2-3-2019 Shear Intimacy Revelation 2:12-17

Revelation Series  •  Sermon  •  Submitted   •  Presented   •  48:57
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Introduction:
Looking back through church history, we see that even some of our most brilliant and beloved heroes have been caught in culturally acceptable but biblically condemn-able practices. For instance, the great reformer Martin Luther had once loved the Jewish people. He argued that the Jews had been prevented from converting to Christianity by the proclamation of what he believed to be an impure gospel by the Catholic Church, and he believed they would respond favorably to the true Gospel if it were presented to them gently. He expressed concern for the poor conditions in which they were forced to live, and insisted that anyone denying that Jesus was born a Jew was committing heresy.
But near the end of his life the great reformer Martin Luther wrote a horrific tract, “On the Jews and Their Lies,” where he denounced Jews and even urged their persecution.
In the tract, he argues that Jewish synagogues and schools be set on fire, their prayer books destroyed, rabbis forbidden to preach, homes burned, and property and money confiscated. They should be shown no mercy or kindness, afforded no legal protection, and "these poisonous envenomed worms" should be drafted into forced labor or expelled for all time. He also seems to advocate their murder, writing "We are at fault in not slaying them".
Luther's prince during this time, John Frederick, Elector of Saxony, had previously issued a mandate that prohibited Jews from inhabiting, engaging in business in, or passing through his realm. Earlier in Luther’s life, he showed a passion to introduce these Jews to the true Messiah, but he became disillusioned by their continual rejection of Jesus and the Gospel. As time went on, Luther became blind to his culture’s hatred of the Jewish residents, which fostered his own distaste and bred his very own hatred of Jews. Luther had finally succumb to the norms of his day and was caught in culturally acceptable but biblically condemn-able practices.
Nearly 400 years after it was written, the Nazis displayed Luther’s On the Jews and Their Lies during Nuremberg rallies, and the city of Nuremberg presented a first edition to Julius Streicher, editor of the Nazi newspaper Der Stürmer (The Striker), the newspaper describing it, on Streicher's first encounter with the tract in 1937, as the most radically antisemitic tract ever published.
As people of God who live in a particular time and place, we must beware of the ways we might operate considering that we can live with significant blind spots. It is so easy to take for granted the norms of our culture and practice the very things that the Bible condemns.
Transition:
As we continue our expository journey through The book of Revelation, we find ourselves at a point where Jesus issues a warning to a church that allowed the culture to change their habits.
Scripture Reading: Revelation 2:12–17
Revelation 2:12–17 ESV
12 “And to the angel of the church in Pergamum write: ‘The words of him who has the sharp two-edged sword. 13 “ ‘I know where you dwell, where Satan’s throne is. Yet you hold fast my name, and you did not deny my faith even in the days of Antipas my faithful witness, who was killed among you, where Satan dwells. 14 But I have a few things against you: you have some there who hold the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to put a stumbling block before the sons of Israel, so that they might eat food sacrificed to idols and practice sexual immorality. 15 So also you have some who hold the teaching of the Nicolaitans. 16 Therefore repent. If not, I will come to you soon and war 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 the one who conquers I will give some of the hidden manna, and I will give him a white stone, with a new name written on the stone that no one knows except the one who receives it.’
About ten miles inland stood the impressive city of Pergamum, built on a hill one thousand feet above the surrounding countryside, creating a natural fortress. Rivaling only Ephesus as the leading city in the region, Pergamum had become the capital of the province of Asia and the center of Asian culture. It was proud of its links with Rome. Pergamum was the center of four of the most important gods of the day—Zeus, Athena, Dionysus, and Asclepius. The city’s chief god was Asclepius, whose symbol was a serpent and who was considered the god of healing. People came to Pergamum from all over the world to seek healing from this god.
The city was also a center for the imperial cult—emperor worship. While Smyrna had built temples to the emperor, Pergamum was the first city to receive permission to build a temple dedicated to a governing emperor, Augustus, whose temple was built in 29 B.C.
In the church at Pergamum, things were worse than at Smyrna. Though the church members seem to have been facing similar spiritual warfare from Satan (v. 13), a faithful one named Antipas had already died (v. 13). Also, a viewpoint called the teaching of Balaam (v. 14; see Nm 22–25), which is equated with the teaching of the Nicolaitans (v. 15), had a strong foothold in the church. Those involved were to repent of their sinful behavior of eating things sacrificed to idols and engaging in sexual immorality (v. 14).
Transition:
The problem in the church of Pergamum was leniency toward those within the church who were compromising their faith with the idol worship and sexual immorality of pagan worship. Compromise can be good and is often needed in some contexts, but never in the context of the basic principles and commands of YHWH’s Word. We will again look at three key aspects we find here as a pattern in these letters to the seven churches. In like manner to the previous couple weeks, the first thing we will look at is Christ

