Dec 22, 2024 Sun Message: Pergamos, the 3rd Church in Revelations - Pastor Chuck Kennedy

Dec 22, 2024 Sun Message: Pergamos, the 3rd Church in Revelations - Pastor Chuck Kennedy
Rev 2:12 And to the angel of the church in Pergamos write; These things saith he which hath the sharp sword with two edges;

Rev 2:13 I know thy works, and where thou dwellest, even where Satan's seat is: and thou holdest fast my name, and hast not denied my faith, even in those days wherein Antipas was my faithful martyr, who was slain among you, where Satan dwelleth.

Rev 2:14 But I have a few things against thee, 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.

Rev 2:15 So hast thou also them that hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitans, which thing I hate.

Rev 2:16 Repent; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth.

Rev 2:17 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth it.

Located in modern Turkey, Pergamos is now called Bergama.

Ephesus, Smyrna, and Pergamos were rivals for first place among the cities of the province and also of Asia Minor. (diggingfortruth.org)

Pliny called Pergamos the most illustrious city of Asia. It was the educational center of Western Asia. because of the great library, which it according to Plutarch contained 200,000 volumes. It was second only to the world-famous library of Alexandria. These libraries caused a long and bitter rivalry between the two cities. Egypt, in order to curb the growth of the Pergamum library, withheld shipments of papyrus, the ancestor of paper. To meet the emergency the Pergamenians dressed the skins of animals, on which to do their writing, calling the new writing material Pergamus, and later, parchment. (diggingfortruth.org)

When the kingdom became Roman, Pergamos was named the capital of the province. In addition to providing government for the region, the city was a religious center. Beautiful temples were erected in honor of four pagan gods: Zeus, Dionysus, Athena and Asclepius. Asclepius was the mythological god of healing, and it is interesting to note that the serpent-entwined staff associated with him continues today as a symbol for modern medical arts. (Lifehopeabdtruth.com)

There was also a school of medicine in connection with the temple.

Rev 2:12 And to the angel of the church in Pergamos write; These things saith he which hath the sharp sword with two edges;

This is of course Jesus

Rev 1:11 Saying, I am Alpha and Omega, the first and the last: and, What thou seest, write in a book, and send it unto the seven churches which are in Asia; unto Ephesus, and unto Smyrna, and unto Pergamos, and unto Thyatira, and unto Sardis, and unto Philadelphia, and unto Laodicea.

Rev 1:12 And I turned to see the voice that spake with me. And being turned, I saw seven golden candlesticks;

Rev 1:13 And in the midst of the seven candlesticks one like unto the Son of man, clothed with a garment down to the foot, and girt about the paps with a golden girdle.

Rev 1:14 His head and his hairs were white like wool, as white as snow; and his eyes were as a flame of fire;

Rev 1:15 And his feet like unto fine brass, as if they burned in a furnace; and his voice as the sound of many waters.

Rev 1:16 And he had in his right hand seven stars: and out of his mouth went a sharp twoedged sword: and his countenance was as the sun shineth in his strength.

Heb 4:12 For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

The broad double-bladed Roman sword was known as "the cut and thrust sword." It was the emblem of the highest official authority, carrying with it the power of life and death, and this power was vested in the proconsuls of the province, who lived at Pergamos. The governor wielded the sword of Rome from this impregnable fortress.

It was with a drawn sword that the Lord withstood Balaam to thwart his evil purpose against Israel of old. So Christ here represents Himself as standing before the church of Pergamos with a drawn sword threatening all who refuse to take heed to His cutting message

Rev 2:13 I know thy works, and where thou dwellest, even where Satan's seat is: and thou holdest fast my name, and hast not denied my faith, even in those days wherein Antipas was my faithful martyr, who was slain among you, where Satan dwelleth.

Jesus knows His Church, His Body

He is aware of the circumstances pressing against us on every side

He is not ignorant of satan’s devices to try to deter us

Here this church dwelt in the midst of satans seat

The Scriptures do not spell out in black and white the exact meaning of satans seat Jesus referred to

But we can see by the Holy Spirit and historically this city was steeped in occult worship, idolatry and sexual promiscuity

Of the structures which adorned the city, the most renowned was the altar of Zeus, which was 40 ft. in height, and also one of the wonders of the ancient world” (International Standard Bible Encyclopedia, 1939, “Pergamos; Pergamum”).

This could have referred to the altar to the pagan god Zeus (a wonder of the ancient world), to the worship of Asclepius (the pagan god of healing and the reason many came to Pergamos), to the whole collection of pagan temples at this city, or to the fact that the Roman emperors were here worshipped.

