2021-8-29, Revive and Rebuke: Jesus Speaks to His Church, The Church at Pergamum, Revelation 2:12-17

Douglas A. Jones

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Introduction

Review

Revelation comforts believers because it emphasizes Christ’s return and triumph over evil.

On the Lord’s Day, Sunday, John was in the Holy Spirit. He heard a loud voice like a trumpet commanded him to tell the seven churches what he would see in the coming vision.

John turned to the voice and he saw the Son of Man walking among seven golden lampstands, which represent the seven specific churches (1:12-13) to whom Revelation is addressed, Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, and Laodicea. Given that seven was commonly understood as a number of completion, we understand that the churches also represent of all local churches of the Lord ever since the start.

Description of Jesus walking among his lampstand. Rev 1:14-17

While Jesus encourages and protects His church, He also holds it to account for sin.

Ephesus & Smyrna

Commendation for diligent work in the name of Christ, endurance in the midst of persecution, recognizing and ousting false teachers.

Rebuke to Ephesus for forgetting its first love, Jesus. They settled into the sin of heartless, relationship-less, religion.

Jesus calls his churches to repentance with a warning.

Jesus tells those who stay true to the end will prove their faith to be genuine from the beginning will realize salvation.

Today, we are going to look at the third church...

Pergamum

Revelation 2:12 ESV

12 “And to the angel of the church in Pergamum write: ‘The words of him who has the sharp two-edged sword.

Correspondent: Two-edged sword

References back to Rev 1:16

Sword is referenced in Scripture as referring to the Word.

Depicts Jesus as judge and executioner (JM, 63)

While this refers to his judgment of the nations and vindication for the persecuted saints in Revelation 19:15, here its meaning is directed toward the church at Pergamum. This is the first negative introduction against one of the seven churches (JM 63). Jesus opens with a threatening tone. We will find out why in a couple verses.

Pergamum’s context was similar to Smyrna’s in that the threat of persecution was ever-present.

The Christians were surrounded by pagan worship and festivals.

Temples to Zeus, Athena, Asklepios, Dionysos

It was so bad in Pergamum that Jesus calls the city “Satan’s throne” and “where Satan dwells” (2:13)

The temptation to join in was ever present. The risk of persecution for not joining in was a constant weight on the shoulders of these Christians.

Their persecution might have been more intense because Pergamum was like the NYC of Asia Minor- the most cosmopolitan of the seven cities.

It had a very elitist vibe because it was the greatest of the cities in Asia Minor. It had remarkable presence as it resided on a tall defensible hill.

Pergamum boasted a library second only to Alexandria.

With this elitism, the Christians were easy targets for oppression.

Like Smyrna, the threat of execution for failing to worship the emperor was a reality for them.

Commendation

Before we find out why Jesus threatens to come after them with the sword of His mouth, he gives them praise.

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.

Jesus commends them for remaining faithful to their Christian witness even in an incredibly evil city.

They persisted in Christ despite the difficulty.

He alludes to a particularly difficult season of persecution when one of their Christians named Antipas, was martyred for his faith in Jesus Christ.

Jesus called him His “faithful witness.”

Even though Jesus praises them. Pointing out Antipas is almost part of the rebuke, because by comparison, in general, most of the Pergamum congregation were not whole-hearted like Antipas

The Rebuke

Though Jesus commends them for holding to the faith, he gives them a very strong rebuke. He warns them to shape up and repent or they will feel the edge of His blade.

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.

First offense, some of the Christians in the church were not staying away from the idolatry of the city.

There were some who were following the apostle’s teachings when the church met, but following the teachings of Balaam on their own time.

Balaam was a prophet in the OT who was hired by king Balak of the Amorites to curse the Israelites. Israel was wandering in the wilderness and preparing to make their way in to the promise land. Balak was threatened by them.

So he hired Balaam, and the prophet-for-hire was unable to curse the Israelites because God would not let him. He ended up blessing Israel.

However, Balaam did hatch a plan to use Moabite women to seduce the Israelite men and then to lead Israel into the worship of idols (Numbers 25, 31:16).

The result was the corruption of God’s chosen people Israel. They were supposed to be holy, but they became tainted with sin and idolatry. The consequence was God’s judgment on them for their unfaithfulness and the death of 24,000 Israelites (25:9).

Some the Pergamum Christians fell into a new expression of this false teaching-

Some of the Pergamum church members believed they could follow Christ and engage in sexual immorality and idolatry.

