The compromising church…  

• 1^st – The introduction… vs. 12
  • FOUR sections
    • Each of the LETTERS to the churches contains FOUR sections…
    • Introduction – Positive – Negative – and Encouragement…
    • Not all of the churches receive all FOUR sections!
  • 1^st – The Angel…
    • To the angel!
    • The letters to all SEVEN churches open up with this same introduction – to the angel…
    • As you will recall – there are TWO thoughts on WHO this ANGEL was…
    • FIRST – a guardian ANGEL – who watched over Pergamos – Hebrews 1:14
    • SECOND – it could be the PASTOR of the church…
    • ANGEL [ἄγγελος] – means messenger – one who gives Gods WORD…
    • Therefore Jesus could be talking about the PASTOR – who gave the church His Word!
  • 2^nd – The City…
    • The church of Pergamos write!
      • Pergamos [Pergamum] – the modern city of Bergama located in Caicus river valley…
      • A beautiful – fertile valley that is around 30 milometers inland from the Aegean Sea…
      • Pergamos was the CAPITOL of the Roman province of the Asia Minor for over 250 years…
      • It was well known for having one of the LARGEST library in ROME – 200k scrolls!
    • The ruins of Pergamos are some of the most impressive in Turkey…
      • Pergamos [Πέργαμος] – the name means the HIGH place…
      • Has TWO sections – the Acropolis [high city] – over 300 meters above the valley floor…
      • The theater on the Acropolis is the steepest theatre in the world…
      • It seats 10-12k people – and has an almost vertical incline overlooking the valley below…
      • There are FOUR major temples: Athena – Trajan [emperor] – Dionysus – Zeus!
    • In the valley is a second set of ruins…
      • The Asklepion – was a world class medial facility…
      • They treated not only the physical maladies of the people – but also the emotional…
      • In Greek mythology – Asclepius was the Grecian God of healing [son of Apollos]
      • The symbol of Asclepius was a serpent spiraling up a pole – Medical Association…
      • People would come from all over the world to be healed in the Asklepion!
    • The result of all of this PAGANISM had a NEGATIVE influence on the church…
      • Which is why the church in Pergamos is often called the COMPROMISED church…
      • Too often rather than looking to the Lord – the church is influenced by the world…
      • Rather than follow after the example of the world – we are to be an example to them!
      • Jeremiah 15:19 – “You are to influence them. Do not let them influence you!”
  • 3^rd – The Tone…
    • Describing Jesus…
      • In His INTRODUCTION to each of the Churches – Jesus looks back…
      • Highlighting specific CHARACTERISTICS of the Vision from – Revelation 1:11-18
      • The choice of CHARACTERISTICS – will set the TONE for the LETTER to that church…
      • With PERGAMOS – Jesus will highlight His WORD – which bring JUDGEMENT!
    • These things says He who has the sharp two-edged sword!
      • Sword [ῥομφαία] – 7x NT [6x in Revelation] – speaks of a LARGE two-handed sword…
      • The same sword – that comes out of the mouth of Jesus – Revelation 19:15
      • The idea of the sword referrers to His Word – which brings judgement…
      • Because of their COMPROMISE – Jesus was going to bring his WORD to JUDGE!
      • Because it is the WORD of God – that reveals the TRUTH…
      • It is the instrument that Jesus will use to EXPOSE who we REALLY are!
      • Hebrews 4:12 – “The word of God is living and powerful – and sharper than any two-edged sword [μάχαιρα]… a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.”

