Pergamos, The Compromising Church, Revelation 2:12-17

 

Πέργαμος

The Letter to Pergamos

The Compromising Church

Revelation 2:12-17

¹² “And to the angel of the church in Pergamos write,

‘These things says He who has the sharp two-edged sword: ¹³ “I know your works, and where you dwell, where Satan’s throne is. And you hold fast to My name, and did not deny My faith even in the days in which Antipas was My faithful martyr, who was killed among you, where Satan dwells. ¹⁴ But I have a few things against you, because you have there those who hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balak to put a stumbling block before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed to idols, and to commit sexual immorality. ¹⁵ Thus you also have those who hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitans, which thing I hate. ¹⁶ Repent, or else I will come to you quickly and will fight 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 him who overcomes I will give some of the hidden manna to eat. And I will give him a white stone, and on the stone a new name written which no one knows except him who receives it.”’

 

¹² “And to the angel, (aggelos; messenger), of the church in Pergamos write…

This is the third letter dictated by Jesus, to John, from the prison camp, island of Patmos. 

Pergamos, (also called Pergamon, or Pergamum), is about 50 miles north of Smyrna and 20 miles inland. The northern most city of the seven letters. The ruins of Pergamos, can be seen just northwest of today’s city, Bergama, Turkey. You may have heard of Bergama rugs.   

At the time of the letter, Pergamos had been the capital for about two centuries. It was the seat of political power, like America’s, Washington DC. (Maybe that’s why Jesus called it the “throne of satan”.)

They had a library with over 200,000 volumes. That’s pretty big, considering, they had no printing presses. All hand written, on papyrus provided by Egypt. It was second only to the Library of Alexandria, in Egypt.

Egypt banned the exportation of papyrus, in an effort to keep the Pergamos library from surpassing Alexandria.

That didn’t stop Pergamos. How does the saying go? Necessity, is the mother of invention. No papyrus? No problem.

The folks in Pergamos, created a new writing material from calf skin. It was better, thinner and more flexible. They called it pergaminus, or pergamena, after the city. The names changed down through the years and today we call it, parchment.

Ironically, after all that, the library was given away as a gift, to Egypt of all places. Roman General, Marc Antony, gave it to his new bride, Cleopatra.

As with the towns of the first two letters, Ephesus and Smyrna; Pergamos was steeped in paganism. Temples for worshipping false gods and emperors littered the skyline.

Pergamos is the birthplace of the well-known Roman physician, surgeon and philosopher named Galen. Second only to Hippocrates (as in, the Hippocratic oath all doctors take to this very day). They had a world renown medical center; their very own Mayo Clinic. The logo was a serpent on a staff. The same symbol used by the medical world today.

Why a serpent on a staff?

Are you sure you want to know? I was disappointed with the answer.

I figured the medical profession used the serpent on a staff to refer to Moses, when he lifted the serpent on the staff, and whoever looked upon it, was healed, (Numbers 21:9, John 3:14). Makes sense, right?

I was wrong.

The Pergamos medical center, was also the temple to Asclepios (ask-lay-p-us). The false god of medicine. Of all the pagan temples, Asclepios was the most popular. Multitudes would flock to this “medical center.”

The procedure (for a fee, of course), involved being put into a drug induced sleep. Not so different from today, right?

But then, it got a little creepy.

Into the ward where the patients slept, were released, hundreds, or thousands of snakes. Nonvenomous, mind you—but snakes, nonetheless.

No wonder they needed drugs.

Reportedly, the slippery, slimy, serpents would slither across the bodies of the sleeping, and release healing powers of Asclepios.

Additionally, it is said, they (the sleepers) were given dreams about their illness. Perhaps hallucination would be a better word? They would tell these dreams to the “physicians” so they could provide a prescription, (for a fee, of course).  

DRUGS & DECEPTION

Believe it or not, today, the very logo used by the world of medicine, is in reference to this slimy slithery satanic scene; the worship of a false god, a drug dealing demon, they called Asclepios.  

Did you know the devil (the deceiver) and drugs are related? Our words pharmacy and pharmaceutical, are birthed from the word, pharmakeia: φαρμακεία, ας, ἡ. Defined as, the use of medicine, drugs or spells, magic, sorcery, enchantment, witchcraft.

