WEBVTT 00:00:00.080 --> 00:00:11.160 As I've noted each week, the literary structure of the seven sermons in these two chapters creates what we call a chiasm. 00:00:11.620 --> 00:00:19.519 Chiasm, meaning that the content of each sermon, it narrows in its scope and focus and then broadens back out again. 00:00:19.640 --> 00:00:25.300 In fact, we may, do I have this, Becky, on the screen? Does it look like it has an X and maybe the different names of the churches? 00:00:25.900 --> 00:00:27.359 There you go, there, now you can see it again. 00:00:27.359 --> 00:00:36.359 You can see kind of the, so chiasm, as we talked about in that first message, chiasm comes from the Greek letter chi, which looks like an X. 00:00:36.659 --> 00:00:40.960 And so it narrows in its scope of content and then it broadens back out again. 00:00:41.140 --> 00:00:45.939 That's what's happening with these seven sermons and the way that they are organized for us. 00:00:46.100 --> 00:00:47.820 And that's helpful to our understanding. 00:00:47.920 --> 00:00:57.100 As we thought about Ephesus just a couple of weeks ago, the parallel to Ephesus would be Laodicea, which has very similar issues. 00:00:57.359 --> 00:01:08.459 Last week we considered Smyrna, which has a parallel of the church in Philadelphia, which are the only two churches that do not have complaints from Jesus or corrections. 00:01:09.019 --> 00:01:13.640 They're the only two healthy churches, we would assume, among the seven. 00:01:13.640 --> 00:01:25.159 And now we get this morning to Pergamum, which initiates a section in the center of this chiasm that groups three churches together. 00:01:25.159 --> 00:01:33.719 And these three churches, what we find as we read through them, are all at various stages of decline. 00:01:34.319 --> 00:01:41.819 And their order seems to present a progression that moves from bad to worse to worst. 00:01:42.859 --> 00:01:48.359 You can consider, you can read through the whole thing later this afternoon if you want, but let me just summarize it for you. 00:01:48.359 --> 00:01:55.039 Pergamum has adopted a subtle or infant form of compromise. 00:01:56.000 --> 00:01:58.980 It did not fully embrace error. 00:01:59.219 --> 00:02:07.079 It did not fully embrace false teaching or immorality, but it was tolerating members in the church that did. 00:02:07.739 --> 00:02:13.000 And what we find as we move through these three churches, the common sin is this sin of compromise. 00:02:13.000 --> 00:02:17.340 So what we find in Pergamum is kind of this subtle infant compromise. 00:02:17.520 --> 00:02:24.479 Then as we move to Thyatira, we find that they were much more blatant and open in their compromise. 00:02:24.919 --> 00:02:32.120 So that the church as a whole generally was embracing false teaching and ungodliness. 00:02:32.639 --> 00:02:37.240 Then we move to the third church in the grouping, that's Sardis. 00:02:37.240 --> 00:02:44.580 And the condition of Sardis' compromise is such that Jesus just simply says that they are dead. 00:02:45.180 --> 00:02:45.960 They're dead. 00:02:46.640 --> 00:02:52.740 With the exception of just a few faithful members in the church who are remaining faithful to the Lord and to the gospel, 00:02:53.260 --> 00:02:56.540 the church ultimately was full of unbelievers. 00:02:57.219 --> 00:02:58.600 And we see this progression. 00:02:58.719 --> 00:03:02.480 We're going to focus in on this thought and this progression over the next three weeks. 00:03:02.479 --> 00:03:08.239 The commonality is compromised, but there's different levels of compromise in each church. 00:03:08.359 --> 00:03:18.679 And what we find is that if in Pergamum, if we are a Pergamene type church and we don't repent of that and we don't move away from that subtle compromise, 00:03:19.159 --> 00:03:27.280 ultimately we become a Thyatira church, which eventually is going to lead to a Sardis church, a dead church, an unbelieving church. 00:03:27.280 --> 00:03:35.340 And so a Pergamene spirit will set a church very quickly on the trajectory of spiritual death. 00:03:35.680 --> 00:03:38.020 And that's the warning that we heed as we come here. 00:03:39.060 --> 00:03:43.860 Now, the sermon to Pergamum has an overall tone of judgment. 00:03:45.360 --> 00:03:53.000 Jesus is the righteous judge here, and he is warning them that compromising truth and godliness 00:03:53.000 --> 00:04:02.699 under pressure from the world or as a result of our sinful flesh will incur his righteous judgment. 00:04:04.280 --> 00:04:10.099 So not only are we to remain faithful in belief in behavior, 00:04:10.659 --> 00:04:16.220 but we must lovingly correct and discipline those who are not. 00:04:16.220 --> 00:04:23.120 And so there's a very specific instruction that we begin to see unfold in this sermon to this church. 00:04:23.560 --> 00:04:32.940 And as with every church, Jesus provides a promise so that the overall tone may be judgment, but it's not all judgment. 00:04:33.680 --> 00:04:38.240 He provides in the conclusion a really wonderful promise here that we will get to, 00:04:38.880 --> 00:04:45.640 that the benefits of being faithful to Christ far exceed anything that this world has to offer. 00:04:46.220 --> 00:04:54.860 So then we are to be motivated then, not only by the reality of Christ's judgment as the righteous judge, 00:04:55.420 --> 00:05:01.440 that great eschatological judge and king who will return to judge the world, 00:05:01.940 --> 00:05:08.640 but we are to be motivated by the glorious promise that he gives to all who conquer, 00:05:09.260 --> 00:05:10.920 to all who conquer in his name. 00:05:10.920 --> 00:05:16.560 And just as a side, this should be the nature of our tone in evangelism. 00:05:17.759 --> 00:05:21.699 Julie and I were, I don't know if it was, I don't know where she found it, 00:05:21.720 --> 00:05:26.140 but she was watching this video of someone the other day that essentially, 00:05:26.300 --> 00:05:31.900 I know what they were trying to say, but essentially they were condemning those who would come to Christ 00:05:31.900 --> 00:05:33.780 merely out of a fear of going to hell. 00:05:33.779 --> 00:05:34.099 Hell. 00:05:34.739 --> 00:05:36.119 And I hate that. 00:05:36.299 --> 00:05:37.679 And I hate it for this reason. 00:05:38.399 --> 00:05:41.739 Because Jesus talks about hell so much. 00:05:42.399 --> 00:05:44.559 He talks about judgment so much. 00:05:45.119 --> 00:05:49.659 And the reason is because the judgment that is to come for unbelievers 00:05:49.659 --> 00:05:53.259 is to motivate their repentance and their turning to Christ. 00:05:53.619 --> 00:05:56.099 Now in our evangelism, if all we ever talk about is hell, 00:05:56.139 --> 00:05:59.559 and we never talk about the goodness of God and the graciousness of Jesus 00:05:59.560 --> 00:06:03.600 and the prize and the treasure that Jesus is, there's a problem in that. 00:06:04.019 --> 00:06:07.019 But if we're always only emphasizing the treasure that is Jesus 00:06:07.019 --> 00:06:09.519 and we never warn of hell, there's a problem in that as well. 00:06:09.720 --> 00:06:11.079 There's a balance to it, isn't there? 00:06:11.420 --> 00:06:14.240 We are motivated not only by the judgment of Christ, 00:06:14.399 --> 00:06:16.779 we are motivated by the promise of Christ. 00:06:17.120 --> 00:06:18.379 That's the full gospel. 00:06:18.840 --> 00:06:21.980 And as we come to this particular sermon to the church at Pergamum, 00:06:22.120 --> 00:06:24.620 we find this balance in the words of Jesus. 00:06:24.620 --> 00:06:27.840 He is the righteous judge who will come 00:06:27.840 --> 00:06:31.240 and he threatens judgment for all who do not follow him. 00:06:31.360 --> 00:06:33.699 But he is also a gracious savior 00:06:33.699 --> 00:06:38.420 who promises the hidden manna, eternal life and salvation 00:06:38.420 --> 00:06:41.579 for all who do conquer through him. 00:06:41.819 --> 00:06:43.819 And that's the balance of the sermon as we go. 00:06:44.280 --> 00:06:47.939 Let's consider first the church identity and Christ title. 00:06:48.100 --> 00:06:49.620 Look with me at verse 12. 00:06:50.699 --> 00:06:52.840 To the angel of the church in Pergamum write, 00:06:52.839 --> 00:06:57.319 the words of him who has the sharp two-edged sword. 00:06:58.759 --> 00:07:01.159 Many cities have a unique identity in the world. 00:07:02.259 --> 00:07:05.779 If I were to mention your first thoughts 00:07:05.779 --> 00:07:09.179 that maybe come to mind when I say Las Vegas, Nevada, 00:07:09.919 --> 00:07:12.219 probably the first thing that comes to your mind 00:07:12.219 --> 00:07:16.519 is not its proximity to the Grand Canyon or the Hoover Dam. 00:07:16.859 --> 00:07:17.899 That might be in the mix, 00:07:17.919 --> 00:07:19.579 but it's probably not your first thought. 00:07:20.039 --> 00:07:21.379 Well, it comes to your mind. 00:07:21.379 --> 00:07:23.560 Well, it's known as Sin City. 00:07:24.159 --> 00:07:26.500 It's the place where many people go 00:07:26.500 --> 00:07:28.839 to live out some sort of debauchery 00:07:28.839 --> 00:07:31.420 that they hope doesn't follow them home. 00:07:32.100 --> 00:07:33.560 And that's what we think about. 00:07:33.639 --> 00:07:37.279 It's known for being an adult playground, so to speak. 00:07:38.079 --> 00:07:39.620 Paris is the city of love. 00:07:40.719 --> 00:07:43.879 Los Angeles is the entertainment capital of the world. 00:07:44.060 --> 00:07:46.620 Salt Lake City would be the heart of Mormonism. 00:07:47.019 --> 00:07:49.480 Many big cities like this, they have a personality. 00:07:49.480 --> 00:07:52.960 They have an identity that people generally know them by. 00:07:53.700 --> 00:07:55.960 Pergamum had such an identity. 00:07:56.939 --> 00:08:00.240 In the Roman province of Asia, at this time in its history, 00:08:00.960 --> 00:08:05.920 Pergamum was known for its pluralistic religion. 00:08:06.600 --> 00:08:10.220 It was the religious capital of the region. 00:08:10.220 --> 00:08:15.020 And if you lived there, in Asia that is, during the first century, 00:08:15.180 --> 00:08:20.240 you would have most likely thought of Pergamum as a melting pot of religion. 00:08:20.240 --> 00:08:22.440 That was what its identity was. 00:08:22.980 --> 00:08:27.060 It contained a plethora of religious landmarks. 00:08:27.760 --> 00:08:32.080 Civil life in the city was permeated by pagan ritualism. 00:08:32.080 --> 00:08:35.700 And what I mean by that is that it would be impossible 00:08:35.700 --> 00:08:40.220 to go about the routine task of life in Pergamum 00:08:40.220 --> 00:08:45.639 without witnessing or engaging with pagan ritualism, 00:08:45.920 --> 00:08:47.800 pagan forms of worship. 00:08:47.800 --> 00:08:51.020 It really was constraining in their culture. 