Revelation 2:12-17
The Character of the City–Pergamos means “married”
A. Political capital of the Roman Province of Asia Minor.
B. Cultural capital with a library of 200,000 volumes.
C. Religious capital of Polytheism
- 4 Temples to Dionysius / Bacchus, Athena, Demeter, and Zeus
- 3 Temples of Caesar worship
D. Medical School of Asclepius
The Christ of the Church
The World of God (Hebrews 4:12) that separates wheat from tares judges.
The Comprehension of Christ
A. He knows your works, even if there’s not much to know!
B. He knows where you live–>”Satan’s seat” or “in the world system that Satan controls”
- Political corruption
- Spiritual corruption
- a. Zeus Soter means “Zeus is Savior” (a god)
- b. Asclepius Soter means “Asclepius Savior” (a man)
- c. Self Soter means “Self-saving” (worship of self)
C. He knows what you hold onto.
- My name is Jesus.
- My faith is faith in Jesus.
D. He knows the anonymous “Antipas,” a faithful martyr (see Revelation 1:5).
The Caution of Christ: “I have a few things against you.”
A. The Doctrine of Balaam, see Numbers 22-24 and 31.
- Balak, King of Moab, hired Balaam to pronounce a curse on Israel.
- God forbade Balaam from cursing Israel.
- Balaam instead taught Balak how to make Israel stumble:
- a. Welcome Israel with an invitation to eat meat offered to idols–>idolatry.
- b. Encourage Israel to participate in sexual immorality–>don’t swim against the culture.
B. The Doctrine of Nicolaitans.
- The word Nicolaitans is a compound of “niko” and “laos”, meaning to conquer the people.
- The doctrine of the Nicolaitans divided the church into clergy and laity.
C. “You tolerate and allow false teaching and sexual immorality in your church, just like the Corinthians.”
The Challenge of Christ
A. Repent, or else. Judgment begins at the house of God, see 1 Peter 4:17.
B. Those who overcome this spirit of accomodation to false teaching and living will receive:
- Hidden manna (in the Ark of the Covenant)–the True Bread of Heaven that Christ will provide.
- A white stone, the sign of acquital in a court of law.
- A new name, signifying a new nature, reserved in Heaven for you.