Revelation 18:23  uses the same word when speaking of the fall of Babylon: “all nations were deceived by your sorcery (pharmakeia) …”

Jesus began teaching about end times by saying, “be not deceived…” Luke 21:8.

Can you think of any examples today, where nations have been deceived by sorcery, (pharmakeia, big pharma)?  If so, I wonder WHO it could be?

DIVINE TIMING TEXAS STYLE

On a side note, to Whispering Pines Bible Study group. Our study of this letter was without doubt, by Divine Timing. Just prior to this study, we just-so-happened, to have a wonderful guest speaker named, Texas Stready.

She battled demons of deception and drugs for twenty-eight years. Almost three decades, she slept with those serpents.

BUT GOD.

Now she’s fully awake and a Sword swinging, serpent slaying, servant of The Almighty. She marches straight into dens of iniquity, across the globe, from prison to prison, delivering Freedom to captives. Today, because of the work Jesus is doing through her, men and women, although physically in prison, are more free, than you and me.   

It was beautiful and powerful and the timing couldn’t have been more perfect.

God’s way of saying, in living color, what was scribed on a scroll not so long ago, “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.

Learn more about Texas: https://aradicaldifference.com/

TWO-EDGED SWORD:

‘These things says He who has the sharp two-edged sword

For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. Hebrews 4:12

Notice how the letter starts just like the others, to the angel, but then it takes a sharp turn.

The first two letters paint a comforting picture of Jesus. To Ephesus, He held pastors, and walked in their midst. To Smyrna, He was dead and now lives.

But to Pergamos, He shows up with a sword.

In that day, Rome held, Ius gladii—the power of the sword. The authority of life and death at the drop of a sword. It’s what Pilate referred to when he told Jesus he had the authority to release Him, or have Him crucified, John 19:10.

 The picture of a sword, was one of judgement, power, and authority.

Jesus introduces Himself to the Church at Pergamos, not as gentle Lamb, but as Ruler and Judge. All Mighty, Ius gladii, over all, even, the might of the Roman Empire.

But why show up to Church, like that, with a sword?

To the satan worshipping, snake slithering, sex selling, sinners, sure. The Roman emperors with a God-complex, absolutely…but the little Church at Pergamos? Why them?

Imagine if Jesus showed up Sunday morning, not just wearing scars, but carrying one, Special-Forces Combat Assault Rifle (SCAR).

You’d know, He wasn’t there to sing Kumbaya and eat ice cream, if He showed up looking like Rambo, with machine gun slung over His shoulder.

What deep dark sin was the Pergamos Church involved in, to have Jesus show up like that, ius gladii, wielding a sword?

I know your works, and where you dwell…

Once again, as with all the letters, He says, I know. This is more than just head knowledge, it is a knowing, that comes from caring with intimate, passionate, exorbitant, agape Love.

He goes deeper.

I not only know you, I know your works, what you do, where you work; I even know where you live, where you hang out, where you dwell.  

…where satan’s throne is. 

Furthermore, I know your neighbor—he’s the worst.

We thought the persecuted Church at Smyrna had it bad with the synagogue of satan. But in Pergamos, it wasn’t just a synagogue, it was the very throne of satan.

According to Jesus, there is a place where satan sets up shop, a place where he dwells. It isn’t hell. Not yet, anyway. It’s on earth. And at that time, it was in Pergamos.

Have you ever felt the atmosphere? You know, like walking in a room where, you could cut the tension with a knife. Or down a dark alley where fear takes your breath. A friend who visited Russia, told me he could feel the weight of oppression in the atmosphere. Another friend who travels to Israel, tells me God’s presence there, is profound.

Imagine, the atmosphere of Pergamos, the throne of satan, the dwelling place of the devil; it must’ve been like trying to breath, under a dark, heavy, wet, blanket—while having an asthma attack.

And yet, the Church held on.

And you hold fast to My name, and did not deny My faith even in the days in which Antipas was My faithful martyr, who was killed among you, where Satan dwells. 

I know where you’re at, right now, today. Present tense. I see the struggle, and yet you’re holding fast. I’m with you. Well done.  

