Revelation 2:12-17Church in Pergamum

[Rev 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.

[Heb 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.

[Rev 2:16 ESV] 16 Therefore repent. If not, I will come to you soon and war against them with the sword of my mouth.

[Rev 2:13 ESV] "'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.

COMMENDATION:

[Rev 2:13 ESV] "'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.

CRITICISM

[Rev 2:14-15 ESV] 14 But I have a few things against you: you have some there who hold the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balakto 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.

Balaam: Numbers 22 –24 2 Peter 2: 14 -16 Jude 1: 4, 11

Teaching of Balaam involves1.Motivated for ministry by personal or financial gain greed

2.Cooperating with, tolerating or even embracing the world’s ways while trying to serve the real God at the same time

3.Moral failure; spiritual and sexual sin

SOME in the church at PergamumTolerated pagan religions; pagan ideas started seeping in

Began compromising their actions and doctrine in order to be more comfortable with the world in which they lived

Used “freedom in Christ” as an excuse for sin (spiritual and sexual)

[Rev 2:16 ESV] 16 Therefore repent. If not, I will come to you soon and war against them with the sword of my mouth.

[1Jo 1:9 ESV] 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

[Rev 2:16 ESV] 16 Therefore repent. If not, I will come to you soon and war against them with the sword of my mouth.

[Rev 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.'

PROMISES[Rev 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.'

[1Co 9:24-27 ESV] 24 Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it. 25 Every athlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable. 26 So I do not run aimlessly; I do not box as one beating the air. 27 But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified.

QUESTIONS:

In what areas of our culture do we see the church, followers of Christ, compromising? In what areas am I compromising?

In what areas of my life do I need to exercise more discipline? How can I run the race better?