00:08:51.019 --> 00:08:56.720 It went so deeply in their culture that it touched everything that they did. 00:08:57.860 --> 00:09:00.539 And so we're going to come back to that in just a moment. 00:09:00.639 --> 00:09:03.399 So let's just move on to the Christ title now. 00:09:04.120 --> 00:09:09.480 Jesus refers to himself here as the one who has the sharp two-edged sword. 00:09:10.100 --> 00:09:11.059 The sharp two-edged sword. 00:09:11.120 --> 00:09:14.519 Now remember, this is not John's estimation of who Jesus is. 00:09:14.779 --> 00:09:16.939 This is Jesus' self-revelation. 00:09:16.940 --> 00:09:20.960 He tells John, write this to the pastor of the church in Pergamum. 00:09:21.260 --> 00:09:22.720 Here's who I am to this church. 00:09:22.840 --> 00:09:25.140 Here's how they should think of me at this point. 00:09:25.460 --> 00:09:27.820 I am the one with the sharp two-edged sword. 00:09:28.400 --> 00:09:33.240 The sword in that culture symbolized authority, power, 00:09:34.100 --> 00:09:37.180 especially as it relates to punishment. 00:09:38.380 --> 00:09:41.480 And the New Testament uses this imagery as a result. 00:09:41.800 --> 00:09:44.580 Romans chapter 13, you'll remember Paul writing about 00:09:44.580 --> 00:09:46.720 the Christian relationship to government. 00:09:46.940 --> 00:09:50.040 He says, would you have no fear of the one who is in authority? 00:09:50.360 --> 00:09:53.500 Then do what's good, and you will receive his approval. 00:09:53.940 --> 00:09:55.940 For he's God's servant for your good. 00:09:56.500 --> 00:10:02.220 But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword in vain. 00:10:03.040 --> 00:10:05.960 So when this type of language was used, 00:10:06.000 --> 00:10:09.360 it was automatically going to be associated with power, 00:10:09.900 --> 00:10:14.140 authority, and pending punishment from that authority. 00:10:14.139 --> 00:10:21.740 And that the sword is sharp and two-edged means that it is effective, 00:10:22.399 --> 00:10:27.620 fully capable of inflicting swift and total punishment 00:10:27.620 --> 00:10:30.659 by whoever it is that wields it. 00:10:31.600 --> 00:10:34.919 And Jesus says, the way that I want Pergamum to think of me 00:10:34.919 --> 00:10:40.679 is as the one who wields the sharp two-edged sword. 00:10:41.479 --> 00:10:45.679 And early readers would have immediately recognized this 00:10:45.679 --> 00:10:47.839 as a contrast to Rome. 00:10:48.599 --> 00:10:51.399 And it's really what sets the tone for the rest of the sermon. 00:10:52.539 --> 00:10:55.599 Rome carried a tremendous sort of power. 00:10:55.600 --> 00:11:01.920 But in Jesus' words here, it was nothing compared to the authority of Christ. 00:11:03.200 --> 00:11:06.460 Rome threatened a harsh judgment in this life, 00:11:06.580 --> 00:11:09.580 but Jesus is that eschatological judge 00:11:09.580 --> 00:11:14.259 before whom every man and woman and boy and girl 00:11:14.259 --> 00:11:16.879 will have to stand in judgment. 00:11:17.759 --> 00:11:20.700 And the fact that Jesus uses this title here 00:11:20.700 --> 00:11:24.500 and in the consequence formula of verse 16 00:11:24.500 --> 00:11:27.100 shows how serious of a matter 00:11:27.100 --> 00:11:31.060 this issue of subtle compromise truly is. 00:11:32.280 --> 00:11:33.759 This is the sin in the church. 00:11:33.860 --> 00:11:36.240 And he says, now I want you to think of me 00:11:36.240 --> 00:11:38.060 as the one with the sword. 00:11:38.900 --> 00:11:42.200 And the question we are forced to ask at this point is, 00:11:42.460 --> 00:11:44.680 which sword do we respect most? 00:11:45.540 --> 00:11:48.600 The sword of Rome or the sword of Christ? 00:11:48.600 --> 00:11:54.519 Either our fear of persecution will weaken our faith 00:11:54.519 --> 00:11:56.779 and diminish our fear of God, 00:11:57.360 --> 00:12:01.600 or our fear of God will strengthen our faith 00:12:01.600 --> 00:12:05.360 and cause us to stand boldly in the face of hardship 00:12:05.360 --> 00:12:06.980 for the name of Christ. 00:12:07.740 --> 00:12:08.899 That's what's at play here. 00:12:09.440 --> 00:12:11.320 This was a very serious issue. 00:12:11.440 --> 00:12:13.720 This was confronting the church in Pergamum 00:12:13.720 --> 00:12:16.019 every single day of their lives. 00:12:16.019 --> 00:12:20.100 Will we fear most the sword of Rome 00:12:20.100 --> 00:12:23.079 or the sword of God, the sword of Christ? 00:12:24.039 --> 00:12:26.120 Of course, Jesus tells us in Matthew 10, 00:12:26.919 --> 00:12:28.620 do not fear those who kill the body, 00:12:28.879 --> 00:12:30.299 but cannot kill the soul. 00:12:31.460 --> 00:12:35.059 Rather fear him who can destroy both soul 00:12:35.059 --> 00:12:36.600 and body in hell. 00:12:37.240 --> 00:12:39.659 So Jesus very clearly tells us what it is, 00:12:39.659 --> 00:12:41.199 is the right decision in those moments. 00:12:41.200 --> 00:12:43.440 And that's what he's gonna begin to work through here 00:12:43.440 --> 00:12:46.759 in this sermon to Pergamum. 00:12:47.320 --> 00:12:49.400 Well, that's the identity in Christ's title. 00:12:49.500 --> 00:12:52.160 Let's consider now the commendation from Christ 00:12:52.160 --> 00:12:53.120 in verse 13. 00:12:53.480 --> 00:12:54.320 The commendation. 00:12:55.620 --> 00:12:56.180 Read it with me. 00:12:56.240 --> 00:12:59.640 I know where you dwell, where Satan's throne is. 00:13:00.740 --> 00:13:02.460 Yet you hold fast my name, 00:13:02.920 --> 00:13:04.840 and you did not deny my faith, 00:13:05.220 --> 00:13:07.000 even in the days of Antipas, 00:13:07.280 --> 00:13:08.440 my faithful witness, 00:13:08.440 --> 00:13:10.180 who was killed among you, 00:13:10.740 --> 00:13:12.900 where Satan dwells. 00:13:12.900 --> 00:13:16.080 I know where you dwell, Jesus says. 00:13:16.120 --> 00:13:17.680 I know, I know. 00:13:18.880 --> 00:13:21.660 And this is in the context of commendation. 00:13:22.620 --> 00:13:25.260 Have you ever suffered through a season of life 00:13:25.260 --> 00:13:28.300 and felt the comfort of someone 00:13:28.300 --> 00:13:31.340 who just simply acknowledged your struggle? 00:13:32.440 --> 00:13:34.740 There was nothing really that they could offer you. 00:13:34.900 --> 00:13:36.660 They couldn't really change your circumstance. 00:13:36.659 --> 00:13:39.939 But just in the way that they approached you 00:13:39.939 --> 00:13:41.899 or talked with you or prayed with you 00:13:41.899 --> 00:13:43.000 or whatever it may have been, 00:13:43.259 --> 00:13:44.819 you just kind of felt seen 00:13:44.819 --> 00:13:46.639 and a little bit understood. 00:13:47.480 --> 00:13:49.339 And that was enough to kind of give you 00:13:49.339 --> 00:13:51.039 a comforting pick-me-up 00:13:51.039 --> 00:13:52.879 to continue on in your perseverance. 00:13:53.319 --> 00:13:55.100 I hope you've experienced that before. 00:13:56.600 --> 00:13:59.039 And can you imagine if that's the experience we have 00:13:59.039 --> 00:14:01.600 when there is a human comfort in our lives 00:14:01.600 --> 00:14:02.459 that God sends? 00:14:02.460 --> 00:14:05.000 What kind of comfort must this be 00:14:05.000 --> 00:14:06.519 to the church in Pergamon 00:14:06.519 --> 00:14:08.160 when they hear from their Lord and Savior? 00:14:08.379 --> 00:14:10.160 When he just says and he makes this statement, 00:14:10.400 --> 00:14:12.040 I know, I know. 00:14:13.480 --> 00:14:15.920 I've talked with Terry about this a number of times 00:14:15.920 --> 00:14:19.139 in different circumstances that we face in life, 00:14:19.240 --> 00:14:21.840 how comforting it is just sometimes to know 00:14:21.840 --> 00:14:23.320 that Jesus knows. 00:14:23.440 --> 00:14:25.940 He is aware of what we're facing. 00:14:26.060 --> 00:14:28.080 He's aware of our struggle. 00:14:28.780 --> 00:14:30.519 There's a sense of comfort that comes 00:14:30.519 --> 00:14:31.559 just from those words. 00:14:31.639 --> 00:14:33.819 And surely the church in Pergamon 00:14:33.819 --> 00:14:35.860 felt that comfort from the Lord. 00:14:36.120 --> 00:14:38.840 He was well aware of how difficult it was 00:14:38.840 --> 00:14:40.340 to be a Christian in that city. 00:14:41.340 --> 00:14:44.460 And he commended them on being faithful to the gospel, 00:14:45.100 --> 00:14:48.139 even when facing extreme persecution. 00:14:49.240 --> 00:14:52.000 The church had, as a whole, 00:14:52.799 --> 00:14:55.079 held fast to the name of Jesus, he says, 00:14:55.080 --> 00:14:58.540 and they refused to abandon the faith. 00:14:58.540 --> 00:15:00.720 They are confronted day by day 00:15:00.720 --> 00:15:02.360 with that question of the sword. 00:15:02.780 --> 00:15:05.520 Will we follow Rome or will we follow Christ 00:15:05.520 --> 00:15:07.300 when those two things conflict together? 00:15:08.400 --> 00:15:10.400 And over and over, this church in Pergamon 00:15:10.400 --> 00:15:12.840 had said, no, we will follow Christ. 00:15:12.960 --> 00:15:15.379 We will not abandon the name of Christ. 00:15:15.500 --> 00:15:16.379 We will be faithful. 00:15:16.580 --> 00:15:17.740 And Jesus commends them. 00:15:18.879 --> 00:15:20.200 Let's consider for just a moment 00:15:20.200 --> 00:15:24.460 the magnitude of this perseverance in Pergamon. 00:15:25.240 --> 00:15:28.879 The fact that Pergamon is the religious capital 00:15:28.879 --> 00:15:30.820 or was the religious capital of Asia 00:15:30.820 --> 00:15:32.960 is what merits this description 00:15:32.960 --> 00:15:36.320 that it is the place where Satan's throne is. 00:15:36.520 --> 00:15:37.860 Do you see it there in verse 13? 00:15:37.980 --> 00:15:39.820 Again, I know where you dwell, 00:15:40.240 --> 00:15:42.220 where Satan's throne is. 00:15:43.100 --> 00:15:44.220 I mentioned there were a number 00:15:44.220 --> 00:15:46.379 of religious landmarks in the city. 00:15:46.379 --> 00:15:51.919 It was the home to the Asclepius Healing Center, 00:15:52.580 --> 00:15:55.700 named after the Greek god of healing, Asclepius. 00:15:56.720 --> 00:15:59.019 Mythology portrayed this god as a snake. 00:15:59.159 --> 00:16:01.439 You will be familiar with his symbol 00:16:01.439 --> 00:16:02.519 because it's still the symbol 00:16:02.519 --> 00:16:03.799 used in the medical world today. 00:16:03.939 --> 00:16:06.899 It's a staff with a serpent intertwined around it. 00:16:07.879 --> 00:16:12.500 The heart of this type of mythological religion 00:16:12.500 --> 00:16:14.000 was in Pergamon. 00:16:14.120 --> 00:16:15.779 There was a healing center there. 