The Spirit's Message to the Church at Pergamos
Part A
:Lesson scripture Revelation 2:12-17
:Lesson scripture Revelation 2:12-17
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| Earl Gillespie |
Revelation 2:12-17, ”And to the angel of the church in Pergamum write; These things says he who has the sharp sword with two edges; I know your works and where you dwell, even where Satan's throne is: and you hold fast my name, and have not denied my faith, even in those days when Antipas was my faithful martyr, who was slain among you, where Satan dwells. But I have a few things against you, because you have there them that hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balak to cast a stumbling block before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed unto idols, and to commit fornication. So have you also them that hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitans, which thing I hate. Repent; or else I will come unto you quickly, and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth. He that has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says unto the churches; To him that overcomes will I give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knows except him who receives it.”
The message to the church at Pergamos is a message to a church under government or imperial favor, it represent the church that has settled into the world. This period was about A.D. 316 and of course it will continue until the rapture.
Verse 12, “these things say he, who has the sharp sword with two edges”, thus began the message to the church at Pergamos. These words were used in the glorious description of Christ in the first vision in Revelation (chapter 1: 12-16), and are applied several times in the addresses to the churches. In chapter one, the sword proceed out of his mouth, while here He is said to have a sharp, two-edge sword. Here again understanding the symbology of the Bible is very important. If we cannot understand the language being used we are left with the image of a man with a sword coming out of his mouth. The sword is the symbol of judgment, and of course the sword that proceeds out of his mouth is the Word of God. Paul tells us God’s Word is powerful and sharper than any two-edged sword (Hebrew 4:12). Therefore the meaning become clear, Judgment is in the Word of God, and judgment proceeds out of his mouth. This apostolic church was given a warning and judgment followed.
Verse 13: I know your works and where you dwell, even where Satan's throne is: and you hold fast my name, and have not denied my faith, even in those days when Antipas was my faithful martyr, who was slain among you, where Satan dwells.
Here we have those solemn words again-“I know.” Remember those words we are going to come back to them throughout this study. The words, “I know” is not a message, but it is a statement of fact, Jesus is observing every aspect of the church. He is walking among the candle stands, observing the light holders and offering support or words of encouragement. He know the church is suffering.
History tells us that probably the most severe persecution came under Diocletian, A.D. 284. Satan attempted to destroy Christianity from without –but failed. The church read the letters from John, Jesus testimony and they were strengthened. The church withstood the persecution and flourished. The Devil is not one to give up; his next move was to destroy the Church in its true character and testimony from within. He would use “religious” men “Pious Prelates” and teachers to accomplish this deadly, damnable, undercover work. At the top of the list of the Devil’s tricks or tools is, “Deliberate Confusion.” Confusion is created in the church when the churches become embroil in interpreting the Word of God, rather than teach the word of God. When we attempt to interpret the Word of God to justify our preconceived position or doctrine we are open to error. We must be careful not to taint our perception by our preconceived notions or ideas. One of the problems Jesus had with the Nicolaitans was their interpretation or mis-interpretation of the scripture. Their interpretation of the scripture was to justify their position of leadership in the church. Paul prophesied this in Acts 20:29-30 and the cruel ungodly schemers of whom he wrote were certainly operating during the Pergamos period. At the time John wrote his letters, Pergamos was the capital of the Roman Government in Asia. Heathenism and idolatry reigned supreme. From Pergamos which was the center of idolatry and persecution, suffering among the believers spread over all of western Asia. Because of this, Pergamos was called, “Satan’s seat” or throne and the city where Satan dwelleth. Satan had his headquarters in Pergamos and from that city he sought to strangle and crush Christianity in that part of the earth. This was his mission and he was very successful in its execution. Christianity is no longer tolerated in that part of the world. Once he had accomplished his mission he moved his throne his center of operation to another area.
As pointed out in the beginning of our study, the messages to the seven churches not only have to do with seven local assembles, but with the church at different period of time from Pentecost to the Rapture. We must keep this in mind if we are to understand the deep, spiritual meaning of the messages to these individual churches. Thus, the message to Pergamos brings us up to the time of Constantine, the beginning of the fourth century after Christ. The repeated attack of Satan as a “roaring Lion” (1st Peter 5:8) his open persecution against the Church for two hundred and fifty bloody years, left the Church spiritually richer, if seemingly poorer in the eyes of the world.
