Eschatology II: Revelation

The Messages to the Seven Churches

Pergamos: Revelation 2:12-17

III. The Church of Pergamos (Rev. 2:12-17)

A. Characteristics of Pergamos

1. It was a university city boasting a library of over 200,000 scrolls--the 2nd biggest on earth at that time.

2. It was very heavily involved in Emperor worship and even had a temple built to worship Octavius Caesar (Augustus).

a. Once a year all citizens were required to bring incense to his altar in a show of his honor and of their patriotism.

b. Anyone not willing to burn incense was blamed for any calamities that fell upon the city. It was seen as the displeasure of their pagan gods.

3. Because it was a center of learning, every idea--stupid or intelligent--made its way to this city. It would be here that compromise of the faith was most likely.

4. This city also had "ius gladii" which means the right of sword. The authority was given its governor to execute without appeal.

5. The city also had a very strong Aesculapius cult (the god of healing).

6. The city also had a large, throne-like altar to Zeus (the chief god), who was often referred to as "Zeus the Savior".

B. The Message to Pergamos

1. He begins by showing Jesus as the One who REALLY has "ius gladii" (v12)

a. The sword He holds is not the common word of MACHAIRA (ie:Hebs 4:12, Eph 6:17), but the less common ROMPHAIAN, a broad-bladed battle sword, sharpened on both sides and for one purpose: to kill.

b. He says this to a city that has the "right of sword" and exercised it often against Christians. Jesus would, too, exercise His "right of sword" when He returns (cf Rev 19:15, same word ROMPHAIAN).

2. Jesus points out the evil in which they live (v13)

a. He calls it the place where Satan's seat was

1) They lived where the Aesculapius cult was found. This cult's symbol for their god was two serpents entwined around a staff. It was a healing cult and an obvious Satanic perversion of Num 21:4-9 and John 3:14-15. Satan always wanted to be worshipped as God (Isa 14:12-15). In Pergamos, he gets what he wanted.

2) They lived in a center of "worldly" knowledge (cf I Cor 1:19-25; 2:12-16).

3) They lived where a throne-like altar to Zeus was erected. Jesus tells them, "...thou dwellest even where Satan's seat is..." (v13)

b. He speaks of their works and their perseverance through trials.

1) "I know thy works, and where thou dwellest" means that they had persecution to endure in their locale. Yet they've "held fast" to the name of Jesus (cf Acts 4:12).

2) The fate of Antipas is recorded by Simeon Metaphrastes, who tells us that he was the elder pastor of the church of Pergamos and that he, after refusing to pinch some incense in the bull-shaped altar of Caesar, was thrown into the same brazen altar alive. The Eastern and Western churches give similar accounts and they celebrate his name day on April 11.

3. Jesus then points out their own evil: those "things against thee" (vv14-16)

a. The doctrine of Balaam here can be called "compromise for life."

1) There were those in Pergamos who probably felt that Antipas didn't have to die.

2) By eating things sacrificed to idols and committing fornication, you could show yourself a good citizen of Pergamos. These acts where part of heathen worship rituals. "After all," they surmised, "why not eat and have sex as long as your heart is right with God?" This is the same thing Paul fought in Corinth (cf I Co 6:9-20) and comes from a libertine gnostic antinomianism.

b. But what they saw as a "happy-medium" Jesus called scandalous (the Greek for stumblingblock is SKANDALON)

1) If the doctrine of the Nicolaitins was a gnostic antinomianism, then their ideas were similar to this doctrine of Balaam.

2) By invoking your "liberty" in Christ to justify sin, you allow the enemy within the gate!

C. Repentance is the only hope for these people (v16)

1) Apart from this, there is no salvation. This sword was to be used "to smite the nations," (Rev 19:15). These "goats" and "tares" would be fought against when Jesus returns, even though they had counted themselves "saints, brethren, elect & Christians."

4. Finally, Jesus promises reward for the faithful (v17)

a. He gives the third "He that hath an ear..." invocation.

b. He gives the third "to him that overcomes" promise.

1) The phrase "hidden manna" was found throughout rabbinic literature and was promised to those who were faithful. The idea was that God would again feed His people w/o the "sweat of thy brow" (Gen 3:19), thus reversing the effects of the fall.

2) The reference to a white stone may mean that they will be found "not guilty" in the heaven's dock because of the blood of Christ. A black stone was used in the Roman judicial system as a vote for guilt, and white stone was used for innocence. In a jury, the stones were counted and the predominant stone color would decide the verdict of guilt or innocence.

3) To change your name was to change your status in life. When God gives you a new name, He is giving you blessing. Consider Abram->Abraham, Sarai->Sarah, Jacob->Israel.

Eschatology II: RevelationThe Messages to the Seven ChurchesPergamos: Revelation 2:12-17

III. The Church of Pergamos (Rev. 2:12-17)

A. Characteristics of Pergamos

1. It was a ____________________ city boasting a library of over ___________ scrolls--the 2nd biggest on earth at that time.

2. It was very heavily involved in ______________ worship and even had a temple built to worship Octavius Caesar (Augustus).

a. Once a year ________________ were required to bring ____________ to his altar in a show of Caesar's honor and of their _______________.

b. Anyone not willing to burn incense was blamed for ________________ that fell upon the city. ____________________ was seen as the displeasure of _______________________.

3. Because it was a ______________________, every idea--stupid or intelligent--made its way to this city. It would be here that __________________of the faith was most likely.

4. This city also had "ius gladii" which means ___________________. The authority was given its governor to _________________ without appeal.

5. The city also had a very strong Aesculapius cult (the god of ______________).

6. The city also had a large, throne-like altar to ________________ (the chief god), who was often referred to as "Zeus the ________________". This obviously was unacceptable to Christians.

B. The Message to Pergamos

1. He begins by showing Jesus as the One who REALLY has "ius gladii" (v12)

a. The sword He holds is not the _____________ word of MACHAIRA (ie:Hebs 4:12, Eph 6:17), but the _______________ ROMPHAIAN, a broad-bladed battle sword, sharpened _________________and for one purpose: __________________.

b. He says this to a city that has the "______________________" and exercised it often against ___________________. Jesus would, too, exercise His "right of sword" when He ________________ (cf Rev 19:15, same word ROMPHAIAN).

2. Jesus points out the evil in which they live (v13)

a. He calls it the place where Satan's ___________________ was.

1) They lived where the Aesculapius cult was found. This cult's symbol for their god was ________________________ ___________________. It was a ____________________ cult and an obvious Satanic perversion of Num 21:4-9 and John 3:14-15. Satan always wanted to be ______________________ (Isa 14:12-15). In Pergamos, Satan got what he always wanted.

2) They lived in a center of "worldly" _____________________ (cf I Cor 1:19-25; 2:12-16).

3) They lived where a throne-like __________________ to Zeus was erected. Jesus tells them, "...thou dwellest even where Satan's seat is..." (v13)

b. He speaks of their works and their _________________ through trials.

1) "I know thy works, and where thou dwellest" means that they had ________________________ to endure in their locale. Yet they've "held fast" to ________________________ (cf Acts 4:12).

2) The fate of _______________________ is recorded by Simeon Metaphrastes, who tells us that he was the elder _____________ of the church of Pergamos and that he, after refusing to pinch some incense in the bull-shaped altar of ___________________, was thrown into the same brazen altar alive. The Eastern Orthodox and Catholic Eastern and Western churches give similar accounts of this man and they celebrate his name day on April 11.

3. Jesus then points out their own ________________: those "things against thee" (vv14-16)

a. The doctrine of Balaam can be called "_________________________."

1) There were those in Pergamos who probably felt that Antipas didn't __________________________________.

2) By eating things sacrificed to idols and committing fornication, you could show yourself a ________________________________ of Pergamos. These acts where part of heathen _______________ _______________. "After all," they surmised, "why not eat and have sex as long as your heart is right with God?" This is the same thing Paul fought in __________________ (cf I Co 6:9-20) and comes from a libertine gnostic antinomian philosophy.

b. But what they saw as a "_________________________" Jesus called ____________________ (the Greek for stumblingblock is SKANDALON)

1) If the doctrine of the Nicolaitins was a gnostic antinomianism, then their ideas were _______________ to this doctrine of Balaam.

2) By invoking your "__________________" in Christ to justify sin, you allow ____________________________ within the gate!

C. ______________________ is the only hope for these people (v16)

1) Apart from this, there is no salvation. This sword was to be used "_________________________," (Rev 19:15). These "goats" and "tares" would be fought against when ___________________, even though they had counted themselves "_________________________________________________."

4. Finally, Jesus promises reward for __________________________ (v17)

a. He gives the third "He that hath an ear..." invocation.

b. He gives the third "to him that overcomes" promise.

1) The phrase "hidden manna" was found throughout rabbinic ____________________ and was promised to those who were faithful. The idea was that God would again ________________ His people w/o the "sweat of thy brow" (Gen 3:19), thus reversing the effects of _________________.

2) The reference to a white stone may mean that they will be found "___________________" in the heaven's dock because of the blood of Christ. A _______________ stone was used in the Roman judicial system as a vote for guilt, and ______________ a stone was used for innocence. In a jury, the ________________ were counted and the predominant stone color would decide the verdict of guilt or innocence.