For now, lets open our bibles to revelation chapter 2. Pilgrims from all over the mediterranean region would flock to the city to engage in commerce or to visit the famous asclepion, a center of medical treatments. Yet you hold fast my name, and you did not deny my. Pergamum about 70 miles north of smyrna and 1520 miles inland lay the magnificent city of pergamum, with a citadel nearly 0 feet above the plain of the caicus river. Church in pergamum, seven church of revelation turkey, seven churches of revelation, biblical tour guide is a web site where we share with you our knowledge and offer you our top services. As the persecution of christs followers in pergamum intensifies, a body is found on the steps to the altar, a sinister plot rocks the city, and the raspy cry of a newborn pierces the night.
Jan 29, 2012 although ravenhill meant this for the modern world and church, it is also an apt description of the city and church of pergamum. Church in pergamum, seven church of revelation turkey, seven. Confused in pergamum discussion questions renovate. In this lesson we look at the message to pergamum, the compromising church revelation 2. This week, we arrive at the third church of pergamum. So much so that jesus himself would come and make war against them. What was jesus message to the church in pergamum in revelation. Were going to be looking at verses 12 through 17, the letter to the church at pergamos. Revelation 2 and 3 are letters from jesus to seven churches in asia minor. As previously noted in this series of articles, the apostle john recorded in the book of revelation a vision he received from jesus christ at the end of the first century. In our previous two letters to the churches in revelation, ephesus and. King attalus iii, gave it, together with the kingdom of pergamum, to rome in 3 b. Jesus encourages them for withstanding physical, political, and spiritual persecution in their city, where satans throne is.
Pergamum was the chief center of cultural and intellectual life of the hellenistic world. The book of acts makes no mention of the founding of this church. Pergamum is listed third of the seven churches of asia rev. The mistakes of the pergamum church are important lessons to all christians who must struggle to keep their spiritual balance in a darkened world. The implied hostility to rome shows how far the clash of church and state had gone. In the book of acts, the jerusalem council decided not to force circumcision on gentile converts, provided they agreed to abstain from food polluted by idols, from. Pergamos, to which the ancient writers also gave the neuter form of the name, was a city of mysia of the ancient roman province of asia, in the caicus valley, 3 miles. It was probably the site of a settlement from a very early date. Nov 23, 2016 on this episode, pastor ken continues his teaching from the book of revelation, focusing on jesus message to the church of pergamum. Jan 02, 2020 the message to the pergamene church was from the lord jesus christ, specifically addressed to the angel or messenger of the church.
This is especially true for the book of revelation because of the use of what. Remember that on a separate page there are common notes for the. So as we finish the letter to smyrna, the message to the church of. Jul 20, 2015 the days of persecution are a thing of the past for the church of pergamum. A study of revelation chapter two, the message to pergamum. Lessons from the church of pergamum prophecy for today. It corresponds to the third of seven kingdom of heaven parables told by our lord jesus in matthew chapter which is the parable of the mustard seed. One reason often suggested for this statement is that pergamum housed a famous temple to asklepius, the greek god of healing, symbolized by the figure of a snake finegan 1981. Sep 30, 20 confused in pergamum discussion questions september 30, 20 september 29, 20 matt erickson 1 comment here are the discussion questions that accompany my message at eastbrook church this past weekend entitled confused in pergamum from our series, revealed. Pergamon or pergamum also referred to by its modern greek form pergamos greek. Jan 02, 20 as the persecution of christs followers in pergamum intensifies, a body is found on the steps to the altar, a sinister plot rocks the city, and the raspy cry of a newborn pierces the night. When believers compromise christs call to personal. And you are holding on to my name and did not deny your faith in me, even in the days of antipas, my faithful witness who was.
