Tag: nicolaitans

  • The Time Is Near For Our Church – Pergamum

    The Time Is Near For Our Church – Pergamum

    The Revelation of Jesus Christ

    John to the seven 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.

    the_seven_churches_of_revelation

    City of Science … and Satan?

    pergamon hill

    Pergamum
    Pergamum

    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.

    Mention of this “sword” occurs only once outside of Revelation.  It is a very large sword.

    1. 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.

    Pergamum theatrePersecution 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!!!

    Commentary of John Brown

    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

  • The Time Is Near For Our Church – Ephesus

    The Time Is Near For Our Church – Ephesus

    The Revelation of Jesus Christ

    John to the seven 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 Ephesus…

    “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.

    the_seven_churches_of_revelation       EPHESUS Library at Ephesus

    Maps change. Borders change. Buildings rise and fall. Nations rise and fall. Ephesus, like any other place on the map of this temporal world has changed over the years. Do not make the mistake of thinking of these letters to seven churches as being to “places.” These are letters which address some specific issues of faith encountered by the people of the churches.

    What does not change is people. We are sinners: no matter where we live; no matter when we live… or die: we are sinners.

    Into any part of this world, whether you call it Turkey (21st c.), Greece (BC), or Asia, as written in the Book of Revelation: enter Jesus Christ and every decaying building and dying man has new meaning.

    The population of Ephesus at the time of John was about 200,000 people. Over the centuries control of this area of Asia moved between east and west: Rome and Persia (among others).

    We know that wars and time will cause Nations and buildings to stand no more.  We know that we live in a flesh even more temporary than these. Yet the message of the Gospel from the first century until the 21st and to the Last Day endures.

    The people of Ephesus and the people of Pen Argyl (where I live) are essentially the same: we are sinners with the certain hope of resurrection in Christ Jesus. Yet the warnings for Pennsylvanians or Ephesians, for Romans or Americans, for men and women of any city, in any state, in any country and in any time until now is: follow Jesus Christ as your Lord. He IS and will return.

    Into our individual cultures and local towns we must BE the CHURCH. We must BE HIS SAINTS, or have our lampstand removed.

    We have nowhere to stand without Jesus.

    Each Christian in every Church must shine a light for Christ Jesus.

    Our choice is Eternal Life and Light OR Death, Darkness and the punishment we deserve for our many sins.

    Revelation 2:

    To the Church in Ephesus

    “To the angel of the church in Ephesus write: ‘The words of him who holds the seven stars in his right hand, who walks among the seven golden lampstands.

    2 “‘I know your works, your toil and your patient endurance, and how you cannot bear with those who are evil, but have tested those who call themselves apostles and are not, and found them to be false.

    3 I know you are enduring patiently and bearing up for my name’s sake, and you have not grown weary.

    +

    This is all High Praise from our Lord. Take note. These are good things for our church to continue. These are good things for us to continue.

    • Patient endurance.
    • Do not put up with those who are evil (and we know many who are evil).

    Here’s one a 21st c. seeker-friendly church might miss:

    • “… tested those who call themselves apostles and are not, and found them to be false.

    When was the last time you, a fellow saint of your church, or even a church leader challenged ANY to find them to be FALSE christians?

    I’m not talking about those seeking to repent, change, and grow in Christ Jesus.  Our Lord challenges the church to identify the wolves in sheep’s clothing. Matthew 7:15; Acts 20:29

    wolf

    Some of us in what WE, ourselves listen to, read or watch as ‘christian teaching’ need discernment to recognize wolves in the shepherd’s clothing of the pulpit.

    IF you see no cross of sacrifice; IF Jesus is going to do something for you, IF ‘god’ wants you to have it NOW, beware.

    +

    But I have this against you, that you have abandoned the love you had at first.

    5 Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent, and do the works you did at first.

    Some of you have been born again in the Holy Spirit. Do you remember when you were first on fire for the Lord?

    Acts 4: 31 And when they had prayed, the place in which they were gathered together was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and continued to speak the word of God with boldness.

    Our Lord exhorts the church to continue in our boldness for returning to the love we had for for Jesus and for His Gospel at first.

    If not, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place, unless you repent.

    UNLESS YOU REPENT!

    Heaven OR Hell?  That’s really the consequence of repentance or disobedience, isn’t it?

    Why would Jesus keep a lampstand for our diminishing flicker after our wick has burnt dry?

    Our Lord closes His specific cautions to the church at Ephesus with an encouragement, as so often the Letters of the Apostles encourasge us.

    6 Yet this you have: you hate the works of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate.

    Again, recall that the warnings were to a specific church with specific challenges, just like your church or my church.  The works of the Nicolaitans are unknown with certainty (perhaps warning enough for false teaching).

    7 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.

    To the one who conquers I will grant to eat of the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God.’

     

    Hear the cautions for our Church.  NEXT: Smyrna

     

     

Do you SHARE the Gospel by either email or text?