The Church of Pergamum
The Church of Pergamum existed in the very place where Satan had his throne and dwelled. Within the church, Satan reigned as king, and like Moab under the rule of Balak in Numbers 22 to 25, there was an overflow of immorality and idolatry. Though there were faithful individuals like Antipas, the church was filled with those who followed the false teachings of Balaam and the practices of the Nicolaitans. Through this church, the Lord revealed that even within His church, the same deceitful spirit that operates in sexually corrupt and chaotic societies like Sodom and Gomorrah was still at work.
As a result of this influence, the church became a place where teachings like Balaam’s led to sexual immorality, adultery, homosexuality, sexual abuse, and prostitution. Idolatry spread freely as people followed their greed and desires, much like the Nicolaitans. The church had become a throne room for Satan himself, and the message of the cross and the call to a holy life had all but disappeared.
Today, many churches are also filled with self-centered worship that pursues money, prosperity, success, comfort, pleasure, and personal fulfillment. The Lord gives a severe warning about this and commands that we repent for accepting false and heretical teachings. He calls us to return to the truth of the gospel, back to the cross, and receive the blessing of having a new eternal name written in Christ.
1) Christ as Head of the Church of Pergamum
Let us take note of the words revealed to the Church of Pergamum about Christ, the head of the church.
12 “To the angel of the church in Pergamum write: These are the words of him who has the sharp, double-edged sword.” (Revelation 2:12,NIV)
》Prayer Point
1. The Church, which is the body of Jesus Christ, has the authority through the Word of God to attack and overthrow the rulers, powers, deceiving spirits, and Satan at work in the world. Therefore, let us pray that the Church would be able to rightly discern all the schemes of the enemy that distort the gospel and lead this generation to follow idols of greed and lust. God’s Word is like a sharp sword that pierces our hearts, thoughts, and intentions. Let us pray that the Church becomes one that obeys in response to that Word and lives according to the good and pleasing will of God.
12 For the word of GOD is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword,
it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.(Hebrews 4:12,NIV)
2) The Church of Christ Is a Victorious Church
Let us declare in faith that the Church, as the body of Christ, is victorious and cannot be overcome by the gates of hell.
》Scripture Prayer
(Revelation 2:13–17,NIV) 13 I know where you live—where Satan has his throne. Yet you remain true to my name. You did not renounce your faith in me, not even in the days of Antipas, my faithful witness, who was put to death in your city—where Satan lives.
14 Nevertheless, I have a few things against you: There are some among you who hold to the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to entice the Israelites to sin so that they ate food sacrificed to idols and committed sexual immorality.
15 Likewise, you also have those who hold to the teaching of the Nicolaitans.
16 Repent therefore! Otherwise, I will soon come to you and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth.
17 Whoever has ears, let them hear what the SPIRIT says to the churches. To the one who is victorious, I will give some of the hidden manna. I will also give that person a white stone with a new name written on it, known only to the one who receives it.
》Pray that the Word may become the Conclusion.
1. Let us repent for having attended church while only having a form of godliness but denying its power in our lives. Let us also repent for following our own thoughts and emotions more than the Word. Let us pray against the work of Satan that causes church leaders to fall into materialism and secularism, blending worldly values and idols into the gospel, thus distorting salvation and life and covering the glory of God.
2. Let us thank the Lord for giving us Antipas, a faithful witness who held firmly to the name of Jesus Christ and was martyred where Satan had his throne. Let us receive with gratitude the truth that whenever the Lord establishes me and our church, He intends to give us the same victory of faith as Antipas. Even if many churches, like Pergamum, abandon truth and follow false teachings, falling into immorality, impurity, lust, and greed that lead to idolatry, let us pray that many true witnesses will rise up—marked by the cross and unwavering in faith.
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