I. The Proficiency of Christ (vv.12-13)

Just as the sword was a symbol of Rome’s authority and judgment, Jesus’ sharp, double-edged sword represents God’s ultimate authority and judgment.
Revelation 2:12 ESV
12 “And to the angel of the church in Pergamum write: ‘The words of him who has the sharp two-edged sword.
The proconsul of Pergamum had been granted by Rome the rare power known as “the right of the sword,” meaning that he could perform executions at will. To the church in this city, Christ described himself as the one who has a sharp two-edged sword (1:16) This apparent metaphor is used in the NT for the penetrating power of the word of God: Heb. 4:12
Hebrews 4:12 ESV
12 For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.
Jesus is essentially saying here in Revelation: only He has ultimate power over life and death.
There’s a story of a missionary serving in North Africa who, by his circumstances, understands this idea clearly. Similar to this church in Pergamum, this missionary found himself surrounded by those who wanted him dead on a daily basis that go by the name of Muslims. Probably just like all of us here would be, this missionary was very fearful of his life quickly ending in murder—just as the threats made to him had promised. He prayed anxious prayers that his life would be spared until one day as he was working in his wood shop there, a saw blade came loose and flew next to his head just barely grazing him as it stuck into the wall behind him. This missionary believes this near miss is an answer to his prayers! Instead of fearing Muslims coming in and killing him, he learned from that saw blade that he ought to be fearful of the One who really has control of his life and death. From that point on, he went on to minister fearlessly among the Muslim dominated area trusting that God will determine the time and the manner in which he will die.
Revelation 2:13 ESV
13 “ ‘I know where you dwell, where Satan’s throne is. Yet you hold fast my name, and you did not deny my faith even in the days of Antipas my faithful witness, who was killed among you, where Satan dwells.
I know where you dwell
These believers faced strong local governmental and demonic pressure, not too dissimilar to the direction of America’s future. God knew them and their dangerous situation. He was there with them.
where Satan’s throne is
As the center for four idolatrous cults, Pergamum is labeled by Jesus the city of the great throne of Satan. Idolatry is satanic.
Revelation 2:13 ESV
13 “ ‘I know where you dwell, where Satan’s throne is. Yet you hold fast my name, and you did not deny my faith even in the days of Antipas my faithful witness, who was killed among you, where Satan dwells.
you hold fast My name
This is a PRESENT ACTIVE INDICATIVE. It shows the significance of His name as representing the character of His person. Believers trust by calling on His name, and worship by calling on His name, and persevere by calling on His name—we already saw this with Smyrna’s church. But here, surrounded by the worship of idols and of the Roman emperor as god, the church at Pergamum refused to renounce its faith.
Antipas, My witness
Great, who is Antipas? We know nothing else about this man except what we read here. The “My witness” title given him is the same title John uses for Christ in his Gospel.
The term “witness” can mean “martyr” (cf. 11:3; 17:6). Tertullian said that Antipas was roasted in a brazen bull, but this is simply later tradition.
Transition:
The believers refused to deny Christ, even after Satan’s worshipers had killed one of their members. It was not easy to be a Christian in Pergamum. So what’s the problem?

