Today we continue our teaching series called “The Seven Churches of Revelation”

Over the next several weeks we will seek to understand the importance and relevance of this text in our lives today. Just like the rest of our Bible, we believe that Revelation is valuable and integral to our faith- It’s there for a reason.

Through this study we want to hear and understand the warnings and instructions to these churches. As we do that, we also want to discern how we can learn from these warnings in our lives and through our local church.

Our desire is to renew and refine our vision of life and what the church should be. Our series is specifically focused on Jesus' words to the 7 Churches in Asia minor

Today we continue with the Church in Pergamum, found in Revelation 2:12-17.

As Jesus looked at the Church at Pergamum, he knew all the things that were going right- How hard they had worked and strived for his name- They never denied him. But he also saw the crack of compromise growing in their midst.

Some of the things that were considered normal in the culture were becoming normal in the church. There was a crack of compromise forming.

Today many churches are splitting due to cracks of compromise. Compromise of biblical truth and the authority of scripture has caused immense confusion and pain for so many.

Jesus is warning Pergamum, he is warning us.

Today, will you hear Jesus urgent invitation to repentance?

Pergamum was a city that was overflowing with pagan idols and gods to be worshiped- so much so that it’s identified in our text as where Satan’s throne is.

Pagan idolatry and ideology were literally surrounding the church, yet they had not denied their faith in Christ. Not even in the face of martyrdom.

The church is praised and commended that they had held firm to the faith.

Yet, while all of these things were going right- there was a crack forming that threatened to bring it all down.

You can summarize the doctrine of Balaam this way: “If you can’t curse them, corrupt them. If you can’t get them to reject their God completely, get them to reject parts of the Truth.”

This is how Jesus likens those in the Church at Pergamum who are teaching compromised truth.

Often Within the worship of the pagan God’s sacrificed animals were divided up and served for a meal in a celebration. Temple prostitutes and other illicit acts were engaged as a form of worship and allegiance to these deities.

Things unfitting for the church to be supporting and involved with.

They weren’t explicitly denying Jesus, but they were not exclusively following him either.

Jesus calls for decisive action against compromise within the church.

Repentance is a forsaking, a turning away from the sin they were engaged.

If they fail to take his warning seriously, Jesus says that he will fight against them with the sword of his mouth. This imagery is indicative of the word of God- the truth of Scripture

As Jesus closes out his exhortation, he reminds the hearers in Pergamum that there is a great reward and life ahead for those who are victorious over sin and compromise.

We have said time and time again that Revelation is a Jesus letter, full of hope, and that hope is clear in this passage.

To those who remain faithful, to those to repent from compromising with the world, there is the promise of eternity free of persecution, suffering, and death.

Jesus calls us to lift our eyes from ease or pleasure of compromise to the horizon of hope offered by Him alone.

Today as we would read this letter, we too want to be aware of compromise in the church, as well as in our lives.

I don’t think it’s hyperbole to say that the church in America is already showing the cracks of compromising.

Stories of denominations wrestling with current issues around sexuality, social justice, politics. Compromise is present, and we here today in Elkton VA are not immune to that danger either.

The cultural pressure to be tolerant and accepting of other perspectives is all around us.

The pendulum in the American Church as swung way out towards compromise under the veil of tolerance and acceptance. We have elevated the acceptance of people’s feelings and preferences over what God clearly says in his word.

When that happens, we are committing idolatry, we are giving credit and authority to the cult of popular culture. And just like the Fury 325 roller coaster, it might take a while before that crack turns into a disaster. But make no mistake friends, when we forsake the word of God, disaster is ahead.

Will we as God’s people in 2023 repent of compromise? Will we address the cracks before disaster strikes?

We must be a welcoming safe space for all people to come and hear about Jesus- but we must not change our message or our convictions to accommodate sin.

Will we give ourselves to reading, knowing, and yes LIVING out his word- even in the face of trial and persecution?

To those that will endure- there is the sure hope of life eternal with Christ Jesus. May that be us.