The same held true for the third church addressed in saint johns apocalypse. So, forgive me as we move quickly through two letters. A church married to the world the city and the assembly 2. In this article we will consider the history of the city of pergamos at the time the message was delivered and during subsequent centuries, the message christ sent to them and the messages significance for us today. He would fight against the heretics with the sword of his mouth 2. Like the pergamum church in the first century, much of the christian church in american today, has allowed itself to become compromise by its culture. It is a great book to study and i hope you are enjoying it. The church in pergamum remained faithful to the name of jesus christ, even though they suffered persecution and were surrounded by extreme ungodliness on every side. If we discover that we have compromised gods instructions, we must also change. Index books of the bible revelation church in pergamum. The church of pergamum was known as the compromising church because it tried to mix worldliness with righteousness.
A compromising church revelation 2 12410 turn with me this morning to the last book in the bible, the book of revelation, chapter 2. To those who had entered the dangerous waters of compromise, he simply said, repent verses 16, 21. The city of pergamum pergamos had been the capital of the roman province of asia for two centuries after its last king,attalus iii, bequeathed it to rome in 3b. The church of pergamos was one of these congregations revelation 1. Satans throne, sharon dows surprising sequel to antipas. And to the angel of the church in pergamum write the words of him who has the sharp two edged sword. In chapters 2 and 3 of the book of revelation there are letters by the lord. The city itself, pergamum, once the center of a small kingdom, is here labeled a place where satan has his throne, or where satan lives v. In this article we will consider the history of the city of.
Pergamos, to which the ancient writers also gave the neuter form of the name, was a city of mysia of the ancient roman province of asia, in the caicus valley, 3 miles from the river, and about 15 miles from the sea. The letter to the church at pergamum the bible study. Among other details, this article discusses the architectural philosophy of this influential city, as it reflected the cultural and social values of its people. Christs message to the church pergamum staten island. Pergamon was the northernmost of the seven churches of asia cited in the new testament book of revelation. This city had been the capital of the roman province of asia for two centuries. Pergamum international standard bible encyclopedia. The letter to the church at smyrna and the letter to the church at pergamum. The revelation of christ revelation 15 seven churches third message, pergamos. Book of revelation on this episode of the book of revelation, we are discussing the sin of the church of pergamum, which was tolerating the nicolaitans. Pastor mark preaches on jesus words to the church in pergamum from the theater on the upper acropolis of the ancient city of pergamum itself. To the church of pergamum sermon by johnny small, revelation. What was jesus message to the church in pergamum in. The completed registration allows us to send order and donation receipts to the email address you provided.
William ramsey commented about pergamum, beyond all other sites in asia minor it gives the traveler the impression of a royal city, the home of. Although ravenhill meant this for the modern world and church, it is also an apt description of the city and church of pergamum. These are the words of him who has the sharp, doubleedged sword. You did not renounce your faith in me, even in the days of antipas, my faithful witness, who was put to death in your citywhere satan lives. And finally, there is the other great remedy to compromise that jesus spoke of in his message to pergamos and thyatira.
To fit these seven letters into the assigned time period that i have it is necessary for me to take two of them today. The entire church age is brought before us in the purview of these letters. The church in pergamum 17 about 70 miles north of smyrna stood the magnificent city of pergamum, one of the most important cities in the roman empire. This vision included messages to seven congregations of the church of god in asia minor. Dec 31, 2014 book of revelation on this episode of the book of revelation, we are discussing the sin of the church of pergamum, which was tolerating the nicolaitans. Church in pergamum, seven church of revelation turkey. In examining the seven churches of revelation 23, we have found that christ usually commends them for their good works, though he also includes some negative analysis and correction. The letter to the church at smyrna shows an example of those united with christ and his saving word, knowing that they may suffer for their faith, enduring trials and temptations, but reminds them that the eternal future outweighs any temporary trials or worldly price that we pay because of our faith. In a situation of trials, the church of pergamos had not denied the faith, either by open apostacy, or by giving way so as to avoid the cross. The first message of the book of the revelation of jesus christ is that the local church is his priority, it is where he goes, what he does and. Now, the church finds itself safe and comfortable too comfortable compromise has begun to creep in. Jesus letter to the church of pergamum ebook by rick renner. Hopefully you are not getting too stressed out or too burdened down by some of the messages in this book.
