Revelation 2:12-17 Be Wise! 3rd June 2007 Pam Leake
You won’t find the city named Pergamum on a modern map of Turkey today, as its name, changed slightly over time to Bergama.
Slide 2 Revelation map.
Drive down a cobbled street in Bergama, and on the hill you will see the ancient ruins of Pergamum. As you may be able to make out on the screen.
Slide 3 Pergamum on Hill
Pergamum was the ancient capital city of Asia before Ephesus. It boasted an open air 10,000 seat theatre with magnificent views.
Slide 4 Pergamum theatre
After Egypt banned the export of papyrus for scroll making to Pergamum, Pergamum invented parchment made from animal skin. The best parchment made out of calf skin being called, vellum. Parchment is more flexible than papyrus, which made it possible to make books rather than scrolls.
Slide 5 Pergamum ruins
So in Roman Times Pergamum had the second largest library in the world with 200,000 volumes.
Pergamum was also ‘The’ religious centre and boasted many temples to pagan gods.
Slide 6 Pergamum Model
A model of some of Pergamum has been made and it shows the positions of some of the pagan temples.
The Altar of Zeus is located at the right centre. To the right of the Altar of Zeus (outside the picture) was the agora, the market square. The Temple of Athena is behind the theatre, and the Temple of Trajan is at the top left.
Slide 7 Altar of Zeus
In today’s reading, God says to the church in Pergamum, “I know that you live in the city where that great throne of Satan is located, and yet you have remained loyal to me”.
It is believed that “The great throne of Satan” may have referred to the Altar of Zeus. There is a reconstruction of the altar in the Berlin Museum using fragments taken from Pergamum. Notice that the altar resembles a large throne in the reconstruction. It was said to be four stories in height. Whether Jesus meant the throne of Zeus or not, Satan did exercise much power in the city.
But there was a group of Christians living there who remained true to Jesus. Jesus saw their deeds and into their hearts and minds. They held firm to the truth that Jesus is both Lord and the world's only Saviour. Jesus gives this congregation written praise in the book of Revelation for their courage, and faith.
Pergamum was famous for its medical science. But, it was also a centre for the worship of the satanic god of healing. His temple was full of snakes which were considered sacred. Invalids flocked to the temple. Where they received state of the art medical treatment, and occult treatments.
Slide 8 Pergamum Askepios Snake
The god of healing was represented by an entwined serpent on a staff. Idols made of stone may not have any power, but the devil has. The demonic, power to heal, behind the snake god deceived many.
The people were free to worship any, and as many, gods as they wished. Religious tolerance!?
What you weren’t free to say then, as now, is in the words of Paul to Timothy
Slide 9 quote
1 Timothy 2:5 There is only one God and one Mediator who can reconcile God and people. He is the man Christ Jesus.
To be a loyal citizen you had to worship Caesar, as divine, and refer to him as Lord. Christians were put to death in this city because they refused to sprinkle incense into the burning fire below the bust of Caesar and declare, "Caesar is Lord."
Slide 10 quote Caesar coins, statue and quote
The Christians of Pergamum were prepared to face death rather than bow the knee to any of Satan’s allies.
Jesus told us all in John 15.20,
Since they persecuted me, naturally they will persecute you.
Do you think you would have sprinkled incense in front of Caesar’s statue?
Today, it is claimed that Christians are more widely persecuted than believers of any other faith. We must continue to pray for the persecuted church.
After His praise of Pergamum, Jesus goes on to say,
Slide 11 quote
“I have a few complaints against you. You tolerate some among you who are like Balaam, who showed Balak how to trip up the people of Israel.”
So who were Balak and Balaam?
Slide 12 Balak, balaam donkey and angel
Balak was the king of the Moabites, and he was very distressed, because the Israelites had conquered land up to the boundaries of Moab. Israel had a large army. The only way Balak could see of preventing invasion was to pay Balaam to curse Israel.
