"12 “And to the angel of the church in Pergamum write:
The One who has the sharp two-edged sword says this:
13 ‘I know where you dwell, where Satan’s throne is; and you hold fast My name, and did not deny My faith even in the days of Antipas, My witness, My faithful one, who was killed among you, where Satan dwells. 14 But I have a few things against you, because you have there some who hold the teaching of Balaam, who kept teaching Balak to put a stumbling block before the sons of Israel, to eat things sacrificed to idols and to commit acts of immorality. 15 So you also have some who in the same way hold the teaching of the Nicolaitans. 16 Therefore repent; or else I am coming to you quickly, and I will make war against them with the sword of My mouth. 17 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes, to him I will give some of the hidden manna, and I will give him a white stone, and a new name written on the stone which no one knows but he who receives it.’"
Some years ago, there was a popular phrase, perhaps you've heard of it, "COEXIST." This would be great phrase, if all it meant was that we need to stop killing each other and learn to coexist together on this planet. However, this is not what this word means. It's symbolism represents tolerance.
Each letter in COEXIST is a symbol representing a different religion or belief. The C is for Islam with its crescent moon. The O is for peace with the peace symbol that we have seen for decades. The E a represents gender equality, indicating no difference between males and females with an eye toward acceptance of homosexuality. The X is the star of David which represent Judaism. The I is a lowercase I and the dot of the letter I has a star inside a circle, representing Wican and pagan religions. The S is the yin and yang symbol representing eastern religions like Taoism and Confucianism. Finally, the T is a cross, representing Christianity.
Hebrews 12:14 says "Pursue peace with all men, and the sanctification without which no one will see the Lord."
While the idea of coexisting is a biblical concept, however, each symbol represented entails beliefs which logically contradict its beliefs. If you think all humans ought to COEXIST, then you should be a Christian! As we begin to explore the book of the Revelation together today, we will discover that sometimes, we can become blind to what is truly dangerous.
Let us pray
Heavenly Father,
Father, we thank You for Your Word, for its truth, power and conviction. The implications are far reaching, for both the church and as individuals. Lord, help us to confront sin graciously, lovingly and mercifully but directly. Let us not be complacent, in tolerating and accepting sin, especially within the body of Christ, that You might come and make war against us. Let us not be a people who participates in the worlds corruption, and its immorality. We want to be faithful and committed to You. May we be so distinctly different, that it becomes evident to all that we belong to You and that we have been rescued from the world. Thank You for Your promises to those of us who have placed our trust in Christ.
In His name we pray
Amen
Today's Message: A Church On The Edge Of Hell
I believe that the seven types of churches co-exist in every age, and every church can learn and benefit from these teachings, certainly, what's being said to all of
them. As I have stated many times throughout the years, rather than the church impacting the culture, the culture has sadly impacted the church. Sin rarely happens all at once. But over time. Satan is alive and well, he exalts himself and opposes everything that is good and godly.
Notice that it is not just those who took part in these wrong practices who receive rebuke from the Lord, but the whole church! I believe the message of the text is clear, that true believers need to speak up about the things God desires and challenge one another to remain faithful to those Godly desires.
Understand, the Lord will, and does, appoint churches to minister where Satan dwells.
These churches are meant to be lighthouses, rescue centers for those
who are spiritually lost and under condemnation. These churches are meant to
withstand wickedness and shine the light of Christ the Lord into the
darkened corners of this fallen world. Not to become part of it!
Therefore, churches are intended to serve as hospitals for the spiritually wounded and dying, resisting evil and promoting righteousness, at all cost.
Open with me your Bibles to the book of Revelation, the second chapter. There were seven early churches, these were actual churches in these seven towns, mentioned in chapter 1, verse 11: Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, and Laodicea. Five of these churches received a strong rebuke from the Lord, two did not, they were Smyrna and Philadelphia.
The Apostle John had been arrested and sent to the isle of Patmos, because of the Word of God, and the testimony of Jesus. John knew what was going on in these churches, more importantly, the Lord knows what’s going on in these churches.
Pergamum, was built on a hill that towered
1000 feet over the plain, about 100 miles north of Ephesus. It was 15 miles inland from the Aegean Sea. So, it not a port city like Smyrna, it wasn’t on any important trade routes. It was, however, a culturally important city, considered by many to be Asia’s greatest city. The city saw itself as a defender of Greek culture in Asia Minor. In 29 B.C., Pergamum apparently built the first temple devoted to emperor worship, in honor of Emperor Augustus. In fact, it is likely that Antipas was martyred for refusing to worship the emperor.
It was by far the most distinguished city in Asia, known for its impressive library with 200,000 handwritten volumes, immoral lifestyle and education. Since 133 B.C., Pergamum had been Asia’s capital for 250 years. It was the city that the church of Pergamum was supposed to impact. Sadly, it worked the other way around. If you were to go to Turkey today, you’ll find its ruins near a place called Bergama.