00:16:15.779 --> 00:16:17.720 People would travel from all over 00:16:17.720 --> 00:16:19.240 to come and pray to this god. 00:16:19.339 --> 00:16:21.539 They would go into this temple scenario 00:16:21.539 --> 00:16:23.500 where snakes were kept 00:16:23.500 --> 00:16:24.159 and they would lay 00:16:24.159 --> 00:16:25.519 and snakes would come along them 00:16:25.519 --> 00:16:26.439 and they would hope that 00:16:26.439 --> 00:16:27.860 that some type of healing 00:16:27.860 --> 00:16:29.579 would be transferred to them 00:16:29.579 --> 00:16:31.720 through their worship to this god 00:16:31.720 --> 00:16:33.759 as he passed on this healing property 00:16:33.759 --> 00:16:36.439 through the elements connected to this temple. 00:16:37.819 --> 00:16:39.139 Now, I don't care how sick I am. 00:16:39.179 --> 00:16:40.220 I'm never gonna lay down 00:16:40.220 --> 00:16:42.240 and let snakes crawl all over me. 00:16:42.620 --> 00:16:44.100 I'd just rather die, I think. 00:16:44.100 --> 00:16:47.040 But this is in Pergamon. 00:16:47.159 --> 00:16:48.240 This place is right in the... 00:16:48.240 --> 00:16:49.779 But it's not the only thing that's in Pergamon. 00:16:50.040 --> 00:16:54.639 Also in Pergamon is an enormous altar to Zeus, 00:16:55.060 --> 00:16:58.139 that great Greek god of gods. 00:16:59.040 --> 00:17:00.300 It was massive. 00:17:01.240 --> 00:17:04.180 It was known as the Zeus savior. 00:17:04.420 --> 00:17:08.400 It was a place of pagan religion and worship 00:17:08.400 --> 00:17:09.839 and everything that comes along with that 00:17:09.839 --> 00:17:11.440 right there in the heart of Pergamon. 00:17:11.440 --> 00:17:14.700 But perhaps the most important religious site 00:17:14.700 --> 00:17:16.960 at the time was this temple 00:17:16.960 --> 00:17:19.299 to the imperial cult of Rome, 00:17:19.400 --> 00:17:21.920 the place where Romans would go 00:17:21.920 --> 00:17:24.480 to actually worship their Caesars. 00:17:25.259 --> 00:17:27.259 Now, we talked about last week in Smyrna, 00:17:27.600 --> 00:17:29.380 Smyrna's loyalty to Rome 00:17:29.380 --> 00:17:31.740 had actually granted it the possibility 00:17:31.740 --> 00:17:34.420 of a temple of its own to the imperial cult, 00:17:34.500 --> 00:17:36.180 but it was the second temple in the area. 00:17:36.400 --> 00:17:38.420 The primary one was in Pergamon. 00:17:38.420 --> 00:17:38.940 Why? 00:17:39.279 --> 00:17:41.080 Because this is the religious capital. 00:17:41.380 --> 00:17:43.220 If you were gonna set up a temple somewhere 00:17:43.220 --> 00:17:45.320 for your religion in that day and age, 00:17:45.420 --> 00:17:47.180 it would have been Pergamon. 00:17:47.440 --> 00:17:49.080 So Pergamon, the city, 00:17:49.380 --> 00:17:51.539 is somewhat of a microcosm 00:17:51.539 --> 00:17:55.279 of the pluralistic ideas of Roman religion. 00:17:56.060 --> 00:17:59.360 But there is a tremendous irony in all of this 00:17:59.360 --> 00:18:01.860 because what Jesus goes on to say 00:18:01.860 --> 00:18:04.340 is that in the midst of this pluralism, 00:18:04.460 --> 00:18:07.160 this tolerance for multiple religions, 00:18:07.160 --> 00:18:10.140 there is this intolerance for Christianity. 00:18:11.080 --> 00:18:12.800 That's the irony, isn't it? 00:18:14.100 --> 00:18:15.960 Romans didn't care who you worshiped. 00:18:16.080 --> 00:18:17.740 They didn't care if you worship Jesus. 00:18:18.140 --> 00:18:21.880 Their problem was the exclusivity claims of Christianity. 00:18:22.740 --> 00:18:25.960 They didn't mind adding more and more gods 00:18:25.960 --> 00:18:27.480 to their set of religions. 00:18:27.680 --> 00:18:29.019 What they didn't tolerate 00:18:29.019 --> 00:18:32.640 was to take away any gods from their set of religions. 00:18:32.860 --> 00:18:35.380 And then Jesus and Christianity comes on the scene 00:18:35.380 --> 00:18:37.780 and Christians begin to preach the gospel 00:18:37.780 --> 00:18:39.580 that says there is only one God 00:18:39.580 --> 00:18:41.240 and there is only one Lord 00:18:41.240 --> 00:18:42.220 and it's not Caesar. 00:18:43.000 --> 00:18:43.920 It's Jesus. 00:18:45.020 --> 00:18:47.320 And unless you repent and believe in him, 00:18:47.760 --> 00:18:49.780 you're gonna be judged by him 00:18:49.780 --> 00:18:52.080 and you're gonna spend eternity in hell. 00:18:52.740 --> 00:18:53.560 That was the message. 00:18:53.880 --> 00:18:55.300 That was the intolerance. 00:18:55.299 --> 00:18:59.700 So this ultimately religious tolerant society 00:18:59.700 --> 00:19:02.859 is intolerant of intolerance. 00:19:04.119 --> 00:19:06.559 Remember also that Roman religion 00:19:06.559 --> 00:19:08.460 was not based in doctrine, 00:19:09.019 --> 00:19:10.079 but ritual. 00:19:10.480 --> 00:19:12.019 That's really what they cared about. 00:19:12.720 --> 00:19:15.000 It wasn't so much what you believed. 00:19:16.359 --> 00:19:19.119 They didn't care so much about your religious position. 00:19:19.759 --> 00:19:22.519 They cared about your religious participation. 00:19:22.519 --> 00:19:22.879 Participation. 00:19:23.339 --> 00:19:25.960 That's what they really, really mattered to them 00:19:25.960 --> 00:19:27.379 because to them, the culture 00:19:27.379 --> 00:19:28.359 and the way that the city 00:19:28.359 --> 00:19:29.559 and the culture would worship 00:19:29.559 --> 00:19:31.660 had something to do with 00:19:31.660 --> 00:19:33.579 how the God would treat the city as a whole. 00:19:35.420 --> 00:19:37.079 Participation in their forms of worship 00:19:37.079 --> 00:19:39.379 was important culturally for them. 00:19:39.879 --> 00:19:40.819 And as I said earlier, 00:19:41.519 --> 00:19:43.799 daily life in a place like Pergamum 00:19:43.799 --> 00:19:46.299 was saturated with pagan practices. 00:19:47.440 --> 00:19:50.039 A faithful Christian would stick out 00:19:50.039 --> 00:19:51.639 like a sore thumb in that city. 00:19:52.139 --> 00:19:53.759 It would not take very long 00:19:53.759 --> 00:19:55.220 for you to draw attention. 00:19:55.680 --> 00:19:57.039 Maybe not even necessarily 00:19:57.039 --> 00:19:58.500 because of what you're doing 00:19:58.500 --> 00:19:59.339 or what you're saying, 00:19:59.500 --> 00:20:01.399 but because of what you're not doing 00:20:01.399 --> 00:20:03.200 and what you're not saying. 00:20:05.000 --> 00:20:07.599 And the context led to this devastating moment 00:20:07.599 --> 00:20:09.460 in the church's history. 00:20:10.779 --> 00:20:12.299 Jesus talks about Antipas, 00:20:12.379 --> 00:20:13.279 the faithful witness. 00:20:13.980 --> 00:20:15.299 We don't know much about him. 00:20:15.700 --> 00:20:17.460 Tradition says that he was 00:20:17.460 --> 00:20:19.600 a faithful Christian leader in Pergamum 00:20:19.600 --> 00:20:23.420 who suffered an excruciatingly torturous death 00:20:23.420 --> 00:20:24.779 because of his faith. 00:20:26.079 --> 00:20:27.700 Like extremely torturous. 00:20:27.799 --> 00:20:29.200 You can look it up on your own later. 00:20:30.519 --> 00:20:31.980 And as we read in verse 13, 00:20:32.079 --> 00:20:32.960 we get this idea 00:20:32.960 --> 00:20:34.940 that Antipas' death 00:20:34.940 --> 00:20:36.559 was not only shocking, 00:20:36.720 --> 00:20:38.680 but it was perhaps sudden. 00:20:40.840 --> 00:20:44.420 Maybe this was the first real martyrdom 00:20:44.420 --> 00:20:46.840 that this church had experienced. 00:20:47.500 --> 00:20:48.720 That he was killed, 00:20:49.420 --> 00:20:50.720 as Jesus says, 00:20:50.880 --> 00:20:53.220 among them where Satan dwells 00:20:53.220 --> 00:20:54.960 indicates that perhaps 00:20:54.960 --> 00:20:56.539 some of the people in the church 00:20:56.539 --> 00:20:57.200 were present 00:20:57.200 --> 00:20:59.120 at one of the specific 00:20:59.120 --> 00:21:00.800 religious landmarks in the city. 00:21:01.279 --> 00:21:03.039 And that's where Antipas 00:21:03.039 --> 00:21:04.080 suddenly was taken 00:21:04.080 --> 00:21:06.060 and executed before them. 00:21:07.460 --> 00:21:08.380 Now, can you imagine 00:21:08.380 --> 00:21:10.920 having to be a witness 00:21:10.920 --> 00:21:12.759 to the torture and execution 00:21:12.759 --> 00:21:14.620 of a beloved brother 00:21:14.620 --> 00:21:15.960 or sister in Christ, 00:21:16.900 --> 00:21:17.400 knowing 00:21:17.400 --> 00:21:20.920 that all eyes are now set on you. 00:21:22.420 --> 00:21:23.920 And that if you refuse 00:21:23.920 --> 00:21:26.440 to do what they want, 00:21:27.000 --> 00:21:29.340 as far as their pagan practices 00:21:29.340 --> 00:21:30.100 are concerned, 00:21:30.620 --> 00:21:31.779 you're the one that's going to have 00:21:31.779 --> 00:21:33.300 to face that type of death next. 00:21:34.039 --> 00:21:36.039 That's what Pergamum was up against. 00:21:36.580 --> 00:21:37.880 That's what they're dealing with. 00:21:38.580 --> 00:21:39.740 And Jesus commends them. 00:21:40.920 --> 00:21:41.480 He says, 00:21:41.539 --> 00:21:42.480 but you've held fast 00:21:42.480 --> 00:21:43.360 to the name of Jesus. 00:21:44.460 --> 00:21:46.620 You have not abandoned my faith. 00:21:46.620 --> 00:21:47.519 He says, 00:21:47.600 --> 00:21:49.320 and he commends them greatly on this. 00:21:50.960 --> 00:21:51.800 Of course, 00:21:51.880 --> 00:21:53.460 the religious irony of Pergamum 00:21:53.460 --> 00:21:55.400 is just as prevalent today. 00:21:56.600 --> 00:21:59.259 We live in a deeply pluralistic, 00:21:59.920 --> 00:22:01.620 albeit secular, 00:22:02.400 --> 00:22:02.840 culture 00:22:02.840 --> 00:22:04.759 that is tolerant 00:22:04.759 --> 00:22:06.300 of every possible belief 00:22:06.300 --> 00:22:07.060 and behavior 00:22:07.060 --> 00:22:08.360 except the one 00:22:08.360 --> 00:22:09.380 that isn't tolerant. 00:22:10.920 --> 00:22:11.640 And if you're going to live 00:22:11.640 --> 00:22:12.600 as a faithful Christian 00:22:12.600 --> 00:22:13.279 in this world 00:22:13.279 --> 00:22:14.019 and if you're going to live 00:22:14.019 --> 00:22:14.880 as a faithful Christian 00:22:14.880 --> 00:22:15.600 in this city, 00:22:16.120 --> 00:22:18.580 you're going to have to remain 00:22:18.580 --> 00:22:19.940 steadfast in the faith 00:22:19.940 --> 00:22:20.980 and there's no way 00:22:20.980 --> 00:22:21.600 you're going to be able 00:22:21.600 --> 00:22:22.460 to hide that. 00:22:23.460 --> 00:22:24.980 You won't be able to hide it. 00:22:27.300 --> 00:22:28.360 At some point, 00:22:28.440 --> 00:22:29.320 you'll have to face 00:22:29.320 --> 00:22:30.120 the same question 00:22:30.120 --> 00:22:32.259 that the Pergamum people faced. 00:22:32.259 --> 00:22:34.099 will we care more 00:22:34.099 --> 00:22:35.960 about the sword of Christ 00:22:35.960 --> 00:22:38.019 or the sword of Rome? 00:22:39.379 --> 00:22:40.940 Let's consider the complaint here. 00:22:41.119 --> 00:22:41.779 Verse 14, 00:22:43.220 --> 00:22:44.519 I have a few things against you, 00:22:44.559 --> 00:22:45.200 Jesus says. 00:22:45.980 --> 00:22:47.180 You have some there 00:22:47.180 --> 00:22:48.900 who hold the teaching of Balaam, 00:22:49.299 --> 00:22:51.059 who taught Balak 00:22:51.059 --> 00:22:52.539 to put a stumbling block 00:22:52.539 --> 00:22:53.740 before the sons of Israel 00:22:53.740 --> 00:22:56.240 so that they may eat food, 00:22:56.599 --> 00:22:57.599 sacrifice to idols, 00:22:57.720 --> 00:22:59.420 and practice sexual immorality. 