The
American
Wisdom Series
Presents
Pamphlet 1836 Rev. kc 5
If someone left you a fortune,
and recorded it in his last will and testament,
but the will laid on the coffee
table and no one read it,
then you wouldn't know about
the fortune and consequently you couldn't claim it.
Just as a reminder, and for those who have recently joined
our study,
we saw a Picture in chapter 1 of Revelation, where Jesus
Christ, in His glorified body,
was standing in the midst of seven candlesticks (churches),
with seven stars (representing angels) in His right hand,
and a sharp twoedged sword (the Word of God) proceeded
out of His mouth.
Christ then turned to each church
and began addressing them,
noting their doctrines and giving
to them His instructions.
He
uses His servant John, the disciple whom Jesus loved, and
takes him in the spirit, to the day
of the Lord,
i.e.
the
first day of the Millennium,
to
record His words to the churches which are present THEN, in
the 2000s, even now, not in 96 A.D, at His
coming.
Here is something to think about,
"If you don't know something,
then you don't know that you don't know it.
Furthermore, how in the world
would you know that you were supposed to know it?"
Our people have been kept so ignorant about God's Word
that they have no idea that it was written personally
to them by their Father who loves them
so much and has given them blessings and an inheritance
beyond their wildest dreams!
It is His will and testament.
It is even called "Testament", both
the Old and the New.
Sure
they may love their Father, but they have to claim His will!
For example, if someone left you a fortune, and recorded
it in his last will and testament,
but the will laid on the coffee
table and no one read it,
then you wouldn't know about the
fortune and consequently you couldn't claim it.
Meanwhile
you struggle through life wondering why you are so "unblessed".
Worse yet, professional "will readers", with seminary
degrees in "will reading",
who claim to have read and studied the will, tell
you come back "faithfully" every Sunday
and they shall explain what the will says.
The problem is, they never
quite get around to explaining the will,
but they never, ever, forget
to pass the golden, felt lined plate.
Keep that in mind as we now move on to the church in Permagos.
Historically the Permagosians (can
that be a word?) were worshippers of Apollo to whom the title of soter,
which means "savior", was given
and whose emblem was a serpent.
"Some even trace the Babylonian pagan priesthood as removing
to Pergamos."
(See note on Rev. 2:12 in the Companion
Bible).
In
any event, they had adopted a great many pagan rituals into their worship.
Ever see that in today's churches,
easter
eggs, bunnies, etc.?
However, remember where John
has been taken to, the day of Lord,
the first day of the Millennium, which is yet future,
but not very far away, in fact, I believe just around the corner.
Let's see what Christ has to say to them.
Rev.
2:12
And to the angel
of the church in Pergamos write; These things saith He which hath the sharp
sword with two edges;
This church is reminded right
away of His sharp sword that has two edges,
i.e. His word that proceeds out of His mouth.
The church in Pergamos is about
to get a "tongue lashing" with the sharpest tongue in the universe.
[13]
I know thy works, and where thou dwellest, even where Satan's seat is:
and thou holdest fast my name, and hast not denied my faith, even in those
days wherein Antipas was my faithful martyr, who was slain among you, where
Satan dwelleth.
It
looks like this church has "made their bed" right where Satan dwells.
I'm sure they believe he is the real thing, for most of
the world will! when Satan appears at the six trump
(which we will learn about in this
Book of Revelation),
he will claim to be Jesus Christ,
the Messiah.
You should remember from kindergarten (or Sesame Street)
that the number 6 comes before the number 7.
It
is at the 6th Trump that Satan is cast out of heaven onto this earth (Rev.
12:7-9),
to
play the role of the spurious messiah.
We
don't gather back to Christ until the 7th Trump, the very last one!
The apostle Paul WARNS us what
will
happen before we gather back to Jesus at the 7th Trump.
2 Thes.
2:1 Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ,
and by our gathering together unto him,
2 Thes. 2:3 Let
no man deceive you by any means: for that
day shall not come, except
there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son
of perdition;
The "that day" is the
day we gather back to Christ.
And the son of "perdition" is the son who will "perish"
(in the lake of fire).
That's Satan.
He's as good as dead which is why he is also called "Death".
