Today we continue series entitled: “Things are not as they seem.”

Today we continue series entitled:

“Things are not as they seem.”

Revelation wants to help us see reality in light of an unseen future and a present

reality seen only with the eyes of faith.

This series is based largely on Darrell Johnson’s book, Discipleship on the Edge.

Revelation of Jesus– Things are Not as They Seem - Pergamum Battle for the Mind

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Scripture Reading

Revelation 2:12-17


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John identifies the one who gives the message to the individual

churches with a part of the description of

Jesus [Rev. 1:13-16]who is standing in the middle of

the churches.


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“To the angel of the church in Pergamum write: These are the words of him who has the sharp,

double-edged sword.” v.12

Symbol of Pergamum? A sword

Rome had given them the right to inflict capital punishment

Jesus has the Sword of judgmentSword of truth


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“I know where you live—where Satan has his throne. Yet you remain true to my name. You did not renounce your

faith in me, even in the days of Antipas, my faithful witness, who was

put to death in your city—where Satan lives.” v. 13


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“I know where you live—where Satan has his throne.”

Satan’s Throne =- Mount with several temples- Zeus’ temple above the city with alter overlooking the city- center of Caesar worship


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“I know where you live—where Satan has his throne. Yet you remain true to my name. You did not renounce your faith in me, even in the days of Antipas, my faithful witness, who was put to death in your city—where Satan lives.” v. 13

Even in this pagan city, “where Satan has his throne”

these Christians have remained true to Jesus.

Even in the face of persecution from Emperor Domitian.


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While they were strong against outside attack,

Jesus has this against them, they are allowing the attack from

the inside to go on.


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“Nevertheless, I have a few things against you: You have people there who hold to the teaching of Balaam,

who taught Balak to entice the Israelites to sin by eating food

sacrificed to idols and by committing sexual immorality. 15Likewise you also have those who hold to the

teaching of the Nicolaitans.” vv.14-15


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“Nevertheless, I have a few things against you: You have people there who hold to the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to entice the Israelites to sin by eating food sacrificed to idols and by committing sexual immorality. Likewise you also have those

who hold to the teaching of the Nicolaitans.” vv.14-15

To understand this we need to recall the story of Balak & Balaam in

Numbers


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Balak king of Moab called Balaam to curse the Israelites.

God turned his curses into blessings!

Balaam then suggested that the way to turn Israel from God

would be through the seduction of women. [Numbers 31:16]


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Numbers 25:1-3:“While Israel was staying in Shittim, the men began to indulge in sexual immorality with Moabite women,

who invited them to the sacrifices to their gods. The people ate and

bowed down before these gods. So Israel joined in worshiping the Baal

of Peor.”


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The church in Pergamum was doing so well against the forces outside,

but they were “carelessly indifferent to the influence from

within.”

“Although the church was being vigilant on the front lines it was tolerating a Trojan horse in its

midst.”Discipleship p.79


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Today we value tolerance.

Why is Jesus so intolerant here?

“Because he loves the truth, he speaks the truth, he is the truth.

And because, as he claims elsewhere, falsehood and

deception of any kind enslaves people.” Discipleship p.79


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“We learn from this message that tolerance is not a biblical virtue.

Patience is. Understanding is.

Civility is. Graciousness is.

Mercy is. Humility is.

But not tolerance.”

Discipleship, p.80


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Jesus does not tolerate and calls the church

not to tolerate unbiblical teaching.


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What were they teaching?

“Among other things, that it was okay for Christians to eat meat sacrificed to idols and to have sexual relations outside the bounds of the one man, one woman, life covenant we call

marriage.” Discipleship p.80


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Here was how it was being argued:

Since idols are not really gods and are nothing but wood and

stone then eating meat sacrificed to them is not a problem.


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Pagan sacrificesAnimal offered as sacrifice to the

gods, part returned the offerer, who then sold it in the market or held a

fest in honour of the gods.

