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Bible passage: Read Revelation 2:12-29
We live at a time when not only understanding, but also tolerance and acceptance of
every belief and lifestyle is the tendency in our society. We see it in school, the media, the
law, family life - and in our churches. This latter issue is the main theme of the passage
we are looking at in our study.
Do you think that it has become increasingly difficult (even in Church), to speak about the
Bible as the truth of God; Jesus as the way to salvation; the 10 Commandments as the
moral code of how we should live? If so, why and how do you think this has happened?
Are you aware in your own life that your convictions and beliefs about such matters have
changed over the last few years?
I would contend, that there has been so much pressure to respect other peoples’ beliefs,
values and cultures that we have lost a clear sense of truth/error, right/wrong, good/evil on
spiritual and moral issues. Would you agree with my non - p.c. view or would you argue
that the Church is largely unaffected by the changes in the world around us or that these
changes are not a problem? Have you noticed pressures to give-in to the world’s values
on the increase? How?
(Read Rev 2:12-17)
Each message of Jesus to each church begins with one particular detail of the vision of
Jesus we saw in 1:13-16. This suggests that there is special significance in that detail for
the church. Pergamum is reminded of the sharp, double edged sword coming out of the
mouth of Christ (1:16) (cf This suggests that Jesus saw one of the main needs for a church
like this, was to cut away false ideas of right and wrong living and thinking).
Background details about Pergamum:
- capital city of Asia Minor, the seat of government and power
- Antipas, was a Christian who was martyred for not swearing that Caesar was god, by
being roasted in a large kettle, during the reign of Domitian.
- In Israel’s history, Balaam incited Midianite women to lead Israelites into sexual
immorality (Numbers 25:1-2; 31:16)
- Nicolaitans were a group who taught that because God forgives sin, we should sin as
much as we like so that we can confess our sin and so experience more of God’s grace
- ‘hidden manna’, refers to Jesus as the bread of life,who sustains believers
- ‘a white stone’was given to a defendant who was acquitted, and a black stone to
those found guilty, in many courts.
What do you think was meant by describing Pergamum as ‘where Satan has his throne’?
Could any city be described in that way?
What would suggest that the Christians in Pergamum believed in one thing, but practised
another? Whilst all of us fall short in living out our faith, what was there to suggest that
the Christians there were in a fixed way of life that was not honouring to God? What do
you think the significance of the phrase ‘hold to’ in v14 and
v15 is?
The call to repent, is coupled with a warning that failure to do so will result in the Lord
fighting against them with the sword of his mouth. Look at (Hebrews
4:12-13), in what ways does God’s word expose us, every bit as much as it
does unbelievers? It has been pointed out that ‘doubled-edged’, means that the word is
a word of judgment, but also of sanctification. How is
that better news for us?
Christ’s intention is for us to ‘overcome’, a word that is used several times in the letters
(2v7, v11, v26, 3v12, v21).What does that suggest about the
pressures we are up against and the power with us?
(Read Rev 2:18-29)
The image of Christ with eyes ‘like blazing fire’ is a powerful reminder that he sees through
all pretence and deceit. Do you think we keep on fooling ourselves that the Lord cannot
see or know when we sin? How much do we compartmentalize our lives, thinking that we
can restrict Jesus’ access to the parts that we choose,and keep him out of others?
Whether ‘Jezebel’ was a specific person (like King Ahab’s horror of a wife in
1 Kings 16:31), or a lifestyle choice, what are the chief
outcomes of this way of a compromising, impure lifestyle?
How does the encouragement to ‘hold on’ in v25, differ from
what some were holding to in Pergamum and Thyatira?
Look at v26. Are you holding on to ‘my will be done’ or ‘thy
will be done’?
What is the promise for those who hold on for God? Surely the greatest incentive is
v28, which is not the offer of a star, but of intimacy with Jesus,
who is describes himself in Revelations 22:16 as ‘I am the
Root and the Offspring of David, and the bright Morning Star’. Hold on for Him.
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