3. The Church at Pergamum
Echos of the Apocalypse • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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The Church at Pergamum
La Iglesia de Pérgamo
NOTES:
What is this sermon supposed to do?
The message to Pergamum (& us ) “Hold to the truth!” and you’ll receive eternal life.
Nicolaitans in Pergamum that were teaching like Balaam (ways to corrupt believers. i.e. sexual immorality and idol worship (other Gods).
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INTRO:
Reminder:
FORMAT OF THE LETTERS TO THE 7 CHURCHES: (Recap from last week)
1. “To the angel of the church of...”
2. “These are the words of...” (Description of Jesus as it relates to each particular church)
3. “I know your works/deeds”
4. “But I have this against you” (only Smyrna and Philadelphia not rebuked by the Lord.)
5. “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.” And He gives a promise of some future gain.
TEXT:
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:
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.
14 “But I have a few complaints against you. You tolerate some among you whose teaching is like that of Balaam, who showed Balak how to trip up the people of Israel. He taught them to sin by eating food offered to idols and by committing sexual sin.
15 In a similar way, you have some Nicolaitans among you who follow the same teaching.
16 Repent of your sin, or I will come to you suddenly and fight against them with the sword of my mouth.
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.
12 »Escribe esta carta al ángel de la iglesia de Pérgamo. Este es el mensaje de aquél que tiene la espada aguda de doble filo:
13 »Yo sé que vives en la ciudad donde Satanás tiene su trono; sin embargo, has permanecido leal a mi nombre. Te rehusaste a negarme aun cuando mi fiel testigo, Antipas, murió como mártir en medio de ustedes allí en la ciudad de Satanás.
14 »Pero tengo unas cuantas quejas en tu contra. Toleras a algunos de entre ustedes que mantienen la enseñanza de Balaam, quien le enseñó a Balac cómo hacer tropezar al pueblo de Israel. Les enseñó a pecar, incitándolos a comer alimentos ofrecidos a ídolos y a cometer pecado sexual.
15 De modo parecido, entre ustedes hay algunos nicolaítas que siguen esa misma enseñanza.
16 Arrepiéntete de tu pecado, o de lo contrario, vendré a ti de repente y pelearé contra ellos con la espada de mi boca.
17 »Todo el que tenga oídos para oír debe escuchar al Espíritu y entender lo que él dice a las iglesias. A todos los que salgan vencedores, les daré del maná que ha sido escondido en el cielo. Y le daré a cada uno una piedra blanca, y en la piedra estará grabado un nombre nuevo que nadie comprende aparte de aquél que lo recibe.
BODY:
Rev. 2:12-17
Pergamum Church
This church portrays Christians who compromise; morality & loyalty to God.
Pergamum was very loyal to Rome / became Rome’s capital in the province of Asia.
V. 12
12 “To the angel of the church in Pergamum write: These are the words of him who has the sharp, double-edged sword.
12 »Escribe esta carta al ángel de la iglesia de Pérgamo. Este es el mensaje de aquél que tiene la espada aguda de doble filo:
The roman sword was the ultimate show of power and force. They conquered and rules everywhere by their sword.
Jesus’ description of Himself would resonate very much so in John’s day. Indicating that He, not Rome has, has ultimate rule over everything.
V. 13
13 I know where you live—where Satan has his throne. Yet you remain true to my name. You did not renounce your faith in me, not even in the days of Antipas, my faithful witness, who was put to death in your city—where Satan lives.
13 »Yo sé que vives en la ciudad donde Satanás tiene su trono; sin embargo, has permanecido leal a mi nombre. Te rehusaste a negarme aun cuando mi fiel testigo, Antipas, murió como mártir en medio de ustedes allí en la ciudad de Satanás.
2 possible meanings to Satan's throne:
Pergamum was really into worshipping their gods as well as Cesar as god.
A large temple to Zeus was built here on a mountain overlooking the city.
and of course they worshipped the Roman emperor as a god too.
the other possibility is that there was in fact a very power demonic principality ruling over this region. (i.e. Daniel “Prince of Persia”)
Asclepius who’s symbol was coiled snakes was worshipped here as well. reminiscent of the old serpent. Would have led men in the region to kill Antipas for his faithfulness to Jesus & persecute other believers in the area.
People given over to idolatry and immorality can facilitate or even cause these demons to take over a city or even a country.
i.e. San Francisco (drugs, homelessness, crime)
Haiti vs. Dominican Republic. literally one island split in two (Haiti into vudu/santeria always getting wrecked by earthquakes but not the Dominican Republic).
V. 14
14 Nevertheless, I have a few things against you: There are some among you who hold to the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to entice the Israelites to sin so that they ate food sacrificed to idols and committed sexual immorality.
14 »Pero tengo unas cuantas quejas en tu contra. Toleras a algunos de entre ustedes que mantienen la enseñanza de Balaam, quien le enseñó a Balac cómo hacer tropezar al pueblo de Israel. Les enseñó a pecar, incitándolos a comer alimentos ofrecidos a ídolos y a cometer pecado sexual.
Balaam in the book of Numbers
Balak king of Moab, tried to hire Balaam to curse the people of Israel because they seemed unstoppable conquering nation after nation and was afraid they were next.
God forbids Balaam from cursing Israel. So Balaam tells King Balak how he can damage the people of God.
He couldn’t curse them; so instead he was to seduce them.
1 While the Israelites were camped at Acacia Grove, some of the men defiled themselves by having sexual relations with local Moabite women.
2 These women invited them to attend sacrifices to their gods, so the Israelites feasted with them and worshiped the gods of Moab.