[4]
Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that
is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing
himself that he is God.
Antichrist (anti in
Greek means "instead of"), who is Satan,
will sit in temple of God claiming
that he is God.
He's
a supernatural archangel and he will put on quite a show in the sight of
men!
And the name he will go by is
"Jesus".
Do you know what this means?
There are two Jesus', two Gods,the
real and the imposter.
Most people don't know the difference.
Do
you?
Will you at that time?
Well, there will be one person in
the church of Pergamos who will know the difference
between the two and he will be
martyred.
His name, no doubt derived from his reputation, is Antipas
which means "anti-father",
and yet Jesus calls him His faithful martyr.
He is faithful in telling the
Biblically illiterate of the church of Pergamos
that the dude who sits in the
temple claiming to be God "Ain't the Father".
Six comes before seven, don't you
know?
Note: At the time of the crucifixion
the people were given the choice to release one of two prisoners, Jesus,
the Son of the Father, or Bar-abbas, which means "son of the father" (bar
= son, abba = father). Two sons of two different fathers. Amazing, isn't
it? They chose the latter.
Let's return to Revelation chapter 2.
Rev.
2:14 But I have a few things against thee, because thou hast there them
that hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balac to cast a stumblingblock
before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed unto idols, and
to commit fornication.
Uh oh! This church has multiple problems, "a few things"
wrong.
1.) They've got the "Balaam Syndrome". Balaam was a true
priest of Israel all right, but if one takes the time to read the account
they will find he preached to Balac, i.e. the Moabites, for MONEY. Know
any churches like that? Do you know any churches
that concentrate on fund raisers, pledges of money, pass the plate, building
funds, etc, etc.
In fact at one point Balaam had his ass so loaded with
"donations" that God intervened with an angel and had the ass speak to
Balaam to bring him to his senses.
You know, it seems like every time
I hear a sermon on TV by certain "will readers", I learn how blessed I'll
be if I send money to them. Balaam lives on!
[15]
So hast thou also them that hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitanes, which
thing I hate.
2.) They got "hanky panky" going on, too! We addressed this
in the church of Ephesus.
[16]
Repent; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will fight against them
with the sword of my mouth.
REPENT! That is a strong command, and He means it!
If they don't, guess what?
They'll get a lesson in sword fighting!
Here is a word of wisdom!
If there is one person in this universe
you don't want to get into a sword fight with, it's Jesus Christ.
I don't care if your name is Zorro or Luke Skywalker!
Rev.
2:17 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches;
To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna, and will
give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man
knoweth saving he that receiveth it.
This time Christ says if we
have those "ears to hear" we better pay attention to what the Spirit,
i.e. Jesus Christ, is saying to
these churches, ALL of them.
It is extremely important, a matter of eternal life or
death.
What is this manna spoken of here?
Manna is the angel's food that our Father fed His children
with in the wilderness of Sinai.
It is symbolic of the truth, i.e.
the bread of life, which our Father feeds His children in today's wilderness,
during this time of the great famine
spoken of in Matthew 24 and Mark 13.
"What?.. I don't see a great famine!"
Maybe you also need "eyes to see".
Look into the Book of Amos and "see" what is revealed
concerning the famine of the end time.
Amos
8:11 Behold, the days come, saith the Lord GOD, that I will send a famine
in the land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing
the words of the LORD:
There's just no time to prepare a meal with real
meat for God's children.
There's too much Balaam going on.
Give 'em a little morsel and then "Bail-'em", the money
that is.
Now, notice in Rev 2:17 that there
is "hidden" manna, i.e. hidden truth.
Some will ask, "Why
is it that truth is hidden in the Bible?"
The answer is,"So
that when you go
looking for it,
you can find it!"
Actually, all you need are "eyes
to see" and "ears
to hear"
and it becomes revealed, uncovered,
as it is right here in the great Book of Revelation.
We will address the white stone and the new name in a
subsequent study.
Meanwhile, here's some good advice, "Get
out of Pergamos".
To study the Bible is the noblest of all pursuits;
to understand it, the highest of all goals.
We pray that with the guidance of the Holy
Spirit, you accomplish both.
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