THE TWO CHOICES OF THE CHURCH
#222 THE TWO CHOICES OF THE CHURCH
Scripture Revelation 2:12-17, NIV Orig. Date 1/30/1966
Rewr. Dates 1/1982; 9/15/1986
Passage: 12 “To the angel of the church in Pergamum write: These are the words of him who has the sharp, double-edged sword. 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. 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. 15 Likewise, you also have those who hold to the teaching of the Nicolaitans. 16 Repent therefore! Otherwise, I will soon come to you and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth.
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.
Purpose: Continuing the series on the Revelation letters, sharing with my people the two choices (faithfulness/forfeiture) confronting the church at Pergamos, and, in reality, our own church.
Keywords: Disobedience Faithfulness Revelation
Timeline/Series: Revelation Letters
Introduction
This is the third of the letters forwarded by John of Patmos to the Asian churches. They were from the Lord. The churches would receive them, and then they would be circulated to other churches. The first letter named John’s beloved church at Ephesus. They were reminded that being a body of Christ was more than just starting well. The Ephesian church was organized by Paul, pastored by the “beloved” apostle. But she must also remain true to her Lord. It was the Lord’s intent to “hold” them in His hand. Only by His holding could they remain permanently fixed. And, as a lampstand, they were to continue to shed light in the darkness around them. Ceasing to do so, the lampstand was just something else to stumble over in the darkness.
Then came the letter to Smyrna, another city of great importance in the Roman world. The city fathers were interested in becoming the “Rome” of Asia. Persecution was the offing for anyone who did not understand that tenet, and work with it in their lives. But the believers already had One who was Lord. They could not, must not worship Caesar. What was not said to the church at Smyrna is indicative of a people who have made their choice to be faithful. We are told of the kind of poverty found there. We are told that these people had nothing, but they committed it faithfully to their Lord. Now, the church at Pergamos.
I. A Reminder of the Spirit’s Passion to Protect. V12 “These things saith he that hath the sharp two-edged sword: I know.”
The Christ has perfect knowledge of them. He knows the condition of their lives. He knows their faithfulness. He knows their sacrifices. He knows when they fail.
It is His purpose to protect them in their faith and in their failure. He is put forth as One having “the sharp, two-edged sword”—a weapon with which to defend those or whom He is responsible; a like weapon of discipline; and edge for war and one for witnessing. The sword is for our care, but it may sometimes be used to chasten.
The same blade may be used in the garden to remove the churlish weed, or to prune the over-anxious seedling.
So, the Spirit knows the circumstance of these struggling believers in Pergamos. Theirs was a famous city, called by Pliny “By far the most famous city in Asia.” A provincial capital for 400 years, formed on authority from Rome in 133 BC. Not great commercially, but culturally: Library with 200,000 parchment rolls; vellum invented here; Aristophanes, librarian of Alexandria [was] enticed [here]—Ptolemy locked him up, placed embargo on papyrus. Great religious center—site of Satan’s seat: altar to Zeus—high on hill [(at Acropolis)]; Asclepius—god of healing; administrative center of efforts to Romanize (emperor worship). Word for “live” carries the idea of permanent residents (believers often considered “sojourners”).
A final thought on “sword.” The proconsul had “right of the sword”—a life or death power over others; believers were comforted by the knowledge of sword-bearing protector. Hebrews 4:12 “The word of God which is sharper than any two-edged sword.”
II. A Record of the Believer’s Faithfulness to Obey. V13 “I know where thou dwellest, even where Satan’s throne is; and thou holdest fast my name, and didst not deny my faith.”
Works are seen in commitment under fire. Again, “works” does not appear. Remember Smyrna, “I know you.” Pergamos, “I know where you are.”
What is the essential lesson for the Christian in regard to giving? Many of us know how to give %. Some even go so far as to give of time and talent. But the first offering of faith has to be that of obedience. Too many give to cloak godlessness. Some Christians give to mask their continued disobedience.
Some at Pergamos were giving of themselves. Luke 11:42 “But woe to you Pharisees, for you tithe mint and rue, and all manner of herbs, and pass over judgment and the love of God. These ought ye to have done and not left the other undone.” II Corinthians 8:5 “And this they did, not as we hoped, but first gave their own selves to the Lord.” With this intense and remarkable faith, they elected to remain here in this difficult city, perhaps the most difficult in the empire for Christians. Here, where “Satan’s seat” is. Not Zeus, not Asclepius, but Satan tempting to Romanize. One of the great principles of the faith is of conquest, demeaning escape.
III. A Remonstrance Against Satanic Influence. V14 “. . . Thou hast there them that hold the doctrine of Balaam, . . . so . . . also them that hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitans.”
The Old Testament reference to “Balaam.” “Doctrine”—didache/formal teaching (both). Not Balaam’s doctrine, but teaching about Balaam. Balak of Moab tried to use Balaam to curse Israel (Numbers 23). It was Balaam’s desire to do so. He prepared bullocks on seven altars to entice God. When he went anyway, an angel with a sword stopped his donkey. Numbers 31:15 speaks of trespass, unfaithful act, treachery. Balaam’s advice was to tempt Israel/idol-worship.
Additionally there is reference to Nicolaitans. They were seen at Ephesus (2:6). “Hated the deeds of the Nicolaitans.” Perhaps Ephesus 4:14-5:12 “Every wind of doctrine” [and] 5:11 “have no fellowship [with] the unfruitful works of darkness.”
Kiddo, one of the great Greek scholars, is quoted by Robert Mounce (New International Committee [panel that published the NIV translation]) “. . . the church’s (Pergamos) path lay between 2 deadly giants: legalism [with] its exaltation of trivialities and [Pharisees’] insistence on codes of rules, and antinomianism which in its reliance upon a devoted spirit insisted upon freedom from the tyranny of legal precepts and prohibitions.” The church was being tempted to be like the world. Don’t expect them to change, we must.
IV. Finally, a Reminder of Individual Christian Duty. V16 “Repent; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth.
As at Ephesus, they were to repent. The problem at Ephesus was a correct but unloving spirit. Here, the error pervading the church went unchallenged. Will the real church please stand up? (Stand out?)
The weapon that is threatened against them is the same by which they were to be defended. The “sword of my mouth” cannot be other than the word of God through Jesus. 1:15 “Out of his mouth came a double-edged sword.” 19:15 “Out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword; that with it he should smite the nations. The sword of Rome has been put to use. The text tells of Antipas. History tells us of Polycarp (1) at Smyrna, others. With the sword of His mouth, the Gospel, Christ won the battle for Antipas, all the others.
Finally, to the one overcoming, there are two great hidden promises. The hidden manna—a Jewish tradition held that when Solomon’s Temple was destroyed, the manna secreted there (Exodus 16:32f, Hebrews 9:4) [was] taken by Jeremiah and hidden (II Maccabees) which was to be revealed/Messiah. The white stone—a small stone mined near Pergamos and used throughout the Empire: Tried and acquitted of crime; freed from slavery; victor in the games; warrior home from the wars.
***THE REMAINDER OF THIS SERMON HAS BEEN LOST***
1 Bettenson, H. (Ed.), (1967) Documents of the Christian Church (1st edition). Oxford: Oxford University.