These Christians joined in the pagan festivities of Pergamum and also joined in the Christian worship of the church.

As God had judged His people Israel, so Jesus wields His sword of judgment on the church of Pergamum because of these so-called Christians

Sadly, that was not the only group in the church which held to false teachings…Jesus continues

Revelation 2:15 ESV

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

The Nicolaitans were another group abused Christian liberty to justify sexual immorality and idol worship.

Tradition said they did this in the name of Nicolas, one of the deacons elected in Acts 6 who either went apostate or his followers claimed he went apostate.

Regardless of the false teaching, these so-called Christians mocked the cross of Christ by indulging in the sins that Jesus died on the cross to save them from. It was blaspheme

It tainted the bride of Christ who are called to be a...

1 Peter 2:9 ESV

9 But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.

Jesus will not tolerate this behavior by His followers.

Broader rebuke...

The passages says that only “some” of the Christians in Pergamum did these acts. What about the rest of them? were they off the hook?

You remember that Jesus commended the Ephesians for not tolerating evil men (Eph. 2:2). They hated the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which Jesus says He hates as well.

In Ephesus, they identified false teaching, they investigated it, and they removed it using church discipline.

Matthew 18 explains that Church discipline is the process of compelling a church member to either repent of sin or leave the fellowship of believers.

The goal of church discipline is cleansing of the individual believer and/or the congregation from sin.

The consequence of not practicing church discipline is the tainting of the holiness and witness of the entire church. This is the opposite of Christ will for His church, which is sanctification.

Further, it devalues or mocks the precious gospel of Christ instead of celebrating it.

We learn here that Rather, than obeying Christ through church discipline, the Christians in Pergamum tolerated these evil practices in their midst.

There was fearfulness to speak out about sin in their ranks.

“The goal of the church is not to provide an environment where unbelievers can just feel comfortable. It is to be a place where they can hear the truth and be convicted of their sins so they can be saved (Romans 10:13-17). Gently (2 Timothy 2:24-26), lovingly, graciously, yet firmly, unbelievers need to be confronted with the reality of their sin and God’s gracious provision through Jesus Christ. Sin will never be suppressed by compromising with it (JM, 69).”

Jesus tells them He will not tolerate this apathy and tolerance toward sin.

So, catch Jesus’ instruction and threat...

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.

He tells the Christians playing with the teachings of Balaam and Nicolas that He will divine judgment. The imagery of the warrior Christ attacking them with the sword of His mouth should make us sober in spirit. He is coming to expose that those who do this are not His followers after all.

Could this letter to Pergamum be written to us?

Would we receive commendation for perseverance in persecution?

Is there a rebuke from Jesus to any of us who are practicing licentiousness, sensuality, or idol worship in our church family?

gods by name other than the triune God, idolatry through endorsing more than one way... Allah Buddha Hindu gods animistic gods ancestors saints god not necessarily by name

Lady Luck Mother Nature Father Time Almighty Dollar Cupid- quest for love and sensuality Uncle Sam, liberty

Social Justice Public religion lowest common denominator god (go easy on the Jesus thing) Saved by works religion The praise of men gods of the flesh which keep us from obedience Comfort Safety Fear Vengeance

Is there a rebuke from Jesus to our church in general for tolerating sin instead of addressing it through Jesus’ method of church discipline?

We all need to take Jesus’ warning to heart.

Jesus tells everyone that their only hope is repentance.

Lest FBC Harrah feel the sharp edge of His blade.

Counsel

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.’

To this church, Jesus reminds them that if they are faithful to the end and prove their faith to be genuine, then they will receive from Him

Hidden manna- honey-flavored bread which sustained the Israelites in the wilderness. A portion of it was left in the ark of the covenant. It was to remind them of God’s provision. Jesus Christ, the Bread of Life (John 6:48-51). He provides spiritual sustenance for those who put their faith in Him. It symbolizes the blessings and benefits of knowing Christ (Eph. 1:3).

white stone with a new name written on it.

Romans custom o awarding white stones to the victors in athletic contests (JM 70). Inscribed with the athlete;s name, served as a ticket to special awards banquet.

Parallels entrance into eternal victory celebration in heaven.

The new (of different quality) name will serve as each believer’s admission pass into eternal glory 70

Previous unknown, previously unheard of

name=essence of person; identity

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