Text: Revelation 2:12-17
The Personal Revelation of the Lord JesusRevelation 2:12 12 “And to the angel of the church in Pergamos write, ‘These things says He who has the sharp two-edged sword:
Romans 13:4 4 For he is God’s minister to you for good. But if you do evil, be afraid; for he does not bear the sword in vain; for he is God’s minister, an avenger to execute wrath on him who practices evil.
Revelation19:15 15 Now out of His mouth goes a sharp sword, that with it He should strike the nations. And He Himself will rule them with a rod of iron.
The Powerful Commendation to the faithfulRevelation 2:13 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.
The Piercing Evaluation of the tolerant 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.
The Condemnation of the doctrine they tolerateNumbers 22-24
I Cor. 5: 1-6 It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you, and such sexual immorality as is not even named among the Gentiles—that a man has his father’s wife! 2 And you are puffed up, and have not rather mourned, that he who has done this deed might be taken away from among you. 3 For I indeed, as absent in body but present in spirit, have already judged (as though I were present) him who has so done this deed. 4 In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, when you are gathered together, along with my spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ, 5 deliver such a one to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus. 6 Your glorying is not good. Do you not know that a little leaven leavens the whole lump? 7 Therefore purge out the old leaven,
I Cor. 5:9-13 9 I wrote to you in my epistle not to keep company with sexually immoral people. 10 Yet I certainly did not mean with the sexually immoral people of this world, or with the covetous, or extortioners, or idolaters, since then you would need to go out of the world. 11 But now I have written to you not to keep company with anyone named a brother, who is sexually immoral, or covetous, or an idolater, or a reviler, or a drunkard, or an extortioner—not even to eat with such a person. 12 For what have I to do with judging those also who are outside? Do you not judge those who are inside? 13 But those who are outside God judges. Therefore “put away from yourselves the evil person.”
The Call for repentance or judgment16 Repent, or else I will come to you quickly and will fight against them with the sword of My mouth.
The Promising Expectation for the overcomer17 “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.” ’
The Promise of Hidden Manna
The Promise of a white stoneDISCUSSION QUESTIONS
What message was Jesus communicating when He described Himself as the “One who has the sharp two-edged sword”? Do you find this frightening or comforting?
What commendation did Jesus give to the church at Pergamos? Can you identify areas where you have remained faithful in difficulty or persecution?
Do you find it hard to address false teachers or false teaching? If so, why? And how could you grow in this area after hearing today’s message?
What promise does Jesus give to those who remain faithful to his name? What kind of thoughts should this produce in us?
Have you been baptized and do you take communion? If not, why not? Do you need to make that the priority of your spiritual journey?
