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The Seven Churches Pergamos (Rev 2:12-17)

The Seven Churches Pergamos (Rev 2:12-17). November 18, 2012. Seven Elements To Each Letter. Name of the church Title of Christ chosen Commendation given Concerns expressed Exhortation Promise to the overcomer Closing - “He that hath an ear…”. Levels of Application.

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The Seven Churches Pergamos (Rev 2:12-17)

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  1. The Seven ChurchesPergamos (Rev 2:12-17) November 18, 2012

  2. Seven Elements To Each Letter • Name of the church • Title of Christ chosen • Commendation given • Concerns expressed • Exhortation • Promise to the overcomer • Closing - “He that hath an ear…”

  3. Levels of Application • Local churches (real congregations) • Admonition regarding all the churches “let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.” Rev 2:11 • Personal application • Prophetic - due to the order they are presented in • Like a report card • Each church surprised

  4. Pergamos (The City) • Located 48 miles north of Smyrna • Large city of 200,000 people • Huge library (200,000 parchment rolls) • Name comes from per (mixed or objectionable) and gamos (marriage) • Formerly a Greek capital city • Religious centre

  5. Pagan Worship • “Where Satan’s throne is” • Huge altar to Zeus (215’Lx115’Wx 50’H) • Worship of Asclepios (god of healing) • Emblem of the city a brazen serpent • A temple to the godhead of Caesar (27 BC) • Threat to very Christian (annual certificate)

  6. Title of Christ • “He who has the sharp two-edged sword” • Under Roman rule there were two classes of governors • The power of life and of death • “For the Word of God is living and powerful, sharper than any two-edged sword…” Heb 4:12 • Whatever the power of Rome - the power of the risen Christ was greater

  7. Commendations • For where they dwelt commended for staying • That you hold fast to My name bold step to be identified with Christ • You have not denied My faith a witness and a martyr one and the same thing

  8. Concerns • Doctrine of Balaam Old Testament account of a soothsayer hired by Balak, king of Maob, to curse Israel • Doctrine of the Nicolatians confused Christian liberty with a license to sin immoral self-indulgence (just like the pagans)

  9. Doctrine of Balaam (NT) • A gentile and a soothsayer (Josh 13:22) • Account in Numbers chapters 22-24 • Disobedient to the Lord • Strange encounter with his donkey • Unable to put a curse on Israel • Balaam’s wicked counsel (Numbers 31:16)

  10. Doctrine of Balaam (NT) • Spiritually unchaste (Num 25:1,2) marriage with the world • Marketing his gift (2 Peter 2:15) wages of unrighteousness • Error of Balaam (Jude 11) sacrificing eternal riches for temporal gain

  11. Exhortation • Need to love what God loves and hate what God hates • Repent personal request to the believer • Or I will fight against “them” not the entire church

  12. Promise To The Overcomer • Hidden manna bread of heaven (Psalm 78:24) Jesus as the Bread of Life (John 6:48) • White stone with a new name Romans used white stones as a ticket for games and food

  13. He Who Has An Ear… • “Let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches” • Why? • Because in these seven letters we see what God loves about the church and what He does not love • Let us receive the commendation (if deserved) • Let us be open to correction (if necessary

  14. Personal Application • Are we willing to stay in a difficult situation for a witness to Christ? • Prayer of Jesus: “I do not pray that you should take them out of the world, but that you should keep them from the evil one.” John 17:15 • At what cost are we willing to be identified with Christ?

  15. Personal Application • Beware of the “Doctrine of Balaam” • “Like a fluttering sparrow or a darting swallow, an undeserved curse does not come to rest.” Prov 26:2 • “Nevertheless the Lord your God would not listen to Balaam, but the Lord your God turned the curse into a blessing for you, because the Lord your God loves you.” Deut 23:5

  16. Personal Application • NT fulfillment • “Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us (for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree.”) that the blessing of Abraham might come upon the Gentiles in Jesus Christ…” Gal 3:13 • Stay away from the fence!

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