Revelation
The Lamb of God: On His Throne And Among His People
Christ and Culture
Revelation 2:12-17

• Read Revelation 2:12-17 and answer the following questions:
  • What questions do you have about the text?
  • Why do you think Jesus labeled Pergamum as a place where Satan’s throne resides?
  • What do you recall about Balaam from the message in 2 Peter this summer, or what do you know about this story apart from the message?

• Why is the pull of the culture so strong, even though we belong to Jesus?

•  Have you been in a church where false doctrine was tolerated to the church’s detriment? How can/should we protect ourselves from such error?

• From Revelation: A Shorter Commentary, by G.K. Beale: Pergamum is the only city said to contain Satan’s throne. How could a city come to be described in such a way? What are the implications? Are we aware of the demonic strongholds which may exist in our own community? What is the appropriate response to them?

• Take time to discuss the points of application/challenge from the sermon:
  • Fear God more than you fear government or culture
  • Commit to the purity of the church
  • Pursue the only relationship that will fulfill the deep places of your heart – an intimate relationship with Jesus

Extra Notes

One interpretation of the letters to the churches (with which I agree) is that each letter is pertinent to every church in every age. Without denying this truth, some understand the seven churches to represent different eras in the Church Age. Here is one such explanation:

Major Temples in Pergamum

• Zeus
• The divine Augustus and goddess Roma - emperor worship enforced here
• Asclepius – the god of healing (symbol was a snake – same symbol is still used today – e.g., World Health Organization); large medical school in Pergamum; people traveled to Pergamum hoping to be healed.

For more information about the temptation for believers to compromise with temple worship/meat offered to idols, read (or hear) messages from 1 Corinthians 8-10, preached in 2022: https://www.graceccnc.org/sermons/series/1-corinthians-life-in-the-church-with-the-cross-at-the-center 

1 Timothy 2:1 First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, 2 for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way. 3 This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, 4 who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.

1 Peter 2:17 Honor everyone. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the emperor.

For more about the sin of Balaam: https://www.graceccnc.org/sermons/sermon/2024-07-28/the-foolishness-of-despising-proper-authority  If you choose to download the manuscript, it begins at the bottom of page 6

Matthew 6:24 “No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.

1 Corinthians 5:9 I wrote to you in my letter not to associate with sexually immoral people— 10 not at all meaning the sexually immoral of this world, or the greedy and swindlers, or idolaters, since then you would need to go out of the world. 11 But now I am writing to you not to associate with anyone who bears the name of brother if he is guilty of sexual immorality or greed, or is an idolater, reviler, drunkard, or swindler—not even to eat with such a one. 12 For what have I to do with judging outsiders? Is it not those inside the church whom you are to judge? 13 God judges those outside. “Purge the evil person from among you.”

John 6:32 Jesus then said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, it was not Moses who gave you the bread from heaven, but my Father gives you the true bread from heaven. 33 For the bread of God is he who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.” 34 They said to him, “Sir, give us this bread always.” 35 Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst.”

Revelation 14:9 And another angel, a third, followed them, saying with a loud voice, “If anyone worships the beast and its image and receives a mark on his forehead or on his hand, 10 he also will drink the wine of God's wrath, poured full strength into the cup of his anger, and he will be tormented with fire and sulfur in the presence of the holy angels and in the presence of the Lamb. 11 And the smoke of their torment goes up forever and ever, and they have no rest, day or night, these worshipers of the beast and its image, and whoever receives the mark of its name.”

Psalm 87:1 On the holy mount stands the city he founded;

2     the Lord loves the gates of Zion

   more than all the dwelling places of Jacob.

3 Glorious things of you are spoken,

    O city of God. Selah

4 Among those who know me I mention Rahab and Babylon;

    behold, Philistia and Tyre, with Cush—

    “This one was born there,” they say.

5 And of Zion it shall be said,

    “This one and that one were born in her”;

    for the Most High himself will establish her.

6 The Lord records as he registers the peoples,

    “This one was born there.”

7 Singers and dancers alike say,

    “All my springs are in you.”

The point of Psalm 87 is that God loves Jerusalem (Zion) – just because he does. The same is true for Israel; God chose to love Israel. One day (from the psalmist’s perspective, which is God’s perspective), people from all lands will come under the same favor and blessing of God that Israel enjoys. One day (with the gospel) it will be said of people (believers) from all nations, “This one was born in Zion – that one was born there.” For the beauty of this truth – if you are willing to listen to an old-school CCM song by Wayne Watson:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T3pOTzGOlqQ

Application from the Sermon

1. Fear God more than you fear government or culture
2. Commit to the purity of the church
3. Pursue the only relationship that will fulfill the deep places of your heart – an intimate relationship with Jesus