00:22:59.420 --> 00:23:01.259 So also, 00:23:01.580 --> 00:23:02.620 you have some 00:23:02.620 --> 00:23:03.580 who hold the teaching 00:23:03.580 --> 00:23:05.300 of the Nicolaitans. 00:23:06.300 --> 00:23:08.200 So despite the commendation, 00:23:08.300 --> 00:23:09.140 a serious problem 00:23:09.140 --> 00:23:11.100 is developing in Pergamum here. 00:23:11.660 --> 00:23:13.720 Though they had been faithful before, 00:23:14.480 --> 00:23:15.740 they were beginning 00:23:15.740 --> 00:23:17.400 to cultivate a subtle, 00:23:18.120 --> 00:23:18.840 doctrinal, 00:23:19.460 --> 00:23:20.880 and moral compromise. 00:23:22.160 --> 00:23:23.920 Now the church as a whole 00:23:23.920 --> 00:23:25.259 is not embracing 00:23:25.259 --> 00:23:26.720 idolatry and immorality. 00:23:26.840 --> 00:23:27.440 That's not at all 00:23:27.440 --> 00:23:28.840 the indication that we get here. 00:23:28.839 --> 00:23:29.899 It's not that they're all 00:23:29.899 --> 00:23:31.299 participating in these things, 00:23:31.379 --> 00:23:32.379 but they weren't shutting 00:23:32.379 --> 00:23:33.319 the door to it either. 00:23:33.419 --> 00:23:34.339 That was the problem. 00:23:35.119 --> 00:23:36.319 They'd let their guard down, 00:23:36.439 --> 00:23:37.699 and they'd let their guard down 00:23:37.699 --> 00:23:39.220 by allowing some people 00:23:39.220 --> 00:23:39.980 in the church 00:23:39.980 --> 00:23:42.259 to adopt these sinful practices 00:23:42.259 --> 00:23:43.279 and beliefs 00:23:43.279 --> 00:23:44.859 without consequence. 00:23:46.039 --> 00:23:46.899 So the issue, 00:23:47.059 --> 00:23:48.159 the compromise there, 00:23:48.319 --> 00:23:49.859 is not that the whole church 00:23:49.859 --> 00:23:50.579 is erring, 00:23:50.839 --> 00:23:53.299 it's that they are tolerating error 00:23:53.299 --> 00:23:55.220 without confronting it 00:23:55.220 --> 00:23:56.480 in the church itself. 00:23:56.480 --> 00:23:58.620 Now we first hear 00:23:58.620 --> 00:23:59.700 about the Nicolaitans 00:23:59.700 --> 00:24:01.180 in Jesus' sermon 00:24:01.180 --> 00:24:03.019 to the church in Ephesus. 00:24:03.460 --> 00:24:04.259 There's not a lot 00:24:04.259 --> 00:24:05.579 that we know about this group either, 00:24:05.720 --> 00:24:06.660 but essentially, 00:24:07.160 --> 00:24:08.039 their teaching was 00:24:08.039 --> 00:24:09.380 seducing Christians 00:24:09.380 --> 00:24:11.700 to participate in idolatry 00:24:11.700 --> 00:24:13.940 and in sexual immorality 00:24:13.940 --> 00:24:16.059 while also trying to maintain 00:24:16.059 --> 00:24:17.640 a Christian identity. 00:24:18.640 --> 00:24:18.740 Okay? 00:24:19.480 --> 00:24:21.220 Now you can put two and two together 00:24:21.220 --> 00:24:22.339 as to how we face this 00:24:22.339 --> 00:24:23.140 even still today. 00:24:23.140 --> 00:24:25.560 Here there's teaching 00:24:25.560 --> 00:24:26.540 that's creeping its way 00:24:26.540 --> 00:24:27.180 into the church, 00:24:27.340 --> 00:24:28.740 into the Christian circles, 00:24:28.900 --> 00:24:29.560 and it's saying 00:24:29.560 --> 00:24:31.340 you can still be a Christian 00:24:31.340 --> 00:24:32.960 and do this 00:24:32.960 --> 00:24:34.080 and think this 00:24:34.080 --> 00:24:35.420 and tolerate this. 00:24:36.040 --> 00:24:36.920 That's the teaching 00:24:36.920 --> 00:24:38.220 of the Nicolaitans essentially. 00:24:38.600 --> 00:24:39.380 And there were some people 00:24:39.380 --> 00:24:39.980 in Pergamum 00:24:39.980 --> 00:24:40.660 who are beginning 00:24:40.660 --> 00:24:42.020 to adopt this teaching. 00:24:42.120 --> 00:24:42.420 They're beginning 00:24:42.420 --> 00:24:43.180 to hold to it. 00:24:43.340 --> 00:24:44.020 They're participating 00:24:44.020 --> 00:24:45.040 in idolatry 00:24:45.040 --> 00:24:46.259 and in sexual immorality 00:24:46.259 --> 00:24:47.500 and they think it's fine. 00:24:47.700 --> 00:24:48.300 And in the midst 00:24:48.300 --> 00:24:48.960 of all of that, 00:24:49.120 --> 00:24:50.080 they're trying to still 00:24:50.080 --> 00:24:51.580 maintain a Christian identity. 00:24:51.579 --> 00:24:52.980 And Jesus comes in 00:24:52.980 --> 00:24:53.799 and he confronts this 00:24:53.799 --> 00:24:54.179 and he says, 00:24:54.259 --> 00:24:55.599 no, this isn't actually possible. 00:24:56.279 --> 00:24:57.279 This is a sin. 00:24:57.579 --> 00:24:58.599 This is a problem. 00:25:00.599 --> 00:25:02.199 And this Old Testament illustration 00:25:02.199 --> 00:25:03.379 that Jesus uses 00:25:03.379 --> 00:25:04.359 for the Nicolaitans 00:25:04.359 --> 00:25:05.259 is helpful to us. 00:25:05.599 --> 00:25:07.279 You can read all about Balaam 00:25:07.279 --> 00:25:08.099 and Balak 00:25:08.099 --> 00:25:09.119 in the book of Numbers 00:25:09.119 --> 00:25:10.019 this afternoon. 00:25:10.099 --> 00:25:10.939 And I would encourage you 00:25:10.939 --> 00:25:11.720 actually to do it. 00:25:11.759 --> 00:25:12.919 It's a fascinating story. 00:25:13.960 --> 00:25:14.939 Balaam was known 00:25:14.939 --> 00:25:17.359 for being a pagan prophet. 00:25:18.279 --> 00:25:18.960 People believe 00:25:18.960 --> 00:25:20.559 that he had this ability 00:25:20.559 --> 00:25:22.619 to speak to them 00:25:22.619 --> 00:25:23.819 on behalf of the gods. 00:25:24.799 --> 00:25:26.519 But he was a mercenary prophet. 00:25:26.679 --> 00:25:27.319 He would speak 00:25:27.319 --> 00:25:29.980 on behalf of whatever God's people 00:25:29.980 --> 00:25:30.819 were paying him 00:25:30.819 --> 00:25:32.440 at the precise moment. 00:25:33.639 --> 00:25:35.059 You will recognize Balaam 00:25:35.059 --> 00:25:36.759 probably not so much 00:25:36.759 --> 00:25:37.240 for anything 00:25:37.240 --> 00:25:39.119 that a god said through him, 00:25:39.220 --> 00:25:40.960 but for what the god, 00:25:41.039 --> 00:25:41.779 the one true god, 00:25:41.859 --> 00:25:42.980 said through his donkey. 00:25:43.399 --> 00:25:44.619 Remember Balaam's donkey. 00:25:45.359 --> 00:25:46.460 And what's the point of that? 00:25:47.099 --> 00:25:47.799 Well, the point of it, 00:25:47.859 --> 00:25:48.619 what it tells us, 00:25:48.659 --> 00:25:49.519 is that God can speak 00:25:49.519 --> 00:25:50.099 through anybody. 00:25:50.579 --> 00:25:51.440 He doesn't only speak 00:25:51.440 --> 00:25:51.960 through believers. 00:25:52.720 --> 00:25:53.920 He speaks through unbelievers. 00:25:54.740 --> 00:25:55.879 He speaks through animals, 00:25:56.259 --> 00:25:56.740 apparently. 00:25:57.079 --> 00:25:58.220 He can speak through anything 00:25:58.220 --> 00:25:59.180 that he wants to speak. 00:25:59.279 --> 00:26:00.180 And then this story 00:26:00.180 --> 00:26:01.460 begins to unfold 00:26:01.460 --> 00:26:04.059 with Balaam and Balak, 00:26:04.279 --> 00:26:06.079 who was the king of Moab. 00:26:06.759 --> 00:26:07.859 Now, he's the king of Moab 00:26:07.859 --> 00:26:09.519 during the wilderness 00:26:09.519 --> 00:26:11.299 wandering years of Israel. 00:26:12.160 --> 00:26:13.960 And Balak hired Balaam 00:26:13.960 --> 00:26:17.099 specifically to pronounce a curse 00:26:17.099 --> 00:26:18.719 on the nation of Israel. 00:26:18.839 --> 00:26:20.059 He was terrified of them, 00:26:20.240 --> 00:26:21.539 as everybody was. 00:26:22.319 --> 00:26:23.519 And he promises Balaam 00:26:23.519 --> 00:26:24.879 an exorbitant amount of money 00:26:24.879 --> 00:26:26.299 and pleasure 00:26:26.299 --> 00:26:28.139 if he would pronounce this curse. 00:26:28.259 --> 00:26:29.439 And as the story unfolds, 00:26:29.439 --> 00:26:30.279 it just doesn't work. 00:26:30.519 --> 00:26:31.459 Every time Balaam 00:26:31.459 --> 00:26:32.699 tries to pronounce a curse, 00:26:33.119 --> 00:26:34.759 God changes it to a blessing. 00:26:35.819 --> 00:26:37.159 And so Balak and Balaam 00:26:37.159 --> 00:26:37.679 get frustrated. 00:26:37.819 --> 00:26:38.639 They go to multiple places 00:26:38.639 --> 00:26:39.399 and it doesn't work. 00:26:39.679 --> 00:26:40.639 And so that's the end 00:26:40.639 --> 00:26:41.319 of the story there 00:26:41.319 --> 00:26:43.279 until Balaam comes up 00:26:43.279 --> 00:26:44.279 with a different solution. 00:26:44.279 --> 00:26:46.440 And he tells Balak, 00:26:46.660 --> 00:26:47.799 here's what you need to do. 00:26:48.299 --> 00:26:49.160 You need to get 00:26:49.160 --> 00:26:50.399 the most beautiful women 00:26:50.399 --> 00:26:51.399 in Moab 00:26:51.399 --> 00:26:53.539 and you need to put them out front 00:26:53.539 --> 00:26:55.000 and you need to send them 00:26:55.000 --> 00:26:56.079 into the camp of Israel 00:26:56.079 --> 00:26:58.039 to seduce the young men 00:26:58.039 --> 00:26:58.980 of Israel. 00:26:59.539 --> 00:27:00.700 And if they'll seduce 00:27:00.700 --> 00:27:01.440 the young men, 00:27:01.599 --> 00:27:02.920 they'll end up marrying 00:27:02.920 --> 00:27:03.619 these women 00:27:03.619 --> 00:27:04.779 and you will be able 00:27:04.779 --> 00:27:07.700 to assimilate Israel 00:27:07.700 --> 00:27:08.879 into your nation 00:27:08.879 --> 00:27:09.940 and you will be king 00:27:09.940 --> 00:27:10.980 over both. 00:27:12.019 --> 00:27:13.220 You see, it's not so much 00:27:13.220 --> 00:27:14.700 a blatant form of compromise 00:27:14.700 --> 00:27:16.059 as it is a subtle one 00:27:16.059 --> 00:27:18.420 in Balaam's plan here. 00:27:19.039 --> 00:27:19.740 And it worked. 00:27:20.819 --> 00:27:22.019 They put the most beautiful 00:27:22.019 --> 00:27:23.180 Moabite women out there. 00:27:24.000 --> 00:27:25.180 Many young men go, 00:27:25.339 --> 00:27:26.079 according to the scripture, 00:27:26.200 --> 00:27:27.220 using language of the scripture, 00:27:27.360 --> 00:27:28.579 go whoring after them 00:27:28.579 --> 00:27:29.440 and after their idols. 00:27:29.920 --> 00:27:31.079 They begin to participate 00:27:31.079 --> 00:27:32.940 in the sexual immorality 00:27:32.940 --> 00:27:33.740 that comes along 00:27:33.740 --> 00:27:35.940 with pagan worship of idols. 00:27:37.220 --> 00:27:38.400 And as a result, 00:27:38.400 --> 00:27:39.900 God judges the nation 00:27:39.900 --> 00:27:43.980 and 24,000 men in Israel 00:27:43.980 --> 00:27:45.820 are killed by a plague 00:27:45.820 --> 00:27:46.620 that God sends. 00:27:47.220 --> 00:27:48.880 It's a massive statement. 00:27:50.000 --> 00:27:51.700 It's the same statement 00:27:51.700 --> 00:27:53.700 that Jesus is making 00:27:53.700 --> 00:27:54.800 to Pergamum 00:27:54.800 --> 00:27:57.280 because the Nicolaitans 00:27:57.280 --> 00:27:58.360 are doing the same thing 00:27:58.360 --> 00:27:59.259 Balaam was doing. 