Rev 2:12-17
Pergamos means ‘marriage’.
One author says “Pergamos represents the period when the church was worldly and full of compromise”.
Scholarly opinion is that Pergamum is a “compromising  church”.
Verse 12 speaks of our Lord Jesus as a judge.
Each title is relevant to the situation prevailing in the church. 
In Verse 13 our Lord uses the word ‘Satan’ twice to emphasize the climate of Pergamum.
“Satan has his throne” and “Where Satan lives” speaks of the strong presence of evil there.
Pergamum was the center for cults of Zeus Soter, Asclepius Soter and Athena Nicephorus and Cesar worship.
The Romans built a shrine to Asclepius, the Greek god of healing, in the lower city. 
The symbol for this God was a snake wrapped around a staff which is still the medical symbol even today.
The Lord mentions one faithful servant Antipas, who was killed for his faith.
So the Lord commends them for their steadfast faith in the midst of persecution.
But Lord has few things against the Church at Pergamum.
In Verse 14 HE speaks of false teaching of Balaam, a prophet ‘for hire’ in the Old Testament book of Numbers chapter 22-25.
He took money from Balak, the king of Moab, to curse the people of Israel but God turned the curses into blessings.
The lure of money compelled Balaam to advise Balak to get the Moabite women to marry Israelite men so that they can influence the men to idolatry and immorality.
It did work but God killed 25000 men of Israelites on one day for this rebellion.
 All because of yielding to the wrong teachings or wrong  doctrines
The church that tolerates and compromises to such false doctrines and teachings will be less effective and eventually wiped out.
Verse 15 cites Nicolaitans who strong arm people to follow such false teachings.
The Lord was against people who tolerate and compromise with wrong teachings of the world.
Verse 16:  Repent therefore! Otherwise, I will soon come to you and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth.
Pastor Wiersbe says, “The church belongs to God, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. Jesus will protect His true church, and He will hold sinners accountable”
Verse 17 once again addressed to not only the Church but also the individual.
To those who overcome such pressures of ‘tolerance and compromise’, the Lord promises two things.
1. The hidden manna
Heavenly food fell from the skies for the people of Israel in their desert journey.
A small portion of manna was placed in the Ark of Covenant along with 2 tablets.
Ark of the Covenant represents the seat of God Almighty.
In John 6 our Lord is the bread that came down from  heaven.
So the Lord is promising this spiritual manna when we see HIM face to face in heaven.
2. A white stone with a new name.
White stone has two interpretations:
A). When an athlete competes in a game he is given a white stone as ticket to enter the feast in honor of their participation.
b). In the ancient a judge places a stone in a vessel to declare a person not guilty.
Both interpretations can be applied to a believer at the end of his/her life.
This is the reward one gets for being faithful till the  end.
CONCLUSION
Most of us, believers in the Lord Jesus, live in a fallen world full of corruption and deceit.
We already have seen many wrong doctrines and teachings corrupting the Body of Christ.
The source of such false teachings and doctrines is Satan.
We are also witnessing how the church is tolerating and compromising with such unbiblical values and practices.
Such immoral practices and teachings are weakening the testimony of today’s church worldwide.
The Lord is simply saying don’t tolerate and compromise.
Our Lord promises the heavenly manna and a white stone in the eternity.
The church as well as the individual who overcomes will receive  them.
Are we compromising or tolerating what we know is clearly  unbiblical?

Rev 2Our journey thru the Book of Revelation brings us today to the Church at Smyrna.
Smyrna was the most beautiful city of Asia Minor located 35 miles from Ephesus.
The Lord says in every letter to the 7 churches, “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches”.
Lord was compelling every believer to pay utmost attention and listen to the Holy Spirit’s words.
Smyrna means ‘bitter’ and is related to the word ‘myrrh’.
 Verse 8: “To the angel of the church in Smyrna write: These are the words of Him (Jesus) who is the First and the Last, who died and came to life again.
“First and Last” points to the eternal nature of our Lord.
“Who died and came to life again” points to His humanity.
This statement declares HIM to be God, who became a man to die for our sin, paid the price for sin, rose victorious from death and is now living.
So we better pay real attention to what HE says to us today.
Verse 9: I know your afflictions and your poverty—yet you are rich! I know about the slander of those who say they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan. 
Smyrna was a courageous, committed church in the midst of suffering.
 The Lord knows their miserable conditions and sufferings with extreme poverty.
Yet the Lord declares them to be rich in HIS sight.
Their persecution was as a result of their faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. 
Two groups of people persecuted them.
One group belongs to ‘Roman imperial cult’ who proclaims Cesar is God.
The other group belongs to a synagogue that rejected Jesus as Messiah.
Our Lord declared them to be “A synagogue of Satan” 
Both groups became the instruments of Satan to torture and persecute believers all times.
Lord Jesus does not condemn the church but commend them for their commitment.
Some Statistics
Study by Regent University:
In 1999 – 164,000 martyred
In 2000 – 165,000 martyred
Since AD 70 – 70 million for their faith in the Lord
Today believers in the Lord face a different kind of persecution in America.
We are seeing consorted efforts by the liberal Media, liberal progressive intellectuals (include professors, teachers), atheists, and homosexuals to oppose Christian values.
Like erasing Christian signs, preventing prayers in the public arena and enforcing political correctness.
We are seeing the gaining momentum of these forces to dismantle Christianity brick by brick.
Verse 10: Do not be afraid of what you are about to suffer. I tell you, the devil will put some of you in prisonto test you, and you will suffer persecution for ten days. Be faithful, even to the point of death, and I will give you life as your victor’s crown.
Verse 10 clearly points to the future persecution of physical danger and death.
The Lord was saying to the Church at Smyrna, “Do not lose courage” and be faithful.
It is not the people but the devil, the Evil one using people against the believers.
Lord Jesus was preparing them for their future.
All of us may not face such persecution but the Lord wanted us to be faithful till our death.
One author says that Smyrna was a “comforted Church”.
“I will give you life as your victor’s crown.”
Lord is saying to them directly that when you are killed for my name sake, you step into the eternity with ME in the next second.
Death is not the end of a believer but the beginning of an eternity with the Lord.
Verse 11: Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches. The one who is victorious will not be hurt at all by the second death.
“The one who is victorious will not be hurt at allby the second death.”
Every person born to a woman dies once, the physical death.
But the Lord says that those who rejected HIM as Lord and Savior will die for the second time which is the spiritual death.
The Scripture declares that all unbelievers will be thrown into a Lake of Fire for eternal damnation and suffering.
What we commonly identify with hell.
SUMMARY
Lord Jesus is commending every church, every Christian for their steadfast faith and life.
Satan will definitely use people to persecute these believers even to the point of death.
Our Lord is encouraging every believer to stand firm in the midst of sufferings and persecutions.
Today many Christians are being put in prison and even put to death in some countries.
Some may not face that moment in their life.
Others may stare at death for the sake of their faith in the Lord.
The Lord is encouraging us this morning to stand firm till our last breath.
We have the promise of eternal life with HIM as all believers never face the second death.

JOURNEY THROUGH REVELATIONS -  Chapter 2:1-7
One scholar says that each church has its “own spiritual characteristic”.
He also names the church at Ephesus as a “careless Church”.
Verse 1 “To the angel (messenger) of the church in Ephesus write:
These are the words of HIM (Jesus) who holds the seven stars in HIS right hand and walks among the seven golden lampstands. (Continuation of Chapter 1)
This message to the Church at Ephesus is directly from Lord Jesus Christ.
2.  I (Jesus) know your deeds, your hard work and your perseverance. I know that you cannot tolerate wicked people, that you have tested those who claim to be apostles but are not, and have found them false.
One scholar puts it this way:
“I know your deeds” – Is a ‘serving church’
“Your hard work” – Is a ‘sacrificing church’
“Your perseverance” – Is a ‘steadfast church’
“I know that you cannot tolerate wicked people” – Is a ‘separated church’
3.  You have persevered and have endured hardships for my name, and have not grown weary.
The Lord was commending them for their hard work amongst the people of Ephesus.
They were surrounded by extreme pagan culture and practices. 
4.  Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken the love you had at first.
Lord Jesus sees the heart of the people in the Church.
“I hold this against you” is a very strong word to tell anybody.
Lord was simply saying that “You don’t love ME anymore”.
The church is going thru motions of Christianity but out of love for the Lord.
Love for the Lord is the strong force to hang on in all adverse situations.
It is true that many suffer for Him, serve Him faithfully and sacrifice their time, talent and treasure without real love for the Lord Jesus Christ.
5.  Consider how far you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first. If you do not repent, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place.
‘Fallen’ refers to a state of spiritual decline.
A. To remember: The first love for the Lord when accepted HIM as Lord and Savior.
B. To repent: To seek forgiveness from the Lord for the sin of neglect.
Neglect is number one cause for losing the love for the Lord.
C. To return: To restore our fellowship with HIM and our love for the Lord.
6.  But you have this in your favor: You hate the practices of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate.
The Lord says one thing in their favor that the church at Ephesus did not follow the practices of such people called ‘Nicolaitans’.
Nicolaitans means to conquer the people by “misusing and misapplying the Scriptures”.
Using the unbiblical ways to do the ministry
7.  Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who is victorious, I will give  the right to eat from the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God.
The Lord was talking to individuals to be attentive and vigilant what the Holy Spirit says.
To those people who come out victorious in their life time with testimony of the Lord, having a deeper understanding of HIS love in their hearts, will receive the ultimate prize, the eternity with Lord Jesus.
