THE CHURCH AT PERGAMOS ICU Notes

SEVEN KEYS: Living in Uncertain Times

ICU Group Notes

Session 3: January 28, 2018

"The Key of Repentance"

Revelation 2:12–17 (NKJV) 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. ¹⁴But 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. ¹⁵Thus you also have those who hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitans, which thing I hate. ¹⁶Repent, 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.”’

Pergamum was built on a rocky hill where the Mediterranean could be seen on a very clear day. Was the cultural center of this area known for its library housing over 200,000 volumes.  In this great city was one of the wonders of the ancient world; the altar of Zeus, which was one of the largest and most famous.  It was shaped like a giant throne.  There were many temples built for false gods like Asclepius, the god of healing and Caesar Augustus.

Satan had changed his strategy from persecution to infiltration and imitation causing doctrines from the Nicolaitans and Balaam enter the church.  Theses doctrines caused compromise in the church of Pergamum.

1. Whose throne did Jesus say dwelled in Pergamum? (v13)

a. Satan

b. Caesar

2. The false teachings infiltrating the church were big things or little things?

a. Big

b. Little

3.  Three Keys To True Repentance

1. Recognition of sin.

2. There must be remorse (Godly sorrow – 2 Cor.7:10).

3.  Decision to reverse your direction.

To aid in your study and discussion, I am providing some additional material by Charlie Wolcott. The material has been adapted from Charlie's articles on the seven churches found on the "Worldview Warriors" webpage, and has been edited for our purposes. You can read the entire article at: http://worldviewwarriors.blogspot.com/2018/01/to-church-at-pergamos.html

To the Church at Pergamos

In this study of the letters to the churches found in Revelation 2-3, the letter to Pergamos is one of the three with the more dire warnings. Pergamos was an idolatry capital most noted for being the first city in Asia (Asia Minor and the Middle East) to emphasize Caesar worship. To the Romans, the Emperor himself was considered a god and was to be worshipped as such. Pergamos was the first of the cites in the region to not just embrace but enforce such idol worship. This is why Jesus describes Satan’s throne being at Pergamos. It was a center of great evil.

Jesus opens this letter by reminding them that he carries the double-edged sword, the weapon which pierces bone from marrow and discerns the hearts. The Christians in Pergamos were faithful to the name of Christ and would not deny him, even when Antipas was killed for it. But that is the only good thing Jesus had to say about them, because there were much bigger issues at hand.

The problem Pergamos had was compromise. They had false teachers in their midst whom they did not address nor kick out. This church did not renounce the name of Christ, but they allowed false teaching to come into their midst. In this case it had to do with the doctrine of Balaam who was cursed for continuing to get payment to curse Israel yet could only preach blessings. Here, Balaam is accused of suggesting to Israel’s enemy, Balak, to entice them to eat meat sacrificed to idols, committing sexual immorality, and following the Nicolatians. Jesus told this church to repent of this sin quickly lest they fight against him and his sword.

Pergamos seems to think it was fine for some to worship Caesar and the other gods as long as you didn’t deny Christ. Antipas was killed because he would not compromise and said Jesus was the ONLY God.

It is not easy to stand for truth in the pit of hell. Compromise with this world is very dangerous. However, Jesus gave an encouraging word to those who had not bowed to this compromise. He will give them hidden manna to eat. What is that hidden manna? I believe this is real spiritual food, Jesus Christ and his Word!

But there is something else Jesus gives: a stone with a new name! This name is what is going to be written in the Book of Life. Abram, Sarai, Jacob, Simon, and Saul were each given new names after an encounter with God to Abraham, Sarah, Israel, Peter, and Paul. When someone is born again, they are born with a new nature and new identity and with that identity is a new name.