PERGAMOS
09/04/18 10:00
“ And to the angel of the church in Pergamos write,
‘ These things says He who has the sharp two- edged sword:13 “ I know your works, and where you dwell, where Satan's throne is. And you hold fast to My name, and did not deny My faith even in the days in which Antipas was My faithful martyr, who was killed among you, where Satan dwells. 14 But I have a few things against you, because you have there those who hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balak to put a stumbling block before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed to idols, and to commit sexual immorality. 15 Thus you also have those who hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitans, which thing I hate. 16 Repent, or else I will come to you quickly and will fight against them with the sword of My mouth.
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 to eat. And I will give him a white stone, and on the stone a new name written which no one knows except him who receives it.” ’
(Revelation 2:12-17 NKJV)
Messiah Yeshua comes to this church with the Word (Rev 2:12; Heb 4:12). Just like all the other churches, Messiah is basing His judgment of this church upon their works (Rev 2:13).
This church apparently dwells in a very bad spiritual country. Though there is plenty of speculation, no one is quite sure what the reference to “satan’s throne” is but we can be assured that it’s a bad place.
The church holds fast to faith in God even though there are those among them who have been murdered for their faith (Rev 2:13). Antipas is a “no-name” in the history of martyrs. There is plenty of speculation, but that is all it is… speculation. The clear point we get is that people have died, someone which everyone must have known died, yet they are holding fast to the faith in God.
Then we see an elusion to “satans” dwelling again. Some think this could be one of the many temples but Messiah Yeshua could also be generalizing the entire area which this church dwell.
Like a few of the other churches, they are doing things right; but, they are also doing things wrong. It’s these wrong things that are going to cause the issue. Think about what we see here. This church has faith, undying faith even in the face of danger; YET, there is still a problem that will keep them from Heaven. This is an echoing theme that we need to take heed to. We are judged by our works and though we are doing something right, if we continue to be in error in other portions of our lives we will not make it to Heaven.
What is one of the things that are wrong? There are THOSE who hold to the doctrine of Balaam. The pronoun THOSE would tell us that not all the church is guilty, only some. What is the doctrine of Balaam?
The story of Balaam can be found in Numbers 22. Balak, the king of the Moabites, was scared of Israel. Balaam was a prophet of God and to the children of God. Batak offered Balaam lots of riches if he would curse the children of God. Now the story of Balaam’s crime is not easily seen on the surface but we must look at this. Balaam was a prophet of God, therefore, his first devotion should have been to God and then to God’s people. Yet, Balaam asks the princes of Moab to stay with him so that he could inquire of God to curse the people. God said no and Balaam sent the princes back to Moab. Balak sent the princes back with more money and Balaam looked as if he was following God. He tells the princes that they could offer their houses full of gold but he could not curse the children of Israel. The point here is that he could not do it because it was against God but rather that God blessed them and NO ONE could curse them at this point. Yet, Balaam again asked the princes to stay in hopes that God would change His mind. God came to Balaam and told him to go with the princes. This must have been a test of Balaam because when he got up to go, this made God angry. Balaam’s actions proved his heart. This is why we are judged on works and not on confession. Balaam gave good lip services but his heart was far from God.
This is where we come to with the church of Pergamos. There were some who gave good lip service but their heart was far from God.
We see this pronoun again in Rev 2:15. There are some in the church that holds to the doctrine of the Nicolaitans. As mentioned before, there’s speculation as to how the Nicolaitans came about. One thing that seems to ring true is that the Nicolaitans were practicers of gnostism/Manichaeism theologies. This means there was some that were holding to a salvation by knowledge and/or they held to a theology of God and satan being equal waring powers and that it did not matter what the body did as long as the spirit was saved.
Notice the pronouns in Rev 2:16. It says to repent or He is coming to YOU and will fight against THEM. What Messiah Yeshua is saying is that because the church is tolerating this sin within the body, He is going to visit all of them, yet He’s going to fight against those in the practice.