II. The Problem at Church (vv.14-15)

Jesus commends his church for persevering in faithfulness in spite of persecution, but now warns them not to compromise with this idolatrous and immoral culture.
Revelation 2:14 ESV
14 But I have a few things against you: you have some there who hold the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to put a stumbling block before the sons of Israel, so that they might eat food sacrificed to idols and practice sexual immorality.
But I have a few things against you
Just as with 5 other churches, Jesus had a negative statement to address following his praise of them. I think he is showing that righteous living in some areas does not excuse sin in others.
because you have there some who hold to the teaching of Balaam
Okay don’t believe what Balaam says! Who’s Balaam?? You might remember from the O.T. that Balaam was a true prophet of God (cf. Num. 24:2)
Numbers 24:2 ESV
2 And Balaam lifted up his eyes and saw Israel camping tribe by tribe. And the Spirit of God came upon him,
who attempted to curse Israel and who beat a donkey that YHWH caused to speak. Balaam was lured into helping with compromise within the people of Israel. He is condemned in both the OT and the NT (cf. Num. 31:16; 2 Pet. 2:15; Jude 11).
Revelation 2:14 ESV
14 But I have a few things against you: you have some there who hold the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to put a stumbling block before the sons of Israel, so that they might eat food sacrificed to idols and practice sexual immorality.
who taught Balak”
Okay, who is Balak??? Well, also in the same account of Balaam’s donkey riding days, we learned Balak was one of the early Kings of Moab who is the one that ordered Balaam to curse Israel to get rid of them
Revelation 2:14 ESV
14 But I have a few things against you: you have some there who hold the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to put a stumbling block before the sons of Israel, so that they might eat food sacrificed to idols and practice sexual immorality.
to put a stumbling block before the sons of Israel
And what was the stumbling block?
Well after the failed attempts to curse Israel, it was Balaam’s suggestion to Balak to have the children of Israel in the fertility worship of Baal (cf. Num. 25:1–3).
Numbers 25:1–3 ESV
1 While Israel lived in Shittim, the people began to whore with the daughters of Moab. 2 These invited the people to the sacrifices of their gods, and the people ate and bowed down to their gods. 3 So Israel yoked himself to Baal of Peor. And the anger of the Lord was kindled against Israel.
Just as with Israel here in Numbers, there was a continuing cultural temptation to the sexual worship practices of first century pagans.
Revelation 2:14 ESV
14 But I have a few things against you: you have some there who hold the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to put a stumbling block before the sons of Israel, so that they might eat food sacrificed to idols and practice sexual immorality.
to eat food sacrificed to idols and practice sexual immorality
Wait, I thought Paul said in 1 Cor 8-11 and Romans 14 it was okay under certain circumstances for Believers to eat meats sacrificed to idols!? Yes, but not when you are eating meats in the participation in worship of the idols!
These two sins involved pagan worship practices. Not only were there pagan meals where the food was sacrificed to idols (cf. 1 Cor. 8:1–13) but often sexual immorality was the normal and expected worship practice at these pagan assemblies. This fornication activity was a supposed means of assuring the health and fertility of herds, crops, and society.
Revelation 2:15 ESV
15 So also you have some who hold the teaching of the Nicolaitans.
We’ve seen the Nicolaitans once before!
It is possible that the name Balaam in Hebrew meant “conqueror of the people” and the name Nicolaitans may have meant the same thing but in Greek (Even the name Nicodemus of John 3 also has a similar meaning). If correct in the name correlation, this would identify these two groups closer as to their immoral practices.