00:27:59.640 --> 00:28:00.920 They were seducing 00:28:00.920 --> 00:28:01.720 with their teaching 00:28:01.720 --> 00:28:02.300 Christians 00:28:02.300 --> 00:28:04.080 to try to maintain 00:28:04.080 --> 00:28:05.259 a Christian identity 00:28:05.259 --> 00:28:05.900 while participating 00:28:06.500 --> 00:28:07.900 in sexual immorality 00:28:07.900 --> 00:28:08.900 and idolatry 00:28:08.900 --> 00:28:10.500 in cultural worship. 00:28:11.920 --> 00:28:13.200 And what Jesus is saying, 00:28:13.259 --> 00:28:13.940 and we'll get to this again 00:28:13.940 --> 00:28:14.560 in just a moment, 00:28:14.680 --> 00:28:16.080 but what Jesus is saying 00:28:16.080 --> 00:28:17.180 is I'm going to come 00:28:17.180 --> 00:28:18.820 and those who are doing this 00:28:18.820 --> 00:28:20.000 are going to be destroyed. 00:28:20.460 --> 00:28:22.040 Just like the 24,000 00:28:22.040 --> 00:28:23.100 in Israel were destroyed, 00:28:23.400 --> 00:28:24.440 so will these people 00:28:24.440 --> 00:28:25.420 be destroyed. 00:28:27.180 --> 00:28:28.180 Jesus highlighted 00:28:28.180 --> 00:28:29.360 two specific sins 00:28:29.360 --> 00:28:30.840 that came from this teaching. 00:28:31.900 --> 00:28:33.560 Eating food sacrificed 00:28:33.560 --> 00:28:34.180 to idols 00:28:34.180 --> 00:28:37.340 was a willing participation 00:28:37.339 --> 00:28:39.240 in celebrations 00:28:39.240 --> 00:28:40.259 and feasts 00:28:40.259 --> 00:28:41.419 and family parties 00:28:41.419 --> 00:28:43.079 that would take place 00:28:43.079 --> 00:28:44.500 in these temple locations. 00:28:45.980 --> 00:28:47.779 And these rituals, 00:28:47.939 --> 00:28:49.199 these worship rituals, 00:28:49.319 --> 00:28:50.319 even if it was just 00:28:50.319 --> 00:28:51.559 for a birthday party, 00:28:51.659 --> 00:28:52.099 there's plenty 00:28:52.099 --> 00:28:53.399 of historical documentation 00:28:53.399 --> 00:28:54.839 that these places would, 00:28:55.039 --> 00:28:56.559 these things would take place 00:28:56.559 --> 00:28:57.299 in the context 00:28:57.299 --> 00:28:59.699 of a religious building 00:28:59.699 --> 00:29:01.039 or in a religious worship, 00:29:01.259 --> 00:29:03.279 and what would inevitably unfold 00:29:03.279 --> 00:29:06.839 is all sorts of sexual sin. 00:29:06.839 --> 00:29:09.099 And some elements 00:29:09.099 --> 00:29:10.539 of the Nicolaitan teaching 00:29:10.539 --> 00:29:12.559 were justifying Christian 00:29:12.559 --> 00:29:14.220 participation in these things. 00:29:15.000 --> 00:29:16.159 Now, whether it was 00:29:16.159 --> 00:29:17.459 to avoid persecution 00:29:17.459 --> 00:29:18.599 like Antipas, 00:29:18.980 --> 00:29:20.619 or whether it was just 00:29:20.619 --> 00:29:22.539 to satisfy their own 00:29:22.539 --> 00:29:24.899 lustful desire, 00:29:25.759 --> 00:29:27.779 some of these Christians 00:29:27.779 --> 00:29:29.819 were beginning to capitulate 00:29:29.819 --> 00:29:30.720 to these things. 00:29:30.720 --> 00:29:32.559 And the problem 00:29:32.559 --> 00:29:33.259 for the church 00:29:33.259 --> 00:29:34.079 in Pergamum 00:29:34.079 --> 00:29:35.640 was that they were 00:29:35.640 --> 00:29:36.920 allowing it to happen. 00:29:37.700 --> 00:29:38.440 They were allowing it 00:29:38.440 --> 00:29:38.880 to happen. 00:29:40.480 --> 00:29:41.500 They agreed 00:29:41.500 --> 00:29:42.799 to disagree 00:29:42.799 --> 00:29:44.079 on things 00:29:44.079 --> 00:29:45.440 that we have no business 00:29:45.440 --> 00:29:47.079 agreeing to disagree on. 00:29:48.600 --> 00:29:50.279 They were compromising, 00:29:50.700 --> 00:29:52.360 and Jesus was prepared 00:29:52.360 --> 00:29:53.420 to judge the church 00:29:53.420 --> 00:29:54.740 for the compromise. 00:29:56.140 --> 00:29:57.720 Now, finding the modern parallel 00:29:57.720 --> 00:29:58.900 to this is not hard. 00:30:01.059 --> 00:30:02.980 Our culture worships 00:30:02.980 --> 00:30:04.279 at the altar 00:30:04.279 --> 00:30:06.740 of expressive individualism. 00:30:07.880 --> 00:30:08.920 That, essentially, 00:30:09.059 --> 00:30:10.000 I am my own God. 00:30:10.960 --> 00:30:12.880 I determine my own identity. 00:30:13.920 --> 00:30:15.519 I determine who I am, 00:30:16.059 --> 00:30:16.920 what I'll worship, 00:30:17.440 --> 00:30:18.240 what I'll do, 00:30:18.480 --> 00:30:19.400 and how I'll live. 00:30:19.400 --> 00:30:21.320 That is our cultural, 00:30:22.080 --> 00:30:23.380 secular form of worship. 00:30:24.019 --> 00:30:26.300 And it is always bound up 00:30:26.300 --> 00:30:29.200 in some type of sexual sin. 00:30:30.759 --> 00:30:31.660 And in our day, 00:30:32.000 --> 00:30:33.080 it's bound up 00:30:33.080 --> 00:30:34.640 in this sexual revolution 00:30:34.640 --> 00:30:36.580 that is embodied 00:30:36.580 --> 00:30:37.500 most notably 00:30:37.500 --> 00:30:40.420 in the LGBTQ plus movement. 00:30:41.240 --> 00:30:42.759 There's no denying that. 00:30:44.180 --> 00:30:45.019 And to live 00:30:45.019 --> 00:30:46.820 in the United States today, 00:30:46.819 --> 00:30:49.399 in the month of June, 00:30:49.500 --> 00:30:50.299 in Pride Month, 00:30:50.960 --> 00:30:52.359 in the midst of Pride Week, 00:30:52.980 --> 00:30:54.059 is really no different 00:30:54.059 --> 00:30:55.159 than living in Pergamum. 00:30:56.439 --> 00:30:57.419 They don't care 00:30:57.419 --> 00:30:58.759 if you worship Jesus. 00:31:00.220 --> 00:31:01.919 So long as your version 00:31:01.919 --> 00:31:02.720 of Christianity 00:31:02.720 --> 00:31:04.299 accommodates practices 00:31:04.299 --> 00:31:06.359 that the Bible condemns. 00:31:07.299 --> 00:31:08.700 They're fine with a church 00:31:08.700 --> 00:31:09.419 that's Christian. 00:31:10.179 --> 00:31:11.299 Just make sure you put 00:31:11.299 --> 00:31:12.740 that rainbow flag out front. 00:31:14.079 --> 00:31:15.299 It's really no different 00:31:15.299 --> 00:31:16.039 than what's happening 00:31:16.039 --> 00:31:16.759 in Pergamum. 00:31:17.779 --> 00:31:18.759 But here's the thing 00:31:18.759 --> 00:31:19.539 about this. 00:31:21.079 --> 00:31:22.079 This compromise 00:31:22.079 --> 00:31:23.259 is not just about 00:31:23.259 --> 00:31:24.599 homosexual ideas 00:31:24.599 --> 00:31:25.619 and activities. 00:31:26.779 --> 00:31:28.579 And we are being foolish 00:31:28.579 --> 00:31:30.359 and deceiving ourselves 00:31:30.359 --> 00:31:32.819 when we mercilessly 00:31:32.819 --> 00:31:34.939 make homosexuals 00:31:34.939 --> 00:31:36.179 public enemy number one. 00:31:37.319 --> 00:31:38.659 Because here's the problem 00:31:38.659 --> 00:31:39.439 of compromising 00:31:39.439 --> 00:31:40.279 the Christian church 00:31:40.279 --> 00:31:41.379 in the United States today. 00:31:42.179 --> 00:31:43.819 We have been compromising 00:31:43.819 --> 00:31:45.019 on sexual sin 00:31:45.019 --> 00:31:47.819 long before the LGBTQ plus 00:31:47.819 --> 00:31:48.900 movement became a thing. 00:31:49.900 --> 00:31:51.480 What we see now 00:31:51.480 --> 00:31:52.400 is the fruit 00:31:52.400 --> 00:31:53.759 of the church 00:31:53.759 --> 00:31:55.019 tolerating sex 00:31:55.019 --> 00:31:55.920 outside of marriage 00:31:55.920 --> 00:31:56.740 for years. 00:31:58.000 --> 00:31:59.420 Tolerating drunkenness. 00:32:00.460 --> 00:32:02.259 Tolerating errant views 00:32:02.259 --> 00:32:02.960 of divorce 00:32:02.960 --> 00:32:04.200 and remarriage. 00:32:04.200 --> 00:32:06.580 tolerating pornographic media. 00:32:06.920 --> 00:32:08.299 Not even in some type 00:32:08.299 --> 00:32:09.480 of pornographic subscription. 00:32:09.920 --> 00:32:11.019 But simply in thinking 00:32:11.019 --> 00:32:11.819 that it's okay 00:32:11.819 --> 00:32:13.319 to entertain ourselves 00:32:13.319 --> 00:32:14.640 night by night 00:32:14.640 --> 00:32:16.880 by watching explicit nudity 00:32:16.880 --> 00:32:18.059 and sex unfold 00:32:18.059 --> 00:32:18.600 on the TV 00:32:18.600 --> 00:32:19.460 in front of us. 00:32:20.460 --> 00:32:21.980 We have compromised 00:32:21.980 --> 00:32:22.640 in this 00:32:22.640 --> 00:32:24.740 far, far longer 00:32:24.740 --> 00:32:25.759 before any type 00:32:25.759 --> 00:32:26.920 of homosexual activity 00:32:26.920 --> 00:32:27.680 became prevalent 00:32:27.680 --> 00:32:28.539 in our churches 00:32:28.539 --> 00:32:29.539 or in our society. 00:32:29.539 --> 00:32:30.500 And that's certainly 00:32:30.500 --> 00:32:31.120 a part of it. 00:32:31.119 --> 00:32:32.339 And it's the major note 00:32:32.339 --> 00:32:32.919 of our day 00:32:32.919 --> 00:32:33.839 in the cultural movement 00:32:33.839 --> 00:32:34.739 that is before us. 00:32:34.839 --> 00:32:36.479 But it is not just about 00:32:36.479 --> 00:32:38.219 the major cultural notes. 00:32:38.699 --> 00:32:40.139 There are serious problems 00:32:40.139 --> 00:32:40.839 of compromise 00:32:40.839 --> 00:32:42.399 that are much different 00:32:42.399 --> 00:32:44.139 than the homosexual agenda 00:32:44.139 --> 00:32:45.639 in Christian churches today. 00:32:46.459 --> 00:32:47.199 And there are plenty 00:32:47.199 --> 00:32:47.779 of churches 00:32:47.779 --> 00:32:49.119 in our area 00:32:49.119 --> 00:32:50.519 and around 00:32:50.519 --> 00:32:51.739 and around our world 00:32:51.739 --> 00:32:53.019 who are not 00:32:53.019 --> 00:32:54.439 participating in things 00:32:54.439 --> 00:32:55.399 but they're beginning 00:32:55.399 --> 00:32:56.519 to tolerate it 00:32:56.519 --> 00:32:57.379 in the church. 00:32:57.679 --> 00:32:58.579 They're agreeing 00:32:58.579 --> 00:32:59.279 to disagree 00:32:59.279 --> 00:33:00.139 on things 00:33:00.139 --> 00:33:00.859 that we have 00:33:00.859 --> 00:33:01.639 no business 00:33:01.639 --> 00:33:03.200 agreeing to disagree on. 00:33:04.079 --> 00:33:05.279 We are blatantly 00:33:05.279 --> 00:33:06.619 compromising the truth 00:33:06.619 --> 00:33:07.740 that Jesus has made 00:33:07.740 --> 00:33:08.980 abundantly clear. 