• 2^nd – The Positive… vs. 13
  • 1^st – Jesus KNOWS…
    • I know your works!
    • KNOWS [εἴδω] – to SEE and UNDERSTAND…
    • Jesus will make this statement to all SEVEN churches – He sees EVERYTHING!
    • GOOD and BAD – nothing [perfect] is hidden from our Lord!
    • Hebrews 4:13 – “There is no creature hidden from His sight – but all things are naked and open to the eyes of Him to whom we must give account.”
  • 2^nd – Their LOCATION…
    • Where you dwell – where satans throne is!
      • Satan is not omnipresent – he can only be at one place at one time…
      • And the city of Pergamos – was the CITY where satan ruled [throne] in the days of John…
      • It is repeated again at the end of the verse – this is where satan dwells!
    • Temple of Zeus…
      • On the Acropolis in Pergamos was a temple to Zeus – and the altar to Zeus…
      • The foundation and steps of the remains of the altar can still be seen today – 80x80m
      • The actual altar was moved to the Pergamon museum in Berlin – Germany [Nazis]
      • Zeus was the greatest of the Greek gods – so perhaps this altar was the throne of satan!
      • I am not sure about you – but if Jesus told me satan lived in my city – I would move…
      • Needless to say – the church in Pergamos certainly did not have it easy…
      • They were striving to be a light in arguably the darkest place on earth!
  • 3^rd – Hold fast…
    • You hold fast to My name!
    • HOLD fast [κρατέω] – to hold onto something carefully – refuse to let go…
    • MANY in the church – put their TRUST in the NAME of Jesus…
    • There were a lot of other NAMES that they could have put their faith in – Zeus – Caesar…
    • But they believed there was ONE name that was above all others!
    • Acts 4:12 – “Nor is there salvation in any other- for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”
  • 4^th – Not DENY…
    • Did not deny My faith even in the days in which Antipas was My faithful martyr…
    • Who was killed among you – where Satan dwells!
    • Those in Pergamos who HELD onto the NAME of Jesus we VERY faithful…
    • Even the point of giving their lives for sake of their FAITH!
    • There is a TEMPLE in the lower part of the city of Pergamos called the RED Basilica..
    • It was used in the worship of the Egyptian goddess Isis – Serapis…
    • Antipas – the Pastor of Pergamos – was killed there by worshipers of Isis!
    • Because holding fast to the Lord – our FAITH – is also not about a better life now…
    • If we are looking for earthly rewards in return for our obedience to Christ…
    • We might very well be disappointed – God promises us tribulation here – John 16:33
    • The rewards for serving Jesus are far greater – they are eternal – it is about heaven!