Either way, because of the similarity of the teachings of Balaam and the teachings of the Nicolaitans (cf. 2:6) and the teachings of Jezebel we’ll see next week(cf. 2:20), all three of these refer to pagan, idolatrous worship .
How could this happen with Christians? Well, it happens too much even today!
First, we have supposed Christians in our culture today who think it is perfectly okay to live with and sleep with a partner before marriage simply because the world does it all the time. Second, we have men like Pastor Ted Arthur Haggard
Who is Pastor Ted Arthur Haggard? Haggard is the founder and former pastor of New Life Church in Colorado Springs, Colorado and is a founder of the Association of Life-Giving Churches. He served as President of the National Association of Evangelicals (NAE) from 2003 until November 2006.
He made national headlines in November 2006 when a gay man Mike Jones alleged that Haggard, who had ardently advocated for marriage to be only between 1 man and 1 woman, had paid him for fornication for three years and had also purchased and used drugs. After first denying and lying about these allegations, Haggard admitted to purchasing drugs. Haggard was forced to resign his post at New Life Church and his other leadership roles shortly after the allegations became public which then his wife became pastor. Later, Haggard also admitted to using drugs, along with fornication activity with Jones, and even an inappropriate relationship with a young man who attended his church. After going public with the confessions, his new congregation applauded his honesty and saw him fit to lead again.
In just a couple years, he was restored to a leading role the church. Don’t get me wrong, I am all about people repenting and being restored, but it is wrong to restore fornicating leaders based on a confession without clear repentance. It was his honesty that made his sin excusable in their eyes, rather than a heart broken by repentance.
In 2010, Haggard and his wife, Gayle, founded St. James Church in Colorado Springs; and as of September 2018, Haggard continues to serve as the founding pastor at St. James Church. Today you will find people there who accept his faults “as part of being human,” and on his website the only hint of his sin was that in 2006 he “resigned from all leadership positions for a period of healing and restoration.” No mention of repentance anywhere.
Church compromise is still alive and thriving, but how did this happen?
Illustration:
Kathy Howard, international speaker and author gives this story as a help. She shares:
One summer my parents gave our kids a blow-up raft to use in the neighborhood swimming pool. The first couple of weeks, it worked great. My three children had a great time paddling around the pool and giving rides to their friends.
Then the raft developed a small hole. The little bit of water it allowed in didn’t really cause any trouble. But soon other, larger holes developed, requiring the kids to constantly scoop out the water just to keep the raft afloat. We threw away the boat because it no longer served its purpose. It was designed to float, not to sink. It was supposed to be in the water, but water was not supposed to be in the boat.
You’ve probably heard a thousand times that Christians are supposed to “be in the world, but not of it.” But, what does that look like? How can we interact with lost people without being influenced by the unbelief and hostility towards God so prevalent in our culture?
It’s a lot like a boat in the water. The boat is designed to float in the water – to be in the water, surrounded by it on all sides. But there should not be any water in the boat. Our goal as followers of Christ is to actively engage our culture with the Gospel without allowing the culture’s ungodly morals, values, attitudes, and behaviors to infiltrate our lives. Unfortunately, many sincere Christians struggle to get it right.
We are called to be in the world but not of the world. I think just like with the raft, once the world’s philosophies leak into a church, throw it away! That church is no longer serving its purpose.
Transition:
However, there is still hope even for a compromising church