00:33:09.440 --> 00:33:10.460 That's what Pergamum 00:33:10.460 --> 00:33:11.440 is beginning to do. 00:33:11.759 --> 00:33:12.559 And Jesus says 00:33:12.559 --> 00:33:14.500 because of this toleration 00:33:14.500 --> 00:33:15.480 not because of 00:33:15.480 --> 00:33:16.420 what you're doing 00:33:16.420 --> 00:33:17.359 but because of 00:33:17.359 --> 00:33:18.460 your toleration 00:33:18.460 --> 00:33:20.519 you need to see me now 00:33:20.519 --> 00:33:21.559 as the one 00:33:21.559 --> 00:33:22.339 with the sharp 00:33:22.339 --> 00:33:23.279 two-edged sword 00:33:23.279 --> 00:33:24.660 that is going to come 00:33:24.660 --> 00:33:26.240 and is going to judge 00:33:26.240 --> 00:33:27.559 all of those 00:33:27.559 --> 00:33:29.579 who are against me. 00:33:30.900 --> 00:33:31.799 And when we begin 00:33:31.799 --> 00:33:32.420 to tolerate 00:33:32.420 --> 00:33:33.220 these ideas 00:33:33.220 --> 00:33:33.960 and practices 00:33:33.960 --> 00:33:34.779 in our church 00:33:34.779 --> 00:33:36.299 even if we aren't 00:33:36.299 --> 00:33:37.759 ourselves embracing them 00:33:37.759 --> 00:33:40.019 we forsake the truth 00:33:40.019 --> 00:33:41.539 we abandon 00:33:41.539 --> 00:33:42.640 the lordship of Jesus 00:33:42.640 --> 00:33:43.819 and we invite 00:33:43.819 --> 00:33:44.740 the judgment of God. 00:33:46.279 --> 00:33:47.359 It doesn't mean 00:33:47.359 --> 00:33:48.120 that we don't show 00:33:48.120 --> 00:33:48.960 kindness and love 00:33:48.960 --> 00:33:50.059 and even welcoming 00:33:50.059 --> 00:33:50.980 to our events 00:33:50.980 --> 00:33:51.819 and to our services 00:33:51.819 --> 00:33:52.359 to people 00:33:52.359 --> 00:33:53.839 who disagree with us. 00:33:53.920 --> 00:33:54.779 But there is a difference 00:33:54.779 --> 00:33:55.759 between doing that 00:33:55.759 --> 00:33:56.460 and pretending 00:33:56.460 --> 00:33:57.299 as if this is not 00:33:57.299 --> 00:33:58.099 an issue at all 00:33:58.099 --> 00:33:58.899 and welcoming 00:33:58.899 --> 00:33:59.599 into membership 00:33:59.599 --> 00:34:00.519 anybody who just 00:34:00.519 --> 00:34:01.059 simply says 00:34:01.059 --> 00:34:01.500 that they want 00:34:01.500 --> 00:34:02.200 to be a Christian 00:34:02.200 --> 00:34:03.379 despite whatever 00:34:03.379 --> 00:34:04.299 their life may say. 00:34:05.160 --> 00:34:06.180 That's what Jesus 00:34:06.180 --> 00:34:06.980 is confronting 00:34:06.980 --> 00:34:08.139 here in Pergamum. 00:34:08.619 --> 00:34:09.059 Now let's look 00:34:09.059 --> 00:34:09.779 at his correction 00:34:09.779 --> 00:34:10.639 and his consequence 00:34:10.639 --> 00:34:11.480 verse 16. 00:34:12.539 --> 00:34:13.440 What's the solution? 00:34:15.340 --> 00:34:16.500 Not culture war. 00:34:17.639 --> 00:34:18.880 That's not the solution. 00:34:20.400 --> 00:34:21.340 The solution 00:34:21.340 --> 00:34:22.259 therefore 00:34:22.259 --> 00:34:23.340 repent 00:34:23.340 --> 00:34:25.340 if not 00:34:25.340 --> 00:34:26.600 I will come 00:34:26.600 --> 00:34:27.360 to you soon 00:34:27.360 --> 00:34:28.920 and war against 00:34:28.920 --> 00:34:29.860 them with the sword 00:34:29.860 --> 00:34:31.200 of my mouth. 00:34:32.539 --> 00:34:33.220 Now remember 00:34:33.220 --> 00:34:33.940 at this point 00:34:33.940 --> 00:34:35.140 Jesus' complaint 00:34:35.140 --> 00:34:36.660 is that they are 00:34:36.660 --> 00:34:37.780 tolerating people 00:34:37.780 --> 00:34:38.740 in the congregation 00:34:38.740 --> 00:34:40.280 that are participating 00:34:40.280 --> 00:34:41.360 in idolatry 00:34:41.360 --> 00:34:42.059 and immorality. 00:34:42.600 --> 00:34:43.579 The repentance 00:34:43.579 --> 00:34:44.620 then that Jesus 00:34:44.620 --> 00:34:45.740 is calling the church 00:34:45.740 --> 00:34:46.500 to 00:34:46.500 --> 00:34:47.980 is to 00:34:47.980 --> 00:34:48.940 discipline 00:34:48.940 --> 00:34:49.760 those 00:34:49.760 --> 00:34:51.340 in the church 00:34:51.340 --> 00:34:53.180 who are holding 00:34:53.180 --> 00:34:54.720 Nicolaitan teaching. 00:34:55.720 --> 00:34:57.240 This is so very important 00:34:57.240 --> 00:34:58.840 because this dynamic 00:34:58.840 --> 00:34:59.820 of church discipline 00:34:59.820 --> 00:35:01.059 is so absent 00:35:01.059 --> 00:35:02.460 in churches today. 00:35:03.760 --> 00:35:05.440 Jesus commanded it 00:35:05.440 --> 00:35:07.079 in part 00:35:07.079 --> 00:35:08.160 because sin 00:35:08.160 --> 00:35:09.440 will spread 00:35:09.440 --> 00:35:10.380 like gangrene 00:35:10.380 --> 00:35:11.019 through a church 00:35:11.019 --> 00:35:11.660 without it. 00:35:12.120 --> 00:35:13.320 If we become 00:35:13.320 --> 00:35:13.940 tolerant 00:35:13.940 --> 00:35:14.820 of ideas 00:35:14.820 --> 00:35:15.420 in the church 00:35:15.420 --> 00:35:16.019 eventually 00:35:16.019 --> 00:35:16.600 it's going to 00:35:16.600 --> 00:35:17.260 take over. 00:35:17.680 --> 00:35:18.880 Within a generation 00:35:18.880 --> 00:35:19.500 or less 00:35:19.500 --> 00:35:20.599 a passive 00:35:20.599 --> 00:35:21.180 congregation 00:35:21.180 --> 00:35:22.720 that is generally 00:35:22.720 --> 00:35:23.280 faithful 00:35:23.280 --> 00:35:25.000 will totally 00:35:25.000 --> 00:35:25.460 abandon 00:35:25.460 --> 00:35:26.000 the gospel 00:35:26.000 --> 00:35:26.519 itself. 00:35:27.640 --> 00:35:28.780 And the progression 00:35:28.780 --> 00:35:29.920 of these three churches 00:35:29.920 --> 00:35:30.980 is what proves it. 00:35:31.579 --> 00:35:32.740 A Pergamum-like 00:35:32.740 --> 00:35:33.119 church 00:35:33.119 --> 00:35:33.720 that doesn't 00:35:33.720 --> 00:35:34.280 repent 00:35:34.280 --> 00:35:35.780 and discipline 00:35:35.780 --> 00:35:36.680 wayward members 00:35:36.680 --> 00:35:37.960 will inevitably 00:35:37.960 --> 00:35:39.039 become a 00:35:39.039 --> 00:35:39.660 lifeless 00:35:39.660 --> 00:35:40.640 dead 00:35:40.640 --> 00:35:41.720 Sardis 00:35:41.720 --> 00:35:42.840 gospel-less 00:35:42.840 --> 00:35:43.840 church. 00:35:45.599 --> 00:35:47.240 Why should we 00:35:47.240 --> 00:35:47.860 care about 00:35:47.860 --> 00:35:48.220 this kind 00:35:48.220 --> 00:35:48.800 of discipline? 00:35:49.480 --> 00:35:50.280 Because if we 00:35:50.280 --> 00:35:50.800 don't 00:35:50.800 --> 00:35:51.220 we lose 00:35:51.220 --> 00:35:51.599 the purity 00:35:51.599 --> 00:35:52.099 of the church 00:35:52.099 --> 00:35:52.539 and if we 00:35:52.539 --> 00:35:53.039 lose the purity 00:35:53.039 --> 00:35:53.440 of the church 00:35:53.440 --> 00:35:53.740 we lose 00:35:53.740 --> 00:35:54.180 the church. 00:35:55.260 --> 00:35:55.980 The second 00:35:55.980 --> 00:35:56.559 thing though 00:35:56.559 --> 00:35:57.820 Jesus commands 00:35:57.820 --> 00:35:58.579 church discipline 00:35:58.579 --> 00:35:59.260 as a means 00:35:59.260 --> 00:36:00.160 of pursuing 00:36:00.160 --> 00:36:02.240 and loving 00:36:02.240 --> 00:36:03.760 wayward 00:36:03.760 --> 00:36:04.280 Christians 00:36:04.280 --> 00:36:05.059 or even 00:36:05.059 --> 00:36:05.579 the culture 00:36:05.579 --> 00:36:06.500 at large. 00:36:08.240 --> 00:36:08.820 When he 00:36:08.820 --> 00:36:09.300 taught that 00:36:09.300 --> 00:36:09.960 process of 00:36:09.960 --> 00:36:10.360 discipline 00:36:10.360 --> 00:36:10.840 in Matthew 00:36:10.840 --> 00:36:11.620 chapter 18 00:36:11.620 --> 00:36:12.860 Jesus links 00:36:12.860 --> 00:36:13.440 it with that 00:36:13.440 --> 00:36:14.460 famous story 00:36:14.460 --> 00:36:15.480 of the shepherd 00:36:15.480 --> 00:36:16.000 who leaves 00:36:16.000 --> 00:36:16.559 the 99 00:36:16.559 --> 00:36:17.120 and goes 00:36:17.120 --> 00:36:17.700 to the 100. 00:36:17.860 --> 00:36:19.099 what is that 00:36:19.099 --> 00:36:19.900 story about? 00:36:20.559 --> 00:36:21.220 It's about 00:36:21.220 --> 00:36:22.000 the pursuit 00:36:22.000 --> 00:36:22.720 of a sinner. 00:36:24.039 --> 00:36:24.740 It's the 00:36:24.740 --> 00:36:25.400 pursuit 00:36:25.400 --> 00:36:26.780 lovingly 00:36:26.780 --> 00:36:27.860 to restore 00:36:27.860 --> 00:36:28.500 someone 00:36:28.500 --> 00:36:29.460 who has 00:36:29.460 --> 00:36:29.920 left 00:36:29.920 --> 00:36:30.900 the fold. 00:36:31.400 --> 00:36:31.640 Church 00:36:31.640 --> 00:36:32.140 discipline 00:36:32.140 --> 00:36:32.840 is an 00:36:32.840 --> 00:36:33.180 act of 00:36:33.180 --> 00:36:33.740 love 00:36:33.740 --> 00:36:34.920 and verse 00:36:34.920 --> 00:36:35.840 16 shows 00:36:35.840 --> 00:36:36.360 that very 00:36:36.360 --> 00:36:36.720 clearly. 00:36:37.099 --> 00:36:37.519 Look at the 00:36:37.519 --> 00:36:38.000 difference in 00:36:38.000 --> 00:36:38.539 the pronouns 00:36:38.539 --> 00:36:39.300 used here. 00:36:40.140 --> 00:36:41.079 Jesus says 00:36:41.079 --> 00:36:41.880 he will 00:36:41.880 --> 00:36:42.500 come to 00:36:42.500 --> 00:36:43.039 you 00:36:43.039 --> 00:36:44.180 the church 00:36:44.180 --> 00:36:44.780 that second 00:36:44.780 --> 00:36:45.519 second person 00:36:45.519 --> 00:36:45.860 plural 00:36:45.860 --> 00:36:46.460 he will 00:36:46.460 --> 00:36:46.800 come to 00:36:46.800 --> 00:36:47.280 you the 00:36:47.280 --> 00:36:47.780 church 00:36:47.780 --> 00:36:50.620 but he 00:36:50.620 --> 00:36:50.860 will 00:36:50.860 --> 00:36:51.480 war 00:36:51.480 --> 00:36:52.680 against 00:36:52.680 --> 00:36:53.260 them 00:36:53.260 --> 00:36:53.980 he will 00:36:53.980 --> 00:36:54.280 war 00:36:54.280 --> 00:36:54.580 against 00:36:54.580 --> 00:36:54.760 them 00:36:54.760 --> 00:36:54.940 he'll 00:36:54.940 --> 00:36:55.260 come 00:36:55.260 --> 00:36:55.440 to 00:36:55.440 --> 00:36:55.740 you 00:36:55.740 --> 00:36:56.400 but 00:36:56.400 --> 00:36:56.640 he'll 00:36:56.640 --> 00:36:56.900 war 00:36:56.900 --> 00:36:57.240 against 00:36:57.240 --> 00:36:57.560 them 00:36:57.560 --> 00:36:58.120 those 00:36:58.120 --> 00:36:58.280 who 00:36:58.280 --> 00:36:58.420 are 00:36:58.420 --> 00:36:58.760 holding 00:36:58.760 --> 00:36:58.940 the 00:36:58.940 --> 00:36:59.519 Nicolaitan 00:36:59.519 --> 00:36:59.920 teaching 00:36:59.920 --> 00:37:01.120 and it's 00:37:01.120 --> 00:37:01.440 in this 00:37:01.440 --> 00:37:01.820 context 00:37:01.820 --> 00:37:02.380 that he 00:37:02.380 --> 00:37:02.800 says that 00:37:02.800 --> 00:37:03.019 they are 00:37:03.019 --> 00:37:03.420 to repent 00:37:03.420 --> 00:37:04.300 what is it 00:37:04.300 --> 00:37:04.620 exactly 00:37:04.620 --> 00:37:05.060 that Jesus 00:37:05.060 --> 00:37:05.480 wants them 00:37:05.480 --> 00:37:05.940 to do? 00:37:06.800 --> 00:37:07.100 Well Jesus 00:37:07.100 --> 00:37:07.800 doesn't war 00:37:07.800 --> 00:37:08.280 against his 00:37:08.280 --> 00:37:08.800 own people 00:37:08.800 --> 00:37:09.780 that's one 00:37:09.780 --> 00:37:09.980 of the 00:37:09.980 --> 00:37:10.320 promises 00:37:10.320 --> 00:37:10.920 we have 00:37:10.920 --> 00:37:12.040 he doesn't 00:37:12.040 --> 00:37:12.480 have to 00:37:12.480 --> 00:37:14.320 but the 00:37:14.320 --> 00:37:14.740 one with 00:37:14.740 --> 00:37:14.880 the 00:37:14.880 --> 00:37:15.280 two-edged 00:37:15.280 --> 00:37:15.579 sword 00:37:15.579 --> 00:37:15.860 will 00:37:15.860 --> 00:37:16.199 indeed 00:37:16.199 --> 00:37:16.579 judge 00:37:16.579 --> 00:37:16.860 those 00:37:16.860 --> 00:37:17.039 who 00:37:17.039 --> 00:37:17.179 are 00:37:17.179 --> 00:37:17.400 not 00:37:17.400 --> 00:37:17.619 his 00:37:17.619 --> 00:37:17.900 true 00:37:17.900 --> 00:37:18.300 people 00:37:18.300 --> 00:37:19.420 and 00:37:19.420 --> 00:37:20.039 discipline 00:37:20.039 --> 00:37:21.159 is an 00:37:21.159 --> 00:37:21.599 attempt 00:37:21.599 --> 00:37:22.320 to restore 00:37:22.320 --> 00:37:22.740 someone 00:37:22.740 --> 00:37:23.000 to 00:37:23.000 --> 00:37:23.920 faithfulness 00:37:23.920 --> 00:37:24.760 so that 00:37:24.760 --> 00:37:25.360 when