The Faithful Worship God Alone.

The legend of Pergamum’s founding places Zeus, Athena, and Heracles in the city’s pedigree. The myth claims that as a boy, the city’s founder, Telephus, was put into a chest with his mother and floated across the open sea to the mouth of the Caicus River, where Heracles and Athena provided him with sustenance.

The Lexham Bible Dictionary Temples

Temples

The city had numerous temples dedicated to Greek deities (Athena, Zeus, Dionysius, Asclepius, Hera, Demeter, and Persephone) as well as Egyptian deities (Serapis, Isis, and Harpocrates).

The Lexham Bible Dictionary Persecution of the Church in Pergamum

Christians at Pergamum experienced great pressure due to the city’s heavy focus on traditional Graeco-Roman religious life.

The sharp, two-edged sword.

The Word of God Isaiah 49:2, Ephesians 6:17, Hebrews 4:12.

There are two words for sword in Greek, describing two different kinds of swords.

Rhomphaian - a broad sword; the LXX has the angel of the Lord carrying this kind of sword.

Machaira - a Roman short sword in Revelation is used by those waging war.

Revelation 2:13.

Revelation 2:13 ESV

13 “ ‘I know where you dwell, where Satan’s throne is. Yet you hold fast my name, and you did not deny my faith even in the days of Antipas my faithful witness, who was killed among you, where Satan dwells.

What is the reference to Satan’s throne? There are three good options:

It is the Altar of Zeus, who poses as the Most High.

The Lexham Bible Dictionary Temples

The great altar to honor Zeus was built under Eumenes II and Attalus II.

The Lexham Bible Dictionary Temples

It would have been the most visible monument to people approaching the city across the valley. The altar is preserved in remarkably good condition and displayed in the Pergamum Museum in Berlin. Its decorations depict scenes from a battle between Olympian gods and the giants, as well as scenes from the life of Telephus, the city’s legendary founder.

2. It is the Roman Imperial Cult - which demands emperor worship. Revelation presents Rome reborn in some sense, and Satan giving Rome (i.e. the beast) his throne.

Revelation 13:2.

Revelation 13:2 ESV

2 And the beast that I saw was like a leopard; its feet were like a bear’s, and its mouth was like a lion’s mouth. And to it the dragon gave his power and his throne and great authority.

The Lexham Bible Dictionary (Persecution of the Church in Pergamum)

The imperial cult directly challenged Christianity, which forbids worship of any human other than Jesus as Lord and Savior (both used as titles of the emperor). Refusal to pay public homage to Caesar as a deity would have been considered not only irreligious but also treasonous often resulting in execution.

3. Jesus is referring to both of these forces aligned with Satan and against his people.

Jesus’ Commendation

They held fast and did not deny the faith, even unto death. How can I hold fast?

1 Corinthians 10:12-13.

1 Corinthians 10:12–13 ESV

12 Therefore let anyone who thinks that he stands take heed lest he fall. 13 No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.

Revelation 2:14.

Revelation 2:14 ESV

14 But I have a few things against you: you have some there who hold the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to put a stumbling block before the sons of Israel, so that they might eat food sacrificed to idols and practice sexual immorality.

Jesus’ Rebuke

They practice the teaching of Balaam.

Numbers 25:1-3.

Numbers 25:1–3 ESV

1 While Israel lived in Shittim, the people began to whore with the daughters of Moab. 2 These invited the people to the sacrifices of their gods, and the people ate and bowed down to their gods. 3 So Israel yoked himself to Baal of Peor. And the anger of the Lord was kindled against Israel.

Numbers 31:16.

Numbers 31:16 ESV

16 Behold, these, on Balaam’s advice, caused the people of Israel to act treacherously against the Lord in the incident of Peor, and so the plague came among the congregation of the Lord.

Why do they practice the teaching of Balaam? So that they can participate in Pergamum’s activities as a community - their feasts and their sexual rites.

1 Corinthians 10:14-22, 31.

1 Corinthians 10:14–22 ESV

14 Therefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry. 15 I speak as to sensible people; judge for yourselves what I say. 16 The cup of blessing that we bless, is it not a participation in the blood of Christ? The bread that we break, is it not a participation in the body of Christ? 17 Because there is one bread, we who are many are one body, for we all partake of the one bread. 18 Consider the people of Israel: are not those who eat the sacrifices participants in the altar? 19 What do I imply then? That food offered to idols is anything, or that an idol is anything? 20 No, I imply that what pagans sacrifice they offer to demons and not to God. I do not want you to be participants with demons. 21 You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons. You cannot partake of the table of the Lord and the table of demons. 22 Shall we provoke the Lord to jealousy? Are we stronger than he?

1 Corinthians 10:31 ESV

31 So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.

How are we tempted to fit in with our culture in ways that do not glorify God?

Revelation 2:15.

Revelation 2:15 ESV

15 So also you have some who hold the teaching of the Nicolaitans.

What’s with these Nicolaitans?

In the study of words (etymology), Nicolaitans and Balaam have related meanings. Nicolaitans means “he overcomes the people.” Balaam means “he who consumes the people”. So perhaps Jesus is saying it two different ways for emphasis. Worship him alone!

Revelation 2:16.

Revelation 2:16 ESV

16 Therefore repent. If not, I will come to you soon and war against them with the sword of my mouth.

Jesus’ Solution

Repent - turn from your sin.

1 John 1:9.

1 John 1:9 ESV

9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Jesus’ Judgement

War with the sword of his mouth.

Revelation 19:15.

Revelation 19:15 ESV

15 From his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations, and he will rule them with a rod of iron. He will tread the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God the Almighty.

Revelation 2:17.

Revelation 2:17 ESV

17 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who conquers I will give some of the hidden manna, and I will give him a white stone, with a new name written on the stone that no one knows except the one who receives it.’

Hear Jesus words spoken by the Spirit.

We are more than conquers in God’s love.

Romans 8:35-37.

Romans 8:37 ESV

37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.

What is the hidden manna?

What is the white stone?

What name is written on the stone? Come Wednesday night to find out about these rewards of Jesus.

Come let us worship Jesus alone.

The Book of Revelation The Worldwide Extent of the Paradisal City-Temple

The assertion that “his name [will be] on their foreheads” intensifies the notion of intimate fellowship with God. It is beyond coincidence that God’s name was written on the high priest’s forehead in the OT. This expresses further the priestly nature of God’s new people. It is also no accident that a “new name” in Isaiah 62 and 65 is repeatedly associated with latter-day Zion and that the various new names attributed to the end-time city there all have “God” included in them. This OT background suggests that the divine name written on believers here is a figurative way of speaking of God’s presence with his people, which protects them. This is confirmed by the same conclusion reached earlier with regard to the “new name” (see on 2:17; 3:12) and the seal (7:2–3), which is clarified further by 14:1 (which shows that both the name of Christ and the name of the Father are in mind in 22:4). Likewise, in 3:12 Christ emphasizes security by saying that he will write on the overcomer “the name of my God and the name of the city of my God … and my new name,” and metaphorically equates this with making the “overcomer” an immovable “pillar in the temple of my God.” The theme of security associated with the metaphorical use of God’s “name” elsewhere in the book fits neatly into the theme of the eternal security of the saints in the new Jerusalem narrated so far.

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