It was engulfed in paganism, idolatry and immorality, where there was no separation between social life and religious life. So, there's a little background on the city of Pergamum.
The One who has the sharp two-edged sword says this:
‘I
know where you dwell, where Satan’s throne is; and you hold fast My
name, and did not deny My faith even in the days of Antipas, My witness,
My faithful one, who was killed among you, where Satan dwells. But
I have a few things against you, because you have there some who hold
the teaching of Balaam, who kept teaching Balak to put a stumbling block
before the sons of Israel, to eat things sacrificed to idols and to
commit acts of immorality.
So you also have some who in the same way hold the teaching of the Nicolaitans. Therefore repent; or else I am coming to you quickly, and I will make war against them with the sword of My mouth. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes, to him I will give some
of the hidden manna, and I will give him a white stone, and a new name
written on the stone which no one knows but he who receives it.’"
That brings us to verse 13, "‘I know where you dwell, where Satan’s throne is; and you hold fast My name, and did not deny My faith even in the days of Antipas, My witness, My faithful one, who was killed among you, where Satan dwells."
The church at Pergamum has to deal with a throne of Satan, who is as we know, the archenemy of the church. He relentlessly assaults the church. In other words, they are waging war on Satan’s at his own headquarters. There was an altar there to Zeus that dominated the acropolis. It was massive colonnade at the acropolis. The actual alter was 18 feet high, the base was about 446 feet around the horseshoe court. It’s an altar to Satan. There is no Zeus. It was Satan’s throne.
There was also a monument to Asclepius, the god of healing. Asclepius was depicted as a snake, you've likely seen the figure that represents him in medicine. In that temple lived nonpoisonous snakes. If you wanted to be healed, you laid down in the temple with the hope that the snakes would crawl over you.
So, this was a congregation situated in a very critical location, I have to
wonder whether or not they truly realized how essential their presence was. I am convinced that we, as individuals or as a church, don’t always recognize the vital position we occupy in the place where the Lord has positioned us.
Despite the satanic influence, there is a wonderful commendation: "You hold fast My name." They never wavered, the clung to Jesus Christ. "And did not deny My faith," they were faithful to Christ and faithful to sound doctrine. Antipas, was likely their pastor. "My witness, My faithful one, who was killed among you, where Satan dwells."
During the reign of Diocletian, whose reign of terror ran from about 81 to 96, in which some Christians were executed for failing to obey the emperor when the emperor told them to carve images of Asclepius. Tradition tells us that Antipas was roasted, literally cooked to death inside of a brass bull. God works in the midst of His tormented people. Because so many Christians were killed for their witness, the word "martus," came to mean martyr. This would have been like attempting to run a rescue mission in the middle of Hell.
Whether we realize it or not, as followers of Christ, we are in the middle of a battle, and when the enemy opposes righteousness and godliness, the child of God must not flinch. We must stand firm in the faith.
As a footnote, I'd like to draw your attention to all of the "My's" in that verse, "My name," "My faith," "My faithful witness," "My faithful one." This is personal possession, the truth is His, the witness is His, the people are His.
In verses 14 and 15, we go from commendation to condemnation. "But I have a few things against you, because you have there some who hold the teaching of Balaam, who kept teaching Balak to put a stumbling block before the sons of Israel, to eat things sacrificed to idols and to commit acts of immorality. So you also have some who in the same way hold the teaching of the Nicolaitans."
So here, we have a picture of people who were being drawn back into the familiar sins from which they’ve been delivered. These Christians were participating in the sins of paganism, and in that which was the world’s. Notice the shift of pronouns, from pronouns shift from "you and them," to you.
"Because you have there some who hold the teaching of Balaam." Balaam was a renowned sorcerer, who was aware of the God of Israel. He was a sorcerer for money, he made his services available to anyone who would pay him. He was, by the way, killed in a battle with Midian. If you want to read the story, you can find it in Numbers 31.
"Who kept teaching Balak to put a stumbling block before the sons of Israel." Balak was the king of Moab, he was afraid of Israel. So Balak finds Balaam, and tries to hire him to put a curse on Israel, so they can’t take possession of his land, Moab. Three times Balaam tries to curse Israel and he cannot do it. So he develops another strategy, if he can't curse them, he will corrupt them. The plan was successful, it destroyed Israel's power and protection. However, God intervened, and severely chastened Israel and the leaders, halting their downward slide. I'm sure you remember the story.
Some in Pergamum were falling into the seduction of the culture, from which they had been delivered, they began "to eat things sacrificed to idols and to commit acts of immorality." In other words, they were attending pagan feasts with debauchery, immorality, incest, homosexuality, bestiality, and then coming to church.
