and had compassion on him and gave him enough money to buy a cup of hot coffee.

• The next day the man saw the panhandler on the street again. He asked, "Did you enjoy the cup of coffee yesterday?"

• The panhandler became very angry and said to him, "No, I certainly did not. That cup of coffee kept me awake all night last night!"

The way some people complain, you would think that they have never had anything nice to happen to them.

But, Jesus was always looking for something good to compliment these seven churches about, and the church of Pergamos is no different.

The Lord had many wonderful things to say about this church.

Look at some of the compliments, one having to do with...

I. THEIR FAITH.

In verse 13 we read, "I know thy works and where thou dwellest, even where Satan's seat is..."

This church was located in Pergamos and God said this is where "…Satan's seat is..."

That should put to rest the idea that Satan is in hell.

In fact, it may shock you to hear this, but did you know that Satan has never been to hell yet?

To hear some un-learn preachers preach you get the idea that Satan is being tortured in the flames of hell now!!!

He actually will not be in hell until the time spoken of in the twentieth chapter of Revelation.

Look at Revelation 20:10 And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever.

At that time the place called Hell will have its grand opening.

Notice, the word CAST in verse 10, it sounds like God has had enough of the devil and God use these words at this time And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone,

• He was not pushed into hell, the Bible say he was CAST INTO THE LAKE OF FIRE.

• He was not LED INTO HELL. HE WAS CAST INTO HELL!!!

• And He will be there the Bible says, “FOR EVER AND EVER.” Aman!

Preacher, don’t you feel sorry for him, NOT A BIT!!!

I WOULD PERSONALLY WOULD LIKE TO GIVE HIM A BIG KICK IN THE REAR BEFORE THE LORD CAST HIM THERE.

The devil and his demons are on the face of the earth NOW but they know one day they are going to be cast into hell one day.