Diocletian was the last of the persecuting emperors and his persecution had failed to destroy the Church. Now Constantine, some call him the first Christian emperor, succeeded his bloody predecessor. When Constantine ascended to the throne, the edicts of his predecessor were repealed and liberty was granted to the Christians to worship according to their own conscience. This took place in A.D. 313. However, the Christian religion was regarded as but one of the many religions of the empire. All religions were tolerated. The church now became weak. As time passed Constantine learned more about Christianity and become better acquainted with the Christians. He noticed that his Christian subjects could be relied upon and trusted, while his pagan subjects were continually causing trouble and giving him much difficulty throughout the empire. This being true, he realized that Christianity certainly had something the pagan religions did not have. Because of this, in A.D. 324 Constantine issued edicts against paganism and used all of his power to force Christianity on his empire as the one and only religion. He banished paganism from his court and from his government, and Christians were given posts of honor. These Christians were not like Daniel. Because the Emperor offered the gold and positions of honor, many of them eagerly swallowed the bait, sacrificed their convictions and allegiance to the Lord—and the church settled into the world. Before that time the church had walked apart from the world (John 17; 2nd Cor. 6:14-16). Constantine was the first ruler of the Roman Empire to offer the church faith based initiatives. In the 2000's George W. Bush, President of the United States made the same overture to the American churches. When Constantine made these kinds of gestures towards the church and believers, they locked arms with him and with the state, and thus the church made a fatal union.
Revelation 2:14-15 But I have a few things against you, because you have there them that hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balak to cast a stumbling block before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed unto idols, and to commit fornication. So have you also them that hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitans, which thing I hate.”
Verse 14 opens with these words, “But I have a few things against thee.” These words are spoken to the angel at Ephesus (chapter 2:4) and also to the angel at Thyatira (chapter 2:20). At Ephesus it was the departure from first love. At Thyatira it was the corruption of doctrine; and here in Pergamos it is plural “things,” pointing to more than one evil. We must remember that when a minister or teacher began to compromise in the least, the compromising will spread and grow. If we give the Devil an inch he will take a mile. A believer cannot do business with the Devil in any form, regardless of how insignificant or little it may seem.
In the church at Pergamos, there were those in the assembly who held to the perverted teachings of Balaam, and those who held to the teaching of the Nicolaitans. Both groups were tolerated in the local assembly. What Ephesus hated, Pergamos accepted (Rev. 2:6 and 2:15). If you will study the life of Balaam you will readily see that his heart was not in the prophecies he was compelled by the spirit of God to utter. To fully understand the doctrine of Balaam we should read from the Book of Number the 22- 25 chapter. Allusions to Balaam's influence in the instigation of this design are found in other places (2Pe 2:15; Jude 1:11)--A stumbling-block; an enticement to sin. In simpler terms Balaam could be described as a prophet for profit. He was torn between reaping a reward and obeying God. He wanted to do and was committed to doing God’s work, but he wanted the money and the glory.
The Nicolaitans was now firmly entrenched as leaders of the church with the support of the Pagan Roman Empire. John wrote the letters to the Church around AD 96 and Jesus hated this group that was setting themselves up as leaders of the church and he urged them to remember and repent or he would remove the lamp stand. Rather than repent, the church leaders sought to solidify their leadership role, through Council rules and invoking the power of the state. Christians were put to death, burned at the stakes if they did not go along with the church leadership. What the Devil had tried to do from the outside, and failed, he was now successful from the inside.
A council of the church is a conference called by the leaders of the church to give guidance to the church. The first council of the church took place in Jerusalem (A.D. 50) for the purpose to dealing with Judaizing legalism. Its events are recorded in Acts 15. The results of this first council became normative for the entire early church. But this council must be distinguished from later councils of the church in that it had apostolic leadership. The councils that followed were called for the purpose of obtaining power over God’s people. Jesus did not condone some two legged fellow claiming to have rule over his church. This must be the reason he used the word servant throughout his messages.
To be continued
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