As we continue to look at the letters to the 7 churches in revelation, today we turn to Pergamum and Thyatira both of which are in modern day Turkey. In bible times they were both very impressive and lucrative cities. Pergamum had efficient road systems, a reputable library that was said to house over 2000 books (which obviously had all been hand written) a school of medicine and a flourishing textile industry, and it also mined silver. It seemed to have almost everything, although it was free governing it was dependent on Rome for protection, basically it was the epi-center of the time. It was also a very cultural city, and there were many temples to the various gods they worshipped. The beautiful temples rose high on the skyline, rather like the twin towers before being destroyed or as the Empire state building does today. Apparently here in England Lincoln Cathedral can be seen for about 20 miles because of its situation
The people of the city of Pergamum were probably very proud of it, but to the Christians there, it caused a threat and many concerns and they weren’t coping too well. The threat came because of the temple worship and the idolatry. Because there were so many industries, guilds had been formed and then came the quandary, if they became a guild member, how much of the civil functions could they be involved with because a lot of what went on was linked to temple worship and the sacrificing to idols. They felt there maybe reprisals if they didn’t join the guilds. At the beginning of the reading it says “I know where you live – right there where satan has his throne” One of the gods that the people worshipped was Asclepius the god of healing, whose symbol was a serpent. To the Christians however a serpent represented satan or the deceiver as referred to in Revelation 20 v 2, and in Genesis chapter 3. where the serpent tempts Eve to eat from the tree of life.
Although Pergamum was a free govourning city, the Romans had some influence as well. Was there a way they might do enough to get by, without being fully involved and so compromising their faith?
When Paul wrote to the Corinthian church he made it clear, there should be no compromise with pagan temples and cult, but they could be more flexible with eating food that had been offered to idols. Some people had obviously had taken the flexibility option, whilst others just didn’t want to stand out and so it was said that they were like Balamm although he was a prophet he used ungodly tactics to sway the people, however there was one man whose name was Antipas who was martyred for his faith Finally, Jesus response is, that although Rome might wield the physical sword, the words that come out of Jesus’ mouth would cut through the half hearted spirituality that was evident in the city.
Thyatira was in a similar position in some ways, but Jesus says He knows their works and they were impressive, much better than they had been. Thyatira wasn’t as well known as the other churches that received the letters, but it was well known for it smelting work in copper and bronze, which may be why the Son of God had eyes like flaming fire and feet like exquisite brass, as they would have understood those terms because the patron deity for the bronze trade was Apollo Tyrimnaeus was described in a similar way.
However, as the people of Thyatira tolerated a women called Jezebel who called herself a prophet to teach and deceive the Christians and encourage them into immoral acts, and to eat idol food. She was likened to the Jezebel in the Old Testament in 2 Kings 9. She’d been given the chance to repent , but didn’t and so the Angel said she would be punished, and those who went with her, either openly or secretly would also be punished: but those who didn’t follow her or didn’t hold to her teachings wouldn’t suffer. It makes it even more shocking as Jezebel, whether that was her real name or a nickname was thought to have been a credited church leader and so had tremendous influence on the people. With her prophetic gifts, some of the people may well have gone exploring the satanic depths that are spoken of in verse 24 going boldly into the enemy camp without realising it. The flaming eyes that have been mentioned in verses 18 and 23would be able to search out the wickedness and deceit that was in people’s hearts and minds.
We hear though how as Christians we are a ‘Royal Priesthood@ and so are encouraged to hold firm to our beliefs. One last word is given about the ‘morning star’ and later in Revelations we read Jesus is the ‘morning star’ and so it seems to be intimating that there is a deeper level of intimacy we can share with him and God’s people. For Christians holding onto their faith, whilst others around then are compromising theirs under the pressure of pagan practices, The Morning Star is a special vocation. Christian witness is meant to be a sign of the dawning of the day when faith, love, service and patience have their fulfilment and idolatry and immorality are seen as the snares that they really are. Jesus will then finally rule over the earth.
Write this to Pergamum,
to the Angel of the church. The One with the sharp-biting sword draws from the sheath of his mouth – out come the sword words: “I see where you live, right under the shadow of Satan’s throne. But you continue boldly in my Name; you never once denied my Name, even when the pressure was worst, when they martyred Antipas, my witness who stayed faithful to me on Satan’s turf. “But why do you indulge that Balaam crowd? Don’t you remember that Balaam was an enemy agent, seducing Balak and sabotaging Israel’s holy pilgrimage by throwing unholy parties? And why do you put up with the Nicolaitans, who do the same thing? “Enough! Don’t give in to them; I’ll be with you soon. I’m fed up and about to cut them to pieces with my sword-sharp words. “Are your ears awake? Listen. Listen to the Wind Words, the Spirit blowing through the churches. I’ll give the sacred manna to every conqueror; I’ll also give a clear, smooth stone inscribed with your new name, your secret new name.”
Write this to Thyatira,
to the Angel of the church. God’s Son, eyes pouring fire-blaze, standing on feet of furnace-fired bronze, says this: “I see everything you’re doing for me. Impressive! The love and the faith, the service and persistence. Yes, very impressive! You get better at it every day. “But why do you let that Jezebel who calls herself a prophet mislead my dear servants into Cross-denying, self-indulging religion? I gave her a chance to change her ways, but she has no intention of giving up a career in the god-business. I’m about to lay her low, along with her partners, as they play their sex-and-religion games. The bastard offspring of their idol-whoring I’ll kill. Then every church will know that appearances don’t impress me. I x-ray every motive and make sure you get what’s coming to you. “The rest of you Thyatirans, who have nothing to do with this outrage, who scorn this playing around with the Devil that gets paraded as profundity, be assured I’ll not make life any harder for you than it already is. 25 Hold on to the truth you have until I get there. 26 “Here’s the reward I have for every conqueror, everyone who keeps at it, refusing to give up: You’ll rule the nations, 27 your Shepherd-King rule as firm as an iron staff, their resistance fragile as clay pots. This was the gift my Father gave me; I pass it along to you – 28 and with it, the Morning Star! 29 “Are your ears awake? Listen. Listen to the Wind Words, the Spirit blowing through the churches.”
Revelation 2: 12-29 (The Message)
QUESTIONS FOR US TO THIN ABOUT AND DISCUSS
At the beginning of the reading, the Angel speaks of a double edge Sword, and we also read in Ephesians 6 about the armour of God, where it refers to the sword being The Word of God.
Question 1
Do we spend enough time looking at and reading the Bible ( the word of God) and trying to understand what it says so we can apply it in our everyday life? How can we understand it more?
In Pergamum and Thyatira the people struggled with issues like whether they should join the craftsman’s guilds, and if they did, how much of the normal civic life that went along side it should they join in ie:- the pagan festivals and eating food that had previously been offered to idols.
Question 2
What situations do we perhaps find ourselves in today that might also compromise our faith and beliefs? ie: trade unions at work, the masons or perhaps social groups we might belong to?
The angel said to the people of Thyatira that the one thing that was held against them was that they tolerated a the prophet Jezabel who was in fact deceiving them and encouraging them to do wrong.
Question 3
Do we get persuaded or seduced into thinking or believing theories or ways that are contrary to our Christian beliefs, if so how do we recognise that is happening?