Jesus 00:37:25.360 --> 00:37:26.159 returns 00:37:26.159 --> 00:37:26.880 they will 00:37:26.880 --> 00:37:27.199 not be 00:37:27.199 --> 00:37:27.699 his enemy 00:37:27.699 --> 00:37:28.280 he will 00:37:28.280 --> 00:37:28.619 not be 00:37:28.619 --> 00:37:29.139 at war 00:37:29.139 --> 00:37:29.639 with them 00:37:29.639 --> 00:37:30.400 that's 00:37:30.400 --> 00:37:30.699 really 00:37:30.699 --> 00:37:31.079 that's 00:37:31.079 --> 00:37:31.659 the spirit 00:37:31.659 --> 00:37:31.880 of 00:37:31.880 --> 00:37:32.360 discipline 00:37:32.360 --> 00:37:33.840 it's 00:37:33.840 --> 00:37:34.260 not to 00:37:34.260 --> 00:37:34.500 take 00:37:34.500 --> 00:37:34.719 this 00:37:34.719 --> 00:37:35.179 posture 00:37:35.179 --> 00:37:35.500 of 00:37:35.500 --> 00:37:36.000 superiority 00:37:36.000 --> 00:37:36.440 over 00:37:36.440 --> 00:37:36.820 someone 00:37:36.820 --> 00:37:37.320 or to 00:37:37.320 --> 00:37:38.099 lord 00:37:38.099 --> 00:37:38.460 over 00:37:38.460 --> 00:37:38.820 someone 00:37:38.820 --> 00:37:39.139 else's 00:37:39.139 --> 00:37:39.519 life 00:37:39.519 --> 00:37:40.059 true 00:37:40.059 --> 00:37:40.519 church 00:37:40.519 --> 00:37:41.039 discipline 00:37:41.039 --> 00:37:41.340 and the 00:37:41.340 --> 00:37:41.559 way 00:37:41.559 --> 00:37:41.920 that we 00:37:41.920 --> 00:37:42.559 confront 00:37:42.559 --> 00:37:42.940 people 00:37:42.940 --> 00:37:43.320 that we 00:37:43.320 --> 00:37:43.759 love 00:37:43.759 --> 00:37:44.259 is an 00:37:44.259 --> 00:37:44.519 act 00:37:44.519 --> 00:37:44.679 of 00:37:44.679 --> 00:37:44.940 love 00:37:44.940 --> 00:37:45.400 it is 00:37:45.400 --> 00:37:45.579 a 00:37:45.579 --> 00:37:46.280 pursuing 00:37:46.280 --> 00:37:46.800 of 00:37:46.800 --> 00:37:47.159 them 00:37:47.159 --> 00:37:47.759 so that 00:37:47.759 --> 00:37:48.099 when the 00:37:48.099 --> 00:37:48.259 lord 00:37:48.259 --> 00:37:48.820 does 00:37:48.820 --> 00:37:49.259 come 00:37:49.259 --> 00:37:49.840 he will 00:37:49.840 --> 00:37:50.259 not be 00:37:50.259 --> 00:37:50.759 at war 00:37:50.759 --> 00:37:51.039 with 00:37:51.039 --> 00:37:51.340 them 00:37:51.340 --> 00:37:52.360 that's 00:37:52.360 --> 00:37:52.500 the 00:37:52.500 --> 00:37:52.739 point 00:37:52.739 --> 00:37:52.900 of 00:37:52.900 --> 00:37:53.219 it 00:37:53.219 --> 00:37:54.019 and 00:37:54.019 --> 00:37:54.280 what's 00:37:54.280 --> 00:37:54.500 Jesus 00:37:54.500 --> 00:37:54.940 telling 00:37:54.940 --> 00:37:55.119 the 00:37:55.119 --> 00:37:55.400 program 00:37:55.400 --> 00:37:55.759 church 00:37:55.759 --> 00:37:56.239 to do 00:37:56.239 --> 00:37:57.380 repent 00:37:57.380 --> 00:37:58.900 by dealing 00:37:58.900 --> 00:37:59.219 with the 00:37:59.219 --> 00:37:59.480 people 00:37:59.480 --> 00:37:59.759 in the 00:37:59.759 --> 00:38:00.420 congregation 00:38:00.420 --> 00:38:02.019 confront 00:38:02.019 --> 00:38:02.400 them 00:38:02.400 --> 00:38:02.699 in their 00:38:02.699 --> 00:38:03.159 sin 00:38:03.159 --> 00:38:04.259 confront 00:38:04.259 --> 00:38:04.519 them 00:38:04.519 --> 00:38:04.820 so that 00:38:04.820 --> 00:38:05.099 when I 00:38:05.099 --> 00:38:05.340 come 00:38:05.340 --> 00:38:05.539 to 00:38:05.539 --> 00:38:05.820 you 00:38:05.820 --> 00:38:06.539 I 00:38:06.539 --> 00:38:06.679 will 00:38:06.679 --> 00:38:06.820 not 00:38:06.820 --> 00:38:07.000 be 00:38:07.000 --> 00:38:07.420 at war 00:38:07.420 --> 00:38:07.639 with 00:38:07.639 --> 00:38:08.119 ! 00:38:09.519 --> 00:38:11.539 Jim 00:38:11.539 --> 00:38:11.880 Hamilton 00:38:11.880 --> 00:38:12.219 says 00:38:12.219 --> 00:38:12.360 the 00:38:12.360 --> 00:38:12.759 process 00:38:12.759 --> 00:38:12.980 of 00:38:12.980 --> 00:38:13.460 discipline 00:38:13.460 --> 00:38:14.099 is 00:38:14.099 --> 00:38:14.619 motivated 00:38:14.619 --> 00:38:15.199 by a 00:38:15.199 --> 00:38:15.719 desire 00:38:15.719 --> 00:38:16.719 to keep 00:38:16.719 --> 00:38:17.119 Jesus 00:38:17.119 --> 00:38:17.679 from making 00:38:17.679 --> 00:38:18.340 war on 00:38:18.340 --> 00:38:18.699 those 00:38:18.699 --> 00:38:19.300 who are 00:38:19.300 --> 00:38:19.619 holding 00:38:19.619 --> 00:38:20.019 to false 00:38:20.019 --> 00:38:20.420 teaching 00:38:20.420 --> 00:38:22.119 we call 00:38:22.119 --> 00:38:22.679 people to 00:38:22.679 --> 00:38:23.079 repent 00:38:23.079 --> 00:38:23.920 because we 00:38:23.920 --> 00:38:24.360 love them 00:38:24.360 --> 00:38:25.559 and we 00:38:25.559 --> 00:38:25.880 want to 00:38:25.880 --> 00:38:26.340 keep them 00:38:26.340 --> 00:38:26.539 from 00:38:26.539 --> 00:38:26.900 judgment 00:38:26.900 --> 00:38:28.199 and if 00:38:28.199 --> 00:38:28.500 they do 00:38:28.500 --> 00:38:28.699 not 00:38:28.699 --> 00:38:29.039 repent 00:38:29.039 --> 00:38:29.259 we're 00:38:29.259 --> 00:38:29.699 to follow 00:38:29.699 --> 00:38:30.239 the steps 00:38:30.239 --> 00:38:30.800 prescribed 00:38:30.800 --> 00:38:31.280 in Matthew 00:38:31.280 --> 00:38:31.699 18 00:38:31.699 --> 00:38:32.780 because we 00:38:32.780 --> 00:38:33.460 love 00:38:33.460 --> 00:38:33.800 them 00:38:33.800 --> 00:38:35.059 and want 00:38:35.059 --> 00:38:35.480 to keep 00:38:35.480 --> 00:38:35.739 them 00:38:35.739 --> 00:38:36.519 from 00:38:36.519 --> 00:38:36.940 judgment 00:38:36.940 --> 00:38:39.300 that we 00:38:39.300 --> 00:38:39.559 need to 00:38:39.559 --> 00:38:39.720 be 00:38:39.720 --> 00:38:40.099 careful 00:38:40.099 --> 00:38:42.119 that in 00:38:42.119 --> 00:38:42.440 the way 00:38:42.440 --> 00:38:42.780 that we 00:38:42.780 --> 00:38:43.159 deal 00:38:43.159 --> 00:38:43.519 with the 00:38:43.519 --> 00:38:43.780 people 00:38:43.780 --> 00:38:44.159 that we 00:38:44.159 --> 00:38:44.599 love 00:38:44.599 --> 00:38:45.139 inside 00:38:45.139 --> 00:38:45.659 and outside 00:38:45.659 --> 00:38:46.019 of the 00:38:46.019 --> 00:38:46.400 church 00:38:46.400 --> 00:38:48.519 that our 00:38:48.519 --> 00:38:48.920 love is 00:38:48.920 --> 00:38:49.599 expressed 00:38:49.599 --> 00:38:50.800 in loving 00:38:50.800 --> 00:38:51.460 discipline 00:38:51.460 --> 00:38:54.679 not in 00:38:54.679 --> 00:38:56.099 subtle 00:38:56.099 --> 00:38:56.679 compromise 00:38:56.679 --> 00:38:58.679 we don't 00:38:58.679 --> 00:38:59.139 call people 00:38:59.139 --> 00:38:59.639 to repent 00:38:59.639 --> 00:39:00.139 because we 00:39:00.139 --> 00:39:00.639 hate them 00:39:00.639 --> 00:39:02.220 and if 00:39:02.220 --> 00:39:02.659 your overall 00:39:02.659 --> 00:39:03.240 attitude 00:39:03.240 --> 00:39:05.220 is arrogant 00:39:05.219 --> 00:39:06.599 and hateful 00:39:06.599 --> 00:39:07.819 almost you 00:39:07.819 --> 00:39:08.039 know the 00:39:08.039 --> 00:39:08.480 people that 00:39:08.480 --> 00:39:08.980 they're almost 00:39:08.980 --> 00:39:09.619 happy to 00:39:09.619 --> 00:39:10.339 tell someone 00:39:10.339 --> 00:39:11.759 they almost 00:39:11.759 --> 00:39:12.519 take joy 00:39:12.519 --> 00:39:13.439 in the fact 00:39:13.439 --> 00:39:14.079 that someone 00:39:14.079 --> 00:39:15.480 is lost 00:39:15.480 --> 00:39:16.119 and is facing 00:39:16.119 --> 00:39:16.899 God's wrath 00:39:16.899 --> 00:39:18.119 I was talking 00:39:18.119 --> 00:39:18.619 to a man 00:39:18.619 --> 00:39:19.299 several years 00:39:19.299 --> 00:39:19.539 ago 00:39:19.539 --> 00:39:20.739 he's actually 00:39:20.739 --> 00:39:21.279 dead now 00:39:21.279 --> 00:39:22.319 but this 00:39:22.319 --> 00:39:22.799 man several 00:39:22.799 --> 00:39:23.179 years ago 00:39:23.179 --> 00:39:23.539 he's talking 00:39:23.539 --> 00:39:24.059 about going 00:39:24.059 --> 00:39:25.059 soul winning 00:39:25.059 --> 00:39:25.959 and he was 00:39:25.959 --> 00:39:27.059 offended 00:39:27.059 --> 00:39:27.980 that a person 00:39:27.980 --> 00:39:29.599 on a doorstep 00:39:29.599 --> 00:39:30.099 wasn't very 00:39:30.099 --> 00:39:30.859 kind to him 00:39:30.859 --> 00:39:31.779 and his 00:39:31.779 --> 00:39:32.379 response to 00:39:32.379 --> 00:39:32.639 the man 00:39:32.639 --> 00:39:33.039 was fine 00:39:33.039 --> 00:39:33.459 go to hell 00:39:33.459 --> 00:39:33.719 then 00:39:33.719 --> 00:39:36.339 so that 00:39:36.339 --> 00:39:36.759 that's the 00:39:36.759 --> 00:39:37.019 kind of 00:39:37.019 --> 00:39:37.299 discipline 00:39:37.299 --> 00:39:37.719 that Jesus 00:39:37.719 --> 00:39:38.119 is not 00:39:38.119 --> 00:39:38.539 encouraging 00:39:38.539 --> 00:39:38.779 here 00:39:38.779 --> 00:39:39.099 that's 00:39:39.099 --> 00:39:39.419 actually 00:39:39.419 --> 00:39:40.399 if that's 00:39:40.399 --> 00:39:41.059 your spirit 00:39:41.059 --> 00:39:41.739 when it 00:39:41.739 --> 00:39:42.079 comes to 00:39:42.079 --> 00:39:42.500 our world 00:39:42.500 --> 00:39:42.739 and it 00:39:42.739 --> 00:39:43.039 comes to 00:39:43.039 --> 00:39:43.399 discipline 00:39:43.399 --> 00:39:43.699 in the 00:39:43.699 --> 00:39:43.899 church 00:39:43.899 --> 00:39:44.480 you're 00:39:44.480 --> 00:39:44.759 actually 00:39:44.759 --> 00:39:45.059 the one 00:39:45.059 --> 00:39:45.379 that needs 00:39:45.379 --> 00:39:45.639 to be 00:39:45.639 --> 00:39:46.039 disciplined 00:39:46.039 --> 00:39:47.519 that's not 00:39:47.519 --> 00:39:47.939 what Jesus 00:39:47.939 --> 00:39:48.379 is dealing 00:39:48.379 --> 00:39:48.679 with here 00:39:48.679 --> 00:39:49.119 he's talking 00:39:49.119 --> 00:39:49.739 about a 00:39:49.739 --> 00:39:50.019 loving 00:39:50.019 --> 00:39:50.579 pursuit 00:39:50.579 --> 00:39:51.559 we discipline 00:39:51.559 --> 00:39:52.279 because we 00:39:52.279 --> 00:39:52.879 love them 00:39:52.879 --> 00:39:53.939 and to 00:39:53.939 --> 00:39:54.399 tolerate 00:39:54.399 --> 00:39:55.219 idolatrous 00:39:55.219 --> 00:39:55.719 and immoral 00:39:55.719 --> 00:39:56.459 ideas 00:39:56.459 --> 00:39:57.599 will be a 00:39:57.599 --> 00:39:58.079 death sentence 00:39:58.079 --> 00:39:58.459 for our 00:39:58.459 --> 00:39:58.919 church 00:39:58.919 --> 00:40:00.299 and the 00:40:00.299 --> 00:40:00.719 people who 00:40:00.719 --> 00:40:01.079 have turned 00:40:01.079 --> 00:40:01.500 away from 00:40:01.500 --> 00:40:02.099 the truth 00:40:02.099 --> 00:40:03.039 because the 00:40:03.039 --> 00:40:03.519 fact is 00:40:03.519 --> 00:40:03.820 Jesus 00:40:03.820 --> 00:40:04.599 is coming 00:40:04.599 --> 00:40:06.019 and he 00:40:06.019 --> 00:40:06.440 is coming 00:40:06.440 --> 00:40:06.940 soon 00:40:06.940 --> 00:40:08.639 and I 00:40:08.639 --> 00:40:08.880 don't want 00:40:08.880 --> 00:40:09.219 him to be 00:40:09.219 --> 00:40:09.519 at war 00:40:09.519 --> 00:40:10.300 with me 00:40:10.300 --> 00:40:11.019 and I 00:40:11.019 --> 00:40:11.219 don't want 00:40:11.219 --> 00:40:11.559 him to be 00:40:11.559 --> 00:40:11.780 at war 00:40:11.780 --> 00:40:12.139 with you 00:40:12.139 --> 00:40:12.480 either 00:40:12.480 --> 00:40:15.019 so what 