The Compromising Church The Church at Pergamum Revelation 2:12-17.
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Transcript of The Compromising Church The Church at Pergamum Revelation 2:12-17.
![Page 1: The Compromising Church The Church at Pergamum Revelation 2:12-17.](https://reader036.fdocuments.net/reader036/viewer/2022070403/56649f2f5503460f94c49081/html5/thumbnails/1.jpg)
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The Compromising Church
The Church at Pergamum
Revelation 2:12-17
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Review
• Christ is concerned about His churches– He is giving 7 letters to tell what He sees
• Ephesus – Loyal, but Lacking Love
• Smyrna – Poor, but Rich
• Now we look at the 3rd church, Pergamum
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57 miles from Smyrna
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Pergamum, the cityThe ruins of the library at Pergamum
The 2nd largest library in the Roman Empire
Housed more than 200,000 books and scrolls
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Pergamum, the city
The Aesclepium
The Healing Center
Marble altar showing snake worship symbols
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Pergamum, the cityTemple of Serapis, Egyptian healing god
Temple of Athena, goddess of wisdom
Temple of Zeus
Temple of Hera
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Pergamum, the cityTemple to the Emperor
3x named Temple Warder of the Imperial Cult
Pergamum Council given “right of the sword” (the right to sentence to death)
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Pergamum, the church
• Rev 2:12
• The one with the sharp two-edged sword– Christ has the real power of life and death
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Pergamum, the church
• Rev 2:13, the positive points
• Satan’s throne could be . . .– Center for enforcement of emperor worship– The Aesclepium– All the many temples
• Antipas, a martyr, faithful– Killed where Satan dwells– Probably indicates the center for enforcement
of emperor worship
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Pergamum, the church
• Rev 2:14-15
• The teaching of Balaam (Num 22-24, 31:16)– A doctrine of compromise– Balaam couldn’t curse Israel directly
• So he got them to compromise (idolatry and fornication) so God would curse them
– Some in the church were also compromising• Perhaps in idolatry and fornication (like Balaam)• Perhaps in other ways
– With the Temple Warders– With the Aesclepium
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Pergamum, the church
• Rev 2:16, the challenge– Repent or else– God does not accept compromises– Christ will use His “right of the sword” against
them– His sword is the word of God (Eph 6:17)
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Pergamum, the church
• Rev 2:17, the reward for overcoming– Hidden manna – spiritual sustenance– White stone (2 possibilities)
• A vote of acquittal in Roman courts• A mark of freedom for a former slave
– A new name written on the stone• When a slave was freed, he was given a new name• The name would include that of the master who freed him
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Lessons for today
• God accepts no compromises with sin– If healthcare, jobs, family, freedom, or even
life are threatened, better to lose them
• If we have compromised, we must repent
• To be free, we must give up all the things of the world
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Conclusion
• Are we ready to follow God no matter the consequences?
• Do we stand against those who would seek compromise with the world?
• Are we willing to repent for past compromises?
• If not, are you ready to face Christ and fight against Him?
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