TEXT:  Rev. 2:12-17

INTRODUCTION:

A.  LETTERS TO CHURCHES OF ASIA.

          1.  Name the 7 churches.

          2.  Good information for us (1 Cor. 16:1;  4:17;  14:33).

B.  FORM OF THE LETTERS:

          1.  Salutation.                                                        5.  Warning or threat of judgment.

          2.  Jesus’ self designation.                                      6.  Exhortation.

          3.  Commendation of good.                                   7.  Promise.

          4.  Condemnation of evil.

C.  WE WILL FOLLOW THIS FORM.

I.      TO PERGAMUM - PERGAMOS.

A.  ONLY MENTIONED IN CONNECTION WITH THE BOOK OF REVELATION.

B.  KNOWN FOR WORSHIP OF ZEUS AND ALKLEPIOS, SYBOLIZED BY A SNAKE...

C.  FAITHFUL TO MARTYRDOM, TOLERANT OF ERROR.

II.     JESUS’ SELF DESCRIPTION (vs. 12).

A  HAS THE TWO EDGED SWORD, ONE TO SAVE, THE OTHER TO JUDGE.

B.  SWORD OF THE SPIRIT (Eph. 6:17).

C.  JUDGMENT (2 Cor. 5:10;  Heb. 4:12-13).

III.    COMMENDATION (vs. 13).

A.  “I KNOW…”  (Psa. 139).  GOD & JESUS KNOW (1 Pet. 5:6-7).

B.  PHYSICAL CIRCUMSTANCE – WHERE SATAN’S THRONE IS.

          1.  Emperor worship strong – Death penalty for not following.

          2.  Jupiter or Zeus referred to as “Zeus the Savior.”

          3.  Asklepios – the healing god – depicted as a snake (Rev. 20:2).

C.  HELD FAST JESUS’ NAME – DID NOT DENY  THE FAITH (2 Tim. 3:12).

          1.  James 1:2-4, 12.  Not afraid (1 Pet. 3:13-15).

          2.  Subject already to martyrdom.

IV.   A FEW THINGS AGAINST THEE(vs. 14). 

A.  BAALAM.

          1.  Fornication.  Licentious behavior in Pergamum.  Today (1 Pet. 2:1-2).  MDR.

                    a.  Baalam’s death (Num. 31:8, 15-16).  Defeat of Midianites and their women.

                   b.  Goes back to the Moabites (Num. 25:1-5).

          2.  Idol Meat.  Bad influence (Num. 25;  Eph. 5:6-12).

          3.  Desire of Gain.  (2 Pet. 2:15-16;  Jude 11).

                   a.  Love of money (1 Tim. 6:9-10 – 6:3-6).

                   b.  Priorities (Matt. 6:19-21, 24).

B.  NICOLAITANS?  NO ONE KNOWS – Gnostics, Judaizers, Libertines.

V.    WARNING (vs. 16) è REPENT!

A.  ELIMINATE THE ERROR!

          1.  Purge out the old leaven (1 Cor. 5:6-7).

          2.  Mark the false teachers (Rom. 16:17-18).

          3.  Preach the Truth (2 Tim. 4:1-4;  Acts 20:26-27).

B.  OR JESUS WILL COME WITH THE SWORD OF HIS MOUTH.

          1.  The Truth (Eph. 6:17).

          2.  Judgment (Heb. 4:12-13;  2 Cor. 5:10;  Matt. 15:13-14).

VI. & VII.        EXHORTATION AND PROMISE(vs. 17).

A.  OVERCOME PERSECUTION AND TEMPTATIONS OF BAALAM (James 1:12).

B.  HIDDEN MANNA.  CONTRAST W/IDOL MEAT.  WHAT SHALL WE EAT?

          1.  What is manna? (John 6:30-31).

          2.  What is the true manna? (John 6:32-35, 40).

          3.  Not obvious to those who are not looking (John 6:36).  HIDDEN!  Do you see it?

C.  WHITE STONE.

          1.  Stones used to vote guilt or innocence.

          2.  Word for stone used only here and in Acts 26:10.

          3.  Justification through forgiveness (Phil. 3:9;  Rom. 3:23-26).

D.  NEW NAME (Isa. 62:1-2).

          1.  New Relationship (Isa. 62:3-4;  60:15, 18;  54:5-7).

          2.  Redeemed blessed w/new relation (Acts 11:26;  1 Pet. 4:16;  2:9-10).

CONCLUSION:

A.  DOES THIS DESCRIBE US AS A CONGREGATION?

          1.  Commendation?

          2.  Condemnation?

C.  HAVE YOU TASTED THE HIDDEN MANNA?