S EVEN C HURCHES OF A SIA C HURCH AT P ERGAMOS : C HURCH T HAT T OLERATED E RROR

T HE T EXT “And to the angel of the church in Pergamos write, 'These things says He who has the sharp two-edged sword: 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.” R EVELATION 2:12,13

T HE T EXT “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. Thus you also have those who hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitans, which thing I hate.” R EVELATION 2:14,15

T HE T EXT “Repent, or else I will come to you quickly and will fight against them with the sword of My mouth. 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.” R EVELATION 2:16,17

B ACKGROUND Located 30 miles north of Smyrna Royal City of Asia Capital city of Kingdom of Mysia, after death of Alexander the Great Parchment developed in Pergamos Center of Caesar worship Official capital of Asia Minor Pliny the governor called it the most illustrious city in Asia

parchment, untanned skins of animals, especially of the sheep, calf, and goat, prepared for use as a writing material. The name is a corruption of Pergamum, the ancient city of Asia Minor where preparation of parchment suitable for use on both sides was achieved in the 2 nd cent. B.C. Parchment, which is more durable than papyrus and susceptible of being folded into book form, very gradually superseded papyrus...The skins were soaked in water, treated with lime to loosen the hair, scraped, washed, stretched, and dried, and then rubbed with chalk and pumice stone...Parchment is still used for certain documents and diplomas, for book bindings and lampshades, and for the heads of drums, tambourines, and banjos. (

B ACKGROUND Pergamos ( modern-day Bergama ) was the first site for temple to the Caesar-cult dedicated to Augustus, 29 B.C. Library of over 200,000 volumes Ultimately, the library was moved to Egypt to be presented to Cleopatra

P ERGAMUM ’ S P AGANISM Eumenes II actively promoted of the worship of Zeus and the other Olympian gods in Pergamum. He built up the great temple complex and library for which the city became famous. This was a major religious center during the Hellenistic period, and second only to Alexandria as a center of learning. Reconstruction of the great altar

P ERGAMUM ’ S P AGANISM Aesculapium The god of healing, Aesculapius received worship in cultic centers around the Greek and Roman world. This large complex at Pergamum was originally constructed in the 4 th century B.C. and became an official center in the the 3 rd c. In the 2 nd c. A.D., Hadrian (76-138; Rom. Emp ) further developed the center and it was added to the list of "wonders of the world." Courtesy of

Temple of Trajan Courtesy of

Pergamum’s Paganism Courtesy

T HE A UTHOR Revelation 2:12-17 Author Described: “ He who has sharp two-edged sword.” Ephesians 6:17 Hebrews 4:12

G OD ’ S P OWER Quick & powerful — Romans 1:16 Sharp and piercing— cuts to the heart! Discerner of thoughts and intents — Hebrews 4:12 Gets to man’s inner person !

C OMMENDATIONS “I know thy works. ” Take notes and inventory of all of our works! – Matthew 6:8 “ Therefore do not be like them. For your Father knows the things you have need of before you ask Him.”

D WELLING P LACE “Where Satan’s Seat is. ” All places have the devil to contend with Emperor worship and paganism – 1 Peter 5:8 – 1 Corinthians 10:10-13 “ Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.”

C OMMENDATIONS “Holding Fast to His name. ” Refused to compromise their faith No excuses for failure—stay committed – Acts 5:29 – Matthew 10:32,33 “ But Peter and the other apostles answered and said: We ought to obey God rather than men.”

C OMMENDATIONS “Have not denied the faith. ” Antipas, faithful martyr Not wavered Steadfast – Jude 3 “Beloved, while I was very diligent to write to you concerning our common salvation, I found it necessary to write to you exhorting you to contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints.”

C OMMENDATIONS “Have not denied the faith. ” Antipas, faithful martyr Not wavered Steadfast – Ephesians 4:14 “ That we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting.”

W ORDS OF C ONDEMNATION “I have a few things against you. ” Balaam and Balak Some held to false doctrine Committed harlotry with Moab – Numbers “Look, a people has come out of Egypt, and they cover the face of the earth. Come now, curse them for me; perhaps I shall be able to overpower them and drive them out.”

