1. Biblical Church History Following the Hand of God and the Hand of Satan

2. Revelation 2:8-11 c.325-500 A.D. PergamosPergamos “ Much Marriage ”

3. Pergamos (Rev 2:12) And to the angel of the church in Pergamos write; These things saith he which hath the sharp sword with two edges;

4. doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balac to cast a stumblingblock before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed unto idols, and to commit fornication (Rev 2:14-15) But I have a few things against thee, because thou hast there them that hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balac to cast a stumblingblock before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed unto idols, and to commit fornication. So hast thou also them that hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitans, which thing I hate.

5. THE EUCHARIST

6. COUNCIL OF NICEA

7. WHO ARE YOU MARRIED TO?

8. This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church. (Eph 5:25-32) Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish… For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones. For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh. This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church.

9. II Corinthians 11:2-4; 13-15

10. (Son 2:10) My beloved spake, and said unto me, Rise up, my love, my fair one, and come away. (Rev 19:7-8) Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready. And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints.

11. H PergamosPergamos  What the church was doing during this time period was committing spiritual fornication. (Rev. 2:14)  The Pergamos church period was the time in church history when rather than the Church converting the world, the world converted the Church  In other words Satan married the Church to the world

12. Love not the world (1Jn 2:15) Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. riendship of the world is enmity with God ( Jas 4:4) Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God. : for what fellowship (2Co 6:14) Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?

13. (Col 3:2) Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. (Mat 6:19) Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: (Rom 12:2) And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

14. (Joh 17:15-16) I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil. They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.

15. COUNCIL OF NICEA

16. H PergamosPergamos  The word “Nicea” means “victory.”  This is what Constantine and most writers of church history thought it was  Philip Schaff (whose eight volumes are the standard word on Church History in most Bible Colleges and seminaries) says… “It is the first and most venerable of the ecumenical synods, and next to the apostolic council at Jerusalem the most important and the most illustrious of all the councils of Christendom.

17. H PergamosPergamos  …The Council of Nicea is the most important event of the fourth century, and its bloodless intellectual victory over a dangerous error is of far greater consequence to the progress of true civilization, than all the bloody victories of Constantine and his successors. It forms an epoch in the history of doctrine, summing up the results of all previous discussions on the deity of Christ and the incarnation, and at the same time regulating the further development of the Catholic orthodoxy for centuries. Philip Schaff, History of the Christian Church, Vol. 3

18. H PergamosPergamos  The Bible has already clearly identified what to expect from “religious councils”  The reference:

19. council (Mat 12:14) Then the Pharisees went out, and held a council against him, how they might destroy him. council (Mat 26:59) Now the chief priests, and elders, and all the council, sought false witness against Jesus, to put him to death; councils (Mar 13:9) But take heed to yourselves: for they shall deliver you up to councils; and in the synagogues ye shall be beaten: and ye shall be brought before rulers and kings for my sake, for a testimony against them.

20. called the council together (Act 5:21) And when they heard that, they entered into the temple early in the morning, and taught. But the high priest came, and they that were with him, and called the council together, and all the senate of the children of Israel, and sent to the prison to have them brought.

21. (Act 6:12) And they stirred up the people, and the elders, and the scribes, and came upon him, and caught him, and brought him to the council,

22. H PergamosPergamos  The observation:  Every time the word is used in the New Testament in reference to a group meeting together for the purpose of making some kind of decision, or carrying out some kind of action… It is always a group of religious heretics (Acts 23:6) who unite, and attain a spirit of “one accord” for the purpose of wiping out the Word of God (Acts 5:40)

23. The events leading up to the event

24. H PergamosPergamos 1. The Diocletian Persecution Diocletian was a Roman Emperior The Diocletian persecution (303 A.D.) was the 10 th official Roman persecution against Christianity. Fox’s Book of Martyrs states that” invention was exhausted to devise tortures against” believers in this period. William Byron Forbush, D.D. Fox’s Book of Martyrs The believers and tired, and looking for a break.

25. H PergamosPergamos 2. The Phony “Conversion” of Constantine The battle of Milvian Bridge in 312 A.D. Constantine's “vision”

26. H PergamosPergamos 3. The Edict of Milan in 313 A.D. It grants religious liberty to Christians Much property confiscated in the Diocletian persecution is returned to Christians Constantine emerges as a hero 4. The controversy concerning the doctrine of the Trinity.

