Each letter, as proclaimed by jesus and recorded by john the apostle, declares the triumphs and failings of the recipient churches and warns each congregation to repent. Pergamum was the chief center of cultural and intellectual life of the hellenistic world. Sep 17, 20 study of revelation, chapter 2 message to ephesus, smyrna, pergamum, and thyatira churches by mary hudakcollins september 17, 20 the study of revelation, understanding the bible 2 comments as we move into chapter 2 of revelation, we see the first three of seven letters john wrote to the churches. So the message to the church at pergamum counseled the believers not to take. Were the seven churches of revelation a prophecy for today. One reason often suggested for this statement is that pergamum housed a famous temple to asklepius, the greek god of healing. And this was directly relevant because his evaluation of the church was both positive and negative. This summary of the book of revelation provides information about the title, authors, date of writing, chronology, theme, theology, outline, a brief overview, and the chapters of the book of revelation. In chapters 2 and 3 of the book of revelation there ar.
Message to smyrna church from the book of revelation. The revelation of christ revelation 15 seven churches first message, ephesus. What was jesus message to the church in pergamum in revelation. Four times the author identifies himself as john 1. The revelation of christ revelation 15 seven churches third message, pergamos. You did not renounce your faith in me, not even in th. In this article we will consider the history of the city of. 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. Jul 15, 2015 this is the fourth part in the bible study series.
What was jesus message to the church in ephesus in revelation. 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 city of pergamum was the capital of the asian province for a short period before the capital was moved to ephesus. Ephesus church smyrna church pergamum church thyatira. English standard version and to the angel of the church in. For the bible study on the next church, see seven churches of revelation.
What was jesus message to the church in pergamum in. 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. I know the slander of those who say they are jews and are not, but are a synagogue of satan. John nails the message to the neochorus of dionysius right on the head. This is the message from the one with the sharp twoedged sword. Jesus words are razorsharp, able to judge between right and wrong. Some bible scholars noticed it as early as the seventeenth century. These things saith he that hath the sharp twoedged sword. 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 7 churches of revelation pergamum idol worship. One reason often suggested for this statement is that pergamum housed a famous temple to asklepius, the greek god of healing, symbolized by the figure of a.
Seven churches of revelation bible study david jeremiah blog. The book of revelation, a prophecy of warning and hope. The book of revelation this reading plan will introduce you. A church married to the world the city and the assembly 2. A lot of people start reading the bible and skip to the end to find out what happens.
The book of revelation offers 2 possibilities for the location of satans throne, the beast or false prophet of revelation. Pergamum was a cultural center in the early roman empire, and augustus even declared the city his capital in the province of asia. 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. The church in pergamos represents this historical period of compromise. This morning, as we once again explore the book of the revelation together, we will also discover that sometimes, we can become blind to what is truly dangerous.
The message to the church at pergamum came from the spirit of counsel, one of the seven spirits of the lord. One church leader named antipas had already been martyred in the city. To the church in pergamum to the angel of the church in pergamum write. Remember that on a separate page there are common notes for the. And, likely because of pauls long stay at ephesus, this is why the church at pergamum was established. To the church in pergamum 11 he who has an ear, let him hear what the spirit says to the churches. The letter to the church at pergamum the bible study. In other words it is a promise of the rapture of the church, the first such promise in the book of revelation. Next, christ addressed the church in pergamum in revelation 2. Ephesus church smyrna church pergamum church thyatira church. The roman catholic bishop then took the title upon himself, as the catholic church has done with many pagan sun worship symbols. In this lesson we look at the message to ephesus, the church that had left its first love revelation 2.
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. The advice in these letters is prophetic, forewarning presentday christian communities of the snares that. This is the message from the one who has the sharp doubleedged sword. To the church of pergamum sermon by johnny small, revelation. Each of these messages includes information apropos to each church, and from these messages we can draw lessons. We continue with our study of the seven messages to the churches of asia in revelation chapters 2 and 3. Home content index books of the bible revelation church in pergamum. This morning we come to the third church to be addressed by jesus in the opening chapters of this book, the church in the city of pergamum.
We continue with our study of the seven messages to the churches of. The message to the church in pergamum revelation 2. We now come to the seven messages to the churches of asia in revelation chapters 2 and 3. First, revelation was not only relevant for the firstcentury churches to give them hope to withstand persecution, but also relevant to the church in the 21st century to continue our hope and build our faith in god and the book of revelation. The same held true for the third church addressed in saint johns apocalypse.
The third study about the seven churches of revelation is concerning johns letter to the church in pergamos. 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 imperial cult temple housed a white stone stele inscribed with a decree issued by fabius, the governor of asia, around 9 b. New living translation write this letter to the angel of the church in pergamum. 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. We want to continue on today, looking at the question, what does god think of his church. These are the words of him who is the first and the last, who died and came to life again.
So the message to the church at pergamum counseled the believers not to take heed to those who hold the teaching of balaam rev. To the church in pergamum oak grove church of christ. So what he is saying here is that there will be an appearing of himself for his own before he comes in power and glory, visible to the world. The revelation of christ revelation 15 seven churches first message, ephesus we now come to the seven messages to the churches of asia in revelation chapters 2 and 3.
