The Seven Churches Part 4 – Pergamos

The Seven Churches

Part 4  – Pergamos

Pastor Bruce A. Shields

House of Faith Church | www.PS127.org | www.TruthDigest.org

INTRODUCTION

This is the revelation of Jesus Christ to John.

John is told to record what had seen, is seeing, and will see, which is the key to the Book of Revelation. John saw Jesus and his description defines and sets the foundation for the rest of the book. Jesus IS Lord of Lords, and King of Kings, and the Alpha and Omega.

John then records the letters to the pastor's of each of the seven churches, or, what is taking place NOW, and then record what WILL take place in the end.

Chapters 4-22 of Revelation is for those who will be left behind after the rapture.

Last week we took a look at the first of the seven churches, Ephesus, the apostolic church, and read what was good, and bad about the church. The end of the letter states, “He who has an ear, let him hear what the spirit says unto the churches.”

In other words, these things apply to US today, as The Church and Body of Christ.

Today we look at the third church, Pergamos.

SCRIPTURE REFERENCE

Revelation 2:12-17

12 “To the angel of the church in Pergamum write:

These are the words of him who has the sharp, double-edged sword. 13 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, not even in the days of Antipas, my faithful witness, who was put to death in your city—where Satan lives.

14 Nevertheless, I have a few things against you: There are some among you who hold to the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to entice the Israelites to sin so that they ate food sacrificed to idols and committed sexual immorality. 15 Likewise, you also have those who hold to the teaching of the Nicolaitans. 16 Repent therefore! Otherwise, I will soon come to you and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth.

17 Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who is victorious, I will give some of the hidden manna. I will also give that person a white stone with a new name written on it, known only to the one who receives it.

I.       I KNOW YOUR WORKS

a.      Dispensationally speaking

i.       Pergamos (or Pergamum, depending on translation), refers to the State of the Church, which laid the groundwork for the Catholic System from 300AD to 500AD.

b.      12 “To the angel of the church in Pergamum write: These are the words of him who has the sharp, double-edged sword."

i.       John describes the Lord's appearance in Revelation 1:16 "...and coming out of his mouth was a sharp, double-edged sword."

ii.    Now, we see the Lord telling John to write to the Pastor of the Church in Pergamos in Revelation 2:12 "...These are the words of him who has the sharp, double-edged sword."

iii. Hebrews 4:12 "For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart."

iv.   The double-edged sword is a symbol of the Word of God.

a.      It is ALIVE and POWERFUL.

b.     It has the ability to probe.

c.      The Word of God pierces the soul and spirit, proclaiming what we ought to be and can only be in Christ.

d.     The Word of God also portrays to us the Holy Spirit and His power.

e.      He Alone can "quicken our mortal bodies" (Romans 8:11) Which means He gives power in our mortal bodies that we may be VICTORIOUS in life!

f.       To each Church, the Lord has promised spoils to those who are VICTORIOUS, or overcommers.

g.      This power the Lord promises to our mortal bodies to become victorious in life, is the power which makes our bodies yield to that which is Righteous.

h.     Romans 6:12-14 "¹² Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its evil desires. ¹³ Do not offer any part of yourself to sin as an instrument of wickedness, but rather offer yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life; and offer every part of yourself to him as an instrument of righteousness. ¹⁴ For sin shall no longer be your master, because you are not under the law, but under grace."

c.      The Lord opens with this because He is about to make a point about the Word of God

i.       I know your works and where you dwell (spiritually speaking)

ii.    Even where Satan's seat is (Satan ruled the governing operation of this church)

iii. You have held fast to My Name, and have not denied My Faith (despite the corrupt governing power of this church, some were holding fast to Christ, and remained faithful.)

iv.    You did not renounce your faith in me, not even in the days of Antipas, my faithful witness, who was put to death in your city—where Satan lives.

v.      This persecution came from WITHIN the church!