Balaam was a pagan prophet. When Balaam was offered cash to curse Israel, the Lord God of Israel spoke to him and warned him not too. But then vast sums were offered to Balaam and he agreed to go to Moab with the king’s men on his donkey.
An angel of the Lord prevented the donkey from travelling, so Balaam beat the donkey.
Eventually the Donkey spoke to Balaam, and Balaam saw the angel. After which he was allowed to continue his journey to Moab. But despite animal sacrifices to encourage God to allow him to curse Israel, he found the Lord would only allow him to bless them.
Balaam also spoke out many accurate, prophesies of blessing, given to him by God for Israel.
Read the story for yourselves in Numb 22-24.
Balaam couldn’t curse Israel, but then in
In Numbers 31, Moses says
Slide 13 quote
"These are the very ones who followed Balaam's advice and caused the people of Israel to rebel against the LORD (Numbers 31: 16 NLT)
There are a number of reference to Balaam’s sin in the Bible, but no details. The Bible assumes we know. To find out what happened we have to look in the Talmud, written by the Jewish rabbis.
Slide 14 Talmud books
According to the Talmud Balaam said to Balak -
"These people, your enemies, are hungry for food and are thirsty for drink, as they have nothing but manna. Go and put up tents for them, place in them food and drink, and seat in them beautiful women, daughters of nobles, so that the people may turn to {the god} Baal."
MISHNA, A Talmud Tractate Avot -
Balaam knew the Jewish men’s weakness for good food and sex! He knew how Balak could trip up the people. So Balaam TAUGHT Balak how to cause the men of Israel to sin.
Slide 14a Balaams sin and money
Balaam’s love was not for God, but for self and money.
The foolish men of Israel took his bait of worshipping idols, food and sex; causing God’s displeasure.
Slide 15 quote
Proverbs 2:12 Wisdom will save you from evil people.
The men of Israel should have known it is not wise to disobey God.
There are greedy, money loving people in Britain today. How does Satan use these people to “trip up” God’s church? To make us sin?
One way is to encourage Christians to believe that they will be financially prosperous and totally healthy if only they have enough faith. Was the Apostle Paul financially prosperous and in superb health? No!
Advertising motivates us to be greedy. Have this settee, car, whatever, now says the advert and start to pay in a year.
Slide 16 mobile phone
Advertisements encourage envy and when they can’t manage that they try to make us ashamed of what we have. For instance a review of the Sony Ericsson V630i mobile phone says “it’s a phone you're not ashamed to put on the table in front of your friends.”
Children who are very susceptible to this pressure are often ashamed to be seen with their parents because of parents, clothes, cars etc.
Slide 17 against the flow animation
Go against the flow. Resist the pressure to conform. Have that new car or whatever if you can afford it, and it is really what you want, but be wise.
In the same way, you have some Nicolaitans among you, it says today’s passage. The Nicolaitans claimed to be Christians. In fact they claimed to be the spiritually elite. Rather like how the Pharisees claimed to be more spiritual than ordinary people. As they were “more spiritual” they had, spiritual gifts, and privileges not given to all.
Misquoting Animal Farm
“All Christians are equal but some are more equal than others!!” They seemed to think.
They declared that they were “free from the Law”.
Slide 18 quotes
Now Galatians 5:1 may say, “Christ has really set us free. Now make sure that you stay free, and don't get tied up again in slavery to the law.”
But it goes on to say in verse 13, “For you have been called to live in freedom--not freedom to satisfy your sinful nature, but freedom to serve one another in love.”
The Nicolaitans believed they were free to satisfy their sinful nature. So the Nicolaitans ate meat offered to idols with their pagan friends, and joined them in sexual pleasures at the Greek and Roman temples.
Note that the leadership, and church as a whole did not believe in this doctrine of the Nicolaitans, but they did continue in fellowship with those who did. They also tolerated people in church who were as super spiritual, cunning and as material minded as Balaam.
