TO THE CHURCH in PERGAMOS             Pastor Bob Chroninger 
Trinity C.U.  9-5-99 P.M.   	 Revelation 2:12-17    	 
	The Church at Ephesus was zealous, but had left her first love.  The Church in
Smyrna was persecuted.. but faithful.  Now the Church in Pergamos was the "indulged" 
church and was endangered by "worldliness".  The Lord speaks as the One with the sharp 
two edged sword.  His Word is powerful and certain.. and reading and heeding it is the 
only answer to the problems we face... 
I.  THEIR CITY.. 
  A. About 100 mi. north of Ephesus, about 15 mi. in from the Aegean Sea 
  B. Not a port city.. no major trade routes 
  C. Ancient Capital of Asia.. its greatest city 
  D. Huge library of some 200,000 handwritten volumes.. 
  E. Exists today as the Turkish city of Bergama 
II.  THEIR CHURCH.. 
  A. No record of its founding.. possibly from the outreach at Ephesus 
  B. It was in the midst of an important "learning center" 
  C. It was in the midst o a pagan culture.. 
    1. Here were the temples dedicated to Athena, Asklepios, Dionysos, Zeus, and the 
	Cult of Emperor Worship 
III.  THEIR COMMENDATION.. 
  A. I Know Thy Works.. 13
  B. I Know Where You "Dwell".. (hang in there no matter what..) 
    1. Where "Satan's Seat" is.. 
	- Athena.. Olympian civic goddess 
	- Asklepios.. the healing god.. worshipped in the form of a serpent 
	- Dionysos.. god of the vine & grape.. worshipped in drunkenness 
	- Zeus.. god of the elements.. of "moral law and order" 
    2. A notorious center of heathenism and wickedness.. 
  C. I Know You Have Not Denied The Faith.. 
    1. Jesus has, is and will "build His Church".. Mt.16:18 
	- Even in the face of death.. "in the days of Antipas" 
	   - A faithful man.. refused to compromise.. to worship the Emperor 
	   - A fearless martyr.. (witness) 
		- Tradition says he was "roasted inside a brass bull" 
IV.  THEIR CONDEMNATION..  14,15  "But I have a few things against you.." 
  A. You Have Some Who Hold The Doctrine of Balaam.. 
    1. Balaam couldn't curse Israel.. so he corrupted them Nu.25; 31:16
	- Israel played the harlot at the advice of Balaam 
    2. The leaders in Ephesus stood boldly against the false teachers 
    3. The leaders in Pergamos allowed the "doctrines" 
	- So.. the devotees of this doctrine had infiltrated the ranks 
	- They were teaching the right of Christians to indulge in heathen immoralities.   
		Look at 2Cor.6:14-17 
  B. You Have Some Who Hold The Doctrine of The Nicolaitanes.. 
    1. They, too, were abusing the biblical teaching of "Liberty" 
	- Ephesus had hated the "deeds" of the Nicolaitanes.. 
	- Pergamos was tolerating their "doctrines" 
    2. They were drifting into worldliness.. 
	- We are not part of the world system.. so don't live like it Jn.15:19 
	- We are not to be conformed to this world.. be transformed. Ro.12:2 
	- We are to "deny ungodliness and worldliness"  Titus 2:12 
	- We are to remember.. "friendship with the world is enmity with God"  Jas.1:27; 4:4 
	- We are not to "love the world..."  1Jn.2:15-17 
 ** Pergamos is a symbol of churches of all time.. and the danger of slipping into worldliness... 
V.  THEIR COUNSEL & COMFORT..  16 
  A. They Are Counseled.. 
    1. Repent.. change of mind that results in change of behavior 
 OR  2. Regret.. 
	- I will come quickly.. a threat.. 
	- I will fight against them.. the holders of false doctrines 
	- With the "sword of my mouth".. it is sharp and piercing.. 
	   - He is not pleased when the church tolerates sinful indulgence 
  B. They Are Comforted.. 
    1. Hear what the Spirit says.. to the churches.. (all of them, all time)
	 - We are responsible to Read and Heed.. 
    2. To The "Overcomer".. (What?.. the temptation to sinful pleasure)
	 - I will give to eat of hidden manna.. 
	   - The "flesh" now yearns for illicit satisfaction... but to resist now will provide a 
		form of existence that will be satisfying beyond anything we have ever
		 know or even dreamed of in this life... WOW !!!
	- I will give him a "white stone"
	   - Roman custom of giving a white stone with a name on it to the victors in 
		athletic events... their ticket to a celebration 
	- I will give him a new name..
	   - written on the stone.. known only to the one