• 3^rd – The Negative… vs. 14-16
  • 1^st – Doctrine of Balaam… vs. 14
    • I have a few things against you!
      • Not EVERYONE in the church was holding onto the BIBLE…
      • There were TWO other TEACHINGS [doctrines] that were POPULAR in PERGAMOS…
      • They HELD [κρατέω] to the TEACHING of Balaam – and the TEACHING of NICOLAITANS!
    • You have there those who hold the doctrine of Balaam!
      • Balaam was one of only a handful of non-Jewish prophets in the Old Testament…
      • There is no doubt Balaam KNEW the Lord – and that the Lord SPOKE to him…
      • Balaam referred to God by his true name [יְהוָה] – Numbers 22:8
      • King Balak of Moab sent to Balaam and asked him to CURSE the people of Israel…
      • When Balaam asked the LORD if he could go – the LORD told him NO – TWO times…
      • But he pleaded with the LORD [he was offered a LOT of money] and God let him go…
      • God sent an angel to KILL Balaam – but his DONKEY kept avoiding the angel…
      • The THIRD time it happened – Balaam beat his DONKEY – and the DONKEY spoke…
      • What is AMAZING is not that a DONKEY talked – it is that Balaam ARGUED back…
      • Then Balaam saw the angel – and the LORD told Balaam to ONLY speak what God said!
      • What was OBVIOUS to a dumb DONKEY – was HIDDEN from Balaam…
      • Because GREED will BLIND us to the DANGER right in front of us!
    • Who taught Balak to put a stumbling block before the children of Israel…
      • To eat things sacrificed to idols – and to commit sexual immorality!
      • Balaam wanted to earn the REWARD King Balak had for him…
      • He did not care what effect his actions would have – he ONLY thought of the MONEY…
      • He was more concerned with RICHES in this life – than ETERNAL life…
      • If he could not CURSE Israel – he knew how to get them to CURSE themselves…
      • Balaam gave king Balak the idea to TEMPT the men of Israel – with the women of Moab!
      • Numbers 31:16 – “These women caused the children of Israel – through the counsel of Balaam – to [sin] against the LORD…”
    • Balaam DIED for his MONEY…
      • Because MOAB caused a SCANDAL [σκάνδαλον] in Israel..
      • And got them to curse themselves by committing sexual immorality [πορνεύω]
      • God commanded Israel to attack the Moab – Numbers 25:16-18
      • When Israel defeated them – Balaam also died in the battle – Numbers 31:8
      • SADLY – many people are DETERMINED to miss out on HEAVEN…
      • They are confident MONEY will make them happy – they will SACRIFICE anything to get it!
      • The problem is people make MONEY their god – instead of Jesus…
      • We cannot dedicate our lives to MONEY and possessions – and to the LORD…
      • We waste our life on possessions that do not last – rather than on eternal rewards…
      • If we desire more MONEY – we are missing the greatest riches of all – Jesus!
      • I Timothy 6:10 – “The love of money is a root of all kinds of evil – for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness – pierced themselves through with many sorrows.”
  • 2^nd – Doctrine of the Nicolaitans… vs. 15
    • Thus you also have those who hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitans – which thing I hate!
      • The church in Ephesus – hated the deeds of the Nicolaitans Revelation 2:6
      • But the church in Pergamos HELD [κρατέω] to the doctrine of the Nicolaitans…
      • As you may recall – there are TWO views as to what this doctrine might have been!
    • The teachings of NICHOLAS…
      • NICHOLAS was one of the SEVEN deacons raised up at the church in Jerusalem – Acts 6:5
      • Some of the early church fathers [Irenaeus] taught that he became a HERETIC…
      • Teaching that it was OK to practice adultery – promiscuity…
      • Which would have been well received in the sinful culture of Artimus worship!
    • Hierarchy…
      • Nicolaitans [Νικολαΐτης] is a compound word – Victory [νῖκος] and People [λαός]
      • Meaning those who RULED over the PEOPLE – speaking of HIERARCHY in the church…
      • The idea being – leaders who taught people could not come directly to the Lord!
    • Doctrines of compromise…
      • Both the doctrines of BALAAM and the NICOLAITANS speak of COMPROMISE…
      • Being influenced of the WORLD around them – rather than the WORD!
      • The only reason someone HOLDS to the WORLD rather than the WORD…
      • Is because there is something else that they WANT more than God…
      • We WANT to be accepted by people – making us unwilling to STAND for Jesus…
      • We WANT drugs – alcohol – pleasure – ONLY living for the moment…
      • We WANT money – desiring the things of THIS world!
      • Matthew 6:24 – “No one can serve two masters…”
      • We all have to make a choice – we cannot serve TWO masters…
      • Beware a divided heart – desiring to follow Jesus – but flirting with the world…
      • Trying to LOVE this world and the Lord – is in essence cheating on Jesus…
      • We have a simple CHOICE – who do we CHOOSE to live for – who do we SERVE…
      • If we live for this world – then we are not going to be a friend of Jesus!
      • James 4:4 – “To be a friend of the world makes [us] an enemy of God.”
  • 3^rd – Repent… vs. 16
    • Repent!
      • The command [imperative] – was to STOP the compromise…
      • The church needed to TURN around – come back to the WORD – come back to Jesus!

• Or else I will come to you quickly and will fight against them with the sword of My mouth!
  • If they did NOT repent – Jesus would come QUICKLY with His SWORD [ῥομφαία]
  • And He would make WAR [πολεμέω] with them…
  • NOTE: there are TWO groups that are in danger of being JUDGED by the sword…
  • Jesus will come to YOU – and fight against THEM…
  • The THEM – refers to those who HOLD the doctrines of Balaam and Nicolaitans…
  • But the YOU – refers to those who HOLD fast to Jesus…
  • Why would they be JUDGED – because they did not stand up to the false teachings!
  • The Holy Spirit killed Ananias and Sapphira for lying – Acts 5 –
  • Achan and his family we killed when they compromised at Jericho – Joshua 7:25
  • Because just as a LITTLE mud can quickly contaminate – make all the water unclean…
  • And it only takes a LITTLE cancer before a life is in peril!
  • When COMPROMISE goes unchecked it encourages others to SIN…
  • That sin can quickly spread out and infect a whole family or church…
  • The longer it goes untreated – the more dangerous it becomes…
  • The only solution – cut out the cancer – remove the problem!

