The Church at Pergamum (Rev. 2:12-17) by: Francis Jackson

                The next church addressed is the church in Pergamum.  The city was located about 16 miles from the Aegean Sea, north of the river Caicus which is modern-day Bakircay, Turkey.  It sat on a promontory which is a mass of land overlooking a lower plain of land or body of water.  God addresses this church using the characteristic of Himself as the one holding the two-edged sword (1:16; 2:12).  References to the sword often refer to judgment or discipline of some kind (Gen. 34:25-26; Ex. 5:3; 22:24; Lev. 26:25).  This isn’t always the case however, because the sword was also referred to as a symbol of protection (Deut. 33:29).  This is not the case unfortunately for this church.  God is ready to start cutting.  In other words, this church was faced by the sword. But with Him being a loving and encouraging God, He recognizes some good that they are doing as part of His blueprint in these addresses to the churches (see Overview from beginning of series).  The church is praised for having kept their faith (2:13).  However, God has something against them.  He claims that their church is where Satan’s throne is (2:13).  The great altar of Pergamum is located currently in Pergamon Museum in Berlin, Germany.  This altar was said to have been dedicated to Zeus which could be why John refers to it as Satan’s throne because of the overriding pagan influence within the church.  Other issues which were going on within the church were their acceptance of false doctrine.  Many were carried into the teachings of Balaam and Nicolatians (2:15).  Balaam is an Old Testament pagan prophet or a “prophet for profit” as some call him who counseled King Balak of Moab to have Israel commit sexual immorality with the Moabite women (2:14; Num. 25:1-9; 31:16; Jude 11).  They also adopted the teachings of the Nicolatians (see Church @ Ephesus).  This church was charged to repent or turn from the false doctrine they accepted or God would attack them with the sword (2:16).  Notice how Pergamum’s issue was false doctrine breeding in the church and how God responds with the sword.   In the New Testament, the sword is used often to symbolize truth or sound doctrine (Eph. 6:17; Heb. 4:12) which at times could produce necessary conflict (Matt. 10:34).  This is another blueprint example from the overview of how God’s characteristic from chapter 1 has a direct relevance to the church being addressed (1:16; 2:12, 16).  The hidden manna for the one that conquers may refer to God’s ability to sustain His children as He had done in history with Israel in the wilderness (Numbers).  We as Christians feed on Jesus Christ spiritually as the bread of life (John 6:48-51).  The white stone represented a vote of acquittal which was given to the overcomers (2:17).  Is sound doctrine an issue with your local church? Is it an issue with you?  We really need to be careful of the kind of teaching we receive and if it is contrary to what God’s word teaches.  We live in a world today where sound doctrine is the new heresy.  The idea of biblical truth is secondary to teachings that have nothing to do with the Scriptures.  The lack of accountability and integrity with the Scriptures puts American churches in the same category as Pergamum who allowed these things in the church.  So I encourage you to be on the right side of the sword.  Amen

The Church at Smyrna (Rev. 2:8-11) by: Francis Jackson

                The next church God addresses is Smyrna.  This church was going through severe persecution to the point of martyrdom.  The characteristic that God uses of Himself from chapter 1 is Him being the first and the last as well as being dead and coming alive again (1:17, 18a).  The idea of being the first and the last is what stamps Him as God.  Being dead and coming alive again is significant encouragement for a church going under persecution.  God recognizes them for standing through tribulation, persecution, and poverty.  In fact, in light of their poverty, they are called rich which could be in reference to their faith (2:9; James 2:5).  The church at Smyrna was one of two churches among these churches that received no rebuke.  They were a pure church.  The saying goes, “A pure church is a persecuted church.”  The persecution they faced was from spiritual pagans as well other Jewish people who allied with these pagans to put these believing Jews to death.  This is what is meant by those who were claiming to be Jews, but were not. They were only Jews outwardly (Rom. 2:28).  The church was faced with imprisonment and with high potential for martyrdom (2:10).  With them being reminded of Jesus’ power over death (2:8) being the first fruits of the resurrection, they have confidence that they are partakers of that power in that God will raise them from physical death unto life at the rapturing of the church just as He was raised (1 Cor. 15:20-23).  In reward for their faithfulness, they will receive a crown of life (2:10) and would be protected from the second death (2:11).  Jesus says in Luke’s Gospel not to fear man who can only kill the body and after that can do no more.  The one we ought to fear is He who, after killing the body, has the authority to cast it into hell (Lk. 12:4-5).  This is the second death, the lake of fire (Rev. 20:11-15).  The worst thing anyone can do to you is kill you physically.  As Dr. Andrew Woods puts it, “If you’re born once, you’ll die twice.  But if you’re born twice, you’ll die once.”  In other words, if you are born once, then you will die once physically (soul separated from physical body) and again both spiritually and physically (separated from God) in the eternal torment of hell (lake of fire).  If you are born twice, with the second being born again into salvation (Jn. 3:3-7), then you only die once which is physically.  So choose the option of being born twice, so that you would only die once.  Given the experience of this church, do not be amazed if you are persecuted for doing good.  Endure in the face of adversity even to the point of death and be delivered in heaven, receiving your due reward as one faithful in Christ.   