However, they had been a little too tolerant of those among them who clung to vile and immoral, ungodly beliefs and practices. In this series on the seven churches of revelation, we have examined the church in ephesus and the church in smyrna. The revelation of christ revelation 15 seven churches third message, pergamos we continue with our study of the seven messages to the churches of asia in revelation chapters 2 and 3. To the church in pergamum to the angel of the church in pergamum write. The letter to the church in pergamum by chris donato. On this episode, pastor ken continues his teaching from the book of revelation, focusing on jesus message to the church of pergamum. Holman christian study bible this is described as the teaching of balaam. I know your works, and where you dwell, where satans throne is rev. Pergamum was a church that held strong to the name of jesus, but compromised in almost every way. We can read christs letter to this church in revelation 2. Here in pergamum a group of jesus followers came together as a church, one of seven churches addressed in the beginning of the book of. Why did the church in pergamum receive a direct message from the lord.
It is a far cry from paul who, a generation before, had hoped that the empire might find in christianity the social and political cement, which imperial authority had sought since augustus day, to bind into unity. These things saith he which hath the sharp sword with two edges. The one who has the sharp twoedged sword says this. Whatever branch of gods church we belong to, we need to take a long, hard look at ourselves, lest we deceive ourselves into thinking we are better, more. The church of pergamos, or pergamum, received a message from jesus christ. These are the words of him who has the sharp, doubleedged sword revelation 2. Christ says to the church that he knows where they dwell, where satans seat is. One reason often suggested for this statement is that pergamum housed a famous temple to asklepius, the greek god of healing. He compliments them for holding fast to his name and not denying his faith, while criticizing them for tolerating the doctrine of. The nicolaitans were not tolerated in the first church of ephesus, but here in pergamum they spread their heresy within church walls.
Like every other introduction to the churches, the letter to the church in pergamum mentions some attribute of jesus in the first verse. I begin this article with the video on pergamum when the greek successor of alexander the great, antiochus iv epiphanes, invaded israel he. It was the first to erect a temple to the caesar, augustus as well as to zeus and the serpentgod asclepius. Jesus continued his message to the church of pergamum by saying, i know thy. We continue with our study of the seven messages to the churches of asia in revelation chapters 2 and 3. Jul 15, 2015 this is the fourth part in the bible study series. What lessons might we learn from about integrity of faith in a modern world that offers us many opportunities to compromise.
Pergamum, the compromising church begin transcription this is the halfway point in our study. Here are the discussion questions that accompany my message at eastbrook church this past weekend entitled confused in pergamum from our series, revealed. In chapters 2 and 3 of the book of revelation there ar. This is the message from the one who has the sharp doubleedged sword. Christs message to the church pergamum revelations 2. Offers a brief cultural and political history of the city. Teaching of balaam this is a reference to the balaam and balak of the book of. When did you experience an idea or concept that changed the way you lived. We have already looked at the church in ephesus and smyrna, today well look at the church in pergamum or pergamos pergamum was one of the most prominent cities of asia, located in the western part of asiaminor, about 45 miles north of smyrna and.
Evangelist leonard ravenhill once said, the world has lost the power to blush over its sin. The letter to the church at smyrna and the letter to. After clicking register, you will receive an email with a link to verify your account and to complete your registration. We want to continue on today, looking at the question, what does god think of his church. Today we will look at the church in pergamum and not only how our church compares to it, but also how we as individual christians compare to the christians in pergamum. I know thy works, and where thou dwellest, even where satans seat is. Pergamum was one of the most prominent cities of asia, located in the western part. It was the seat of roman government for the province and the center of the imperial cult.
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