Seven Words To The Church - Part 3

Outline 

• Introduction 
• Jesus will remind the church of one of the symbols from chapter 1.
• Approval 
• Accusation 
• Admonition 

Revelation 1:12-17

When I turned to see who was speaking to me, I saw seven gold lampstands. 13And standing in the middle of the lampstands was someone like the Son of Man. He was wearing a long robe with a gold sash across his chest. 14His head and his hair were white like wool, as white as snow. And his eyes were like flames of fire. 15His feet were like polished bronze refined in a furnace, and his voice thundered like mighty ocean waves. 16He held seven stars in his right hand, and a sharp two-edged sword came from his mouth. And his face was like the sun in all its brilliance.

When I saw him, I fell at his feet as if I were dead. But he laid his right hand on me and said, “Don’t be afraid! I am the First and the Last. 18I am the living one. I died, but look—I am alive forever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and the grave.

The church in Pergamum

Revelation 2:12

“Write this letter to the angel of the church in Pergamum. This is the message from the one with the sharp two-edged sword:

Hebrews 4:12

For the word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires.

Approval

Revelation 2:13

13 “I know that you live in the city where Satan has his throne, yet you have remained loyal to me. You refused to deny me even when Antipas, my faithful witness, was martyred among you there in Satan’s city.

Pergamum 

• The religious center of the Roman Empire.
• The first temple built to the Roman emperor was located in Pergamum. 

Antipas

• These verses are the only reliable sources about Antipas.
• Tradition says he was the Bishop of the church in Pergamum. 
• He refused to worship Caesar. 
• When Antipas was told: "Antipas, the whole world is against you!"
• Antipas reputedly replied: "Then I am against the whole world!”
• He was roasted alive inside a hollow life sized metal bull used for pagan offerings.
• We know for sure Antipas was a “faithful witness” even in overwhelming circumstances.

Let me tell you a story…

• Numbers 22-25
• In the days of Moses there was a wicked prophet. A wicked prophet. Not a false prophet.
• The army of Israel had just seen several victories.
• The king of Moab called for the prophet and offered him a big payment if he would curse Israel before they went to battle.
• The prophet told the king he could not say anything God did not say.
• So the king and the prophet went to the top of a mountain and offers sacrifices to God. 
• God told the prophet to bless the people of Israel.
• This happened two more times. 
• The king was furious with the prophet. 
• The prophet still wanted the money. 
• So he advised the King to offer the Israelites the food from pagan feasts and access to moabite women. 
• The prophet encouraged the people to reject God and pursue their passions with the moabites.
• The prophet knew God would cure them because of their rebellion.
• The king paid the prophet.
• 24,000 Israelites died.
• That prophet was Balaam.

Accusation

Revelation 2:14-15

14 “But I have a few complaints against you. You tolerate some among you whose teaching is like that of Balaam, who showed Balak (the king) how to trip up the people of Israel. He taught them to sin by eating food offered to idols and by committing sexual sin. 15In a similar way, you have some Nicolaitans among you who follow the same teaching.

Admonition

Revelation 2:16

16Repent of your sin, or I will come to you suddenly and fight against them with the sword of my mouth.

• This is not the final judgment of God or the return of Christ. 
• The sword of my mouth is the word of God, or the authority of God coming suddenly against the church. 
• The path to victory requires repentance. 

Let’s go back and look at this letter again. I want to show you something you might have missed…

Revelation 2:13

…you have remained loyal to me. You refused to deny me even when Antipas, my faithful witness, was martyred…

The big decisions are usually fairly easy. 

• These designs are usually public. 
• Most people work hard to keep up their reputation.

But the little decisions sometimes prove to be the most difficult. 

• These decisions are not public.
• So your reputation is not quickly affected.

Look at Jesus’ accusation a little closer…

Revelation 2:14-15

14 “But I have a few complaints against you. You tolerate some among you whose teaching is like that of Balaam,

The mindset behind tolerance is apathy. 

• You do whatever you want. 
• I will do whatever I want. 
• I don’t care what you do unless it affects me.

 The center of sin is self.

Jesus’ accusation was that people were being intensionally lead astray inside this church and the people did not care. They just let it happen. 

Revelation 2:16

16Repent of your sin, or I will come to you suddenly and fight against them with the sword of my mouth.

Revelation 2:117

17 “Anyone with ears to hear must listen to the Spirit and understand what he is saying to the churches. To everyone who is victorious I will give some of the manna that has been hidden away in heaven.

And I will give to each one a white stone, and on the stone will be engraved a new name that no one understands except the one who receives it.

The white stones were symbolic of Judge's ruling. Much like how a judge hits the gavel at the end of the trial.