And I also know your history, where you’ve been, what you’ve been through. Even in the face of death, when one of your own, was killed, and your life was on the line, you did not deny Me. I see you. Well done.

Notice how personal Jesus takes this; My name, My faith, Antipas My martyr.

Who’s Antipas?

We don’t know. Jesus does. Calls him by name. Some say he was the pastor. Reportedly, he was burned to death. In a brass bull. As a sacrifice to satan.

Jesus calls Antipas, His faithful witness. His martus—that’s the original word, martus. Which means, witness. However, because so many Christians were killed for their witness, the word martus, was translated as martyr. The same word is used in Acts 1:8, “you shall be My witnesses…”  

Jesus memorializes Antipas, as His faithful witness, martyr. Can He say the same, of us?

Wickedness, sorcery, drug abuse, big pharmakeia demonic deception, swarmed and slithered all around them, yet even in the valley of the shadow of death, they remained faithful, did not deny Him.  

You’d think Jesus would show up to that faithful little Church carrying a medal…not a sword.

So, again, we ask, what great evil had they done, to warrant Jesus showing up with a sword?

We’re about to find out.

. ¹⁴ But I have a few things against you, because you have there those who hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balak to put a stumbling block before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed to idols, and to commit sexual immorality. ¹⁵ Thus you also have those who hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitans, which thing I hate. ¹⁶ Repent, or else I will come to you quickly and will fight against them with the sword of My mouth.

Jesus tells the Church, they have, those who hold (false) doctrine. And they (the Church) must repent, or He will come and fight against them (those who hold the false doctrines).

Why would the Church need to repent?

It was those other people who held the false doctrine. It was those other people Jesus threatened to fight against.

We can’t repent for someone else’s sin, can we?

Furthermore, why would the Church even care? Why wouldn’t they say, “Amen, Jesus, grab Your guns and go Rambo on those who hold the doctrine of demons; those knuckleheaded Nicolaitans and Balaam believing bozos.”

Who are they anyway?  

The doctrine of Balaam.

Numbers 22-25 tells the story.

Balaam was a prophet, but his heart was messed up and making a profit, was more important than being a prophet. So, when wicked king Balak offered to hire him, to place a curse on Israel, Balaam wanted to go, but God told him no. Balaam went anyway.

God was ticked and showed up with a sword and a talking donkey.

The donkey saw The Angel of the Lord and the sword and turned away. Balaam was so blinded by greed he didn’t see anything but silver and gold. So, he proceeded to beat the donkey.

Finally, after the third time God opened the donkey’s mouth and she spoke to Balaam saying, “Why did you strike me?”

Believe it or not, Balaam answered the donkey. “Because you’ve mocked me, and if I had a sword, I’d kill you.”

The donkey said, “You’ve been riding me ever since the first day you got me, have I ever done anything like this before?” 

Balaam answered, in donkey language, look it up, Numbers 22:30, KJV, and he said… “Nay.”

Well, Balaam was stubborn as a mule, and even though he was unable to place a curse on Israel, he taught king Barak, how. Just send women to seduce the Israelites, the internal corruption will destroy them.

It worked. Balaam made some money, but only for a moment. A few chapters later he died by the edge of the sword (Numbers 31:8).  

Balaam had potential to be remembered as a Prophet of God, but, instead the Bible calls Balaam’s action, iniquity and his thinking, madness.

 But was rebuked for his iniquity: the dumb ass speaking with man's voice forbad the madness of the prophet. 2 Peter 2:16.

The Pergamos Church, had there those, like that, and yet, they did nothing.

 

What about the Nicolaitans?

Thus you also have those who hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitans, which thing I hate. Revelation 2:14.

We learned about the Nicolaitans in the first letter to Ephesus. Jesus said it then and says it again. I hate the deeds of the Nicolaitans.  

Remember, nikaó, means, to conquer, prevail. It’s where we get the shoe name, Nike; meaning, victory.  Laos, means, laity. Nicolaitans: to conquer the laity.

Jesus hates that.

He is the only mediator between God and man. No priest. Nobody, but Jesus.

For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus, 1 Timothy 2:5.