II.   HOWEVER, I HAVE THIS AGAINST YOU

a.      Within this corrupt church leadership, were fellow corrupt leaders

i.       The Lord has said Satan seat was within the leadership of this Church

ii.    There were also those who hold the doctrine of Balaam

a.      because thou hast there them that hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balac to cast a stumblingblock before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed unto idols, and to commit fornication.

b.     The Moabite King Balak tried to get Balaam to curse the people of Israel, to destroy their effectiveness in warfare. However, God would not allow Balaam to do this.

c.      Balaam wanted God to be angry with the people of Israel, so he advised Balak to get some of the most beautiful women in his kingdom to draw the men of Israel into unclean and idolatrous practices.

d.     Balaam knew that if the Israelites adopted pagan ways, God would not bless them as He had done. And so, the Israelites let the pagans influence them, instead of standing firm on the sure Word of God and His Holy Law!

iii. The Doctrine of Balaam is allowing Pagan influences into the Church, specifically in the Church of Pergamos' case, the Government of the Church.

iv.   FORNICATION: the Church was committing "Spiritual Fornication", because it was following the doctrine of Balaam as opposed to the Doctrine of Christ.

b.      Likewise, you also have those who hold to the teaching of the Nicolaitanes. 

i.       Remember, the Lord spoke this against the Church of Ephesus as well!

ii.    The Nicolaitanes were preachers who exploited the people for money, rather than grow them spiritually, which is what all false doctrines do, prevent spiritual growth.

c.      Ephesus: The Lord spoke against the DEEDS of the Nicolaitanes

d.     Pergamos: The Lord speaks against the DOCTRINE, meaning the UNSCRIPTURAL government this Church was operating by.

III.  OUR LESSON

a.      Is Christ, and His Doctrine the seat of our Church?

i.       Our church mission statement reads, "A Christ centered, Bible founded, Community of believers."

b.     What about our Church Government, is it biblical?

i.       I worked for weeks developing the Constitution and Bylaws for this church, ensuring that it was biblical in foundation, operation and teaching, using scripture throughout the Constitution and Bylaws.

c.      Are we protected against the teachings of Balaam? (Allowing Pagan practices into the church government)

i.       Yes. A provision is written within our Constitution preventing anyone who practices, or is involved with anything that is against Christ, to be offered a chance to REPENT, or be removed from any function of the Church government.

d.     What about the teachings of the Nicolaitanes? (Preaching for exploiting the people rather than growing them spiritually.)

i.        I believe that each of us here have been duped at one time or another by a Nicolaitane, and would be aware if that were taking place here and now.

ii.    Also, I have ensured that not only will I NOT exploit the people in this Church as the Pastor, I also, like Paul, work outside the Church, so I do not become a financial burden to the Church.

e.      The Lord's command to the Church in Pergamos, REPENT!

i.       Otherwise, I will soon come to you and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth.

ii.    The Lord is speaking of JUDGMENT

CONCLUSION

17 Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches.

The Spirit is saying, the Church government MUST BE SCRIPTURAL...or else!

To the one who is victorious, I will give some of the hidden manna.

If we (The Church) have a scriptural government, and refrain from allowing Pagan practices or exploiting the people, using the Word of God for financial gains, the Lord will give us some of the "Hidden Manna".

The manna (Exodus 16) was used to feed the children of Israel forty years in the wilderness. It was a type of Christ in that it was

(1) a free gift;

(2) it came from above;

(3) it was ground on the mill; (bread represents my body, which was broken for you.)

and, (4) it was white to express purity.

They tasted, handled and saw the manna, but knew not what it was, as with Christ (John 1:10 "¹⁰ He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him.").

It was divine in origin, indispensable, undeserved, suitable, sufficient, and satisfying.

When the children of Israel reached the land of Canaan, the manna ceased (Josh. 5:12), typifying the eternal rest the Lord will provide for His people.

A "golden pot" of manna was placed in the ark of the covenant to be preserved throughout their wilderness journeys. This manna was "hidden".

For the believer in Christ, Jesus is the "true bread" (John 6:32) from heaven, who is now "hidden" during this present age.

Instead of eating ˜things sacrificed to idols" (Rev. 2:14), the believers in Pergamos needed to feast on God's holy food, the bread of life found in Jesus Christ through the Word (John 6:32; Matt. 4:4)."

This certainly speaks to modern society today as our western civilization continues to move farther away from the Word of God.

Finally, the Lord says; I will also give that person a white stone with a new name written on it, known only to the one who receives it.

We will receive a new name, with our new bodies, which will be sinless, and everlasting.

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