seekeroftruth
Well-Known Member
Revelation 2:12 “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.
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.
So this is the church that Jesus was referring to when He was giving the message to the angel of the church at Ephesus. This church is full of Nicolaitans. The people of Ephesus didn't like the Nicolaitans. Apparently those Balaam loving, child sacrificing, idol worshipping humans in Pergamum had infiltrated the church.
This is from the easy English site.
The road north from Smyrna follows the coast for about 40 miles. Then it turns away from the sea up a river valley. Ten miles from the sea is the capital city, called Pergamum. Here they had a large and famous library.
The city was on a hill. At the top, there was a special place for the worship of Zeus. Zeus was their chief god. The people in Pergamum had four main gods that they served. These were Zeus, Athene (a special female god), Dionysos and Asklepios. There was also a temple in Pergamum for the worship of the king of Rome.
The local rulers had the power of life and death. They could arrest and kill any person. But Jesus has the sharp sword. His sword cuts with both edges (1:16). The power of life and death belongs to Jesus and not to the rulers. They can only kill the body. But Jesus has the power of life and death of the whole person.
Jesus spoke to them. ‘I know where you live.’ He called Pergamum the place where Satan rules. There were so many false gods. People did so many evil things in that town. It was very hard to be a Christian there. The Christians lived in constant danger. However, the church there remained true to Jesus. They refused to worship the king or the gods of the people.
Antipas had been loyal to the Lord. He had refused to worship the king or the false gods. But he had spoken to the people about the Lord. They killed Antipas because he trusted in Jesus. Even then, the church did not deny Jesus. They were brave. They were even willing to die for Jesus.
Verses 14-15 This was a very good church. The Lord was happy with them. But there was something wrong in the church. Some members did not live as they should.
Some people there did what Balaam taught Balak. The story of Balaam and Balak is in Numbers chapters 22 to 24. To make the Israelites weak, Balaam told Balak to tempt them with women (Numbers 31:16). The women would attract the men of Israel to worship their own false gods. This is how Balak tried to tempt the people of Israel.
These members did not want to be different from the other people in Pergamum. They were happy to eat the food of false gods. Perhaps they went to the temples of the false gods to eat. They did the same things as other people. They even had sex with those who did not trust in Jesus. They may have had sex with more than one partner. This is against what Jesus taught. It is sin.
Some also followed what the Nicolaitans taught. Perhaps they belonged to the same group because they did the same things.
Christians ought to be different from those who do not trust in Jesus. They should live for the *Lord. They should do what he taught. They should not live to the standards of the world.
Verse 16 The whole church should repent. They ought not to have members like these. The church should take action to change the situation. If they do not then Jesus will come. He will fight against those who do not repent.
Verse 17 What other people do tempts us. We may want to live as they do. But God calls us to live for him. Jesus taught us how we should live. So, the Lord tells us to listen to the Spirit. We all need to hear what he says to the churches.
The Lord will give some secret manna to those who overcome. Manna was that bread which God gave to the Israelites. They were in the desert and he gave them this for food (Exodus chapter 16). So, manna is food from heaven. Those who overcome will have the food of heaven to eat. This may mean food for the spirit while on earth. It may be a promise of heaven. There they will dine with the Lord in heaven.
The Lord also promises them a white stone. On that stone, there is a name. It is a new name and nobody else knows it.
In the law courts, a white stone meant a ‘not guilty’ decision. Jesus died for all people. He forgives all those who trust him. God is the judge and he will declare them ‘not guilty’.
The city was on a hill. At the top, there was a special place for the worship of Zeus. Zeus was their chief god. The people in Pergamum had four main gods that they served. These were Zeus, Athene (a special female god), Dionysos and Asklepios. There was also a temple in Pergamum for the worship of the king of Rome.
The local rulers had the power of life and death. They could arrest and kill any person. But Jesus has the sharp sword. His sword cuts with both edges (1:16). The power of life and death belongs to Jesus and not to the rulers. They can only kill the body. But Jesus has the power of life and death of the whole person.
