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The SevenChurches of Asia

The Church At Pergamos

7 Churches of Asia

•We began a discussion last week of the 7 Churches of Asia the Book of Revelation is addressed to.

•We have talked about the severe persecution from the Roman Government that the Church was enduring even before the time of the writing of this book and that would continue for many years into the future.

• It was as a result of this persecution that the Apostle John had been exiled to the Island of Patmos

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7 Churches of Asia

•While on Patmos, Jesus dictated to John these seven short epistles to the Churches in Asia.•We have discussed the letter to the Church at Ephesus.

They had many, many good things they were doing that Jesus commended them for.•But they had a major problem. They had lost the love

for Christ they once had and because of it Jesus commanded them to repent and to return to their first works.

7 Churches of Asia

•We discussed in our last lesson the Church at Smyrna.

•What a great example of how Christians should conduct themselves in the face of persecution and poverty.

• In spite of all of their physical problems, Jesus did not tell them that everything here was going to get better because they were Christians. He told them things were going to get worse physically for them. He then left them with these words of encouragement.

•Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life.

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Pergamos

•Now we want to begin our discussion of the Church at Pergamos.• Lets begin with a little bit of background on this city.• This city was in existence several centuries before

the birth of Christ• It was the capitol of its own kingdom which at one

point included Mysia, Lydia, Caria, Pamphylia and Phrygia.• It had become both a very beautiful and wealthy city

during the days of its kings

Pergamos

• “Art and literature were encouraged, and in the city was a library of 200,000 volumes which later Antony gave to Cleopatra. “ International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

• The books were made of parchment which was first used as a writing material in this city. The word parchment comes from the Greek word for Pergamos

• One of the most impressive structures in the city was the altar of Zeus, which stood over 40’ high.

• When the last king of Pergamos died in 133 bc he willed the kingdom to the Roman Government

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Pergamos

•When the Romans took over Pergamos they formed the new Roman province of Asia and made Pergamos its Capitol.

• There were 4 temples in the city devoted to the Greek Gods Zeus, Athena, Asklepious and Dionysus.•Asklepious: was the God of medicine and was

worshipped in the form of a serpent

•Along with them temples of these gods were 3 more devoted to worship of the emperor.

Pergamos

•By the end of the 1st century Pergamos was no longer the capitol of the province. It had lost that title to the city of Smyrna but it was still the major “religious” center of the region.• It was the home of the “concilia” the cult that was

dedicated to emperor worship.• Evidently this cult, backed by the emperor and the Roman

army, controlled much of what went on in the city.• This included the right to buy and sell.

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• The following is a quotation from an article on the Granberry Church of Christ web-site.

• This was written about the “Concilia” the cult who worshipped the emperor (ceasar) of the Roman Empire

• “They were unrelenting when it came to the enforcement of emperor worship, especially under Domitian who insisted upon it.

• It was possibly this group that banished John to the isle of Patmos, most probably during the reign of either Vespasian or Titus.

• “It was certainly the Concilia who saw to it that the material possessions were taken from the Christians when they refused to serve in the Roman army or refused to bow down to the "gods" of the Romans including the emperors.

• It was the Concilia who issued certificates to those who they witnessed burning incense and offering worship to the Roman Emperors without which no one could buy or sell food, participate in land transactions or benefit from any government programs.” Granberry Church of Christ Web-Site

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Pergamos

• It was in the middle of all of this wickedness and persecution that these Christians were living when Jesus addresses the following letter to them.•Re 2:12 ¶ "And to the angel of the church in Pergamos

write, 'These things says He who has the sharp two-edged sword:• 13 "I know your works, and where you dwell, where

Satan's throne is. And you hold fast to My name, and did not deny My faith even in the days in which Antipas was My faithful martyr, who was killed among you, where Satan dwells.

Pergamos

•14 "But I have a few things against you, because you have there those who hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balak to put a stumbling block before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed to idols, and to commit sexual immorality.

• 15 "Thus you also have those who hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitans, which thing I hate.

• 16 'Repent, or else I will come to you quickly and will fight against them with the sword of My mouth.

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Pergamos

• 17 "He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes I will give some of the hidden manna to eat. And I will give him a white stone, and on the stone a new name written which no one knows except him who receives it."‘

• Lets go back now and examine what Jesus tells them in more detail.

• First off Jesus describes Himself as the one with the “sharp two edged sword.”

Pergamos

• The sword that Jesus has is depicted as coming “out of His mouth” in Rev 1:16

• It is no doubt that this sword represented the words of Christ.• Eph 6:17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the

sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God;

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Pergamos

•Heb 4:12 For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

• It is the defender of those on His side and the destroyer of His enemies

• Jesus next tells them He knows their works.

Pergamos

•He makes this statement to each of these Churches. Whether they are good or bad, Jesus knows their works.•He also knows our work both as a congregation and

individuals. Nothing is hid from His eyes!•Heb 4:13 And 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.

•We may think we are getting away with some things in this life because we are able to fool men but we will never be able to fool God!

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Pergamos

• There is an idea I have heard several times in the past “its not against the Law unless you get caught”

• Some in our society really believe that it is ok to commit a crime as long as you don’t get caught.

• Since we are dealing with Human Beings, many times the criminal won’t get caught.

