Jesus has a message for His bride - we find it in the first few chaps of Revelation. What He says to these seven He says to the church today. Vs 12-16 - The church in Pergamum stood strong for salvation, but not lordship. Their problem wasn’t what they stood for, it’s what they didn’t stand against! They tolerated people in their midst who they should have kicked out. Why? Because the Gospel of Salvation took precedence over Gospel of Kingdom. They tolerated those who held to the teaching of Balaam & Nicolaitans. Balaam: He used his spiritual gift for monetary gain. He thirsted for material possessions. He wanted to please an earthly king more than His heavenly king. He exploited the emotions of God’s people for His own ends. Nicolaitins: They turned what God called black into grey. They sought to be relevant in culture rather than reverent. Key definers of Nicolaitans was perverse sexuality. Matthew Henry - “An indifference of spirit between truth and error, good and evil, may be called charity and meekness, but it is not pleasing to Christ. Our Savior subjoins this kind commendation to his severe threatening, to make the advice more effectual."NOTE - The church in Ephesus hated the ways of the Nicolaitans, yet the church in Pergamum loved it. Pergamum was built on a very high elevation, so it was fortified very well against attacks. It was referred to as “The Elevated One.” The word “Pergamum” means “married,” or “Elevation.”
Revelation 2:12-16 (12/28/22)
Dangerous Tolerance
December 28, 2022 • Benham Brothers • Revelation 2:12–16
Revelation - the players (12/27/18)
December 27, 2018 • Benham Brothers
* The players: * The Being on the throne is God. * The Lamb is Jesus. * The dragon is Satan. * The beast is the Antichrist. * The woman is Israel. * The baby is Jesus. * The “rest of her offspring” are God’s people. * The bride is the church - Christians who place their faith in Jesus when they hear the gospel. * The guests of the bride are believers before Christ came and the gospel existed. * Babylon is the world system of the Beast. It’s the political and economic system. * The “Harlot” is the corrupt religious system of the Beast that stands in direct contrast to the Bride. * The Beast can’t be successful in the first two systems without the third to approve of it. * There is a Babylon and a Harlot in every generation - it’s used by Satan to lead people astray. * ** a nation needs several systems to exist, mainly a political, economic, and religious.
Revelation & Red Letters (12/13/18)
December 13, 2018 • Benham Brothers
* Jesus is still speaking. * We don’t often attribute His words to the book of Revelation. * What would He say? * He addresses 7 churches (the number in seven is “perfect” or “complete” - so this message would apply to all the church past, present, and future). * 1) The church of Ephesus - they were the LOVELESS church who had lost their first love. * 2) The church of Smyrna - they were the PERSECUTED church who were enduring hardship for Christ. * 3) The church of Pergamos - they were the COMPROMISING church who put up with those in their midst who believed the teaching of Balaam and the Nicolaitans (sexual immorality and idolatry). * 4) The church of Thyatira - they were the CORRUPT church who tolerated the woman Jezebel (sexual immorality and domineering ambition). * 5) The church of Sardis - they were the DEAD church who looked alive but in reality they were dead. * 6) The church of Philadelphia - they were the FAITHFUL church who were doing good things in the midst of trial. * 7) The church of Laodicea - they were the LUKEWARM church who were riding the fence to avoid persecution.
Revelation 1:1 (12/8/16)
December 8, 2016 • Benham Brothers
* Jeremiah 29:11 - “I know the plans I have for you, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future.” * God spoke an encouragement through Jeremiah because the Israelites were about to go into captivity. * So like a good father He reminded them that this was going to be good for them and that His ultimate plan was for their blessing, not their cursing. * The book of Revelation does the same for us. * A good coach knows you can’t land a big recruit without letting him know your plan for him. * He will continue to remind him from time to time to encourage him to stick it out (redshirt). * When we read Revelation it’s God reminding us to stick it out because something ossum is coming.