Here’s a throwback sermon from January 3, 2016 I preached to the congregation of Bible Apostolic Church.
Text: “For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ” (2 Corinthians 11:2).
The book of Revelation is probably one of the most misunderstood and discussed books in the Bible.
Many, including myself, often read its pages attempting to figure out answers to questions we describe as the end times, or eschatology (the study of the end times).
In those pages, written by the apostle John – John the beloved – students of the Word of God try to figure out future events coming to this world.
My interest today is not about when, where or how the catching away of the Church will take place.
Nor am I going to discuss seals, vials, elders, or the four beasts sitting around the throne.
I’m not even interested in who the beast, false prophet, or antichrist are, and if they are alive right now.
I know that rockets are dropping all over Jerusalem and Israel even while I am in this podium, and that many are discussing the coming of the Lord for that very reason, but that is not why I have lifted this text to our attention today.
You see the Book of Revelation is primarily written to reveal Jesus to us. It is a disclosure of the everlasting Truth of who Jesus Christ is yesterday, today, and forever. And along with that is the unveiling of the Church in its relationship with our Lord Jesus Christ.
“The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him, to show unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass; and he sent and signified it by his angel unto his servant John:” (Rev. 1:1).
It is a “Jesus” book, and in its pages we see Jesus Christ as:
- The Alpha and Omega – the Almighty.
- The One in the midst of the candlesticks.
- The One holding the seven stars of the churches.
- The One sitting on the throne.
- The Lion of the tribe of Judah.
- The Lamb slain.
- The reigning King on a white horse.
- The Judge of the living and dead.
It is also a book written to the church about the past, present, and future.
It is specifically addressed to seven churches: “What thou seest, write in a book, and send it unto the seven churches which are in Asia; unto Ephesus, and unto Smyrna, and unto Pergamos, and unto Thyatira, and unto Sardis, and unto Philadelphia, and unto Laodicea.”
Seven Churches of Asia:
- Ephesus
- Smyrna
- Pergamos
- Thyatira
- Sardis
- Philadelphia
- Laodicea
Some believe that these seven churches are symbolic of various ages that the Church will have gone through from Acts until today:
Church~Name Defined~Time Period
Ephesus ~ Desirable ~ 100-200 A.D.
Smyrna ~ Myrrh ~ 200-300 A.D.
Pergamos ~ Marriage/Elevation ~ 300-500 A.D.
Thyatira ~ Continual Sacrifice ~ 500-1500 A.D.
Sardis ~ Remnant ~ 1500-1900 A.D.
Philadelphia ~ Brotherly Love ~ 1900-Rapture
Laodicea ~ People Rule ~ Present-Rapture[1]
I think it is referring to conditions evident in churches right now, spiritual conditions that exist in local assemblies and even in the lives of its individual members.
Today, as we enter a new year and a fresh start, you are at a threshold moment.
This moment can be your last step in a life of mediocrity, defeat, condemnation, insecurity, enslavement, abuse, addiction, hypocrisy, and self-hate as you step over the threshold of Divine mercy and grace into the life of righteousness, peace and joy Jesus has always had prepared for you.
TAKE THAT STEP.
There is conflict at the threshold. Your flesh has been in control and doesn’t want to take that step.
Satan does not want you to be victorious. He’ll appeal to you in anyway he can to keep you from crossing the threshold.
Three Tactics of the Devil at the Threshold (Bishop Norman L. Wagner):
1. Compromise
2. Change
3. Quit
With that in mind, it is this third church mentioned in the Book of the Revelation of Jesus Christ that I am bringing to your attention today: Pergamos.
PERGAMOS[2]
Revelation 2:12-17
(12) And to the angel of the church in Pergamos write; These things saith he which hath the sharp sword with two edges;
- Pergamos literally means “married with the world.”
- It refers to a condition and time when satan changed tactics to attack the Church.
- We all want to be accepted.
- So, satan stopped persecuting the church and began popularizing it.
- The church became the “in thing” to join. And so it became fashionable.
- But while fashionable it was impure. Those joining didn’t leave their sinful practices and those already in it became influenced by the world.
- This led to a condition where the Church would become unfaithful to Christ and married to the world.
- Jesus is stating here that He is coming with a two-edged sword to divide the true Church from the false church that is full of compromise and polluted works.
(13) I know thy works, and where thou dwellest, even where Satan’s seat is: and thou holdest fast my name, and hast not denied my faith, even in those days wherein Antipas was my faithful martyr, who was slain among you, where Satan dwelleth.
- Even as popular culture tried to pervert, popularize, and convolute the name of Jesus, the Church held on to the truth of the mighty God in Christ.
