Pergamum had served as the capital of the roman province of asia minor for over 25 years and was an important religious center for a number of pagan cults. Jan 29, 2012 the only thing we know for sure about this man named antipas was that he was a faithful witness of jesus christ and that he was martyred in pergamum sometime before johns writing of the book of revelation. The first thing to note in this letter to the ephesian church is that the message is from the lord jesus christ. In the opening letter to the church at ephesus, christ is pictured as walking among the seven lampstands, which represent the seven churches 1. The people of pergamum were known as the templekeepers of asia.
The book of acts makes no mention of the founding of this church. Like the church in smyrna, the church in pergamum faces intense persecution from the godhating roman empire. You can look back at earlier posts on the church in ephesus and the church in smyrna. And you are holding on to my name and did not deny your faith in me, even in the days of antipas, my faithful witness who was killed among. The citizens of pergamum had the foresight to take the lead in joining rome to defeat the other kings of the eastern mediterranean, thereby securing for themselves special favor. This letter warns all christians that although we may suffer greatly, the length of tribulation will be short compared to the promise of eternal life. Jul 15, 2015 this is the fourth part in the bible study series. To the church in pergamum third millennium ministries. This was another reference taken from the one like a son of man image in chapter one 1. The meaning of pergamos or pergamum some say that pergamos comes from the greek word pyrgos, tower, fortified place, height, elevation. The nicolaitans and church at pergamum were one of the seven churches of revelation that jesus addresses. And to the angel of the church in pergamos write pergamos, formerly the metropolis of the hellespontic mysia, and the seat of the attalic kings, is by the turks, with some little variation, still called bergamo, and hath its situation about sixtyfour miles to the north of smyrna. A letter to pergamos seven churches of revelation 2.
Thyatira was located about 35 miles southeast of pergamum. The revelation of christ revelation 15 seven churches third message, pergamos we continue with our study of the seven messages to the churches of asia in revelation chapters 2 and 3. Does the book of revelation teach that the church will be. To the church in pergamum 11 he who has an ear, let him hear what the spirit says to the churches.
What was jesus message to the church in pergamum in. The church that compromises its beliefs revelation 2. The church that would face severe persecution revelation 2. God describes and talks to 7 churches in revelation chapters 2 and 3. Each of these messages includes a specific word to a specific church, but there are also lessons applicable to the lives of believers. This is the message from the one who has the sharp doubleedged sword. Beginning in verse 18 of chapter 2, the lord addresses the angel of the church. The one who overcomes will not be harmed by the second death. These are the words of the one who holds the sharp, doubleedged sword. The promise to those in pergamum who overcome is that he will give them some hidden manna rev 2.
Scholars like to debate the reasons for jesus warning to the church at pergamum in the book of revelation. The book of revelation addresses seven letters to seven churches in. Each letter to all 7 churches is addressed to the angel of that church. It was a very small city, but a busy commercial center. We want to continue on today, looking at the question, what does god think of his church. Pergamos, the church where satan dwells offers us a unique view of city and culture finely tuned to be the center for satans operations in not only that city but the region. As we continue our series on the book of revelation, we come to christs third letter to the churches of. One reason often suggested for this statement is that pergamum housed a famous temple to asklepius, the greek god of healing. The greatest persecution from the world could not annihilate the church. Thus, the church is identified directly with old testament allusions about israels messianic servant and israels endtime rewards, respectively, at the beginning and end of the letter to pergamum. The 7 churches of revelation pergamum idol worship. This shows the beginning of the division in the church.
The revelation of christ revelation 15 seven churches third message, pergamos. Today we will look at the church in pergamum and not only how our church compares to it, but also how we as individual christians compare to the christians in pergamum. Seven church of revelation turkey church in pergamum biblical pergamum to the church in pergamum to the angel of the church in pergamum, write this. Throughout the book of revelation, satan is depicted as a defeated foe. They were actual historical churches, churches that really did exist. Theologians and bible scholars viewing this as a revelation to the entire church age generally view this as a word to the church from approximately a. The city itself, pergamum, once the center of a small kingdom, is here labeled a place where satan has his throne, or where satan lives v. Its title is derived from the first word of the koine greek text. There is a church tradition that says antipas was the bishop of the church in pergamum and had been ordained to that office by the apostle john.