God wants to give us a new name – change our character – II Corinthians 5:17

4^th – The encouragement… vs. 17

1^st – LISTEN…

He who has an ear – let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches!

This was NOT written just for the church in PERGAMOS…

It is for ANYONE who has an EAR – they MUST [imperative] LISTEN…

Because the SPIRIT of God is SPEAKING [present] to ALL churches [plural]

This LETTER is for us – Jesus is writing to us TODAY…

If we are willing to LISTEN to what His SPIRIT has to SAY…

He is telling us NOT to listen to the WORLD – but LISTEN to the LORD…

I have met believers who are MISERABLE – COMPROMISED – UNSTABLE…

The problem is they have ONE foot in CHURCH – and ONE foot in the WORLD…

Therefore – they are miserable in CHURCH – because they WANT the WORLD…

But they are also not happy with the WORLD – because they know too much about the WORD…

They are just MISERABLE – because they COMPROMISED – and need to REPENT!

James 1:6/8 – “He who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind… he is a double-minded man – unstable in all his ways.”

2^nd – The PROMISE… vs. 17

He who overcomes!

This same CONCLUSION – is given to all SEVEN churches…

There are a variety of REWARDS described – but all with the same CONDITION…

OVERCOME [νικάω] – to those who have VICTORY [present]

For PERGAMOS – VICTORY – meant no long COMPROMISING…

And the REWARD for doing that – was TWO things! 

I will give some of the hidden manna to eat!

When Moses brought Israel out of Egypt – and they wandered in the wilderness…

There was NO food to eat – so God sent them MANNA [מָה] – Exodus 16

When the people saw it they asked – what is it – the word in Hebrew is [מָה]

But those who ate the MANNA in the wilderness – all died – John 6:49

Jesus is the true MANNA that comes from heaven – anyone who eats NEVER die…

He is the HIDDEN manna that comes down from heaven!

I often get busy in the morning – and do not take the time to eat…

The result is by about NOON – my tummy is telling me it NEEDS food!

In the same way – if we get bust and MISS our time with Jesus – the hidden MANNA…

When we do NOT take time to get into His word – our SPIRIT is STARVING…

If we do not want to become spiritually WEAK – we need HEAVENLY food…

When we are DAILY in His WORD – we will be STRONG – and never COMPROMISE!

I will give him a white stone!

In Greek courts the jurors would have TWO stones – one WHITE and one BLACK…

When they were asked to give their verdict in a case – they would cast their STONE…

The WHITE stone for INNOCENT – the BLACK one for JUDGEMENT!

Acts 26:10 – “…when they were put to death – I cast my vote [stone] against them…”

We are sinners and deserve the BLACK stone – Romans 6:23

But if we HOLD to the name of Jesus – listen to His word – we get the WHITE stone!

On the stone a new name written which no one knows except him who receives it!

In Pergamos – at the Asklepion – there is a tunnel…

The 90m tunnel – crypto porticus – would be filled with steam and music…

At the top are several openings – a physician would speak ENCOURAGING words…

When you came out – you would be given a WHITE stone with a NAME etched on it…

The idea was you were HEALED from your infirmity and given a NEW life!

Jesus is the ONLY one who can HEAL us [not just give us encouraging words]

He gives us a NEW character with – a NEW name – because we are NEW creations!

Like Saul who had his name changed – from Saul [great] to Paul [little]

A man with a tainted history – murderer – never really used by God…

Who became one of the greatest men used by God in history!

God does not want to leave us as we were before Christ – He wants to make us great…