The Church at Pergamos

[saint701]

Good afternoon Christianity Oasis!
Have a great week in the Lord!



Blessings!

THE CHURCH AT PERGAMOS
Rev.2
[12] And to the angel of the church in Pergamos write; These things saith he which hath the sharp sword with two edges;
[13] I know thy works, and where thou dwellest, even where Satan's seat is: and thou holdest fast my name, and hast not denied my faith, even in those days wherein Antipas was my faithful martyr, who was slain among you, where Satan dwelleth.
[14] But I have a few things against thee, because thou hast there them that hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balac to cast a stumbling block before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed unto idols, and to commit fornication.
[15] So hast thou also them that hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitans, which thing I hate.
[16] Repent; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth.
[17] He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth it.
The Church at Pergamos had to be a trying place to live because Satan made Pergamos his home. Our Lord commends them for keeping His name and His faith before rebuking them for eating things sacrificed to idols and committing fornication. He warns those doing wrong to repent or face the greater condemnation of Him coming against them personally to judge them with the Words of His mouth.
Such reminds me of the following scripture. It paints the perfect picture of a Christian walking with our Lord in the prescribed manner.
Rom.8
[1] There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
Some at Pergamos were walking after their flesh to their own hurt. Those walking after the flesh were compared with Balaam who taught Israel to eat things sacrificed to idols and commit fornication.
Rev.2
[14] But I have a few things against thee, because thou hast there them that hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balac to cast a stumbling block before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed unto idols, and to commit fornication.
Following is an example of what our Lord was seeing among the congregation of Pergamos that turned Him against them. Balaam was responsible for the following.
Num.25
[1] And Israel abode in fudge, and the people began to commit whoredom with the daughters of Moab.
[2] And they called the people unto the sacrifices of their gods: and the people did eat, and bowed down to their gods.
[3] And Israel joined himself unto Baal-peor: and the anger of the LORD was kindled against Israel.
Having members of a congregation leading other members of a congregation to worship false gods and sleep with its temple prostitutes is hard to imagine in this day and age. Notwithstanding, I do know of one group of Christians today that actively participate in ceremonies alongside a priest of another religion honoring forces in the world such as the wind, rain, and light of the sun. They also eat and feast with that same people. However, the good news for the Church of Pergamos and for us today is that our Lord offers us repentance to recover ourselves from such snares of devils. God is faithful even when we are not. If we confess our sins He is faithful and just to forgive us and cleanse us of all our unrighteous doings. So let us not be faithless, but believing.
Rev.2
[15] So hast thou also them that hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitans, which thing I hate.
Who were the Nicolaitans and what were their deeds? Many historians hold the view that the group encouraged licentiousness as a way of life, indulging in immoral sexual behavior and making pleasure their primary goal. However, if such was true, why not mention Balaam and the Nicolaitans in the same sentence as taking part in essentially the same heresy? Since our Lord does not do so it leaves us to look for other answers as to their exact nature.
http://www.biblestudy.org/basicart/why- ... itans.html (Author; J. H. Allen)
The citation above is certainly food for thought. In the article Allen breaks down the offenders’ name into the 3 basic components that defines Nicolaitans. The 3 components, Allen tells us, when correctly translated into English become “the English hyphenated word NIKOS-LAOS-TON.” Nikos-Laos-Ton means “DOMINION OVER THE LAITY.”
Of course such deeds run afoul of Peter’s teaching against such.
"The elders who are among you I exhort, I who am a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that will be revealed: Shepherd the flock of God which is among you, serving as overseers, not by compulsion but willingly, not for dishonest gain but eagerly; NOR AS BEING LORDS OVER THOSE ENTRUSTED TO YOU ('lords over [God's] heritage' in the KJV Bible), but being examples to the flock;" (1Peter 5:1-3).
Most denominations today have some sort of religious hierarchy that is elevated over the flock of God. In some denominations it is very easy to see how far aground the Lords over God’s people have gone. These brainwash their people beginning at an early age so that most spend their entire lives slaves of that denomination rather than being free in the Spirit. Most are never offered the life in the Spirit of God living in us that brings us liberty and sets us free from vane religious practices that keep us out of God’s marvelous light.
I discuss how contempt by self justified nitwits blind to the Lordship of the Spirit and His truths came up with a Christian Creed that falls way, way short of showing us the WAY OF THE LORD. I discuss that error in my article, “A New Apostle’s Creed?” I cite it below this paragraph.
viewtopic.php?f=156&t=23580



Love, In Christ Jesus, Saint701.