W ORDS OF C ONDEMNATION “I have a few things against you. ” Balaam and Balak Some held to false doctrine Committed harlotry with Moab – Numbers “ And God said to Balaam, You shall not go with them; you shall not curse the people, for they are blessed.”

W ORDS OF C ONDEMNATION “I have a few things against you. ” Balaam and Balak Some held to false doctrine Committed harlotry with Moab – Numbers “ If Balak were to give me his house full of silver and gold, I could not go beyond the word of the LORD, to do good or bad of my own will. What the LORD says, that I must speak'.”

W ORDS OF C ONDEMNATION “Danger of ungodly counsel. ” Sexual immorality bring God’s wrath Pagan ceremony of heathen religion Guilty of teaching it? Harboring ones who did! – 2 John 9,10 “ Whoever transgresses and does not abide in the doctrine of Christ does not have God. He who abides in the doctrine of Christ has both the Father and the Son. If anyone comes to you and does not bring this doctrine, do not receive him into your house nor greet him.”

W ORDS OF C ONDEMNATION “Error cannot be tolerated! ” Compromising our faith with sin always proves unprofitable. – Ephesians 5:11 “ And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them.”

W ORDS OF C ONDEMNATION “Error cannot be tolerated! ” Compromising our faith with sin always proves unprofitable. – Romans 16:17 “ Now I urge you, brethren, note those who cause divisions and offenses, contrary to the doctrine which you learned, and avoid them.”

W ORDS OF C ONDEMNATION “Doctrine of Nicolaitans! ” Lord hated the teaching. Hate the teaching— not the teacher – 1 John 4:1 “ Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world.”

W ORDS OF C ONDEMNATION “Doctrine of Nicolaitans! ” Lord hated the teaching. Hate the teaching— not the teacher – Romans 1:32 “ Who, knowing the righteous judgment of God, that those who practice such things are deserving of death, not only do the same but also approve of those who practice them.”

W ORDS OF C ONDEMNATION “Doctrine of Nicolaitans! ” Lord hated the teaching. Hate the teaching— not the teacher – 1 Timothy 4:1-3 “…in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons, speaking lies in hypocrisy, having their own conscience seared with a hot iron.”

T HE W ARNING “Repent quickly! ” Lord come quickly fight with the sword of His mouth. – Acts 17:30 “ Truly, these times of ignorance God overlooked, but now commands all men everywhere to repent.”

T HE W ARNING “Repent quickly! ” Lord come quickly fight with the sword of His mouth. – 2 Corinthians 7:9-10 “Now I rejoice, not that you were made sorry, but that your sorrow led to repentance. For you were made sorry in a godly manner, that you might suffer loss from us in nothing.”

T HE C ONSOLATION “Hidden manna to eat. ” Bread of life. Truth hidden to those who are “blind.” – Exodus 16 “…Behold, I will rain bread from heaven for you. And the people shall go out and gather a certain quota every day, that I may test them, whether they will walk in My law or not.”

T HE C ONSOLATION “Hidden manna to eat. ” Bread of life. Truth hidden to those who are “blind.” – John 6:32,33 “…Most assuredly, I say to you, Moses did not give you the bread from heaven, but My Father gives you the true bread from heaven. For the bread of God is He who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.”

W HITE S TONE “New name written. ” No one knows it but those who receive it New status— new relationship Only for the faithful-- overcome - Revelation 6:11 “Then a white robe was given to each of them; and it was said to them that they should rest a little while longer, until both the number of their fellow servants and their brethren, who would be killed as they were, was completed.”

W HITE S TONE “New name written. ” No one knows it but those who receive it New status— new relationship Only for the faithful-- overcome - Revelation 19:8 “ And to her it was granted to be arrayed in fine linen, clean and bright, for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints.”

N EW N AME “ It may be in some way the means by which God will receive those who gain the victory. Since it cannot be known by others, it is useless to ask what it is. It is our business to overcome, the white stone and the new name we can leave to God to make plain in his own time.” Hinds, John T. A Commentary on the Book of Revelation. Nashville, Tenn.: Gospel Advocate, p. 46.