Isaiah 63:16-17 For you are our Father,
though Abraham does not know us,
and Israel does not acknowledge us;
you, O LORD, are our Father,
our Redeemer from of old is your name.
O LORD, why do you make us wander from your ways
and harden our heart, so that we fear you not?
Return for the sake of your servants,
the tribes of your heritage.
Matthew 12: He said to them, “Which one of you who has a sheep, if it falls into a pit on the Sabbath, will not take hold of it and lift it out? 12 Of how much more value is a man than a sheep!
Are you a lost sheep of the Lord?
Stuck in the mud, are you… and think no one cares?
Been a while since you have found your self in fellowship and worship with other believers?
God our Father welcomes the ‘prodigal son.” (Do you recall, beloved lost sheep?)
Jesus our Lord and Redeemer leaves the ninety-nine of the fold to rescue the lost one. (…That angels might rejoice. Do you recall?)
4 What causes quarrels and what causes fights among you? Is it not this, that your passions[a] are at war within you?[b]
2 You desire and do not have, so you murder.
You covet and cannot obtain, so you fight and quarrel.
You do not have, because you do not ask.
3 You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions.
4 You adulterous people![c] Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God?
Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.
5 Or do you suppose it is to no purpose that the Scripture says, “He yearns jealously over the spirit that he has made to dwell in us”? 6 But he gives more grace.
Therefore it says, “God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.”
7 Submit yourselves therefore to God.
Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
8 Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you.
Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.
9 Be wretched and mourn and weep. Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom.
10 Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you.
Therefor be humble before the Cross. Bow down an worship your Redeemer.
Grace be unto you, and peace, from him which is, and which was, and which is to come; and from the seven Spirits which are before his throne; And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth.
“Write what you see in a book and send it to the seven churches, … to Sardis…
“Fear not, I am the first and the last, 18 and the living one. I died, and behold I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of Death and Hades. 19 Write therefore the things that you have seen, those that are and those that are to take place after this.
20 As for the mystery of the seven stars that you saw in my right hand, and the seven golden lampstands, the seven stars are the angels of the seven churches, and the seven lampstands are the seven churches.
Christ, our risen Lord and Savior holds in His right hand the angels of the churches. Christ, our returning Lord and Savior stands in the presence of His golden churches – the believers to be taken-up along with those who have gone before us.
Yet each letter to the churches is specific to a group of believers: praise for faithfulness and call to continued faith. For not all who say, “Lord, lord,” will be taken-up. Not all who say, “Lord, lord,” will stand as a light of witness as a lampstand on His right. For some will be separated to the King’s left and He will say of those who did not glimmer with the light of Jesus, “I never knew you.”
And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal. – Matthew 25:46 KJV
Therefore: The warnings for the seven churches are addressed to the saints of every generation until the last.
You with ears to hear, let the scripture of Revelation speak to your eternal soul.
Revelation 3 “And to the angel of the church in Sardis write: ‘The words of him who has the seven spirits of God and the seven stars.
Now here is a short letter to our MEGA-CHURCH. It’s only six verses (including the introduction above and the “let him hear…” closing).
We know ALL the things you do to witness your faith, so you don’t have anything to concern yourselves with in this short letter. “But wait,” as the commercial says (NO, not the commercial or billboard for your church, but another one), “there’s more.” Better not turn the page from Seeker-friendly Sardis too soon.
“‘I know your works. You have the reputation of being alive, but you are dead.
2 Wake up, and strengthen what remains and is about to die, for I have not found your works complete in the sight of my God.
THOUSANDS attend our church and MILLIONS WATCH our church broadcast EVERY WEEK from their La-Z-Boys at home.
We have done everything we could think of to get more viewers and take our gospel into all of the world. Do you mean to say that our $50 million dollar annual budget is not buying enough viewers for God?
“I know your works.” Millions know your works. “I know your reputation.” Millions see you as Christ! They covet your blessings. As soon as they receive the kind of blessings you have (they think), they will do more for the church.
They know they are dead, but they want your life now; NOT Christ’s life now or ever.
3 Remember, then, what you received and heard. Keep it, and repent. If you will not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what hour I will come against you.
4 Yet you have still a few names in Sardis, people who have not soiled their garments, and they will walk with me in white, for they are worthy.
Matthew 22: 11 “But when the king came in to look at the guests, he saw there a man who had no wedding garment. 12 And he said to him, ‘Friend, how did you get in here without a wedding garment?’ And he was speechless. 13 Then the king said to the attendants, ‘Bind him hand and foot and cast him into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’
14 For many are called, but few are chosen.”
You may be an active and faithful member of a large church. Your pastor (though held to a higher standard for his preaching) may also be one of the faithful chosen, rather than the MANY called.
You may sit amongst other chosen ones, even in a congregation of most who will not wake up to remember what we have received and heard. Many are called in every church, but who with ears to hear will truly hear in his heart?
Take heart in Christ’s closing to alert the believers of Sardis:
5 The one who conquers will be clothed thus in white garments, and I will never blot his name out of the book of life. I will confess his name before my Father and before his angels.
6 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’
Grace be unto you, and peace, from him which is, and which was, and which is to come; and from the seven Spirits which are before his throne; And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth.
“Write what you see in a book and send it to the seven churches, … to Pergamum…
16 In his right hand he held seven stars, from his mouth came a sharp two-edged sword, and his face was like the sun shining in full strength.
