Sermon Series: Revelation 1-3: Evaluate, Change and Restore

Pictures at an Exhibition

Revelation 2:12-17

PSBC 3/4/01

In a nutshell: The Lord of the church will not accept any form of tolerance in His church that compromises His truth.

I. Introduction

A. I'm an enigma

I'm an enigma! That means, you won't be able to figure me out. I don't fit the mold of most pastors, or even most men my age.
-I ride a motorcycle as my main form of transportation.
-I enjoy dressing up like you saw at the Valentines party, but because I sweat profusely under hot lights, I preach in shirt sleeves and without a tie.
-I can't relax by being still–I only truly relax by working long hours in my woodworking workshop, or riding my motorcycle.
-I love the call to commitment that the old hymns of the church make, yet I also love the newer worship choruses because their words help me, like no other music, to come into the presence of God.
-I do not love to read, yet I enjoy reading as many as 200-500 pages each week in preparation for any given message that I preach.
-I'm not very demonstrative with my emotions, but I raise my hands in worship, say "Amen" out loud, and sometimes drop to my knees in worship because the spirit of God compels me.
-My favorite singing group of all time is the Oak Ridge Boys, yet my favorite music to listen to is classical.
I told you, You won't be able to figure me out. Diane's been trying for about 29 years, and she still hasn't be able to!

B. My favorite music piece

So, it shouldn't surprise you that my favorite piece of music first came to my attention as a rock and roll piece, by the group Emerson, Lake and Palmer, back in the early 70's. But it's really not a rock and roll piece. It's a classical Russian piece that was written back in the 1890's. It's called "Pictures at an Exhibition". And I was thrilled when Sam Rottman played it at his concert here, back in January.

I think the story of this piece is an interesting one. The composer, Modest Mussorgsky, had a close friend, named Victor Hartmann. Hartmann was a talented artist, architect and stage designer, who died unexpectedly at age 39. A number years after his death, Hartmann's pictures were exhibited at a commemorative exhibition in the city of Kiev, in Russia.

Mussorgsky was so moved by the exhibition of his friend's work, that he wrote a piece of music that takes the listener down the huge display hall, and stops by a number of the pictures and sketches and let's the music listener "see" the picture that's on display, through the notes of the music.

If you use your imagination, it is really a wonderful journey for your mind to take.

C. Why I tell you this

I tell you all this, because it reminds me of what we are going to be doing this morning, as we continue our series called Evaluate, Change and Restore, based on Revelation, chapters 1-3. As we visit another church in Asia Minor this morning, we are going to have six pictures, painted by words, exhibited for us, as the Lord of the Church, views the church at Pergamum, and passes judgment on it. So, if you have your Bibles, please turn with me to Revelation 2, starting at verse 12, for Jesus' own pictures at an exhibition at the church of Pergamum...

II. 6 Word Pictures on Display

A. Picture of the City

Rev 2:12-13a
"To the angel of the church in Pergamum write: These are the words of him who has the sharp, double-edged sword. I know where you live-where Satan has his throne.

The first picture we see is that of the city. Pergamum was located 50 miles to the north of Smyrna, which is the church we studied last week. Pergamum was the capital of this region of the Roman Empire. The church at Pergamum was located in what can basically be described as an "evil environment". Jesus says, "It's where Satan has his throne." Unlike the churches of Ephesus and Smyrna, that we've studied already, Pergamum wasn't being attacked by the Jews of the city. The evil attacks that affected this church came from the pagan influences of the city. As I studied this week, I was able to pinpoint three of these influences that probably contributed to this description of being a place where Satan has his throne.

1. First, located in Pergamum was the temple of Asklepios, the mythological god of healing. Sick people were brought to this temple and laid in its courtyard, which was inhabited by hundreds of non-poisonous snakes. It was believed that if one of these snakes would touch a sick person as they lay in the courtyard, then they would be healed. That's why in the symbol of the medical profession, the image of snakes is so predominant. It comes from this ancient practice that was rooted the worship of this god.