When you look at the story of Achan in Joshua 7, you see one man who sinned by coveting and then stealing from God. Because of that one mans sin, the entire tribe of Israel suffered. When God confronts Israel, He says “the children of Israel committed a trespass” and the “anger of the LORD burned against Israel” because this one man sinned (Joshua 7:1). Paul warns that a little leaven leavens a whole lump; which is to say a little sin in the camp will cause it to spread through the camp (1 Cor 5:6).
Unfortunately, the church in America is filled with “christians” who give good lip service but fail to have a relationship with God. They actually know more about the things in this world than they do about God while professing “christianity” and going to church, maybe even talking with a spiritual language. In other words, we’ll talk really good in that “these new shoes will really help me serve God” or “I could do a lot for God with this new luxury car” but fact is, it’s lip service while coveting the things of this world and spending God’s money on our own comforts rather than to spread the Gospel and make sure people are clothed and fed (1 Cor 10:7; Ezekiel 16:49-50).
When it comes to the doctrine of the Nicholaitans, there are churches today that teach this type of theology also. If not teach, at least practice. I was raised in the “name it and claim it; blab it and grab it” theology. These people practice that God has “healed” them but if it’s not manifested then satan is battling that healing. The problem is, to say this is to say that satan is equal to or more powerful than God; and this is not so. It’s also a massive practice among the church to follow a once saved always saved theology or a sinners prayer (it’s that easy) theology and telling people they are saved because of that person repeating an un-Biblical prayer. That person goes away unchanged but believes they are saved. The churches are filled with such people today.
Just because some are not in this practice does not mean they will not be affected by those in the church who are. We must remember that sin hurts everyone in the church. The best thing is not to stay silent but to lovingly correct such practices (Matt 18:15-17).
To him who overcomes these abominations Messiah Yeshua will give them a “ticket” to the banquet (Rev 2:17). The “white stone” was the common “ticket” that was given to victors of the games. The only way you could go to the victor's banquet was to have a white stone from the games. This stone will have a name in it that only the receiver will recognize. This name must be something that is a representation of the relationship they had with God.
Let us not test God. We need to know God's character and revolve our life around His character. God's first, and we will not compromise God for things of this world.
‘ These things says He who has the sharp two- edged sword:13 “ I know your works, and where you dwell, where Satan's throne is. And you hold fast to My name, and did not deny My faith even in the days in which Antipas was My faithful martyr, who was killed among you, where Satan dwells. 14 But I have a few things against you, because you have there those who hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balak to put a stumbling block before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed to idols, and to commit sexual immorality. 15 Thus you also have those who hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitans, which thing I hate. 16 Repent, or else I will come to you quickly and will fight against them with the sword of My mouth.
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 to eat. And I will give him a white stone, and on the stone a new name written which no one knows except him who receives it.” ’
(Revelation 2:12-17 NKJV)
Messiah Yeshua comes to this church with the Word (Rev 2:12; Heb 4:12). Just like all the other churches, Messiah is basing His judgment of this church upon their works (Rev 2:13).
This church apparently dwells in a very bad spiritual country. Though there is plenty of speculation, no one is quite sure what the reference to “satan’s throne” is but we can be assured that it’s a bad place.
The church holds fast to faith in God even though there are those among them who have been murdered for their faith (Rev 2:13). Antipas is a “no-name” in the history of martyrs. There is plenty of speculation, but that is all it is… speculation. The clear point we get is that people have died, someone which everyone must have known died, yet they are holding fast to the faith in God.
Then we see an elusion to “satans” dwelling again. Some think this could be one of the many temples but Messiah Yeshua could also be generalizing the entire area which this church dwell.
Like a few of the other churches, they are doing things right; but, they are also doing things wrong. It’s these wrong things that are going to cause the issue. Think about what we see here. This church has faith, undying faith even in the face of danger; YET, there is still a problem that will keep them from Heaven. This is an echoing theme that we need to take heed to. We are judged by our works and though we are doing something right, if we continue to be in error in other portions of our lives we will not make it to Heaven.
What is one of the things that are wrong? There are THOSE who hold to the doctrine of Balaam. The pronoun THOSE would tell us that not all the church is guilty, only some. What is the doctrine of Balaam?