The Church at Ephesus (Rev. 2:1-7) by: Francis Jackson

                In this series, the church in Ephesus is addressed first for a few possible reasons.  Historically, Ephesus was known as “the gateway to Asia Minor.”  With this being the case, also considering the location of the island of Patmos where Revelation was composed (a small island in southern part of Aegean Sea, 50 mi. from Ephesus), this would be the best city to address first.  Also, there was lots of time spent there for ministry.  For instance, Paul ministered there for three years (Acts 20:31), Timothy and John also served this church.  It was from this city that John was exiled to Patmos.  Of the different characteristics of God listed in chapter 1, God chooses to emphasize Rev. 1:13, 16 highlighting Him being in the midst of the lampstands (churches-Rev. 1:20) and holding the seven stars (pastors of the churches- Rev. 1:20). The word “angel” mean “messenger.”  The messenger here is not an angel from heaven, but a pastor or God’s messenger to the church.  This characteristic of God is used towards Ephesus to communicate His control and authority over the church.  It is tied into the consequence to the church if they do not repent and return the passion they once had for Christ (2:4-5).  If they failed to turn, God would remove the church altogether from being a light in Asia.  However, before His rebuke, He praises them for what they are doing well.  Their deeds, toil, and endurance were recognized as well as their ability to discern truth (2:2-3, 6).  They are warned to repent and those who conquer through repentance are given the promise to eat from the tree of life.  Taken the experience of this historical church, it is easy for us to become caught up in a laundry list of things as believers, even in ministry, and lose the passion and love we had when first coming to Christ.  Have you become so task-oriented that you disregard or overlook the spiritual pain in people?  Have you become so scholarly that you cannot balance discerning rebuke with love?  In our spiritual life, balance and humility is vital.  Just as important as it is to remember when you first fell in love your spouse, it is all the more important that we remember and return to when we first fell in love with Jesus Christ.  The more we revisit that memory and embrace it, the more we can extend that passionate love to others.

The Seven Churches- Rev. 2-3 by: Francis Jackson

                Over the next few weeks we will be taking a look at what God had to say to the seven churches of Asia Minor.  Within this region, these churches were located in the following cities: Ephesus, Smyrna, Thyatira, Pergamum, Sardis, Philadelphia, and Laodicea.  These churches may have been formed by the students whom Paul taught in the lecture hall of Tyrannus for two years while in Ephesus (Acts 19:9-10).  The book of Revelation was written by the Apostle John around AD 95.  It is introduced as “the revelation of Jesus Christ,” (1:1) which is a more detailed title for the book.  The word revelation comes from the Greek word apokalupsis which means “uncovering” or “unveiling.”  There are certain unique characteristics in how these seven churches are addressed.  In chapter 1, God gives some characteristics of Himself which are significant in relation to these churches.  These characteristics of Himself are pronounced in accordance to how He is addressing each church.  So in other words, when reading the introduction of each address to the churches, you will see a characteristic of God mentioned from chapter 1.  This will be covered in more detail as we discuss each church.  God also uses the same blueprint in addressing each church.  The pattern starts with 1) the church’s location, 2) description of Christ from Revelation one, 3) a commendation, 4) rebuke, 5) exhortation to change, 6) consequence if they don’t change, 7) and praise for overcomers which root from Revelation 21-22.  Certain parts of this pattern are omitted depending on the church’s condition.  This too will be covered in more detailed as we discuss each church.   John tells us the line of communication in which this revelation was able to make its way to listeners untainted.  This line of communication goes from the Father to Christ (1:1a), from Christ to an angel and from an angel to John (1:1b), from John to a book (1:2), from a book to a reader and from the reader to the listener (1:3).  This is how the “revelation of Jesus Christ” was penned and how it became available to be read by mankind proving its accuracy, reliability, and inerrancy.  Hopefully this study will reveal certain commendable things as well as things needing respectable, godly rebuke within your local church.  I hope that you follow up next Friday, Lord willing, when take a look into the first church addressed, the church in Ephesus.  God Bless