It is not an easy Balance to be accepting of people whilst un-accepting of their ideas, wrong teaching and behaviour. Especially if they are your friends!
Slide 19 quote
God tells the church leaders and people alike to Repent, or I will come to you suddenly and fight against them {that is the Nicolaitans and those like Balaam} with the sword of my mouth. (V16)
Incidentally, Balaam was killed by a sword. (Num 31:8).
The loving thing for the Pergamum church to do for these sinning friends, was for them all to REPENT, and warn others. This teaching was not to be accepted or given voice in the church.
Remember Jesus said in Mark’s gospel,
Slide 20 quote
"It is the thought-life that defiles you. For from within, out of a person's heart, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, greed, wickedness, deceit, eagerness for lustful pleasure, envy, slander, pride, and foolishness. (Mark 7:20-22 NLT)
You are your thoughts.
What is the two edged sword that Jesus said he would fight against the Nicolaitans and Balaam followers with?
Slide 21 quote
For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart (Hebrews 4:12).
The church needed to hear the TRUTH from the WORD of God, the Bible then, and now. They needed to be wise, to listen to, and follow the truth, in the midst of the temptations to give in to heretical teachings that led to sexual immorality and idolatry. The word of judgment faced those who failed to repent.
Today the devil shouts loud and clear, but you won’t realise you are listening to his words unless you know ‘The Word’, the Bible.
I wonder if many in the church today know the meaning of what is translated as ‘sexually immoral’? If we look in old translations of the Bible we will find instead the word ‘fornication’ meaning – “sex outside marriage”. Heterosexual and homosexual sex outside marriage is sin.
Slide 22 adam eve love
Jesus said, “God's plan was seen from the beginning of creation, for He made them male and female. This explains why a man leaves his father and mother and is joined to his wife, and the two are united into one.” Mark 10.6-8
May be you have switched on the TV, flicked through the channels and caught glimpse of music videos which seem more like soft porn. The Nicolaitans in our society see nothing wrong with watching pornography, and violence on films and TV.
Slide 23 God’s Commandments
Today’s Nicolaitans in our churches don’t agree with the Bible, or what is acceptable and unacceptable behaviour.
God has summed it up in loving God and loving others as yourself.
So when vulnerable, often morally confused individuals are exploited on reality television for entertainment, laughs and gossip. Is that love?
When we read or watch with great interest gossip about some celebrity or other is that love?
Notice what the media and our culture is teaching us –
Slide 24Prime Minister Liar
(Slide slow fade away)
May be it is not surprising with this teaching that a lot of arguments, even in our own homes, start by one person mistakenly believing the motives of another are selfish or deliberately unkind.
Christians should trust one another. We should NOT assume the other person is being deliberately unkind or untruthful.
Unrepentant Balaam and Nicolaitan followers should take note.
It says Revelation 21:8
“The corrupt, and murderers, and the immoral, and those who practice witchcraft, and idol worshipers, and all liars--their doom is the second death."
Slide 25 Be Wise
Repent, and stay alert followers of Jesus. In other words ‘Be Wise’.
Remember Jesus promises, “Everyone who is victorious will eat of the manna that has been hidden away in heaven. And I will give to each one a white stone,”
“Manna” - special God given bread. Jesus said he is “the bread of life”. Those who conquer each temptation to stray from God’s ‘Word’ will receive heavenly, spiritual bread that gives eternal life.
A white stone was given for various purposes, but the following seem most significant to us.
Be wise! A Christian is someone whose belief and hope is in Jesus Christ, and is faithfully trying to follow Christ’s teaching in thought and deed.
Victorious, overcomers of false teaching and culturally accepted, but immoral values, will receive spiritual bread, manna and also receive a white stone, symbolising their freedom from the slavery of sin and their invitation into heaven.
Be wise. It really isn’t worth loosing the heavenly manna, and white stone, by believing today’s Balaam’s and Nicolaitans.