The story of Balaam can be found in Numbers 22. Balak, the king of the Moabites, was scared of Israel. Balaam was a prophet of God and to the children of God. Batak offered Balaam lots of riches if he would curse the children of God. Now the story of Balaam’s crime is not easily seen on the surface but we must look at this. Balaam was a prophet of God, therefore, his first devotion should have been to God and then to God’s people. Yet, Balaam asks the princes of Moab to stay with him so that he could inquire of God to curse the people. God said no and Balaam sent the princes back to Moab. Balak sent the princes back with more money and Balaam looked as if he was following God. He tells the princes that they could offer their houses full of gold but he could not curse the children of Israel. The point here is that he could not do it because it was against God but rather that God blessed them and NO ONE could curse them at this point. Yet, Balaam again asked the princes to stay in hopes that God would change His mind. God came to Balaam and told him to go with the princes. This must have been a test of Balaam because when he got up to go, this made God angry. Balaam’s actions proved his heart. This is why we are judged on works and not on confession. Balaam gave good lip services but his heart was far from God.
This is where we come to with the church of Pergamos. There were some who gave good lip service but their heart was far from God.
We see this pronoun again in Rev 2:15. There are some in the church that holds to the doctrine of the Nicolaitans. As mentioned before, there’s speculation as to how the Nicolaitans came about. One thing that seems to ring true is that the Nicolaitans were practicers of gnostism/Manichaeism theologies. This means there was some that were holding to a salvation by knowledge and/or they held to a theology of God and satan being equal waring powers and that it did not matter what the body did as long as the spirit was saved.
Notice the pronouns in Rev 2:16. It says to repent or He is coming to YOU and will fight against THEM. What Messiah Yeshua is saying is that because the church is tolerating this sin within the body, He is going to visit all of them, yet He’s going to fight against those in the practice.
When you look at the story of Achan in Joshua 7, you see one man who sinned by coveting and then stealing from God. Because of that one mans sin, the entire tribe of Israel suffered. When God confronts Israel, He says “the children of Israel committed a trespass” and the “anger of the LORD burned against Israel” because this one man sinned (Joshua 7:1). Paul warns that a little leaven leavens a whole lump; which is to say a little sin in the camp will cause it to spread through the camp (1 Cor 5:6).
Unfortunately, the church in America is filled with “christians” who give good lip service but fail to have a relationship with God. They actually know more about the things in this world than they do about God while professing “christianity” and going to church, maybe even talking with a spiritual language. In other words, we’ll talk really good in that “these new shoes will really help me serve God” or “I could do a lot for God with this new luxury car” but fact is, it’s lip service while coveting the things of this world and spending God’s money on our own comforts rather than to spread the Gospel and make sure people are clothed and fed (1 Cor 10:7; Ezekiel 16:49-50).
When it comes to the doctrine of the Nicholaitans, there are churches today that teach this type of theology also. If not teach, at least practice. I was raised in the “name it and claim it; blab it and grab it” theology. These people practice that God has “healed” them but if it’s not manifested then satan is battling that healing. The problem is, to say this is to say that satan is equal to or more powerful than God; and this is not so. It’s also a massive practice among the church to follow a once saved always saved theology or a sinners prayer (it’s that easy) theology and telling people they are saved because of that person repeating an un-Biblical prayer. That person goes away unchanged but believes they are saved. The churches are filled with such people today.
Just because some are not in this practice does not mean they will not be affected by those in the church who are. We must remember that sin hurts everyone in the church. The best thing is not to stay silent but to lovingly correct such practices (Matt 18:15-17).
To him who overcomes these abominations Messiah Yeshua will give them a “ticket” to the banquet (Rev 2:17). The “white stone” was the common “ticket” that was given to victors of the games. The only way you could go to the victor's banquet was to have a white stone from the games. This stone will have a name in it that only the receiver will recognize. This name must be something that is a representation of the relationship they had with God.
Let us not test God. We need to know God's character and revolve our life around His character. God's first, and we will not compromise God for things of this world.