2. Second, also located in Pergamum was a huge throne-like altar to the chief of all mythological gods, Zeus. This altar was forty feet high and was built to honor Rome's defeat of an enemy army. People who worshiped at this altar and brought sacrifices were expected to say the words, "Zeus is the Savior".

3. Third, Pergamum was also the center for emperor worship for this region. This city had three separate temples that were built to honor the emperors. As you know from last week's study, it became a matter of Roman patriotism to worship at these temples. And it was considered to be an act of treason to refuse to acknowledge the living Caesar as a living god.

So, that's the first picture at this exhibition–the city itself.

B. A Picture of Christ–the warrior

Look at the second half of verse twelve, for the next picture...

Rev 2:12b
...the words of him who has the sharp, double-edged sword.

This is a picture of Jesus Christ, as the chief warrior against evil. Jesus is describing Himself as the One who has the sharp two-edged sword. Friends, this isn't Jesus, meek and lowly. This isn't the baby of Bethlehem. This isn't the carpenter pounding nails or the teacher teaching parables. This is the powerful God of the Universe, coming to do battle over a specific issue, that we'll see in a few minutes.

This is a picture of Jesus' judicial function where He cleanses His church by judgment. This is the first negative introduction to one of the seven churches found in chapters 2 and 3. And this is happening, because the people of the church of Pergamum were in deep trouble with the Lord of the church. As we'll see, the people of this church had become friends of evil, and the leadership of this church and the people who were part of this church were tolerating evil and worldliness in it's midst.

Description: The sword that is being spoken about here, is a very large sword–it's long and it's heavy. Because it was so long and heavy, it wasn't used in hand to hand combat. Instead, it was used to finish the job of killing, after someone had been wounded. This was a killing weapon, not a wounding weapon.

I hope you see the forcefulness of the picture that's being painted here, my friends. This is Jesus, the Lord of the church warring against the evil that has been allowed to take up residence in His church–He is judging it and getting ready to deal with it in the harshest way possible.

This picture should be a warning to every leader, every teacher, every attendee and every member of any church–if you are causing division, if you are leading someone away from the truth of God, if you are encouraging toleration over against doctrinal purity, you had better watch out. You will be dealt with in the most severe and the most harsh ways imaginable. Because the church is serious business to Jesus.

1 Cor 3:16-17
Don't you know that you yourselves are God's temple and that God's Spirit lives in you? If anyone destroys God's temple, God will destroy him; for God's temple is sacred, and you are that temple.

C. Picture of a commended church

Next, we have a picture of a church that is being commended for doing something right. Look again at the end of verse 13...

Rev 2:13b
...You did not renounce your faith in me, even in the days of Antipas, my faithful witness, who was put to death in your city-where Satan lives.

Antipas, was one of the leaders of this church. According to tradition, he was arrested for not bowing and giving allegiance to Caesar. After his arrest, he was put into a hollow brass statue of a bull, and slowly roasted to death while this idol was heated in a fire.

Would this put fear in you, if one of our elders or pastors was taken out of one of our church services by the local authorities, and tortured to death because of his faith?

Well, the picture that is painted for us here is of a church, even though one of their leaders was mercilessly killed on account of the name of Jesus Christ, they still remained true to their Lord. In other words, others in that church would have gone to their deaths, rather than renounce their faith, as well. That's a picture of strong commitment.

Illustration: A few years ago, I heard John Peterson, tell the story behind the the song Pastor Darrell sang this morning. Back in 1952, when John wrote the song, the song publishers were very excited this new piece of music and the possibilities of recording it and making money off of it. But they wanted to change one word. They wanted to take Jesus' name out, and replace it with a woman's name, making it a love song. They offered a huge sum of money to John for the song, if he'd change it. But John refused. As he left the music publisher's office, John said, "Satan whispered in my ear, ‘you're a fool, it's only a song.'" But then he said, "I heard another voice. It was the voice of Jesus. And He said, ‘Thanks, John.'"