The 7 churches of revelation pergamum idol worship youtube. Were going to be looking at verses 12 through 17, the letter to the church at pergamos. What lessons might we learn from about integrity of faith in a modern world that offers us many opportunities to compromise. The book of revelation this reading plan will introduce. It is a great book to study and i hope you are enjoying it. The book of revelation is filled with symbolism, and within this book a woman is used to represent both the true church jesus began revelation 12. In acts 16 beginning in verse 7, paul traveled to troas through mycea the very region where pergamum was located. Hopefully you are not getting too stressed out or too burdened down by some of the messages in this book. John the apostle addressed seven letters to seven real churches that existed during the time he wrote the book of revelation. Pergamum and satans throne the next church addressed in revelation is the church in pergamum. In other words it is a promise of the rapture of the church, the first such promise in.
The book of revelation addresses seven letters to seven churches in asia minor modernday turkey revelation 23. These are the words of him who has the sharp, doubleedged sword. In this lesson we look at the message to pergamum, the compromising church revelation 2. 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. Revelation 2 begins a series of brief letters to seven churches that existed during the apostle johns time in asia minor modernday turkey. These are the words of the one who holds the sharp, doubleedged sword. In this letter, john introduced christ as the one who has the sharp, doubleedged sword. 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. A compromising church revelation 2 12410 turn with me this morning to the last book in the bible, the book of revelation, chapter 2. 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. It was probably the site of a settlement from a very early date. 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. Pergamum is listed third of the seven churches of asia rev.
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. Jezebel may also be symbolic of a false church or religion. Each of these messages includes information apropos to each church, and from these messages we can draw lessons applicable to our own lives today. The book of revelation is addressed to believers, his servants, of the churches in seven cities of the roman province of asia.
Why did the church in pergamum receive a direct message from the. A few years later, the apostle john wrote the book of revelation, mentioning the death of antipas in pergamum. A letter to pergamos seven churches of revelation 2. Remember that on a separate page there are common notes for the seven.
He was the only person named in book of revelation as a martyr. This study will include a consideration of the meaning of satans throne, in the first century city of pergamum, and the roots of this spiritual. Pergamum, the compromising church begin transcription this is the halfway point in our study. These things saith he which hath the sharp sword with two edges. Study of revelation, chapter 2 message to ephesus, smyrna. One reason often suggested for this statement is that pergamum housed a famous temple to asklepius, the greek god of healing, symbolized by the figure of a snake finegan 1981. Study of revelation, chapter 2 message to ephesus, smyrna, pergamum, and thyatira churches by mary hudakcollins september 17, 20 the study of revelation, understanding the bible 2 comments as we move into chapter 2 of revelation, we see the first three of. Write this letter to the angel of the church in pergamum. The book is also written to all believers everywhere. The israelites travel to the plains of moab and camp east of the jordan river which is when balak, son of zippor, the moabite appears in the book. In exchange for religious tolerance and acceptance, the true principles of christianity were sacrificed to accommodate pagan beliefs. Outside of the book of revelation, we do not read about the church at pergamum. Ephesus church smyrna church pergamum church thyatira church 7 months ago admin ephesus church from book of revelation 2 kjv 2 unto the angel of the church of. The church of pergamos was one of these congregations revelation 1.
Mar 01, 2017 have you ever tried to read the book of revelation. What should we learn from the letters to the seven. Jesus christ book of revelation 1 the revelation of. What was jesus message to the church in ephesus in.
Like every other introduction to the churches, the letter to the church in pergamum mentions some attribute of jesus in the first verse. Have you ever tried to read the book of revelation. The one who overcomes will not be harmed by the second death. In this series on the seven churches of revelation, we have examined the church in ephesus and the church in smyrna. The spirit of counsel was meant to counteract the counsel of balaam. For now, lets open our bibles to revelation chapter 2. The letter to the church in pergamum by chris donato.
In this article we will consider the history of the city of pergamos at the time the message was delivered and during subsequent centuries, the message christ sent to them and the messages significance for us today. The idea there is a prophetic message hidden in the letters to the seven churches is not new. This vision included messages to seven congregations of the church of god in asia minor. What should we learn from the letters to the seven churches. This study will include a consideration of the meaning of satans throne, in the first century city of pergamum, and the roots of this spiritual drama in the early chapters of genesis. Those churches were in ephesus, smyrna, pergamum, thyatira, sardis, philadephia, and laodicea. These things saith the first and the last, which was dead, and is alive. I know thy works, and where thou dwellest, even where satans seat is. The churches at ephesus, smyrna, pergamum and thyatira revelation 2 ephesus. But when the apostle john wrote his letter to the church there, it was one of the most. 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 letter to the church at smyrna shows an example of those united with christ and his saving word, knowing that they may suffer for their faith, enduring trials and temptations, but reminds them that the eternal future outweighs any temporary trials or worldly price that we pay because of our faith. Pergamum was one of the most prominent cities of asia, located in the western part.
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