- They still understood:
- Neither is there salvation in any other…
- In Him dwelleth all the fullness of the godhead bodily…
- Whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name…
- God has always had a True Church that has held onto His name.
- Somewhere and somehow Truth has always been preserved.
- Even when satan changes tactics, God is always steps ahead preserving and protecting the Church.
- You see, Truth doesn’t need protecting. Truth is true whether all believe it, or none do.
- It was Adrian Rodgers who said:
- It is better to be divided by truth than to be united in error. It is better to speak the truth that hurts and then heals, than falsehood that comforts and then kills. Let me tell you something, friend, it is not love and it is not friendship if we fail to declare the whole counsel of God. It is better to be hated for telling the truth, than to be loved for telling a lie. It is impossible to find anyone in the Bible who was a power for God who did not have enemies and was not hated. It’s better to stand alone with the truth, than to be wrong with a multitude. It is better to ultimately succeed with the truth than to temporarily succeed with a lie. There is only one Gospel and Paul said, “If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.” -Adrian Rodgers, National Religious Broadcasters Convention in 1996
- Pergamos had martyrs who died for Truth by holding fast to the name of Jesus – Antipas (thought to be the pastor).
- Unfortunately, there are some who have not taken hold of that lovely name and cherished it like they should. Instead, they’ve taken the name of the Lord in vain by living compromised lives in partnership, relationship, union, agreement, fellowship, and marriage with the world.
- I plead with you today, as John did in his epistle:
- “Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever” (1 John 2:15-17).
- All of these fleshly appetites gone out of control married to the world are temporal. They won’t last. Only what you do for Christ will last. They won’t satisfy. Only Jesus can satisfy your soul.
- You would never consider cheating on your spouse. Why then do you so easily and nonchalantly cheat on your Maker who is your husband?
(14) But I have a few things against thee, because thou hast there them that hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balac to cast a stumblingblock before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed unto idols, and to commit fornication.
- It was Balaam who couldn’t curse the Hebrews. So, he encouraged Balac to have his pagan people intermarry with the Hebrews.
- Thus, the Hebrews brought a curse on themselves when their gentile wives brought false gods, heathen practices, and compromise into their homes.
- The devil wants you to bring a curse on yourself by allowing a marriage of the holy with the profane in your life.
(15) So hast thou also them that hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitans, which thing I hate.
- The doctrine (deeds) of the Nicolaitans: Corrupted Paul’s teaching concerning grace, and made it a license to sin.
- They were sensual and unrepentant.
- They turned the grace of God into lasciviousness.
- Paul wrote in reponsse to them: “What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?” (Romans 6:1-2).
- 2 Corinthians 6:17, “Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you.”
(16) Repent; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth.
- REPENT – Jesus here gives to John the very first word of the Gospel that He shared in the beginning – REPENT.
- It is the only solution for your sin.
- It is better to fall in humble repentance now than to be broken by God’s judgment.
- Psalms 103:8-11, “The LORD is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy. He will not always chide: neither will he keep his anger for ever. He hath not dealt with us after our sins; nor rewarded us according to our iniquities. For as the heaven is high above the earth, so great is his mercy toward them that fear him.”
(17) He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth it.
- Hidden manna = Divine provision both natural and spiritual.
- The Bread of Life, the Lord Jesus Christ, is our sustenance.
- White stone = a sign of purity and innocence.
- Even in this wicked age of compromise God can keep you pure and declare you innocent.
- Name recorded in stone = worthy of eternal life.
- God would not condemn the True Church to Hell because of the failures of their generation.
“Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul; Having your conversation honest among the Gentiles: that, whereas they speak against you as evildoers, they may by your good works, which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation” (1 Peter 2:11-12).
I ask you today:
Are you ready to be an overcomer, or are you content to live a compromised life married to this world and bound by your lust and pride?
Will you step through the threshold?
Your last step of defeat, pain, sorrow, heartache, and compromise can be today as your next step over the threshold becomes an entrance to a life of victory, righteousness, peace, joy, Divine Provision, Divine Favor, purity, innocence, and the Lord’s promise of eternal life.
Come on, leave that worldly compromise. Settle it once and for all.
Take advantage of this threshold moment offered by Jesus Christ to you today.
This Threshold Decision at Pergamos is a decision to once and for all divorce yourself from this wicked and perverse world and be truly espoused (married) to Christ.
[1] Purpose Institute. #5206 – The Book of Revelation. Lesson 1: The Church. 2014.
[2] Dustin L. Abbott. 2007. Revelation Unveiled. Pages 44-48.
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