Messages to the churches
Background
7 Churches in 7 cities were sent letters. These churches had a concrete belief in the Lord Jesus Christ and they had a faith that was real.
The Churches were all located in Asia minor and the order in which the letters were written was as if the messenger travelled from church to church in a geographical manner.
The 7 stars referred to signify the Angels of the7 churches
The 7 lampstands referred to churches themselves
It is amazing that as I began to refresh my memory by re reading these messages I realized how relevant it was for me personally and for us today and the churches we belong to. Jesus obviously walked amongst the churches and knew them inside out. However the churches themselves had no idea that He was doing this. He studied them closely and decided to send out a commendation and with it a warning as well. Jesus message is still applicable for today.
Let me use the words of Jesus and say”… He who has an ear let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches Revelation 2:7
Each of the letters has a similar outline and starts and ends almost the same.
This letter starts with the following:
Pergamum – Rev 2:13-17
Christ’s Identification – “And to the angel (divine messenger) of the church in Pergamum write:
“These are the words of Him who has and wields the sharp two-edged sword [in judgment]:
Christ’s Commendation – ‘I know where you dwell, [a place] where Satan sits enthroned. Yet you are holding fast to My name, and you did not deny My faith even in the days of Antipas, My witness, My faithful one, who was killed (martyred) among you, where Satan dwells.
Christ’s Rebuke – But I have a few things against you, because you have there some [among you] who are holding to the [corrupt] teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to put a stumbling block before the sons of Israel, [enticing them] to eat things that had been sacrificed to idols and to commit [acts of sexual] immorality. 15 You also have some who in the same way are holding to the teaching of the Nicolaitans.
Christ’s Exhortation – Therefore repent [change your inner self—your old way of thinking, your sinful behavior—seek God’s will]; or else I am coming to you quickly, and I will make war and fight against them with the sword of My mouth [in judgment].
Christ’s encouragement – He who has an ear, let him hear and heed what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes [the world through believing that Jesus is the Son of God], to him I will give [the privilege of eating] some of the hidden manna, and I will give him a white stone with a new name engraved on the stone which no one knows except the one who receives it.’
Pergamum was north of the other churches and about 65 miles above Smyrna. Pergamum was the administrative capital of Asia and a legal center before the close of the 1st century. Pergamum also was very opulent and rich in its heritage. It had ornate buildings like gymnasiums, theatres and government buildings and had a library that was as big as the one in Alexandria holding about 200, 0000 books.
The Lord identifies Himself as a double edged sword and this does one thing and it divides. Perhaps the Lord was dividing those whose faith was real as against those whose faith was false. As he walks among us today how would He view our faith are we faithful or rebellious.
The Lord Jesus referred to it being a place where satan’s throne was situated how horrible for a city to be identified as that. History has proven that this city in Asia minor was one where pagan idol worship was rampant. Therefore satan kept the people blinded to the truth. Some of the worship they did were to the gods called Dionysus, Athena, Asclepius, Demeter and Zeus with a 3 huge temples to the emperor cult. In this city there were so many gods to worship so the people could pick whoever they wanted to worship however Dionysus the god of royal kings and symbolized as a bull and Asclepius called the savior god of healing symbolized by the snake were worshipped. Satan seemed to block every avenue for the true worship and healing that believers could receive from god by giving this city substitutes to get their attention away from the truth. It is no wonder that Jesus tells this church to remain true and not to renounce their faith.
In this city there was a man called Antipas who stood firm like Polycarp did in the city of Ephesus. He was a faithful witness to the Lord however not everyone was like him. When you look at the rebuke of Jesus to this church you realize that they tolerated wicked men and false prophets. Read the story of Balak and Balaam in Numbers 22-24 to get an understanding on why the Lord Jesus referred to their teaching along with the Nicolaitans. The basic teaching of Balaam was if you can’t curse them seduce them into belief. Even today you see it in the church we seduce our congregations. In fact today some of the best of satan’s seducers are in the church itself therefore I implore you to be careful by guarding your heart and asking God for discernment. Genuine Christianity rather religiousness is our best defense against seduction.
Even though the Lord hits hard at this church in the beginning He encourages them to change promising them that if they overcame they would find hidden manna. Jewish traditions tell us that the golden pot of manna was hidden from view inside the Ark of the Covenant. Jesus is that hidden manna in our lives and if we seek after Him what is hidden will be revealed. The Lord also referred to a white stone with a new name written on it. It makes me wonder what name have I got written on my white stone right now. How about you? History records that in courtrooms jurors voting against the accused would cast their vote by either casting a white stone or a black stone. If white stone was cast one was acquitted the back meant you were condemned. Today we have someone who has acquitted us by giving His life as a ransom for us. Jesus served my sentence and has written my name on a white stone.
