Wednesday Night Bible Study - Notes - A Study In Revelation Lesson 22 - The Church Of Pergamos P3

TEXT: Revelation 2:12-17

The seven churches were chosen by the Holy Spirit! And portray the entirety of the church age.

1. Ephesus

2. Smyrna

3. Pergamos

4. Thyatira

5. Sardis

6. Philadelphia

7. Laodicea

1. Ephesus - Apostolic church - Ended 100 AD

2. Smyrna - Martyr church - 100-300 AD - Rome hurled 10 bloody persecutions against the church

3. Pergamos - State church - 300 AD to 500 AD. Constatine great legalized Christianity making it state religion of Roman Empire - Invasion of paganism into church

4. Thyatira - Papal church AD 500 - Present. Rome assumed power over church - Pope

5. Sardis - AD 1500 - Luther - Justification of faith

6. Philadelphia - Missionary church - AD 1800 to AD 1900s

7. Laodicea - Present day apostate to rapture

Adam To Christ 4000. Church 2021 years

6021 years of human history

1. The Lord knew the works of this church like he knew those of the other two

2. Satan's seat was in the church

3. Despite this some held to the name of Christ and did not deny his name

4. One such martyr Antipas died for his faith, no martyrs mentioned in Smyrna though there was many Antipas mentioned in Pergamos because there were few willing to stand

5. his death was tied to standing against false doctrine in the church

6. Pergamos was wicked not because of her location but her spiritual state

7. The comparison of the first three churches are stark and telling!

A. Ephesus represented the church or a church with many good features, yet reprimanded for leaving its first love - repent "or else"

B. Smyrna represented the church that was spiritually rich, but poor and oppressed

C. Pergamos was a church that was accepted by the world and by extension many came into it's confines unsaved

IT LEFT THE WORD OF GOD!

8. Jesus "Having the sword with two edges" rebuked it for formulating its own scheme of salvation outside the word of God

9. it was the word they had forsaken and it was the word that would judge them

10. Bottom line - Spiritual compromise with the world is worse than outright evil (Laodicae)

"Satan Seat" -2:13b-

"Even where Satan seat is"

1. Satan had joined the church spiritually

2. It's spiritual state was what was most important to Christ - Not it's location

3. Whenever the church is accepted by the world, the church ceases to be the church

4. Many of the clergy during this time were put on the state payroll by Constantine

5. Once hounded and hunted now it had merged with the world and Satan sat down among it

6. Satanic influence at Pergamos was similar to that of Laodicea

7. In order to be accepted the church had to leave the word of God

"Antipas" My Faithful Martyr

1. This happened while John was in Prison

2. Precursor of things to come (300-500 AD)

3. Persecutions of faithful believers would increase throughout the centuries

4. This persecution came from within (ENEMIES OF THE CROSS)

5. the same is true today