Index books of the bible revelation church in pergamum. He was the only person named in book of revelation as a martyr. The church that had abandoned its first love for christ revelation 2. Yet you have held fast to my name and have not denied. The 7 churches of revelation pergamum idol worship youtube. The mistakes of the pergamum church are important lessons to all christians who must struggle to keep their spiritual balance in a darkened world. Here you can find information about the history of ancient turkey, about biblical sites to visit in turkey and greece, major christian saints, missionary journeys of st. Interactive map of the seven churches in revelation. There is a church tradition that says antipas was the bishop of the church in pergamum and had been ordained to that office by the. The one who has the sharp twoedged sword says this. These things saith he that hath the sharp twoedged sword.
These are the words of him who has the sharp, doubleedged sword. These are the words of him who has the sharp, doubleedged sword revelation 2. As a result, the third prophetic church in revelation 2 began to arise, as the persecuted church smyrna was replaced by pergamum, or pergamos. Click on any of the map markers and more information about that place will pop up. The majority of the church in pergamum seems to still be holding fast to the true doctrine revelation 2. For now, lets open our bibles to revelation chapter 2. Sitting atop the acropolis of pergamum to this day are the ruins of the vaulted platform that held the temple to caesar augustus later redone under. Yet you hold fast my name, and you did not deny my. The farthest north of the seven churches, a city once the capital of the kingdom of pergamos, which was great and flourishing when. The imperial cult temple housed a white stone stele inscribed with a decree issued by fabius, the governor of asia, around 9 b.
Today we come to the fourth of these churches, the church at thyatira. What was jesus message to the church in ephesus in. It was the original uncorrupted church of christ that later became the seat of antichrist or throne of satan. Were actually going to take a flight, and were going to originate this flight were going to take off in the book of leviticus, and were going to fly over.
Nov 01, 2012 here in pergamum a group of jesus followers came together as a church, one of seven churches addressed in the beginning of the book of revelation, the last book of the bible. The book of revelation offers 2 possibilities for the location of satans throne, the beast or false prophet of revelation. Map shows the approximate locations of the cities with the seven churches that are mentioned in the bibles book of revelation. Appropriately, the religious and cultural center of the city was on top of a cons. Pergamon was the northernmost of the seven churches of asia cited in the new testament book of revelation. But the church in pergamum also faces an enemy from within, a seductress who entices gods people to commit spiritual adultery. The city of pergamum pergamos had been the capital of the roman province of asia for two centuries after its last king,attalus iii, bequeathed it to rome in 3b. What was jesus message to the church in pergamum in revelation. As previously noted in this series of articles, the apostle john recorded in the book of revelation a vision he received from jesus christ at the end of the first century. The first three chapters of revelation deal with seven firstcentury historical churches, assemblies of believers in asia minor.
A stateoftheart cable car carried us to the top of the hill where we viewed extensively excavated ruins. Revelations use of the balaam typology underscores the books reliance on old testament. To the angel or messenger of the church in ephesus. Here in pergamum a group of jesus followers came together as a church, one of seven churches addressed in the beginning of the book of. Write on a scroll what you see and send it to the seven churches. The next church the lord addresses is the church at pergamos. A church married to the world the city and the assembly 2. Were going to be looking at verses 12 through 17, the letter to the church at pergamos. The next church addressed in revelation is the church in pergamum. It included between 120,000 and 200,000 inhabitants. This mesa falls away sharply on the north, west, and east sides, but three natural terraces on the south side provide a route up to the top. The seven churches of revelation, also known as the seven churches of the apocalypse and the seven churches of asia, are seven major churches of early christianity, as mentioned in the new testament book of revelation. Pergamum 190,000 people 65 miles north of smyrna capital city of the.
The churches at ephesus, smyrna, pergamum and thyatira revelation 2 ephesus. To the church in pergamum to the angel of the church in pergamum write. Turn with me this morning to the last book in the bible, the book of revelation, chapter 2. Revelation prohibits us loving our lives more than his gospel. In pergamum, however, christians were in danger every day of the year for the same reason thomas, revelation 17, 180. Pergamos also called pergamon or pergamum was situated 60 kilometres past smyrna along the ancient roman postal road. Like the church in smyrna, the church in pergamum faces intense. Some teach that the church will be raptured before the events that begin in revelation 4. Pergamum was the chief center of cultural and intellectual life of the hellenistic world.
And to the angel of the church in pergamos write, these things says he who has the sharp twoedged sword. What was jesus message to the church in pergamum i n revelation. He commends the church for holding fast some truths, despite dwelling among great evil. The book of revelation often called the revelation to john, apocalypse of john, the revelation from jesus christ from its opening words, the apocalypse, the revelation, or simply revelation is the final book of the new testament, and consequently is also the final book of the christian bible. John gives them christs message, writing, i know where you dwell, where satans throne is.
The church of pergamum has an altogether different letter or problem. Church in pergamum, seven church of revelation turkey, seven. Christ introduced himself to the church in pergamum as one who has the sharp, doubleedged sword 2. What lessons might we learn from about integrity of faith in a modern world that offers us many opportunities to. The church that needed to repent of sin revelation 2. Church in pergamum, seven church of revelation turkey.
As we have already seen, that is the symbol of the word of god coming from his lips. In this lesson we look at the message to pergamum, the compromising church revelation 2. Like the church in smyrna, christians are persecuted worldwide in obvious and insidious ways. Each of these messages includes a specific word to a specific church, but there are also lessons applicable to the lives of believers today. The city is centered around a 335metrehigh 1,099 ft mesa of andesite which formed its acropolis. One church leader named antipas had already been martyred in the city. One reason often suggested for this statement is that pergamum housed a famous temple to asklepius, the greek god of healing, symbolized by the. Book of revelation on this episode of the book of revelation, we are discussing the sin of the church of pergamum, which was tolerating the nicolaitans. They are based mostly on steve greggs book revelation.
In chapters 2 and 3 of the book of revelation there are letters by the lord jesus written to seven churches. Dec 15, 2017 thus, the church is identified directly with old testament allusions about israels messianic servant and israels endtime rewards, respectively, at the beginning and end of the letter to pergamum. I know that you live where satans throne is, and yet you hold fast to my name and have not denied your faith in me, not even in the days of antipas, my faithful witness, who was martyred among. Church in pergamum, seven church of revelation turkey, seven churches of revelation, biblical tour guide is a web site where we share with you our knowledge and offer you our top services. It was the first city in asia to build a temple to caesar and it became the capital of the cult of caesar worship.
This vision included messages to seven congregations of the church of god in asia minor. Pergamum was a cultural center in the early roman empire, and augustus even declared the city his capital in the province of asia. In chapters 2 and 3 of the book of revelation there ar. Our lord identifies himself to it as the one having the sharp, doublededged sword. The ruins of pergamum sit atop a hill overlooking the modernday city of bergama. So why does the book of revelation call it the dwelling place of satan. Pergamum was one of the most prominent cities of asia. You did not renounce your faith in me, not even in the days of antipas, my faithful witness, who was put to death in your citywhere satan lives. Holman christian study bible this is described as the teaching of balaam and the nicolaitans 2. The church of pergamos was one of these congregations revelation 1. Many scholars believe this altar is the throne of satan mentioned in the book of revelation.
These churches are indications of the 7 types of churches that existed then, throughout history, and today. To the churches seven 7 church types in revelation to. We continue with our study of the seven messages to the churches of asia in revelation chapters 2 and 3. Yet you hold fast my name, and you did not deny my faith rev 2. This teaching is based on the argument that since the term church is not used in chapters 421 of revelation, the church must no longer be on earth at that time. The sword is symbolic of the penetrating word of god hebrews 4. Pergamum was a principal city of the roman empire in the first century. To the church of pergamum sermon by johnny small, revelation. In this article we will consider the history of the city of. The short letters in revelation chapters two and three are addressed to these specific seven churches. Here in pergamum a group of jesus followers came together as a church, one of seven churches addressed in the beginning of the book of revelation, the last book of the bible.
It was probably the site of a settlement from a very early date. The pergamos period of the church is thought to be from around 3 a. Jan 02, 2020 the message to the pergamene church was from the lord jesus christ, specifically addressed to the angel or messenger of the church. In the ancient cretan city of pergamon pergamum is said to be the city and throne of satan, and home to one of the seven churches written about by saint john in the book of revelation. A number of expositors down through history have held that the seven churches represent seven sequential stages of church history. In this series on the seven churches of revelation, we have examined the church in ephesus and the church in smyrna. This is not johns message to the ephesian believers.
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