What Jesus Knows and What We Need to Know
Introduction
We are near the beginning of our study of Revelation and are spending some time looking at the seven churches addressed in chapters 2 & 3.
Today we are looking at #3 on the list – the church at Pergamon.
I addressed the importance of the 7 churches as a whole last week. The seven churches as a whole present a complete picture of the numerous challenges that the church faced then and today. Jesus groups all of these churches together in Revelation 2 & 3 but it is also important to note how much He cares and knows about the individual church.
But today I want to emphasize the importance and influence of the local church. The local church plays a role in God’s big picture for His kingdom. The kingdom of God on earth is only as strong as the local church. In chapters two and three we see how intimately Jesus sees and understands the local church. He speaks to each church individually and addresses their unique qualities and shortcomings. We will see an example of both as we look at the church of Pergamon.
I want to walk through the passage today by making application and sharing relevant background information at the same time. Remember, Revelation is a message not only to the first century church, but also to us today. Here are some things I think Jesus wants us to learn today:
Jesus understands the world we are living in – vs. 12 – 13a
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. NIV
Just like the other two letters to the churches we have looked at, Ephesus and Smyrna, Jesus identifies Himself to the church of Pergamum. He uses the images that were presented of Him in Chapter 1:16 – the one who “has the sharp, double-edged sword”. This imagery is found also in Rev 19 when Jesus comes as conqueror riding a white horse - 11 I saw heaven standing open and there before me was a white horse, whose rider is called Faithful and True. . . . Rev 19:15 Out of his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations. NIV.
Jesus delivers His message to the church with all authority and power. In the next phrase we find that His power goes beyond just an image of strength but one of divinity – all knowing: 13 I know where you live — where Satan has his throne. NIV
This letter is addressed to the Christians who lived in the city of Pergamon that we looked at earlier on the map. In John’s day it had a population of about 180,000. All of the cities that are addressed in Revelation were Roman cities that had the pagan religions of the day but Pergamon was considered the worst of them all. It was considered an architectural and cultural center.
It’s history also points to the idea of worshipping the king as a god even before Rome came along and demanded it. Pergamon was considered a very religious city but not in a good sense.
The practice of emperor worship was celebrated on Pergamum's coinage in this period. Local rulers had been worshiped before the Roman period, and Pergamum was one of the first cities of Asia to build a temple to a Roman emperor (also on the citadel), making it a center of the cult.
It was also considered the home of the god Zeus – chief of the Greek and Roman gods. Here is a model of a temple there built to Zeus. Some say that when approached from a distance it looked like a huge throne – imagery which plays into the words of Jesus when He says “where Satan has his throne”
They also had another god they worshipped – the god Asclepius, the serpent god.
This god, to Christians, was the very image of Satan as depicted in the garden of Eden. So, when Jesus says, “I know where you live – where Satan has his throne” it would have really connected with the people because of the foreign and false gods they saw around them.
Just as Jesus knew Pergamon – He knows Bonita. He knows Anchor Christian Church. We don’t have any temples to Zeus or Asclepius but do we have things that people put before God? Sure there is. Recreation, sports, entertainment, wealth – just to name a few. You can fill in the rest of the blanks. If He knows what is here around us He also knows what we can get in our way of living fully for Him. That is a simple but important thing to remember.
Transition – Jesus goes on and shares some very specific things that He knows about the world they live in.
Second, Jesus knows what we do – vs. 13b - 14a He goes on to say this to the Christians at Pergamon: 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, 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: NIV Jesus commends those who stand firm in their faith. He says the Christians in Pergamon did not renounce Him, even though one of their fellow Christians, Antipas, was put to death for his faith.
According to Christian tradition, John the Apostle ordained Antipas as bishop of Pergamon during the reign of the Roman emperor Nero. The traditional accounts go on to say Antipas was martyred during the reign of Nero or Domitian, by burning in a brazen bull-shaped altar the Romans used for casting out demons worshiped by the local population.
For them to see this happen to their leader and not renounce their faith says a lot about them. If you saw one of your friends put to death for their faith that would make you think a little. Jesus lets them know that He has seen their faithfulness.
But Jesus goes on to be honest with them. He says He has seen their faith but He does have a few things against them. Why would He go on to say that, haven’t they done enough? He goes on to say that because what He sees He knows what will harm them if they let it go. If they ignore it. It is not with eyes of condemnation He sees them, it is with eyes of love.
It is good for us to realize that Jesus does know what we do and what can be an issue for us. Every believer should live life with a sense of accountability to God. We don’t like that word because it means that we have to submit to someone else’s knowledge. It means we might have to admit that we don’t always have life figured out and that we don’t always do what we should have done. But again, we need to understand that Jesus looks at us, not with eyes of condemnation, but with eyes of love. He doesn’t want us to do harm to ourselves. He wants us to know what to avoid.