Jesus spoke to them. ‘I know where you live.’ He called Pergamum the place where Satan rules. There were so many false gods. People did so many evil things in that town. It was very hard to be a Christian there. The Christians lived in constant danger. However, the church there remained true to Jesus. They refused to worship the king or the gods of the people.
Antipas had been loyal to the Lord. He had refused to worship the king or the false gods. But he had spoken to the people about the Lord. They killed Antipas because he trusted in Jesus. Even then, the church did not deny Jesus. They were brave. They were even willing to die for Jesus.
Verses 14-15 This was a very good church. The Lord was happy with them. But there was something wrong in the church. Some members did not live as they should.
Some people there did what Balaam taught Balak. The story of Balaam and Balak is in Numbers chapters 22 to 24. To make the Israelites weak, Balaam told Balak to tempt them with women (Numbers 31:16). The women would attract the men of Israel to worship their own false gods. This is how Balak tried to tempt the people of Israel.
These members did not want to be different from the other people in Pergamum. They were happy to eat the food of false gods. Perhaps they went to the temples of the false gods to eat. They did the same things as other people. They even had sex with those who did not trust in Jesus. They may have had sex with more than one partner. This is against what Jesus taught. It is sin.
Some also followed what the Nicolaitans taught. Perhaps they belonged to the same group because they did the same things.
Christians ought to be different from those who do not trust in Jesus. They should live for the *Lord. They should do what he taught. They should not live to the standards of the world.
Verse 16 The whole church should repent. They ought not to have members like these. The church should take action to change the situation. If they do not then Jesus will come. He will fight against those who do not repent.
Verse 17 What other people do tempts us. We may want to live as they do. But God calls us to live for him. Jesus taught us how we should live. So, the Lord tells us to listen to the Spirit. We all need to hear what he says to the churches.
The Lord will give some secret manna to those who overcome. Manna was that bread which God gave to the Israelites. They were in the desert and he gave them this for food (Exodus chapter 16). So, manna is food from heaven. Those who overcome will have the food of heaven to eat. This may mean food for the spirit while on earth. It may be a promise of heaven. There they will dine with the Lord in heaven.
The Lord also promises them a white stone. On that stone, there is a name. It is a new name and nobody else knows it.
In the law courts, a white stone meant a ‘not guilty’ decision. Jesus died for all people. He forgives all those who trust him. God is the judge and he will declare them ‘not guilty’.
The main problem with the church at Pergamum is compromise. Pergamum is like that church that decided they needed more money in the coffers so they were no longer going to teach Christ is the only way.
At Temple there had been strict rules and procedures. Because of the Resurrection of Jesus Christ the Messiah everything was topsy tervy.... Jesus had been the Sacrifice. People didn't need to sacrifice a cow or a pigeon... Jesus had already taken care of that... So the meat that was sacrificed became an issue. It wasn't just the Jewish rules that had to be considered in this new church... there were Gentiles and they didn't have the eating restrictions.
In the modern day church.... the compromises are more subtle. The priests and preachers write sermons that will entice the rich to continue to contribute. The sins of the priests, preachers, and pastors are swept under the carpet because exposing them would cause the church to have to pay out restitution and it would embarrass the church.
In the future... I can see a church that would throw the poor out because they don't belong in the vicinity of the well to do.
Look we can compromise on the music... if we are careful not to make pergamum moments on Sunday Morning. I've known for years that the choir doesn't magically appear in that choir booth. They walk in and they walk out.... should the members or the choir miss the prayer because they are marching quietly back to the booth?
Come ON! Don't do things that will cost someone their moment with God. Idol worship is going to be a regular part of services and if we aren't careful... we could get use to it... and think it's normal. Remember... those churches with those golden calves back in Kings.... they were built because it would be convenient for the members to worship there... and the members wouldn't have to travel to Judah where they might learn that those golden calves were bad for them.
CHURCH.... watch out... convenience does not always lay on the right path.
