Opening the book of Revelation –part 9 Listen to Audio

                                          July 12, 2009

 

   We now come to the third in this series of 7 churches- the church at Pergamos.  It was a city well-known of its idolatry and involvement with pagan gods; there was a large temple to Esculapius, depicted as a serpent (12:9).  The city was also known for its production of paper

[pergamena=parch (g) ment.

2:12- Christ identifies Himself as possessing “the sharp two-edged sword”- a figure symbolizing the cutting/dividing power of God’s word- Heb.4:12.  Here, it relates to His discerning power to divide evil and good.

 

2:13- “where you dwell, where Satan’s throne is”- this statement

may indicate a high level of demonic activity or a moral similarity between the arrogance of Pergamos and that of Satan.

   Notes on paganism and demonic activity:

1) That the unsaved worship or submit to demons is clear- I Cor.8:4-  

  5, 10:20-21.  The parallel between idolatry and demon activity may

  be understood from OT material as well- Deut.12:29-32

2) Human degradation, violence, perversion and rampant sin cannot

  be separated from idols and demonism- Rom.1:21-30

3) In the NT, opposition to the gospel is essential to demonic activity-

  II Cor.2:11; I Thess.2:18 often using the tool of deception- Acts 5:3,

  II Cor.11:14, II Peter 2:1, I John 4:1.

4) Terms like “principalities and powers and rulers of darkness of this

  age”- Eph.4:6:12- indicate the level of influence and control these

  malevolent beings achieve in this world- I John 5:19.

5) Such spiritual beings assault believer’s and hinder the gospel

  whenever possible- Mark 4:15,Luke 22:3 and more so as the age

  closes- Rev.12:12.

6) The believer’s victory lies in:  a. standing our ground on the

  finished and triumphal work of Christ- Col.2:15, Eph.6:13-16

  b. Utilizing the truth of scripture to expose error and deception-

  Eph.6:17; II Tim.3:14-17, Titus 1:9 and practicing obedience

  c. the practice of prayerful supplication before the throne of God and

 our Advocate, the Lord Jesus- Eph.6:18, II Thess.3:1-2; II Cor.10:4-5

    

Others have suggested “where Satan’s throne is” relates to the Emperor’s cult, since Pergamos was the first city of Asia with a Temple

for the worship of Augustus.  Emperor worship would emerge as a

critical basis of persecution for early believers as they refused to make

sacrifice to him.

  They are commended –“you hold fast to my name and did not deny my faith..”  Since Christ requires unconditional and undivided

loyalty (Matt.10:32-38), this was tested by the required oath to the Emperor as a god.  Many believers died for such loyalty to Christ.

Antipas is singled out as having experienced martyrdom for his loyalty.  The words “throne”  and “dwells” may indicate a temporary

location and use of power over citizens of Pergamos to motivate them as instruments of persecution of these believers.

  Without hesitation, alongside this commendation, Christ then lists

the problems at Pergamos—

2;14- “but I have a few things against you..”  All thru these 7 churches, there is a mixture of good and evil, obedience and lapsed

service, success and failure in their walk.  This may parallel the parable in Matt.13:24-30.