We bow to no one but Christ. Not the pope. Not some king. Not BLM. Nobody but Jesus.

We should not kiss anyone’s ring, or ask, any man, except The Man, Christ Jesus, to absolve our sin.

I AM the way, the Truth, and the Life. No one comes to the Father except through Me,  John 14:6.

The Pergamos Church, had there those, like that, and yet, they did nothing.

Repent, or else I will come to you quickly and will fight against them with the sword of My mouth. Revelation 2:16.

Jesus rebukes the Church of Pergamos, for having those who hold false doctrine. He knows sin is a cancer. A little leaven, leavens the whole lump, Galatians 5:9.  It must be cut out. Or, it will take over. It must be conquered, or it will conquer, as we will see in the next letter…and as we see today, in our streets.

Today the demons, may not openly sacrifice faithful martyrs in brass bulls, at least not in America, but make no mistake, they still remain.

We watched those demons screaming in our streets. They raped, pillaged, burned, killed, stole and destroyed entire cities.

The deceived called them “peaceful protestors.”

Those demonically possessed with power lust, applauded the demons, promoted them, bowed to them, funded them, defunded those who stood against them. They sacrifice the innocent to them. They are enraged with any who dare stand against them.

Worst of all, worse than the violence, more vile than the abuse and rape, more heinous than the power lust…is a silent, complacent, compromising Church.

The silent Church, is a strong man, watching a child get raped, and yet, doing nothing.

 “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches… Revelation 2:17

The false flags of Floyd, the overreach of COVID, was a demonic indoctrination of fear, so a new regime, could lead the world in following Adam’s apathy; to sit and watch, evil (and its allies), rape, burn, kill, steal and destroy, nations.

All It Takes for Evil Nations to Prevail Is for Good Nations to Do…What They’re Doing

This is not about politics, or America, it’s about Bible prophecy lining up and falling into place right before our very eyes.

The stage is being set, right now, today, as we speak: It's Not About Ukraine.  

We are witnessing a demonic dry run, for what Russia, will try to do, to Israel.

The Bible reveals that Russia (and its allies) will attack Israel.

No nation will come to Israel’s aid. Not even America. Not anyone…except, Jesus, and His heavenly army, the saints; that’s you and me (if you’re born again, and living for Jesus—if not, well, we need to talk, soon, today, don’t wait).

Note the Hebrew word, Rasha. Pronounced, raw-shaw (Russia). Used over 250 times in the Bible. It means:

·         wicked, criminal

·         guilty one, one guilty of crime (subst)

·         wicked (hostile to God)

·         wicked, guilty of sin (against God or man)

Now that is just too much of a coincidence to be a coincidence.

To him who overcomes…

Interesting that one of the words Jesus uses to close every letter is: overcomes.

It comes from a word we already discussed, twice; Nicolaitans. Nikaó: to conquer, prevail.   Laos, means, laity. Nicolaitans: to conquer the laity.

Jesus doesn’t want us to have anything to do with that. He hates it. However, he loves for us to nikaó; to conquer, to prevail.

We were created to be winners. God’s first command to man, was to be conquerors, not of each other, but everything else, natural and spiritual.

Only the overcomer is promised heaven. (Revelation 2:7,11, 17,26;3:5, 12,21).

Remember, He rebukes the Pergamos Church, (and ours) for not overcoming evil. Jesus expects, His Church, to be fruitful and multiply, so the gates of hell cannot prevail (be able to stand) against it (His Church). Matthew 16:18.

You Were Created to Be an Overcomer:

“Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it; have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over every living thing that moves on the earth.” Genesis 1:28

And the LORD will make you the head and not the tail; you shall be above only, and not be beneath, if you heed the commandments of the LORD your God Deuteronomy 28:13

Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. Romans 8:37

Now thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ... 2 Corinthians 2:14

For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds. Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ 2 Corinthians 10:4-5

Be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. Ephesians 6:10-11.

For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world— our faith. 1 John 5:4.

They have conquered him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony. Revelation 12:11.

I will give some of the hidden manna to eat…

Jesus will be the One to give, to serve, this hidden, manna. Hidden, not from, but for, like a treasure.