III. The Power of Restoration (v.16)

Despite how gross sin can get, there is always hope!
Revelation 2:16 ESV
16 Therefore repent. If not, I will come to you soon and war against them with the sword of my mouth.
Therefore repent” or else...
In one sense it’s that easy! just repent! This here is an ACTIVE IMPERATIVE—keep on repenting! There is an ongoing emphasis concerning repentance in these letters.
I will come to you soon
The coming could refer to temporal judgment against the church or to the Second Coming of Christ to judge the world. It is significant that the church as a whole was called on to repent (cf. 2 Chron. 7:14) because of the sins of some; if they did not, the consequences were corporate discipline—Jesus will come to the whole church!
The church must repent or get rid of those who attempt to compromise where there cannot be compromise.
and war against them with the sword of My mouth
A church who tolerates compromizers will find that Christ will come suddenly and fight against them! This sword represents God’s judgment against rebellious nations and all forms of sin. If the church did not repent of its sin and deal with those unwilling to repent, then God would come and do it for them—and that would be disastrous.

So What? (v.17)

“He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches”
Interestingly, with these letters, I don’t need to search very far for the application because Jesus always gives the application by mentioning, “To the one who conquers...”
Revelation 2:17 ESV
17 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who conquers I will give some of the hidden manna, and I will give him a white stone, with a new name written on the stone that no one knows except the one who receives it.’
The overcomers are promised two rewards: hidden manna and a white stone with a new name on it.
to him I will give some of the hidden manna
Manna was God’s supernatural provision for the children of Israel during the wilderness wandering period (cf. Exod. 16:14–15, 31). Great, but what is HIDDEN manna? Manna = “What is it?” Some believe that because of John 6:31–35, the hidden manna referred to Christ Himself. This is a good example of the difficulty in interpreting the specific details of this book where the exact reference is still uncertain.
“Hidden manna” might represent YHWH’s supernatural and eternal provision that contrasts the idol food offered at the pagan feasts. This might even imply participation in the messianic banquet, a heavenly feast focusing on the worship and celebration of the one, true God. But we cannot and need not to be dogmatic about it.
and I will give him a white stone
This stone, also called “Tessera,” had many usages in the ancient Near East
(1) it could be used for a ticket to special banquets;
(2) it could be used to vote for acquittal by a jury;
(3) it could be used as a symbol of victory for an athlete; and
(4) it could be used to show the freedom of a slave. In this context,
In the cultural context, the stone might represent a positive vote of acquittal from God (in contrast to the verdict of condemnation from Rome). However it more likely indicates a believer’s ticket of admission into the Messianic Banquet (as we’ll see later in the book).
and a new name written on the stone which no one knows but he who receives it
Since the “new name” is known only to its recipient, it probably refers to a new name given by God to each believer, or possibly a symbol of the New Age, or a title for the Messiah identified in each believer. In any case, those who refuse to compromise will be rewarded and cared for by the Lord in ways that far outweigh what they now suffer at the hands of the pagan powers. This new name concept is mentioned more throughout the book.

So What?

As we read throughout the whole Bible, faithfulness includes taking a public stand for YHWH and His ways. This will lead to conflict with worldly powers. We see this pattern over and over again in the Old Testament prophets, in the life of Jesus, and in the early Christians. For a time it may appear that evil is winning the battle, as God’s people suffer persecution and even death. The temptation in this case is for people to seek safety and security (whether physical, social, or financial) rather than persevering in loyalty to the Lord in the midst of suffering. Jesus consistently calls his followers to lay themselves on the line for the gospel. From a biblical point of view, suffering should be considered somewhat normal for the faithful believer.
Finally, Jesus’ promise of acceptance, community, and significance provides a hope that can change our lives right here and now.
Last week, we had communion. Jesus gave his church a very tangible reminder of his promise to make us his own, now and forever—the Lord’s Supper. In this great celebration, God’s people remember what Jesus has done for us, what he is doing in us, and what one day we will do with him face-to-face! The Reformed Church in America includes the following lines in its Communion liturgy:
“We come in hope, believing that this bread and this cup are a pledge and foretaste of the feast of love of which we shall partake when his kingdom has fully come, when with unveiled face we shall behold him, made like unto him in his glory.”
Conclusion:
Jesus’ future promise of acceptance, fellowship, and identity can help us endure now. While the promises to the overcomers in the seven messages are predominantly future, the hope generated by those promises can have a life-changing impact to us here now. People have always pursued the very things that Jesus promises: acceptance, community, and personal significance. What is promised at the messianic banquet in the new heaven and new earth can begin now with the family of God as people experience these very realities. The church can be the place where the future promises begin to be fulfilled.
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