Avoid compromising on what is “right and wrong” vs. 14-16
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. 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. NIV
I need to give a little of the back story here for this to make sense. Jesus is referring to something that happened in the OT in the book of Numbers 22-25. When the Children of Israel were wandering around in the wilderness for 40 years they entered into the land of Moab. Balak was the king of Moab saw how many Israelites there were and knew that he could not defeat him. He contacted a man name Balaam, who was reported to be a prophet of God and offered him money to come and curse the children of Israel. Balaam went and tried but God would only let him give a blessing to the children of Israel. Balaam really wanted the money though, so he told king Balak – “I can’t curse them but I know how to bring God’s wrath against them. Just send some women, who were probably temple prostitutes, into the Israelite camp and let them infiltrate and cause the men to partake in the temple prostitution and participate in BAAL worship. His plan worked and soon Baal worship entered into the children of Israel and they came under the wrath of God.
Apparently there were some in the church of Pergamon that were okay with false teaching going on concerning their morality and moral teachings of what was right and wrong. They would be the ones considered holding on to the teaching of Balaam – practice of immorality.
There was also group call the Nicolaitions who basically taught the same concept – that sexual immorality was okay. Their reasoning was that sexual immorality only impacted the physical and not the spiritual. None of this was healthy and Jesus knew where it would lead if not dealt with.
Today it would be expressed like this, “I can do whatever I want as long as it doesn’t hurt anyone else. I set my own moral code.”
With that as background, what do you think Jesus would have to say to our culture today? What direction do we seem to be heading today? I don’t think it would surprise anyone if I said that morals in America today are going down the toilet. What is “right” should be determined by the Bible but that is not the norm used in society today.
From a 2016 Barna Research Report “Three-quarters of Millennials (74%) (those between 27 – 42 years old) agree strongly or somewhat with the statement, “Whatever is right for your life or works best for you is the only truth you can know,” compared to only 38 percent of Elders (those born before 1946).” The same study showed Two-thirds of American adults either believe moral truth is relative to circumstances (44%) or have not given it much thought (21%). (The End of Absolutes: America’s New Moral Code, Research Releases in Culture & Media – May 25, 2016)
Transition – So, what is Jesus final word to us? It may surprise you.
He Promises Us Amazing Blessings – vs.17 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes, I will give some 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. NIV
Jesus again says, “Listen to what I have to say and take it to heart.” Hang in there. Remain faithful – even when it is tough. If you overcome there are some amazing promises for you.
Jesus promises “the hidden Manna” – Manna in the OT was that which gave life, yet it was temporary. Jesus takes that and applies it to life eternal.
What is the hidden manna? It is what Jesus has to offer that the people in His day and today have a hard time finding and seeing – He is the “bread of life”. In John 6:48-51 Jesus says, “48 I am the bread of life. 49 Your forefathers ate the manna in the desert, yet they died. 50 But here is the bread that comes down from heaven, which a man may eat and not die. 51 I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever.
He says that He is the manna that comes down from heaven. It is Jesus that gives life, life eternal.
Jesus then promises a “White Stone”. It stands for Forgiveness and being set free, innocent before God. Have you ever been in a courtroom or at least seen a trial on TV? What is everyone waiting for? The verdict. In Roman court system in the days of Revelation, when people were taken to court and charged of a crime a judge or panel of judges would make the decision. They had a simple way of handing down a verdict. They would cast a black stone or they would cast a white stone. The black stone meant guilty. The white stone meant innocent.
What does Jesus promise? A white stone to those that overcome. Your innocence with made possible because Jesus paid the price for your sin on the cross. I don’t know about you, but I want a white stone with my name written on it.
Study Guide
What Jesus Knows and What We Need to Know
Introduction
I want to emphasize the importance and influence of the local church. The local church plays a role in God’s big picture for His kingdom. The kingdom of God on earth is only as strong as the local church.
Jesus __________________________the world we are living in – vs. 12 – 13a
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. NIV
He uses the images that were presented of Him in Chapter 1:16 – the one who “has the sharp, double-edged sword”. This imagery is found also in Rev 19:11-15
How do we see Jesus’ divinity in this passage?
The city of Pergamon
It’s history also points to the idea of worshipping the king as a god even before
Rome came along and demanded it.
It was also considered the home of the god Zeus – chief of the Greek and Roman gods.
They also had another god they worshipped – the god Asclepius, the serpent god.
What does Jesus know about the church and us today?
What are some things that draw people away from God today?
Jesus knows what _____ ______ – vs. 13b - 14a 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, 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:
Jesus commends those who stand firm in their faith.
Antipas, was put to death for his faith.
If you saw one of your friends put to death for their faith would that make you doubt your faith?
Jesus goes on to be honest with them. He says He has seen their faith but He does have a few things against them.
Why would He go on to say that, haven’t they done enough?
It is not with eyes of condemnation He sees them, it is with eyes of love.
Every believer should live life with a sense of accountability to God.
Avoid ______________________ on what is “right and wrong” vs. 14-16 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. 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. NIV
There were some in the church of Pergamon that were okay with false teaching going on concerning their morality and moral teachings of what was right and wrong.
The story of Balaam and Balak can be found in Numbers 22-25
What do you think Jesus would have to say to our culture today?
He Promises Us ________________ Blessings – vs. 17 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. 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. NIV
Hang in there. Remain faithful – even when it is tough. If you overcome there are some amazing promises for you.
Manna – life and life eternal - John 6:48-51
He says that He is the manna that comes down from heaven. It is Jesus that gives life, life eternal
White Stone – Forgiveness and being set free
The “white stone” in the Roman court system
What does Jesus promise?