Allow me to remind you, that sin always seems attractive at the first. However, it still remains that, "The wages of sin is death!" If you think that such practices don’t occur among the churches today, the prosperity gospel exhibits the teaching of Balaam. False teachers such as Kenneth Hagin, Kenneth Copeland, Paul Crouch, Creflo Dollar, Jesse
Duplantis, Benny Hinn, Paul Yonggi Cho, Joel Osteen and Joyce Meyer, each of whom
propagates the theology that excessive wealth is the essential evidence of faith, I believe these are merely the spiritual descendants of Balaam. In the theology of those teaching this prosperity gospel, the primary
role of the Living God is reduced to that of ensuring that our desires
are fulfilled now.
These modern day idolaters put their own particular spin on Jesus words, "I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly." While it is certainly true that Christ Jesus does give abundant life, but the life Jesus gives us is independent of circumstances. The prosperity gospel heresy sees the abundant life as a life of health, wealth, comfort and ease. Jesus Christ sacrificed Himself so that you could receive the blessings of life eternal not a financial windfall.
This is in direct conflict with what our Lord teaches in John 16, "In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world."
And in Matthew 24, He says "Then they will deliver you to tribulation, and will kill you, and you will be hated by all nations because of My name."
While
some might wish that I as a preacher would be silent concerning the
grave danger to the spiritual health of the churches of our Lord, it
must be stated that the prosperity gospel is paramount to idolatry.
Throughout the Word of God, we see that idolatry is closely associated
with sexual immorality.
Verse 16, is very straightforward, "Therefore repent; or else I am coming to you quickly, and I will make war against them with the sword of My mouth."
Stop engaging in worldly compromise! Stop participating in acts of uncleanness, immorality, indulging in the sins of the culture. Turn away from it now! Repent, repent, repent! God calls His people to repentance, just as He calls the lost to
repentance; and if the preacher will honor the One True Living God, in the name of the Lord, he will call
all who hear to repentance. When the redeemed begin to think that they can live as though they had no responsibility to the Lord, they must be called to repentance. Repentance is a message that must still be proclaimed in the church today. The lost need to repent concerning their rejection of the grace of God, and the sacrifice of His Son, Jesus Christ, to pursue their own twisted desires.
If there are people who are unbelievers coming into the church, then going right back to participate in the sins of the culture, you must confront their sin. It's great if they come to hear the Word, but we can’t tolerate them participating in activities with the people of God until they are a child of God. I believe, while unbelievers are always welcome and encouraged to come to church, but we must not fail to exclude those living in disobedience to God's Word from participating in the fellowship of the body of Christ. The church must stop tolerating an unequal yoke!
Furthermore, I believe that the church must confront professing believers, those who claim to have been redeemed, who are living sinful lives. Obviously, we are to offer grace and forgiveness to sinning believers, in fact 70 times 7, but we can’t tolerate those who flaunting their living in sin, those who live as close to the line of the corruption of the world as possible, as if it’s acceptable. We must confront that. Non-confronting churches must be warned, because you face judgment from the Lord Himself.
In verse 17, we move from the condemnation to the counsel, "He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches."
If you understand the truth of God, you need to listen, because the Lord has enlightened your heart and your mind. If your ears have been opened by the Lord, listen. Repent. This message is for all believers, in all times, in all place.
Then, comes this commitment, "To him who overcomes, to him I will give some of the hidden manna, and I will give him a white stone, and a new name written on the stone which no one knows but he who receives it.’"
God promises that He will provide all your sustenance and provide it through One who is Himself the Bread Of Life, the Lord Jesus Christ. This promise guarantees that we will be blessed with all spiritual blessings in the heavenlies in Christ. What a magnificent promise!
Finally, "And a new name written on the stone which no one knows but he who receives it.’" Before anyone asks, no one knows the new name written on that stone, except the one who receives it. All that I can tell you is that it's a new name, identifying that believer. The Lord is going to give you a new name. What a blessing for us to know that the Lord promises to those who genuinely trust in Christ, that we will have all we need in Christ!
In Closing..
If you are among the lost, repentance means that you change your attitude
concerning the Living God. Repentance means that you turn from pursuing
what pleases your own fallen nature and seek to please the Lord God.
Remember from where you have fallen.
To the church, stop courting the world, remove your compromise with the world or face the terrible reality of the Lord Himself declaring war on your church!
In either case, repentance requires confession of sin and our refusal to continue taking the easy path. It means setting aside our pride, and turn away from what we have been doing, turn to Him in full dependence on His grace. If we will genuinely repent with a contrite heart, there will be a measurable transformation.
May it be so..
And now may the Lord bless you and keep you;
the Lord make His face shine upon you,
And be gracious to you;
The Lord lift up His countenance upon you,
And give you peace.
Now and forever, in Jesus' name
Amen
the Lord make His face shine upon you,
And be gracious to you;
The Lord lift up His countenance upon you,
And give you peace.
Now and forever, in Jesus' name
Amen
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