3 In this way, Israel joined in the worship of Baal of Peor, causing the Lord’s anger to blaze against his people.
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1 Mientras los israelitas acampaban en la arboleda de Acacias, algunos hombres se contaminaron al tener relaciones sexuales con las mujeres moabitas del lugar.
2 Estas mujeres los invitaron a los sacrificios a sus dioses, así que los israelitas festejaron con ellas y rindieron culto a los dioses de Moab.
3 De ese modo Israel se unió al culto a Baal de Peor, lo cual encendió el enojo del Señor contra su pueblo.
(See also:)
16 “These are the very ones who followed Balaam’s advice and caused the people of Israel to rebel against the Lord at Mount Peor. They are the ones who caused the plague to strike the Lord’s people.
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16 Precisamente son ellas las que, siguiendo el consejo de Balaam, incitaron al pueblo de Israel a rebelarse contra el Señor en el monte Peor. Son ellas las que causaron la plaga que hirió al pueblo del Señor.
Pastor Heber “Mijo cuidate de la lana, la fama, y la dama!!!”
V. 15
15 Likewise, you also have those who hold to the teaching of the Nicolaitans.
15 De modo parecido, entre ustedes hay algunos nicolaítas que siguen esa misma enseñanza.
We discussed the Nicolaitans in
According to Revelation 2:6 and 15,
known in Ephesus and Pergamum.
Ephesus = commended for "hating the works of the Nicolaites, which I also hate"
Pergamum = rebuked for tolerating them "So thou hast also some [worshiping in their midst] who hold the teaching of the Nicolaitans".
V. 16
16 Repent therefore! Otherwise, I will soon come to you and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth.
16 Arrepiéntete de tu pecado, o de lo contrario, vendré a ti de repente y pelearé contra ellos con la espada de mi boca.
The whole church is called to repent for not hating the doctrine of the Nicolaitans. (not just the Nicolaitans). But the war will be primarily with the Nicolaitans.
The sword of my mouth = resumed from Rev 1:16, but with an allusion to the drawn sword with which the angel of the Lord confronted Balaam on his way to curse Israel:
The spiritual Balaamites of John’s day are to be smitten with the Lord’s spiritual sword, the word or “rod of His mouth.”
V. 17
17 Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who is victorious, I will give some of the hidden manna. I will also give that person a white stone with a new name written on it, known only to the one who receives it.
17 »Todo el que tenga oídos para oír debe escuchar al Espíritu y entender lo que él dice a las iglesias. A todos los que salgan vencedores, les daré del maná que ha sido escondido en el cielo. Y le daré a cada uno una piedra blanca, y en la piedra estará grabado un nombre nuevo que nadie comprende aparte de aquél que lo recibe.
END:
Eat the hidden manna—in contrast to eating idol-meats (Rev 2:14).
The allusion is here to this: probably also to the Lord’s discourse (Jn 6:31–35).
31 After all, our ancestors ate manna while they journeyed through the wilderness! The Scriptures say, ‘Moses gave them bread from heaven to eat.’”
32 Jesus said, “I tell you the truth, Moses didn’t give you bread from heaven. My Father did. And now he offers you the true bread from heaven.
33 The true bread of God is the one who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.”
34 “Sir,” they said, “give us that bread every day.”
35 Jesus replied, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry again. Whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.
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31 Después de todo, ¡nuestros antepasados comieron maná mientras andaban por el desierto! Las Escrituras dicen: “Moisés les dio de comer pan del cielo”.
32 Jesús les respondió: —Les digo la verdad, no fue Moisés quien les dio el pan del cielo, fue mi Padre. Y ahora él les ofrece el verdadero pan del cielo,
33 pues el verdadero pan de Dios es el que desciende del cielo y da vida al mundo.
34 —Señor —le dijeron—, danos ese pan todos los días.
35 Jesús les respondió: —Yo soy el pan de vida. El que viene a mí nunca volverá a tener hambre; el que cree en mí no tendrá sed jamás.
Receive a white stone...
Revelation C. Message to Pergamum: Hold to the Truth (2:12–17)
In the ancient pagan world, special white stones were often used as admission tickets for public festivals. Possessing a stone with a special name—perhaps the name engraved is “Christ” or “Jesus,” serving to certify the stone as genuine—means that admission to heaven is absolutely sure for believers in Christ.
12 The one who is victorious I will make a pillar in the temple of my God. Never again will they leave it. I will write on them the name of my God and the name of the city of my God, the new Jerusalem, which is coming down out of heaven from my God; and I will also write on them my new name.
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12 A todos los que salgan vencedores, los haré columnas en el templo de mi Dios, y nunca tendrán que salir de allí. Yo escribiré sobre ellos el nombre de mi Dios, y ellos serán ciudadanos de la ciudad de mi Dios, la nueva Jerusalén que desciende del cielo y de mi Dios. Y también escribiré en ellos mi nuevo nombre.
9 And the angel said to me, “Write this: Blessed are those who are invited to the wedding feast of the Lamb.” And he added, “These are true words that come from God.”
What is this sermon supposed to do?
Ephesus: forsook for first love / Repent & and do what you did at first / You’ll eat from tree of life.
Smyrna: no failure / Remain faithful / receive crown of life; will not be hurt by second death.
Pergamum: tolerates cults, heresies, idolatry, and immorality. / Repent / Will receive hidden manna & stone with new name on it.
The message to Pergamum (& us ) “Hold to the truth! / REPENT” and you’ll receive eternal life.
If you’ve been following the way of Balaam or the Nicolaitans REPENT before it’s too late.
Today is the day of salvation!