“Fear not, I am the first and the last, 18 and the living one. I died, and behold I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of Death and Hades. 19 Write therefore the things that you have seen, those that are and those that are to take place after this.
20 As for the mystery of the seven stars that you saw in my right hand, and the seven golden lampstands, the seven stars are the angels of the seven churches, and the seven lampstands are the seven churches.
Christ, our risen Lord and Savior holds in His right hand the angels of the churches. Christ, our returning Lord and Savior stands in the presence of His golden churches – the believers to be taken-up along with those who have gone before us.
Yet each letter to the churches is specific to a group of believers: praise for faithfulness and call to continued faith. For not all who say, “Lord, lord,” will be taken-up. Not all who say, “Lord, lord,” will stand as a light of witness as a lampstand on His right. For some will be separated to the King’s left and He will say of those who did not glimmer with the light of Jesus, “I never knew you.”
And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal. – Matthew 25:46 KJV
Therefore: The warnings for the seven churches are addressed to the saints of every generation until the last.
You with ears to hear, let the scripture of Revelation speak to your eternal soul.
Pergamon’s strategic location along both land and sea trading routes contributed to its prosperity. Pilgrims from all over the Mediterranean region would flock to the city to engage in commerce or to visit the famous Ascelpion, a center of medical treatments.
Perched atop a windswept mountain along the Turkish coastline and gazing proudly—almost defiantly—over the azure Aegean Sea sit the ruins of the ancient Greek city of Pergamon.
The modern visitor approaches the site from the steep and winding road that leads from the modern Turkish city of Bergama just a few miles away. Upon reaching the ruins, the commanding panoramic view from Pergamon’s 1,000-foot-high perch makes it easy to understand how this city once dominated the entire region.
Antipas, a Christian bishop of Pergamum, was believed to have been martyred here at the end of the first century A.D., around the time when many scholars believe the Book of Revelation was composed. The execution of their bishop certainly would not have endeared the city to its Christian inhabitants, and the Biblical reference to the city is reflective of the general tension between Christian and pagan communities at the end of the first century A.D. – 7/16/2013 article excerpt- Sarah Yeomans
Revelation 2:12 “And to the angel of the church in Pergamum write: ‘The words of him who has the sharp two-edged sword.
properly a long Thracian javelin, also a kind of long sword wont to be worn on the right shoulder
Simeon, after having dedicated the baby Jesus said: “For my eyes have seen Your salvation .” – Luke 2:30
Then Simeon turned to Mary and also prophesied: “yes, a sword will pierce through your own soul also…” – Luke 2:35a
13 “‘I know where you dwell, where Satan’s throne is. Yet you hold fast my name, and you did not deny my faith even in the days of Antipas my faithful witness, who was killed among you, where Satan dwells.
Persecution of first century Christians, familiar to us by fictional accounts of actual incidents in Rome, were common throughout the Roman Empire.
The martyrdom could have taken place at this famous pagan temple or in their large amphitheater.
Pergamum or Pergamos is just one city where Christians were persecuted and killed for cruel sport. (Ephesus, as you may recall from Paul’s later letters, is another.)
14 But I have a few things against you: you have some there who hold the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to put a stumbling block before the sons of Israel, so that they might eat food sacrificed to idols and practice sexual immorality. 15 So also you have some who hold the teaching of the Nicolaitans. 16 Therefore repent.
John 15:19 [The words of Jesus:]
If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you.
Jesus expects the church to be different from the world. We are NOT like the worshipers of idols and unbelievers.
Christ reveals through John “some there who hold the teaching of Balaam.”
Do you recall the donkey speaking to the Prophet to preserve his life from the sword of the angel?
Numbers 22:23 And the ass saw the angel of the LORD standing in the way, and his sword drawn in his hand…
IF a Prophet of God may risk execution for disobedience, surely a Christian in a faithful church may also be warned for standing too close to sin.
Once again the issues are idol worship, sexual immorality, and false teaching.
Has anything changed from these temptations up to this 21st century, dear faithful believer?
Yet, be encouraged that our All-Powerful risen and returning Lord may wield a large sword in your defense against the world, IF you remain faithful.
* In verse 15:
1. Notice that the church in Ephesus hated the “deeds” of the Nicolatians (2:6)
2. Now in this church in Pergamos, (the infiltrated church), it has become “doctrine” = teachings!
3. Ephesus hated their deeds as the Lord hated their deeds. Now Pergamos allows what God hates!
a) The Lord has always hated when anyone “lords” over His people but Himself!!
Revelation 2:16 Therefore repent. If not, I will come to you soon and war against them with the sword of my mouth.
Repent! But IF NOT, come I to you without delay, indeed to war against the same with the edge of the sword of my mouth. {see concordance}
* Verse 16:
1. Repentance is not mere “I’m sorry!” It must be a change of heart and actions!
2. If we, as the Lord messengers and servants, do not admonish and stand for the truth, HE WILL!!!
17 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who conquers I will give some of the hidden manna, and I will give him a white stone, with a new name written on the stone that no one knows except the one who receives it.’
* b) A white stone with a new name!
(1) No one knows for sure what this allude to but there used to be a custom of voting for an accused criminal with a black and a white stone.
(2) If the white stones outnumbered, the criminal was set free!
(3) Through our faith in Jesus as Lord as Savior, the white stone has been cast, we have been set free!!
(a) And along with that freedom as slaves to this world, we have been given our FATHER’S name! It will be written in the Lamb’ Book of Life!!!
NEXT: Thyatira
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