Friends, Jesus went through humiliation and death for you and me. He purchased our salvation with His own blood. He proved His love for you and me on Calvary's cross. He wants us to remain faithful to Him in how we live our lives, how we talk our talk, and how we hold Him up in our unique circles of influence. This is one of God's highest values. Is it yours?

D. Picture of a condemned church

Now, look at verses 14 and 15...

Rev 2:14-15
Nevertheless, I have a few things against you: You have people there who hold to the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to entice the Israelites to sin by eating food sacrificed to idols and by committing sexual immorality. Likewise you also have those who hold to the teaching of the Nicolaitans.

Here we have a picture of a condemned church. This picture illustrates the importance of keeping what we believe, pure from worldly influence.

The Old Testament prophet Balaam was hired by the kings of Midian and Moab to curse Israel, as Israel was crossing their borders, before going into the Holy Land. If you want to read the full story, it's found in Numbers 22-31. But in essence what happened was that even though Balaam was very willing to curse Israel, God wouldn't let him. So, still wanting to get paid, Balaam came up with another plan. Instead of cursing God's people, he would corrupt God's people.

He convinced the kings of Midian and Moab to send their most beautiful women to the Israelite camp and entice the men of Israel to participate in pagan sexual worship practices. The Israelite men took these foreign women to be their wives and concubines, and they allowed their new wives' pagan religious practices to be mixed with the worship of Jehovah in the camp of Israel.

And this impure worship angered God so much that He sent a plague on the Israelite camp that killed 24,000 people.

The apostle Paul warns us (front of information guides)...

2 Cor 6:14-17a (TLT)
Don't team up with those who are unbelievers. How can goodness be a partner with wickedness? How can light live with darkness? What harmony can there be between Christ and the Devil? How can a believer be a partner with an unbeliever? And what union can there be between God's temple and idols? For we are the temple of the living God. As God said, "I will live in them and walk among them. I will be their God, and they will be my people. Therefore, come out from them and separate yourselves from them, says the Lord."

Now, add to the teaching of Balaam, the fact that unlike the Ephesian church... this church at Pergamum tolerated the Nicolaitans. If you'll remember from our study two weeks ago, the Nicolaitans were a Christian cult that tried to combine Christianity with the practice of temple prostitution that took place at the temple of Diana, the goddess of love and lust.

Let me try to explain what's going on at Pergamum... The church at Pergamum was tolerating people from it's membership intermarrying with unbelieving pagans and allowing a moral compromise to take place in some of the families of the church. Christians who had married pagan spouses were attending heathen temple ceremonies, and these Christians were taking part in ritual prostitution at these ceremonies. As a result...,
-doctrinal impurity was creeping into the church,
-sinful practices and beliefs were being tolerated, and
-sexual immorality was being accepted.

And friends, make no mistake about it, this is the thing that Jesus, the warrior is raising the two-edged sword against, to destroy. Because Pergamum had chosen toleration, rather than purity, the Lord of the church was getting ready to wipe this church out of existence. What should they do? That's the fifth picture...

E. The picture of the remedy

The fifth picture is a picture of the remedy...

Rev 2:16
16 Repent therefore! Otherwise, I will soon come to you and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth.

The remedy to this toleration of sin and the evil practices that were so angering the Lord of the church, is repentance. This word "repent" in the Greek language in which these words of Revelation were written, is in the aorist tense, and is an imperative. That means that it's a command that must be done immediately.

In other words, those who had intermarried, who were compromising their beliefs to appease their non-believing spouses; and those who were practicing immoral behavior...had to stop immediately and start living moral lives again. And the church had to stop tolerating sinful behavior in it's midst–NOW!

Listen to me friends...
...Are you tolerating sinful practices in your secret personal life? Or
...Do you remain silent when your adult children practice lifestyles that are anti-biblical? Or
...Do you tolerate your teen-aged children or grandchildren mixing some form of Christianity with a lifestyle that isn't up to the standards of Christ? Or
...Do you worship God on Sunday and listen to music or go to movies whose messages are directly opposed to the standards of Christ, during the week? Or
...Are you practicing any form of ungodly behavior in your work or business dealings?

