TEXT – REVELATION 2:12-17
TITLE: THE WORLDLY CHURCH – Pergamos
Seven churches in Asia represent the seven Dispensations of the Church. This is a common doctrine in the church world. The seven Angel messengers were seldom written about in others, however, many church leaders knew there would be men that God used to bring the church forward.
William Branham thoroughly taught and identified the seven messengers to seven dispensations of the church – from Paul to one coming in the spirit of Elijah (Malachi 4:5-6).
There were local Gentile churches that Paul established in Asia. The spirit good and bad is still alive today in this final age or dispensation of the church.
Ephesus – the model church
Smyrna – the persecuted church
PERGAMOS – the worldly church (married).
The age or dispensation lasted approximately from 300-600 AD – The angel messenger was Martin from Hungary who preached in France and was the uncle of St Patrick of Ireland. He followed the closest to the pattern (Paul), the church of Pergamos did not and because of that this age brought on 1000 years of darkness in the church. They left the Word.
Up to this point the church was persecuted by pagan Rome and its emperors. There was a price to pay to be called a Christian. This changed with the Roman emperor Constantine.
This persecution stopped around 312 AD – the church and the world were married. Finally, a few hundred later the nation of Rome had its death blow according to Rev 13 and was revived in the Holy Roman Empire that ruled with the same evil as pagan Rome once did.
Rev 13:3 And I saw one of his heads as it were wounded to death; and his deadly wound was healed: and all the world wondered after the beast.
The church in this age begins to have worldly, political minded leaders that took over the church. They substituted man’s teachings for the Word of God. They were married to the world and thought they would live happily ever after. It seems to all except the few true Christians as a good thing. When you leave the Word, you leave God.
Christ commended the true church, the few, for keeping the faith in this city where Satan ruled - Satan’s seat.
There have always been two churches throughout the age, the true and the false, both religious and the true believers persecuted by the false. This was the same spirit that was in pagan Rome, the same that was in Hitler that exterminated the Jew. The same ecclesiastical (religious) spirit that is turned loose on the bride today.
Christ calls the false church to repentance – two false doctrines. 1) Balaam-ism (worldliness) and 2) Nicolaitan (clergy rule). Rev 2:14-16
1) The doctrine of Balaam
It weakens the believer – they begin to tolerate those who followed this doctrine. We are the same – the son of Lot by a sexual relationship with his own daughter (Moab).
Balak didn’t want Israel passing through the land and hired Balaam to curse them. And when Balaam couldn’t curse them as a prophet, he taught them how to get God to curse them. The teaching corrupted the people by tempting them to marry the Moabite women, defile their separation. A union of that which God is against, the world. Balaam did this by inviting them to their feast. It brought death to 24,000 as they mixed then by fellowship and marriage with these Moabites.
A doctrine that said, “We are the same you need to be broadminded and more tolerant.”
As they married into this union of the world and worldliness, they stopped looking for the coming of Christ – the world begins to look good. That which was false began to look good.
2) The doctrine of the Nicolaitans
A doctrine which God hates. They elevated the church leadership (ministers) as rulers over the people – a hierarchy.
Matt 23:8 But be not ye called Rabbi: for one is your Master, even Christ; and all ye are brethren.
1 Peter 5:3 Neither as being lords over God's heritage, but being ensamples to the flock.
It divided the people into an order of priest and laity. Starting as a deed in the Ephesus church, developed into a doctrine in the Pergamos church.
They left the Word to believe this.
HOWEVER, there is the necessity of authority. 1 Tim 5:17 There is double honor to elders that labour in the word and doctrine.
The Apostle Paul spoke of the “elders” responsibility - not a light thing. Peter said they are not to be lords but leaders, to feed the flock, examples in an honored position with a servant’s heart. Completely the opposite of the Nicolaitans.
Authority is hard to respect today. However, it is a Christian character.
1 Tim 2:1 I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; 2 For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty.
JESUS TAUGHT WITH AUTHORITY – HEAVEN BEHIND HIM.
Matt 7:29 For he taught them as one having authority , and not as the scribes.
That authority is with much humility.
Matt 20:25 But Jesus called them unto him, and said, Ye know that the princes of the Gentiles exercise dominion over them, and they that are great exercise authority upon them. 26 But it shall not be so among you: but whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister; 27 And whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant: 28 Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.
Some rejected Paul’s authority.
2 Cor 10:8 For though I should boast somewhat more of our authority, which the Lord hath given us for edification, and not for your destruction, I should not be ashamed:
Titus 2:15 These things speak, and exhort, and rebuke with all authority. Let no man despise thee.
AUTHORITY
I think the modern age in which we live has a cultural distrust of authority. Perhaps it is because those in authority do not act with authority. We see it in the way they dress, teachers, and even preachers.
Even doctors – they are not respected, in their authority as before. The internet has added to this – it has become the authority.
What we believe and who we trust is shaky. Trust and authority are important, especially as Christians. We will trust something – only urgency (desperation) seems to create trust in authority.
Yes, we can trust too much, however, there is truth and there is error, don’t devalue authority and don’t make it your idol.
As Christians, we must recognize there are God given gifts and callings to the church. That which God has placed to keep you from the world.
Eph 4:8 Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men.
SATAN WOULD LIKE TO DESTROY THIS (dishonor God given authority).
Eph 4:11 And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; 12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:13 Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ: