The Church at Pergamum lived under the shadow of Satan’s throne, much like we do today. Bombarded by evil everywhere they went, they always held fast the name of Jesus and never denied their faith, even under great persecution and martyrdom. God did have two things against this church:
1. They allowed members to hold to the teachings of Balaam, which included
the practice of eating meats sacrificed to idols as well as the practice of
sexual immorality.
the practice of eating meats sacrificed to idols as well as the practice of
sexual immorality.
2. They allowed members to hold to the teachings of the Nicolaitans, which
was a false freedom or licentiousness, thus abusing Paul's doctrine of grace.
was a false freedom or licentiousness, thus abusing Paul's doctrine of grace.
Revelation 2:12-16 ESV "And to the angel of the church in Pergamum write: 'The words of him who has the sharp two-edged sword. (13) "'I know where you dwell, where Satan's throne is. Yet you hold fast my name, and you did not deny my faith even in the days of Antipas my faithful witness, who was killed among you, where Satan dwells. (14) But I have a few things against you: you have some there who hold the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to put a stumbling block before the sons of Israel, so that they might eat food sacrificed to idols and practice sexual immorality. (15) So also you have some who hold the teaching of the Nicolaitans.
(16) Therefore repent. If not, I will come to you soon and war against them with the sword of my mouth.
(16) Therefore repent. If not, I will come to you soon and war against them with the sword of my mouth.
A Warning For Us Today
God warned the Church at Pergamum to Repent! Some today allow a little pagan worship into their lives; maybe not foods sacrificed to idols, but what about divination and astrology? Do you follow your horoscope; believe in mediums? Many professing Christians believe that they are free to be sexually intimate with any one they choose without the commitment of marriage. The United Church of Christ openly has a Gay rights agenda; the Episcopal Church openly ordains Gays to the ministry and the
Methodist Church rarely challenges any clergy on the homosexual issue.
Methodist Church rarely challenges any clergy on the homosexual issue.
The Bible is fast becoming an obsolete book in liberal mainstream Protestantism; that was once the moral fiber of our nation. The whole concept of sin is scoffed at as being obsolete among liberal Christian Churches. Grace has been turned into licentiousness and lasciviousness; abusing the teachings of Jesus Christ.
What Is The End Time
We are living in the End Time; that is the end of the age of man ruling man. There is an analogy that can be drawn from Creation Week in Genesis. God revealed through the apostle Peter that a day is as a thousand years and a thousand years is as a day to God. That is because in eternity and the spirit realm, time does not exist.
2 Peter 3:8 KJV But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.
Creation Week brought into existence the material universe and our world; everything necessary for human life and God completed His creation with man on the sixth day. The seventh day, the LORD rested and called the day the Sabbath; a Holy and sacred day sanctified by divine decree. Let’s apply the above concept of Peter’s writing to the seven day week that has survived since creation. As the seven day week gives man six
days to toil, earn his living and pursue recreation; the seventh day is the LORD’s Sabbath and belongs to God. In a similar manner; the first six thousand years since creation, belonged to man. Once man rejected God in the Garden of Eden; God has taken a hands off policy; giving man total reign over himself; and free moral agency to decide what is good and what is evil. The last or seventh one thousand year period belongs to God. It is the thousand years, after Christ’s return, The Millennium.
days to toil, earn his living and pursue recreation; the seventh day is the LORD’s Sabbath and belongs to God. In a similar manner; the first six thousand years since creation, belonged to man. Once man rejected God in the Garden of Eden; God has taken a hands off policy; giving man total reign over himself; and free moral agency to decide what is good and what is evil. The last or seventh one thousand year period belongs to God. It is the thousand years, after Christ’s return, The Millennium.
Revelation 20:1-5 KJVAnd I saw an angel come down from heaven, having the key of the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand. (2) And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years, (3) And cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal upon him, that he should deceive the nations no more, till the thousand years should be fulfilled: and after that he must be loosed a little season. (4) And I saw thrones, and
they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years. (5) But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection.
they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years. (5) But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection.
Jesus returns and the dead in Christ, the Saints/Church are resurrected and the faithful in Christ are changed in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye.
1 Corinthians 15:51-53 KJV Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, (52) In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. (53) For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.
1 Thessalonians 4:13-17 KJV But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. (14) For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.
PLEASE NOTE: Jesus is coming to earth and the Saints who have died will be resurrected along with the living Saints who will be changed; they will all meet Christ in the air and return with Him.
(15) For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent (precede) them which are asleep. (16) For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with
the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ
shall rise first: (17) Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.
the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ
shall rise first: (17) Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.
The resurrection of those Saints who have died and the living saints changed to immortals happens simultaneously and is called the FIRST RESURRECTION. These are the ones who overcame the devil and this world; the ones who qualify to rule the nations with Jesus on His throne; those Christians who were transformed by the Holy Ghost in this life.
Revelation 20:5-6 KJV But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection.
FIRST RESURRECTION IS TO LIFE
SECOND RESURRECTION IS TO JUDGMENT
(6) Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the
second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.
second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.
A PRIEST represents the people to God; much like the Senate represents the people to the Government.
Christ Is Lord Of The Sabbath
The understanding of the Sabbath is vital to understanding God’s plan for man. It identifies a man’s freedom to pursue his own life for six days of the week and to devote
the seventh to God; that is to PRAYER, PRAISE, WORSHIP, AND FELLOWSHIP.
the seventh to God; that is to PRAYER, PRAISE, WORSHIP, AND FELLOWSHIP.
Matthew 12:8 KJV For the Son of man (Jesus Christ) is
Lord even of the Sabbath day.
Lord even of the Sabbath day.
In the larger scheme of the Plan of God; six thousands years have been given to mankind with free reign to prove himself able or unable to discern good from evil and to successfully rule the planet in peace. Obviously, mankind has failed. We are at the dawning of a new age. The age of ungodly human rule is coming to an end and will be replaced at Christ’s second coming with the Godly rule of Jesus Christ along with the
Saints of the Most High.
Saints of the Most High.
The messages to the churches are messages to THE CHURCH. They are messages for ALL ERAS OF THE ONE TRUE CHURCH.
Time is short. There is nothing more important than your relationship with the LORD Jesus Christ. Repent daily and stay close to the LORD! YOU FUTURE IS AWESOME AND GREAT IF YOU REMAIN FAITHFUL TO THE END!
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