Jesus Teaches About True Manna in John 6:

With a boy’s lunch of five loaves and two fish, Jesus fed a multitude of around 5,000 men, plus women and children. They ate until they were so full that twelve basketfuls were left over. (John 6:22-71).

But after a good night’s rest, they were hungry again. So, they went looking for Jesus, their meal ticket.

He knew and told them so. Don’t just labor for food to feed the belly, but food I give, that lasts forever.

Okay, how about you show us a sign, you know, like Moses gave manna; bread from heaven.

Moses didn’t give you bread from heaven, but My Father, gives True Bread

Okay, give us that bread.  

“I am the bread of life…This is the bread which came down from heaven—not as your fathers ate manna, and are dead. He who eats this bread will live forever.” (John 6:35, 48, 50, 51, 58).

Jesus went on talking like that for quite some time, repeating phrases like, I AM the bread of life, I came down, (like manna), from heaven. Around verse 63 He starts wrapping things up and says, “The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life” John 6:63.

He is bread? That kind of talk was hard to swallow, and then, one of the saddest verses in the Bible follows.

“From that time many of His disciples went back and walked with Him no more.” Notice even the chapter and verse have a demonic connotation; John 6:66.

But for those with ears to hear, the words mixed, like delicious ingredients for a favorite recipe. I AM the Bread of Life… My Father gives True bread… Man shall not live by bread alone, but every Word… The Word became flesh… Taste and see that the Lord is good…

Our mouth can water at the thought of a favorite food. Our spirit and soul should do the same, at the thought of His Word (True Bread). If not, we may need an appetite adjustment. (Side note: you are a spirit, you have a soul, and you wear an earth suit—your body. What do you enjoy feeding more; who you are, or what you wear?)

For Your Dining Pleasure:

Manna Recipe

Mix a full measure of: Matthew 4:4, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every Word that proceeds from the mouth of God.

Thoroughly stir in a healthy dose of: John 1:14,The Word became flesh and dwelt among us,

Enjoy immediately with: Oh, taste and see that the LORD is good Psalm 34:8

This is the bread which came down from heaven—not as your fathers ate the manna, and are dead. He who eats this bread will live forever.” John 6:58

For the hungry believer, feasting on His Word, creates such delicious satisfaction, that worldly appetites and cravings are lost. Yet, as wonderful as that is, it’s only a sampler, an appetizer, for the day He smiles and stretches out His nail scarred hand and gives us His favorite recipe of hidden manna—which will take eternity to digest, to enjoy, and from which we will never get full, tired or bored.

“No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no heart has imagined, what God has prepared for those who love Him.” 1 Corinthians 2:9

And I will give him a white stone, and on the stone a new name written which no one knows except him who receives it.” ’

In addition to the hidden manna, Jesus will also give the overcomer a white stone.

In that day, a white stone represented a judgement of not guilty; whereas black represented, guilty. Though sin soiled black as coal, the loving blood of Jesus can wash white as snow…or white as this stone.

Another idea regarding the white stone, fits well with the closing theme of all the letters; to the overcomer, the conqueror, the nikaó.

The overcomer, the winner of an Olympic game of that day was given a white stone. This white stone was used like a pass to be allowed through the gate, (like Pearly Gate) into the festivities (like Heaven).

Additionally, like a trophy or medal today, the stone has a personalized name engraved on it. Although our salvation should shine for all the world to see, our love relationship with our Savior is personal, as intimate as any marriage relationship could ever be. So intimate in fact, that He will inscribe a customized name, that only you and Jesus will know.

I have nicknames for folks. It just happens. We get close, and something about them, triggers a name, it becomes their nickname. Perhaps only known between us. It sort of forms a bond.

The other day, we overheard our Pastor’s wife call him, “Baby Doll.” We thought it was funny, so they shared another name, he had called her, “Pumpernickel Loaf.” We thought that was hilarious, but to them it was intimate, personal, endearing.

Jesus knows you, better than you know yourself and one day, He’s going to look at you and stretch out a nail scarred hand, and give you your very own white stone. When you look at that stone, and see the name, engraved, you will just begin to know the extravagant, eternal, exceptional, depth of His amazing, intimate, personal, love, just for you.

CQLJ

Amen.