He That Hath An Ear, Let Him Hear - Part I
March 2019
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Revelation 2 and 3 present seven letters written to seven churches. I want us to look at the details of the letter to the church of Pergamos. Eight times in the book of Revelation, we read the phrase, “He that hath an ear, let him hear.”
Seven Letters To Seven Churches
Seven letters were written to seven churches that existed in the day that John wrote the Revelation of Christ as given to him. Each one of them were written because of something that needed to be addressed. In reality, their words are still meaningful to us today. We get to hear what the Spirit said to the church in Pergamos.
The City Of Pergamos
Pergamos was a center of the worship of false gods: Asclepius, the serpent-god of healing; the Greek god Zeus; Demeter, the Greek god of harvest, fertility, and every kind of sexual excess; the goddess Athena; and the temples were dedicated to the Roman emperors. In the midst of these temples gathered the saints to worship Jesus Christ. An odd place to have church, or was it? Jesus said, “And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it” (Matt. 16:18). Pergamos was definitely a gate of hell.
The Angel To The Church In Pergamos
“And to the angel of the church in Pergamos write; These things saith he which hath the sharp sword with two edges” (Rev. 2:12). Dr. Spiros Zodhiates in The Complete Word Study Dictionary tells us, “the angels of the seven churches are probably the bishops or pastors of those churches, the delegates or messengers of the churches of God.” In turn, they would deliver the message to the saints in Pergamos.
Who Is The Messenger?
The messenger is none other than the Lord Jesus Christ. The sharp sword with two edges is first mentioned in Rev. 1:16. This is part of a paragraph that clearly describes Jesus Christ. The sword represents God’s Word. One side of God’s Word brings comfort to the believer. The other side of God’s Word brings conviction to the unbeliever.
Commendation
In evaluating this church, Jesus starts off commending them for what they were doing right: “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” (Rev. 2:13). Literally, living where the throne of Satan was, they were loyal to the name of Jesus Christ and to the faith of Jesus Christ. Brother Swaggart talks about the words “my faith.” In his commentary on Revelation, he writes, “My faith does not necessarily refer to an exhibition of faith, but rather all that pertains to biblical Christianity. It pertains to the Cross and what Christ did there. Simple faith in Christ and what He did in the giving of Himself as a sacrifice, sums up Christianity.”
What About The Church Today?
Can we say that the church today is loyal to the name of Jesus Christ in the midst of the wickedness that surrounds us? Is the church upholding the faith of Christ (the doctrines of Christ)? Has the church been affected by society more than it has effected society? Are we listening for His voice?
There’s a remnant in the church today that is, in fact, seeking God. They are listening to the “still small voice” and making sure it lines up to the Bible. They have ears and want to hear what the Spirit is saying to the church.
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