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Revelation 2:12-17 Ignore false teachers

Intro…1997 Meeting in Colorado with young pastors…

The rise of the “postmodern/emergent” theology…

Text: Revelation 2:12-17

Big Pic: In order to identify false teaching, we need to hold fast to the teachings of Jesus and not deny our faith.

A little bit about Pergamum:

Just like the churches in Ephesus and Smyrna, the believers in Pergamum faced persecution and false teaching.

They endured the persecution, but succumbed to false teaching.

The city of Pergamum was built on terraces leading up to the only accessible slope if its acropolis.

It was an important center for pagan and imperial religion, but there are also indications of Jewish religion.

v. 12 “The words of him who has the sharp two-edged sword.”

1:16 The words of God can cut us open, judge our thoughts and hearts.

This is a warning to the church to discipline and deal properly with false teachers.

Because if they don’t (2:16) Jesus will directly intervene.

v. 13 “I know where you dwell, where Satan’s throne is.”

We know Pergamum was a center for pagan and imperial religion.

This city had temples dedicated to the divine Augustus and the goddess of Roma.

Also to Asklepios (the god of healing, symbolized by serpents).

And a large altar dedicated to Zeus.

They also worshipped the emperor as a god, in fact it was required in the province of Asia.

This city had at least 5 strikes against it…consequently, it was a major problem for the Christians.

Add all the up and hence the name for Pergamum: Satan’s throne.

It became Satan’s throne because it allowed false teaching to creep into the church.

One of the bright spots in the midst of the paganism was Antipas.

He sealed his testimony with his life.

Jesus even shares with Antipas the title of “faithful witness” in 1:5.

Often that’s the case when someone speaks out against false teaching.

They may be the only one doing it and could even pay for it with their life!

Last week we talked about persecution in the church, people dying for their faith.

Someone’s got to speak up when false teaching enters the church, even if it costs them their life!

v. 14-15 Here’s what the church in Pergamum was doing wrong.

Sexual and spiritual infidelity, as well as eating food sacrificed to idols.

Sexual and spiritual infidelity….sounds like our culture today.

The false teachers they were following were Balaam and the Nicolaitans.

As the Israelites wondered through the wilderness, the prophet Balaam advised Moab’s king (Balak) to seduce them in both sexual and spiritual adultery.

(Numbers 25:1-2, 31:16)

The Nicolaitians (followers of Nicolas Acts 6:5) were a heretical Christian sect.

They advocated too much freedom in matters of Christian conduct.

The bigger problem was that Nicolas was just a human. Any group that follows the teaching/writings of a human is in trouble.

That’s false teaching!

v. 13 Here’s what the church in Pergamum was doing right.

Hold fast to the name of Jesus.

Did not deny the faith, even with death threats.

If we can just do the same today, the false teaching will be obvious.

“Well, how do I know if it is false teaching or not?

When we follow Jesus we can’t go wrong.

I Cor. 1:21-23, 2:1-5

As we grow deeper in our understanding of the faith and thus not denying it, we’ll know right from wrong.

v. 16 Either we do what is right, holding to Jesus and our faith or we could face some direct intervention from God himself!

1 Cor. 11:30-32

If we are wise, we will listen up. v. 17

“To those who stand true to the faith, we will receive hidden manna.”

Just as God provided food, (manna) to the Israelites in the desert, God will provide for us when we endure persecution and stay pure from defilement.

This is the sufficiency of Christ for the believers needs.

“White Stone”

Historically a white stone was given to victors of games for entrance to banquets.

A white stone was also used by jurists at trial to vote for acquittal.

This white stone given to us indicates that the believer can be assured of his acquittal before God.

“When we hold fast to Jesus’ name we will be given a new name.”

I love that part of the OT…

This may refer to the work of the HS in conforming a believer to the holiness of God. (Rom. 8:29)

Application: False teaching creeps into the church like mold.

(Starts out small and grows nasty.)

Often it starts out as things that don’t seem that bad or wrong.

“Well that doesn’t sound too bad…”

We need to be leery of words like “tolerant”, “politically correct”, “inclusive”

Who are the Balaams, Balaks, and Nicolaitans of today?

I mentioned some of the Emergent Theologians earlier….

Prosperity gospel…(A certain preacher in Texas…Osteen etc .)

Why is this false teaching so appealing? Because it “tickles our ears.”

2 Timothy 4:1-5

Conclusion: Two friends from Seminary, who are now liberal….