Paul in I Corinthians says that eating meat that once was

sacrificed to idols but later was sold on the market was ok.


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But he says in I Cor. 10:19-20:“Do I mean then that a sacrifice offered to an idol is anything, or that an idol is anything? No, but

the sacrifices of pagans are offered to demons, not to God,

and I do not want you to be participants with demons.”


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“That is why he [Jesus] says he hates their ideas. They

misunderstood the nature of reality. We are physical creatures living in

a physical universe. But we are also spiritual creatures living in a

spiritual universe. And in this spiritual universe there is a battle

going on. Every inch is a battlefield. There is not neutral territory.”

Discipleship p.83


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In a similar way, the Balaamite-Nicoliatans justified sexual

immorality.Having accepted a dualistic

worldview of the person, they argued that the body was

nothing. It was simply the prison house of the soul.


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And since the body is not important, you can do anything to it and it won’t effect the soul

or the person.

Sounds pretty contemporary doesn’t it.

“Having sex is just a biological act and nothing more.”


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The Bible speaks against this one so many levels.

The bible teaches that we are Body and Soul.

Not that we have a body and soul“My body may be my outer self and my soul my inners self, but both are the same self.” Discipleship

p.83


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So contrary to the lies of Balaam and the contemporary lies,

any act that involves my body, impacts me, my real self.


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Lewis Smedes puts it this way,

“There is no such thing as casual sex, no matter how casual people

are about it. … Nobody goes to bed with someone and level his soul

parked outside . . . The demand for self-restraint is not a kill-joy rule plastered on the abundant life by

anti-sexual saints. It is respect for reality. The moral law fits the inner

reality of sex.” Sex for Christians, p. 131


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The question you and I need to face is have we tolerated that kind of thinking in our lives,

in our church?

Watch TV for one day and see how many times sex is treated

casually.


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How did the Balaamite lie enter the church?

“It was wrapped up in the language of the gospel. The Balaamite-Nicolatians had not

denied Jesus outright. They were likely saying something like this: ‘Look, you

belong to Jesus. How can anything hurt you? You have been baptized! You have eaten from the Lord’s Table! Nothing can affet your relationship with him.’ Such a position reflects a misunderstanding of God’s grace. Grace does not protect us when we willfully choose to disobey.”

Discipleship p.85


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Here is the good news:Jesus will not tolerate this false

teaching in his church.“Repent therefore! Otherwise, I will

soon come to you and will fight against them with the sword of my

mouth.”


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Jesus calls us to repentTo change directions

To get rid of the dualistic lie and accept the truth.

“You shall know the truth and the truth will set you free.” John

8:32


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To those who repent, Jesus makes two promises:

“To him who overcomes, I will give some of the hidden manna. I will also

give him a white stone with a new name written on it, known only to him

who receives it.” v.17


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To him who overcomes, I will give some of the hidden manna. I will also give him a white stone with a new name

written on it, known only to him who receives it. v.17

Instead of eating food sacrificed to idols that will not satisfy

Jesus offers himself as the bread from heaven, the bread of life.


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To him who overcomes, I will give some of the hidden manna. I will also give him a white stone with a new name written on it, known

only to him who receives it. v.17

Secondly, we are promised a white stone with a new name on it.

Many different interpretations- Entrance ticket

- When 2 friends part, they split a white stone and write their name on it and

exchange it for the half of their friend. Symbolize that their friendship will last

as long as the stone.


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Johnson answer the question how do we make it in the battle for the mind?1.By humbly acknowledging that we do not have the corned on the truth.2.By consistently opening ourselfves to the sharp two-edged sword that

comes from Jesus mouth.


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3. By humbling ourselves and constantly opening our minds to the living and active Word of God

that is able to penetrate our distorted ideas and lead us to the

truth that sets us free.


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Let us Pray!


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Today we continue series entitled: “Things are not as they seem.”

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