SUMMARY
Church at Ephesus was a ‘serving church’; a ‘sacrificing church’; a ‘steadfast church’ and a ‘separated church’.
Lord Jesus was commending them for their hard work amongst the people of Ephesus surrounded by extreme pagan culture and practices. 
Love for the Lord is the strong force to sustain us in this wicked world today.
Lord can see in our heart and knew that if we have lost our first love for HIM.
Neglect is number one cause for losing the love for the Lord.
The Lord was telling us to remember the first love we had for HIM, repent for the sins committed because of our negligence and to return to HIM with what we had in the beginning of our Christian experience.
Are we careless believers becoming a careless church due to negligence and lack of love for Lord Jesus?
The question for us is “are we guilty of the same neglect” as an individual or as a church?
 

Rev 1:9-20
Verse 9
John is identifying himself by name for the third time.
Believers in the Lord Jesus Christ submit to the Kingdom of God willingly and joyfully.
Their life in the Kingdom of God involves patient suffering and waiting for the king to return.
His present imprisonment on Patmos Island was because of the Kingdom of God.
Verse 10
“I was in the Spirit” means he might be sensing the Holy Spirit with him and carrying him to a totally different realm.
Holy Spirit is controlling his mind and his vision to see what he cannot see naturally.
Verse11
A clear instruction to write it on a scroll “what you see” and send it to 7 churches.
A message of warning and caution was given to the 7 churches
The same warning comes to the church in 21st century today.
Verses 12-16
We get glimpse of the Lord thru the eyes of John.
12 I turned around to see the voice that was speaking to me. And when I turned I saw seven golden lampstands, 
These are individual golden lampstands represent those in churches.
In the eyes of the Lord every church in this world is very precious and dear to Him because it glorifies God to the world.
Church is full of people burdened with kingdom of God.
13 and among the lampstands was someone like a son of man, dressed in a robereaching down to his feet and with a golden sash around his chest. 
Lord Jesus is among the lampstands means He is with the Churches.
He dresses like a High Priest of the Old Testament with a golden sash around His chest.
14 The hairon HIS head was white like wool, as white as snow, and HIS eyes were like blazing fire. 
The double emphasis of whiteness is for ‘purity’.
John sees the glorious picture of the Lord and he declares that Lord Jesus is HOLY.
One scholar says that this letter was for believers only and the fire represents Lord’s evaluation of the believer’s works and lives.
The fire in the Lord’s eyes represents judgment not for sin but for the life of a believer.
15 His feet were like bronze glowing in a furnace, and His voice was like the sound of rushing waters. 
Bronze represents judgment in Old Testament.
Those who were at Niagara Falls understand the sound of the rushing waters.
16 In His right hand He held seven stars, and coming out of His mouth was a sharp, double-edged sword. His face was like the sun shining in all its brilliance.
The 7 stars in the right hand of the Lord talk about a strong message for the 7 churches.
The sword is Word of God and as John 1:1 says He is the Word of God.
When John looked at the face of glorified Jesus he could not see it because it was shining like brilliant sun.
What I presume is that John could not see HIS face how looked in HIS glory.
17 When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. Then HE placed HIS right hand on me and said:
“Do not be afraid. I am the First and the Last.
18 I am the Living One; I was dead, and now look, I am alive for ever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and Hades.
John collapsed to the ground in response to what he was seeing and hearing.
His response was sheer reverence and submission at the feet of whom once he touched, spoke with and leaned.
Lord Jesus repeats what Lord God Almighty said in verse 8.
That is the autograph of the Living God and it is the same autograph Lord Jesus uses here.
Because of HIS death and Resurrection, HE says with authority that HE alone controls both realms of death and Hades the temporary holding place of unbelievers’ souls.
When a believer dies, Lord opens up the door of Paradise.
When an unbeliever dies, Lord opens up the door of Hades the temporary holding place.
Lord holds the keys to death and life after.
No one dies until the Lord says so.
19 “Write, therefore, what you have seen, what is now and what will take place later.
Lord commands John to write all t he is seeing and hearing.
SUMMARY
Believers in the Lord Jesus Christ submit to the Kingdom of God willingly and joyfully.
Their life in the Kingdom of God involves patient suffering and waiting for the king to return.
Holy Spirit is controlling John’s mind and his vision to see what he cannot see naturally.
In the eyes of the Lord every church is very precious and dear to Him because it glorifies God to the world.
Every church is full of people burdened with kingdom of God.
That is why HE is always in the church and with the church and amongst the church.
A message of warning and caution comes to the church if they lose their focus on that.
Lord Jesus in HIS glorified state is a Righteous Judge who is going to judge the believer for his/her works and lives.
He holds our death and the life after.
He is HOLY and His Word is holy and His is the Living One for ever and ever.
S0 the business of His church is to witness for the Lord, glorify God and bring more to His Kingdom to come.
The message of warning to the 7 churches is the same to our church when it fails in its mission and message.