Revelation 2:12-17
Background: Pergamum was the official capital of Asia Minor. A place with a large citadel on a hill. It was a thousand feet above the plain of a river and 10 miles inland from the Aegean coast. It was estimated to be home of 10 thousand people. Known as a religious center in which it hosted temples to false gods. Living for Christ must have been difficult in an environment overran by pagan religions. Although difficult, the call to endure for Christ is greater.
Christ Contains all Truth v.12
The sword is the Word of God. It is trustworthy, inerrant, and infallible. His Word is authoritative and sure. We see and imagine of the duel edged sword in Hebrews 4:12 “For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.”
What does the Word of God do? It hurts and heals, it cuts and cures. It lays open our sin and our rebellion and Christ, through repentance cures it. Jesus is the great surgeon of our disease. The problem is that we pick and choose which surgery we will undergo! We pick and choose our sin according to our desires, our emotions, and our comforts.
Paul tells Timothy this will happen. 2 Timothy 4:3 “For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions.”
We’re living in a day and age in which people believe in relativism. This says that truth and morality are not absolute, but are based in the culture. Therefore; if the culture says it’s ok to kill, than relativism believes that this is the truth. 2 Timothy 3:1-4 “But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty. 2 For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, 3 heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, 4 treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, 5 having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people.
Jesus made these statements about truth. John 8:32 “and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” John 14:6 “Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
Christ Commends the Church for its Toughness v.13
The fact that the city was full of pagan worship lent it the name “Satan’s Throne.” Although people had been killed for Christ, Pergamum remained tough in the faith. Hebrews 10:32-36 “But recall the former days when, after you were enlightened, you endured a hard struggle with sufferings, 33 sometimes being publicly exposed to reproach and affliction, and sometimes being partners with those so treated. 34 For you had compassion on those in prison, and you joyfully accepted the plundering of your property, since you knew that you yourselves had a better possession and an abiding one. 35 Therefore do not throw away your confidence, which has a great reward. 36 For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God you may receive what is promised.” Depending on the ministry you ask, usually 100,000 people a year are killed for their faith in Christ.
Christ Condemns the Church for its Tolerance of False Teaching vv.14-15
Balaam found in Numbers 22-25 and 31 was used as a symbol of spiritual compromise. The King Balak hired Balaam to curse the Israelites. It didn’t work, so he asked Balaam to cause the Israelites to stumble with worldly desires. Going back to the truth again. When we allow relativism to creep in, we allow compromise of God’s Word. If you were to bake a cake, and used salt instead of sugar, the whole cake would be worthless. This church allowed some false teachings to come in. They tolerated the teachings.
Christ Gives Corrective Action to Turn Back to Him v.16
Jesus will discipline the church if they do not repent.
Christ Blesses Those Who Trust in Him v.17
“One who conquers”- the Christian who endures. Matthew 24:13 “But the one who endures to the end will be saved.”
“hidden manna”- nourishment
“white stone”- most scholars believe this is a symbol of acceptance.
“new name”- Christ will acknowledge us as His new creation.
Application:
If we become more moved and teary eyed over our flag and “America the Beautiful” than we do the cross of Christ and “Amazing Grace,” something is seriously wrong.” – Danny Akin
- Remind ourselves that our only hope is in Christ.
- Reprioritize our lives to reflect this.
- Repent from compromising ideas and ways.
- Rekindle a white-hot passion for Christ through prayer and God’s Word.