•Don’t be fooled into thinking this will happen with God.•Pr 15:3 ¶ The eyes of the LORD are in every place,

Keeping watch on the evil and the good.

Pergamos

• Jesus also knew where they dwelt. Where they dwelt was not mentioned to any of the other Churches.

• The place where this Church in Pergamos dwelt must have been an especially wicked place!

• Jesus called it the place “where Satan’s throne is”

• There are several reasons this place may have been called “Satan’s throne” • It could have been a reference to the altar of Zeus

which reportedly looked like a giant throne on the mountainside

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Pergamos

• It may have been a reference to the temple of Asklepious, who was the God of medicine. He was worshipped in the form of a Serpent.•We could easily understand how this serpent could be

a symbol of Satan.

•Or it may have been a reference to the worship of the emperor of Rome. He was the guy that sat on the throne.

• In my opinion it probably did not refer to anyone of these in particular but rather to the city as a whole because it was given over to such wickedness.

Pergamos

• Jesus also commended them for holding on to His name and His faith after having one of their own executed because he was a Christian.•Men have over the years have come up with their own: •Professions of faith•Articles of faith•Creeds, etc

•But only the System of faith that belongs to Christ can save us thru belief in and obedience to His Word.•Remember that Sword cuts both ways. It will both save

and destroy

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Pergamos

• Vs 13 … you hold fast to My name, and did not deny My faith even in the days in which Antipas was My faithful martyr, who was killed among you…• We don’t know very much about Antipas from the Scriptures• Secular history tells us that Antipas was an Elder in the

Church at Pergamos and he was executed because of his promotion of the Gospel

• He was supposedly warned: "Antipas, the whole world is against you!", to which he replied:

• "Then I am against the whole world!"

Pergamos

•Again according to secular history, Antipas was roasted alive inside of a bronze bull.• In spite of having one of their own executed for the cause

of Christ, in the midst of all this wickedness. These Christians in Pergamos had not become discouraged and given up the faith.•When we see such examples of faith and courage it

should help bolster our faith and determination.• It should also make us ashamed of ourselves when we

give into sin for some of our petty reasons.

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Pergamos

•Although they had endured in such a place, there were some among them who were teaching a false doctrine.

•Re 2:14 "But I have a few things against you, because you have there those who hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balak to put a stumbling block before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed to idols, and to commit sexual immorality.

• 15 "Thus you also have those who hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitans, which thing I hate.

Pergamos

•Not all of the Christians there were teaching or holding to this doctrine but the ones who were evidently had been allowed to remain a part of the congregation.•We don’t know a lot about these “Nicolations” other than

what we are told here.• Their teaching was evidently similar to that of Balaam.

Who, for money, taught Balak to get the Israelites involved in Idolatry and fornication in order to destroy them.

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Pergamos

• Evidently these “Nicolatians” or “followers of Nicolas” were teaching these Christians it was ok for them to worship these idols and partake in their idolatrous feasts and they were teaching this in order to make money.

• Think how comforting this doctrine would have been• If they participated in these things they wouldn’t be

ostracized from society• They could buy and sell in order to feed their families• The threat of physical persecution would be almost

completely removed

Pergamos

• From a physical standpoint there was a lot of good things that could happen if they followed the doctrine of the Nicolaitans'.

•But there was a huge problem with this. Jesus hated their deeds and their doctrine.•Re 2:15 "Thus you also have those who hold the

doctrine of the Nicolaitans, which thing I hate.

•We simply cannot participate in things that are wrong and sinful no matter how good our excuse may be!

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Pergamos

• Jesus concludes with the following statement:•Re 2:17 "He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit

says to the churches. To him who overcomes I will give some of the hidden manna to eat. And I will give him a white stone, and on the stone a new name written which no one knows except him who receives it.“• These are just my thoughts on what these statements

may mean.•Hidden Manna: Manna was what sustained the

Israelites in the wilderness.

Pergamos

• The Word of God is what sustains the Christian spiritually in times of trial today.

• Its meaning is hidden to those of the world who do not want to understand it but it is available to all who want to know God’s will.

•1Co 1:18 For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.

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Pergamos

•Given a White stone with a new name: • Johnson’s notes has this to say about the White Stone:

“Among the Greeks a white stone was a symbol of acquittal, as a black stone was of guilt. The white stone implies justification, innocence and victory.”• This new name in my opinion may be the name of

Christ or Christian designating one who belongs to Christ.• Isa 62:2 The Gentiles shall see your righteousness, And

all kings your glory. You shall be called by a new name, Which the mouth of the LORD will name.

Pergamos

• This new name of Christian was not worn by any until after the establishment of the Church.

•Ac 11:26 And when he had found him, he brought him to Antioch. So it was that for a whole year they assembled with the church and taught a great many people. And the disciples were first called Christians in Antioch.

• Though many may call themselves by this name it is only truly known and worn by those faithful followers of God.

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Conclusion

•What can we learn from this Church at Pergomas• That we can endure no matter what type of area we live

in or how bad things may be for us a Christians we can endure.•Many of them had endured, not all had fallen to this

teaching of the Nicolaitans.•Getting involved in sin is not acceptable no matter what

our excuse is.• If we do, God will fight against us and that is a battle we

cannot win!