27. Biblical Church History Following the Hand of God and the Hand of Satan

28. H PergamosPergamos  What Constantine is really interested in:  Keeping his empire together  He sees Christianity as the “glue” and wants to make sure all of the pastors are united  What Satan is really interested in:  He wants to usurp the authority from Christ and the Bible, and hand it to Constantine, and set him up over the church, and marry his pagan system of religion to Christianity.

29. H PergamosPergamos  Two key leaders and their opposing views:  Arius- He believed that Christ was of a different essence, or substance from the Father. (That Christ was a “Begotten” God.) {NASB Jn 1:18}  Athanasius- He believed that Christ had existed with the Father, and was of the same essence as the Father. (That Christ was equal with the Father.)  Then there are those that are Neo- evangelical (Leaded by Eusebius of Caesarea) these were the middle of the road position.

30. THE CONTENT OF THIS COUNCIL

31. H PergamosPergamos  Constantine sends out an invitation to all of the pastors in the empire to come for an all expense paid meeting together with he and the “other” leaders of the church. Philip Schaff, History of the Christian Church, Vol. III  Of the 1800 pastors at the time, between 300 and 318 of them actually showed up. Philip Schaff, History of the Christian Church, Vol. III

32. H PergamosPergamos  Eusebius of Caesarea, who is called the “Father of Church History”, who delivered the opening address at the Council, and was seated at Constantine's right hand during the Council described Constantine's entrance like this:…

33. H PergamosPergamos.. “After all the bishops had entered the central building of the royal palace, on the sides of which very many seats were prepared, each took his place with becoming modesty, and silently awaited the arrival of the emperor. The court officers entered one after another, though only such as professed faith in Christ. The moment the approach of the emperor was announced by a given signal, they all rose from their seats, and the emperor appeared like a heavenly messenger

34. H PergamosPergamos ….of God, covered with gold and gems, a glorious presence, very tall and slender, full of beauty, strength, and majesty. With this external adornment he united the spiritual ornament of the fear of God, modesty, and humility, which could be seen in his downcast eyes, his blushing face, the motion of his body, and his walk. When he reached the golden throne prepared for him, he stopped, and sat not down till the bishops gave him the sign. And after him they all resumed their seats.” Schaff, Vol. III, 625, 873, 624-625

35. H PergamosPergamos  Eusebuis lets us know how that at other times, …” the citizens flocked in great crowds to the palace to hear the imperial preacher, who would in vain try to prevent their loud applause by pointing to heaven as the source of his wisdom” Schaff, Vol. III 34

36. H PergamosPergamos  Constantine’s address to the Council…”It was my highest wish, my friends, that I might be permitted to enjoy your assembly. I must thank God that, in addition to all other blessings, he has shown me this highest one of all: to see you all gathered here in harmony and with one mind. May no malicious enemy rob us of this happiness..discord in the church I consider more fearful and painful than any other war. As soon as I by the help of God had overcome my enemies,…

37. H PergamosPergamos  …I believed that nothing more was now necessary than to give thanks to God in common joy with those whom I had liberated. But when I heard of your division, I was convinced that this matter should by no means be neglected, and in the desire to assist by my service, I have summoned you without delay. I shall, however, feel my desire fulfilled only when I see the minds of all united in that peaceful harmony which you, as the anointed of God, must preach to others….

38. H PergamosPergamos  …Delay not therefore, my friends, delay not, servants of God; put away all causes of strife, and loose all knots of discord by the laws of peace. Thus shall you accomplish the work most pleasing to God, and confer upon me, your fellow servant, and exceeding great joy.” Schaff, Vol. III 625-626

39. H PergamosPergamos  Walker comments,…”To Constantine’s influence the adoption of the Nicene definition was due. That he ever understood its shaded of meaning is more than doubtful; but he wanted a united expression of the faith of the church on the question in dispute, and believed that he found it.” Williston Walker, A History of the Christian Church, 109

40. H PergamosPergamos  Newman adds,…”In all of his dealings with Christian matters the supreme motive seems to have been that of securing unity. About doctrinal differences he was almost indifferent. But he dreaded dissension among those on who he depended for the support of his government.” Albert Henry Newman, A Manual of Church History, 307

41. H PergamosPergamos  Making sure we understand the real issues of the Council of Nicaea, and the practical implications upon Christianity today…