C. Letter to Pergamos. 2:12-17 - The compromising Church I. Church period - Year 313 - 590 A.D. The Imperial age. Constantine in 313 A.D. signed the Edict of Toleration that granted freedom to all Christians, it was fashionable to be a Christian for the Gentiles, the Church became worldly and the world churchy so that no difference between the two could be seen. II. Connection to the 7 churches of Paul: Corinthians (The worldly church) III. Connection to the 7 parables of Jesus: The mustard seed. Matt. 13:31-32 IV. “ Per” means perverse or mixture, “ Gamos” means marriage - Perverse marriage. It also means the parchment (Pergamena) perhaps because of its huge library. V. . A. Was the Roman capital and political city of Asia. B. Placed about 75 miles from Ephesus. C. It had one of the finest libraries in its time that contained 200.000 volumes. D. Today Pergamos is called Bergama. E. The population of Pergamos was about 120.000 thousand people. V.12 a) The Counsellor - I. Jesus reveals Himself as the One having the two-edged sword because of the perversity of the church, He reveals Himself as the disciplining One. II. Jesus has a two-edged sword (Gr.hromphaia) coming out of His mouth. Roman officials who had the right to carry this sword (Gr.hromphaia) had the power of life and death concerning capital offences. III. Pergamum was a city that Rome had given this rare power of capital punishment. The Christians in Pergamum were reminded that though they lived under such a privilege, they were citizens of another kingdom, of Christ who has such a sword (Gr.hromphaia) in His mouth. V.13 b) The Commendation - I. 4 things Jesus knows about them: 1. Works - Perhaps their works of love and of the gospel. 2. Dwelling - Satan’ s throne is perhaps referring to: A. The emperor worship of which Pergamos was the centre. B. The seat of Pergamos as the capital of Rome in Asia. C. The reference to the giant altar of Zeus on the acropolis. D. The aesculapium, which was a complex of buildings, devoted to the god of healing. E. Because of the Roman judicial role they played in their region of judging the Christians. 3. Steadfastness - They continued in Christ and didn’ t deny His name. 4. Confession - They confessed His faith and didn’ t deny it. II. Antipas was a martyr and his name rarely appears in any historical record, but Jesus knew about this anonymous believer. John 10:3; 2.Tim.2:19 V.14-15c) The Chastening - I. 2 things Jesus has against them: 1. The doctrine of Balaam. 2. The doctrine of the Nicolaitans II. Balaam, the false prophet of the Old Testament Num. Ch.22-25 is referred to 3 times in N.T. 1. The way of Balaam: Covetousness. 2.Pet. 2:15 2. The error of Balaam: Cursing Israel. Jude 11 3. The doctrine of Balaam: Corrupting God’ s people. Rev. 2:14 III. Balaam sat a stumbling block before Israel in 2 ways: Num.25:1; 31:16 1. By causing them to Compromise to eat things sacrificed to idols. 2. By causing them to Commit sexual immorality. IV. Perhaps some Christians of Pergamos joined the pagan festivals, which included sexual immorality with the pagan priestess and eating of their offerings that was offered to their gods. V. The Nicolaitans A. “ Nico” means to conquer and “ Laitans” means laity - Conquer the laity. B. What was Deeds in Ephesus 2:6 had now become Doctrine in Pergamos. C. Perhaps they were people that exercised strong oppressing leadership, they oppressed the laity - Perhaps these were the false apostles! D. They believed in Christian liberty to do all kinds of sins. V.16 d) The Counsel - I. Repent - Their Responsibility were to Rebuke these 2 wrong doctrines. II. Return - If they didn’ t Rebuke them (Those in error) then the Lord would come Rapidly upon the church. Notice “ you” and “ them” III. Rebuke - The Lord’ s Righteous Word would Rebuke the people in error. IV. The lesson is that the Lord wants the leaders to deal with wrong doctrines or He would do what they failed to do. 1.Cor.11:31 V. The Angel withstood Balaam with a sword Num.22:22-3, Jesus is about to release the sword of His mouth. V.17 e) The Challenge - I. Those who has spiritual desire to hear the voice of the Spirit will be Attentive to the words and Act on it. Matt.13:9 II. To him who overcomes, who does not loose faith. 1.John 5:4-5 III. Manna is a type of Christ who is the true bread from heaven. John 6:31-35 Manna was the food God gave the Israelites 12,500 mornings. The manna was hidden in the ark and now it is hidden in Christ. Ex.Ch.16; Heb.9:4 IV. Instead of eating idolatrous food from table of the pagan priestess, they would eat manna at the heavenly banquet. Rev.19:9 V. The judges in their days had a black and white stone, the black meant condemnation and the white meant not guilty. VI. A new name that describes perfectly the characteristic of our personality. No one knows the full meaning of the name except the one it applies too. Isaiah 62:2; 65:15