"I know where you dwell. Satan’s throne is there" (Weymouth),

"Where Satan sits enthroned" (Moffatt).

"Throne" is a better rendering than "seat," for the same original is translated "throne" in Revelation 1:4 and 3:21.

It was the capital and headquarters of the pagan religion of the province.

It was the metropolis of heathen deities. Temples were built and dedicated to Jupiter, Zeus, Athena, Dionysius, and Aesculapius, the Greek god of medicine, and also called "the god of Pergamum."

It was also the center of emperor worship. In AD 29 a great temple was erected to the worship of Augustus Caesar, who was to be prayed to as "Lord Caesar." Domitian decreed that all peoples should address him as "Our Lord and our God." (Swete, Page 35.)

The Temple of Zeus was the most celebrated of all the temples of Pergamos, and was dedicated to Aesculapius, "the serpent god" or "god of healing." It was also known as the Temple of Aesculapius, who was called "the Great Physician" and "the Savior." He was also given other titles showing that he was a counterfeit of Christ. In this temple a living serpent was kept and worshiped. Serpent worship was so universal in Pergamos that many coins have been found with a picture of a serpent entwined around a pole. It is unfortunate that this pagan emblem of healing has become the caduceus of the modern medical profession.

Bacchus, the god of wine, and Venus, the goddess of lust, were also worshiped in Pergamos.

Gamos means marriage

During the Pergamos period the transition between pagan and papal Rome took place, Seiss speaks of "the Pergamile period, in which true faith more and more disappeared from view, and clericalism. gradually formed itself into a system, and the Church united with the world, and Babylon began to rear itself aloft." (Page 143.) Constantine was the human agent used by Satan to bring about the union of church and state.

Antipas the faithful martyr

What a great reporthe received of the Lord

“My faithful martyr”

Nothing else is mentioned of him in Scripture

History says he was the Bishop of Pergamos and stood strongly against the influence of worldliness and false worship creeping into the church from its surroundings

To the point of them killing him for his stand against sin and for the Lord

He was said to have been shut up in a brazen bull which was heated till it was red hot. He ended his life with praises and thanksgiving to God.

Rev 2:14 But I have a few things against thee, 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.

Correction to the church at Pergamos

Their doctrine, so obviously doctrine is very important to the Lord

Where you go to church and what you believe determines your life and victory

That doctrine of Balaam is stated here as

Placing a stumblingblock before the children of Israel

Which is tempting them and teaching them to do things cotrary to sound doctrine

Eat things sacrificed to idols

To commit fornication

Sexual sin

1Cor 6:18 Flee fornication. Every sin that a man doeth is without the body; but he that committeth fornication sinneth against his own body.

Rev 2:15 So hast thou also them that hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitans, which thing I hate.

Again the importance of doctrinal purity

The Nicolaitans taught that since we were forgiven by the Lords work it was ok to live as we please since all sin was now covered

A great problem even today in the church

These tow, Balaam and Nicolaitan docrines were very similar

They both taught things that would cause the church to fall

And it had its effect on the church in Pergamos

Rev 2:16 Repent; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth.

Note here, not fight against the righteous church but “them” being the mislead

Those who follow the false doctrines of the the age

The answer is still repentance

It was then and it is today, repent

The means whereby He will fight with them is stated

With the Word, or sword of His mouth

His Word always prevails

Rev 2:17 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth it.

The Hidden Manna

A pot of manna was placed in the ark of the covenant in the most holy apartment of the earthly sanctuary as a pledge that all who obey the law will be fed. This became known as the "hidden manna," because it was hidden from all except the high priest.

White stone

Trench declares that " ‘White’ is everywhere the color and livery of heaven." (Page 135.) All who lived in Pergamos, the capital of the judicial system of the province, were acquainted with the custom of judges in using white and black stones, or pebbles, in making their decisions, the white standing for acquittal and the black for condemnation. Dryden the poet speaks of this custom in the following lines:

"A custom was of old, and still remains, Which life or death by suffrages ordained. White stones and black within an urn are cast, The first absolves, but fate is in the last."

White stones also were given to gladiators who were victorious in athletic contests in Greece and Rome. The name of the victor was inscribed in the white stone, and this entitled him to special privileges, including maintenance at public expense the remainder of his life.

The Hidden Manna is Jesus

We are to seek Him for that which is hidden from the world system

The Mysteries of God revealed

The White Stone with a new name is Jesus

He is the Rock and our names are written in Him for eternal Life