If you answered yes to any of those, you are as guilty of the sin of Balaam as the Christians of Pergamum were, and you need to repent of it, before the Lord of the church takes drastic action against you. You cannot tolerate sin and please the Lord, Jesus Christ at the same time.

Now, we are ready to view the last picture in this exhibition...

F. A picture of promise

Look at verse 17 for the final picture of this exhibition at Pergamum. The picture of promise...

Rev 2:17
He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes, I will give some of the hidden manna. I will also give him a white stone with a new name written on it, known only to him who receives it.

If the church at Pergamum repents, and overcomes this evil of mixing the values of the world with their worship of God.... And friends, the same goes for us, if you and I repent of any compromises we've let into our lives, where Christ should have exclusive authority..., there is a wonderful promise given by the Lord of the church.

First of all, we will be allowed to eat the hidden manna. Manna was the food that was given directly by God to the children of Israel in the wilderness, over the entire 40 years they wandered there. It was food of such nutritional content that it completely sustained them in the rugged desert. It gave them strength. It allowed them to live healthily.

But once the Israelites moved into the promised land to take possession of it, the manna stopped, never to be seen again..., except one portion. This single portion was kept in the ark of the covenant, when it resided in both the Tabernacle in the wilderness and in the Temple at Jerusalem. But when Israel was taken captive by Babylon, the ark was lost. In essence, God had hidden the ark and its contents from the world.

What this hidden manna refers to is God's sustaining grace during any trial you encounter because of your stand for God, or your purity in your faith. Hidden manna means you can confront Satan, you can confront evil, you can confront compromise and have enough strength to overcome those things, no matter what.

Second, verse 17 says that when we repent of compromise, we are given a white stone. In ancient judicial courts, a black stone and a white stone were used in casting a vote of guilt or acquittal. The black stone represented condemnation. The white stone represented justification.

A person who was judged not guilty in a court, was given a white stone, to show to anyone that asked, that he was freed from the consequences of what he had been on trial for. Also, if a slave were set free by his or her master, that former slave was given a white stone with their name inscribed on it to prove that he or she had obtained freedom.

So, do you get the picture? If the compromising Christians in Pergamum, or if any of us who have been guilty of compromising our faith by our silence or by our willful disobedience... repent, we will be given the sustaining strength of God Almighty; and we will be justified– that is, God will treat us just as if we had never sinned.

III. Conclusion

A. Purpose statement

In the purpose statement of Palm Springs Baptist Church, we say that we will Love, Accept, Guide and Partner to share God's truth and to be His light. When we say accept, it means that we will accept any person into our church who truly desires or is looking for a relationship with God., regardless of their past and regardless of their present.

However, what we cannot tolerate is a compromise of the fundamentals taught in the Word of God, with a lifestyle of sin, or a contrary belief system that waters down the message of the Word of God or that brings reproach on the Savior who died for our sins. On these things we hold firm. If we don't, we will bring the wrath of Jesus Christ, God Himself, down on us.

B. One of those fundamentals

Now, in these closing minutes, let me explain one of those areas we do not compromise in. This is what the Bible teaches...
-Every person is guilty of sin
-Sin is the thing that separates human beings from God.
-That means that as long as a sin condition remains a person will not receive God's blessing in their life on earth, and they will not receive heaven with God at the end of their lives.
-And the Bible says there is only ONE way to take care of this sin problem...

1. Confess to God that you are a sinner deserving of His judgment.

2. Believe in your heart that Christ died for your sins and that He rose from the dead three days after His crucifixion.

3. Open the door to God by praying this prayer... Lord Jesus, I am a sinner and I need Your salvation. I believe You died for me and rose again. I now call upon Your name and ask you to save me. Thank you. Amen.