00:40:15.019 --> 00:40:15.199 do we 00:40:15.199 --> 00:40:15.440 do 00:40:15.440 --> 00:40:15.960 we preach 00:40:15.960 --> 00:40:16.420 the gospel 00:40:16.420 --> 00:40:19.079 we bring 00:40:19.079 --> 00:40:19.320 it back 00:40:19.320 --> 00:40:19.579 to the 00:40:19.579 --> 00:40:19.759 word 00:40:19.759 --> 00:40:20.440 we love 00:40:20.440 --> 00:40:20.800 people 00:40:20.800 --> 00:40:21.079 through 00:40:21.079 --> 00:40:21.380 that 00:40:21.380 --> 00:40:24.280 let's 00:40:24.280 --> 00:40:24.500 finish 00:40:24.500 --> 00:40:24.759 with the 00:40:24.759 --> 00:40:25.099 call and 00:40:25.099 --> 00:40:25.420 conquer 00:40:25.420 --> 00:40:26.219 verse 17 00:40:26.219 --> 00:40:28.099 he 00:40:28.099 --> 00:40:28.099 00:40:28.099 --> 00:40:28.279 who 00:40:28.279 --> 00:40:28.439 has 00:40:28.439 --> 00:40:28.559 an 00:40:28.559 --> 00:40:28.779 ear 00:40:28.779 --> 00:40:29.039 let 00:40:29.039 --> 00:40:29.139 him 00:40:29.139 --> 00:40:29.399 hear 00:40:29.399 --> 00:40:29.579 what 00:40:29.579 --> 00:40:29.739 the 00:40:29.739 --> 00:40:29.980 spirit 00:40:29.980 --> 00:40:30.299 says 00:40:30.299 --> 00:40:30.419 to 00:40:30.419 --> 00:40:30.559 the 00:40:30.559 --> 00:40:30.919 churches 00:40:30.919 --> 00:40:32.359 to 00:40:32.359 --> 00:40:32.480 the 00:40:32.480 --> 00:40:32.659 one 00:40:32.659 --> 00:40:32.819 who 00:40:32.819 --> 00:40:33.319 conquers 00:40:33.319 --> 00:40:33.519 I 00:40:33.519 --> 00:40:33.659 will 00:40:33.659 --> 00:40:33.899 give 00:40:33.899 --> 00:40:34.219 some 00:40:34.219 --> 00:40:34.399 of 00:40:34.399 --> 00:40:34.559 the 00:40:34.559 --> 00:40:34.819 hidden 00:40:34.819 --> 00:40:35.319 manna 00:40:35.319 --> 00:40:36.619 I 00:40:36.619 --> 00:40:36.759 will 00:40:36.759 --> 00:40:36.919 give 00:40:36.919 --> 00:40:37.019 him 00:40:37.019 --> 00:40:37.159 a 00:40:37.159 --> 00:40:37.359 white 00:40:37.359 --> 00:40:37.799 stone 00:40:37.799 --> 00:40:38.139 with a 00:40:38.139 --> 00:40:38.299 new 00:40:38.299 --> 00:40:38.619 name 00:40:38.619 --> 00:40:38.859 written 00:40:38.859 --> 00:40:39.039 on 00:40:39.039 --> 00:40:39.219 that 00:40:39.219 --> 00:40:39.699 stone 00:40:39.699 --> 00:40:40.799 no one 00:40:40.799 --> 00:40:41.139 knows 00:40:41.139 --> 00:40:41.419 except 00:40:41.419 --> 00:40:41.639 the 00:40:41.639 --> 00:40:41.919 one 00:40:41.919 --> 00:40:42.859 who 00:40:42.859 --> 00:40:43.399 receives 00:40:43.399 --> 00:40:43.919 it 00:40:43.919 --> 00:40:46.639 unfortunately 00:40:46.639 --> 00:40:47.019 Jesus 00:40:47.019 --> 00:40:47.419 never 00:40:47.419 --> 00:40:47.719 ends 00:40:47.719 --> 00:40:48.079 these 00:40:48.079 --> 00:40:48.980 messages 00:40:48.980 --> 00:40:49.399 with a 00:40:49.399 --> 00:40:49.759 threat 00:40:49.760 --> 00:40:51.740 he 00:40:51.740 --> 00:40:52.020 always 00:40:52.020 --> 00:40:52.480 concludes 00:40:52.480 --> 00:40:52.840 with a 00:40:52.840 --> 00:40:53.280 promise 00:40:53.280 --> 00:40:54.620 a 00:40:54.620 --> 00:40:54.960 promise 00:40:54.960 --> 00:40:55.300 for the 00:40:55.300 --> 00:40:55.480 one 00:40:55.480 --> 00:40:55.660 who 00:40:55.660 --> 00:40:56.240 conquers 00:40:56.240 --> 00:40:57.540 to 00:40:57.540 --> 00:40:58.000 conquer 00:40:58.000 --> 00:40:59.540 is to 00:40:59.540 --> 00:41:00.100 persevere 00:41:00.100 --> 00:41:00.300 in 00:41:00.300 --> 00:41:00.780 faith 00:41:00.780 --> 00:41:02.420 not 00:41:02.420 --> 00:41:02.800 because 00:41:02.800 --> 00:41:03.060 you're 00:41:03.060 --> 00:41:03.360 just 00:41:03.360 --> 00:41:03.760 so 00:41:03.760 --> 00:41:04.320 strong 00:41:04.320 --> 00:41:05.900 you 00:41:05.900 --> 00:41:06.460 persevere 00:41:06.460 --> 00:41:06.700 in 00:41:06.700 --> 00:41:07.120 faith 00:41:07.120 --> 00:41:07.960 through 00:41:07.960 --> 00:41:08.180 the 00:41:08.180 --> 00:41:08.600 ultimate 00:41:08.600 --> 00:41:09.420 conqueror 00:41:09.420 --> 00:41:10.320 Jesus 00:41:10.320 --> 00:41:12.160 he 00:41:12.160 --> 00:41:12.660 conquers 00:41:12.660 --> 00:41:12.860 on 00:41:12.860 --> 00:41:13.020 your 00:41:13.020 --> 00:41:13.400 behalf 00:41:13.400 --> 00:41:14.580 that's 00:41:14.580 --> 00:41:14.760 what 00:41:14.760 --> 00:41:14.920 he 00:41:14.920 --> 00:41:15.320 does 00:41:15.320 --> 00:41:16.040 that's 00:41:16.040 --> 00:41:16.180 the 00:41:16.180 --> 00:41:16.460 measure 00:41:16.460 --> 00:41:16.600 of 00:41:16.600 --> 00:41:16.740 his 00:41:16.740 --> 00:41:17.140 grace 00:41:17.140 --> 00:41:19.380 and 00:41:19.380 --> 00:41:19.500 in 00:41:19.500 --> 00:41:19.619 the 00:41:19.619 --> 00:41:20.119 context 00:41:20.119 --> 00:41:20.320 of 00:41:20.320 --> 00:41:20.960 Pergamum 00:41:20.960 --> 00:41:22.680 conquering 00:41:22.680 --> 00:41:23.240 involves 00:41:23.240 --> 00:41:23.579 holding 00:41:23.579 --> 00:41:24.119 fast 00:41:24.119 --> 00:41:24.300 to 00:41:24.300 --> 00:41:24.420 the 00:41:24.420 --> 00:41:24.579 name 00:41:24.579 --> 00:41:24.740 of 00:41:24.740 --> 00:41:25.099 Jesus 00:41:25.099 --> 00:41:26.320 and 00:41:26.320 --> 00:41:26.640 not 00:41:26.640 --> 00:41:27.200 abandoning 00:41:27.200 --> 00:41:27.360 the 00:41:27.360 --> 00:41:27.760 gospel 00:41:27.760 --> 00:41:28.519 despite 00:41:28.519 --> 00:41:29.500 being 00:41:29.500 --> 00:41:30.000 immersed 00:41:30.000 --> 00:41:30.320 in a 00:41:30.320 --> 00:41:30.720 culture 00:41:30.720 --> 00:41:31.180 that is 00:41:31.180 --> 00:41:31.640 completely 00:41:31.640 --> 00:41:32.180 opposed 00:41:32.180 --> 00:41:32.360 to 00:41:32.360 --> 00:41:32.619 him 00:41:32.619 --> 00:41:35.420 it's 00:41:35.420 --> 00:41:35.559 to 00:41:35.559 --> 00:41:35.860 remain 00:41:35.860 --> 00:41:36.240 faithful 00:41:36.240 --> 00:41:36.460 to 00:41:36.460 --> 00:41:36.599 the 00:41:36.599 --> 00:41:36.860 Lord 00:41:36.860 --> 00:41:38.300 remain 00:41:38.300 --> 00:41:38.660 faithful 00:41:38.660 --> 00:41:38.880 to 00:41:38.880 --> 00:41:39.059 our 00:41:39.059 --> 00:41:39.500 Savior 00:41:39.500 --> 00:41:40.720 rather 00:41:40.720 --> 00:41:40.960 than 00:41:40.960 --> 00:41:41.340 finding 00:41:41.340 --> 00:41:41.720 easy 00:41:41.720 --> 00:41:42.160 forms 00:41:42.160 --> 00:41:43.000 of 00:41:43.000 --> 00:41:43.420 compromise 00:41:43.420 --> 00:41:44.980 now 00:41:44.980 --> 00:41:45.180 let's 00:41:45.180 --> 00:41:45.400 look at 00:41:45.400 --> 00:41:45.500 the 00:41:45.500 --> 00:41:45.940 blessing 00:41:45.940 --> 00:41:46.760 two 00:41:46.760 --> 00:41:47.099 things 00:41:47.099 --> 00:41:47.260 they're 00:41:47.260 --> 00:41:47.440 kind 00:41:47.440 --> 00:41:47.539 of 00:41:47.539 --> 00:41:48.559 enigmatic 00:41:48.559 --> 00:41:48.780 aren't 00:41:48.780 --> 00:41:48.940 they 00:41:48.940 --> 00:41:49.519 he 00:41:49.519 --> 00:41:49.780 says 00:41:49.780 --> 00:41:49.980 that 00:41:49.980 --> 00:41:50.139 to 00:41:50.139 --> 00:41:50.260 the 00:41:50.260 --> 00:41:50.420 one 00:41:50.420 --> 00:41:50.559 who 00:41:50.559 --> 00:41:51.179 conquers 00:41:51.179 --> 00:41:51.940 they 00:41:51.940 --> 00:41:53.400 will 00:41:53.400 --> 00:41:53.800 receive 00:41:53.800 --> 00:41:54.019 the 00:41:54.019 --> 00:41:54.320 hidden 00:41:54.320 --> 00:41:54.720 manna 00:41:54.720 --> 00:41:55.800 manna 00:41:55.800 --> 00:41:55.960 of 00:41:55.960 --> 00:41:56.360 course 00:41:56.360 --> 00:41:56.720 was 00:41:56.720 --> 00:41:57.420 the 00:41:57.420 --> 00:41:57.740 food 00:41:57.740 --> 00:41:57.980 God 00:41:57.980 --> 00:41:58.820 supernaturally 00:41:58.820 --> 00:41:59.579 sustained 00:41:59.579 --> 00:42:00.019 Israel 00:42:00.019 --> 00:42:00.400 with 00:42:00.400 --> 00:42:00.599 during 00:42:00.599 --> 00:42:00.820 the 00:42:00.820 --> 00:42:01.059 40 00:42:01.059 --> 00:42:01.420 years 00:42:01.420 --> 00:42:01.599 they 00:42:01.599 --> 00:42:01.920 wandered 00:42:01.920 --> 00:42:02.059 in 00:42:02.059 --> 00:42:02.179 the 00:42:02.179 --> 00:42:02.500 wilderness 00:42:02.500 --> 00:42:04.400 what 00:42:04.400 --> 00:42:04.559 does 00:42:04.559 --> 00:42:04.679 that 00:42:04.679 --> 00:42:04.820 mean 00:42:04.820 --> 00:42:05.019 for 00:42:05.019 --> 00:42:05.240 us 00:42:05.240 --> 00:42:05.519 God's 00:42:05.519 --> 00:42:05.659 not 00:42:05.659 --> 00:42:06.059 dropping 00:42:06.059 --> 00:42:06.960 honey 00:42:06.960 --> 00:42:07.360 flakes 00:42:07.360 --> 00:42:07.559 from 00:42:07.559 --> 00:42:07.700 the 00:42:07.700 --> 00:42:07.900 sky 00:42:07.900 --> 00:42:08.280 today 00:42:08.280 --> 00:42:09.519 what 00:42:09.519 --> 00:42:09.579 does 00:42:09.579 --> 00:42:09.700 that 00:42:09.700 --> 00:42:09.920 mean 00:42:09.920 --> 00:42:10.679 well 00:42:10.679 --> 00:42:10.900 Jesus 00:42:10.900 --> 00:42:11.200 tells 00:42:11.200 --> 00:42:11.380 us 00:42:11.380 --> 00:42:11.539 what 00:42:11.539 --> 00:42:11.639 it 00:42:11.639 --> 00:42:11.920 means 00:42:11.920 --> 00:42:12.539 in 00:42:12.539 --> 00:42:12.760 John 00:42:12.760 --> 00:42:13.039 chapter 00:42:13.039 --> 00:42:13.579 6 00:42:13.579 --> 00:42:14.360 Jesus 00:42:14.360 --> 00:42:14.740 says 00:42:14.740 --> 00:42:14.880 to 00:42:14.880 --> 00:42:15.019 them 00:42:15.019 --> 00:42:15.340 truly 00:42:15.340 --> 00:42:15.679 truly 00:42:15.679 --> 00:42:15.860 I 00:42:15.860 --> 00:42:16.079 say 00:42:16.079 --> 00:42:16.260 to 00:42:16.260 --> 00:42:16.400 you 00:42:16.400 --> 00:42:16.780 it 00:42:16.780 --> 00:42:17.000 was 00:42:17.000 --> 00:42:17.260 not 00:42:17.260 --> 00:42:17.700 Moses 00:42:17.700 --> 00:42:17.980 who 00:42:17.980 --> 00:42:18.200 gave 00:42:18.200 --> 00:42:18.280 you 00:42:18.280 --> 00:42:18.440 the 00:42:18.440 --> 00:42:18.620 bread 00:42:18.620 --> 00:42:18.820 from 00:42:18.820 --> 00:42:19.120 heaven 00:42:19.120 --> 00:42:19.760 but 00:42:19.760 --> 00:42:19.980 my 00:42:19.980 --> 00:42:20.480 father 00:42:20.480 --> 00:42:20.800 gives 00:42:20.800 --> 00:42:20.920 you 00:42:20.920 --> 00:42:21.120 the 00:42:21.120 --> 00:42:21.460 true 00:42:21.460 --> 00:42:21.760 bread 00:42:21.760 --> 00:42:21.980 from 00:42:21.980 --> 00:42:22.340 heaven 00:42:22.340 --> 00:42:23.220 for 00:42:23.220 --> 00:42:23.360 the 00:42:23.360 --> 00:42:23.640 bread 00:42:23.640 --> 00:42:23.800 of 00:42:23.800 --> 00:42:24.099 God 00:42:24.099 --> 00:42:24.300 is 00:42:24.300 --> 00:42:24.460 he 00:42:24.460 --> 00:42:24.599 who 00:42:24.599 --> 00:42:24.880 comes 00:42:24.880 --> 00:42:25.099 down 00:42:25.099 --> 00:42:25.300 from 00:42:25.300 --> 00:42:25.640 heaven 00:42:25.640 --> 00:42:26.140 and 00:42:26.140 --> 00:42:26.400 gives 00:42:26.400 --> 00:42:26.720 life 00:42:26.720 --> 00:42:26.860 to 00:42:26.860 --> 00:42:26.980 the 00:42:26.980 --> 00:42:27.280 world 00:42:27.280 --> 00:42:27.800 and 00:42:27.800 --> 00:42:28.019 they 00:42:28.019 --> 00:42:28.400 said 00:42:28.400 --> 00:42:29.120 sir 00:42:29.120 --> 00:42:30.099 give 00:42:30.099 --> 00:42:30.280 us 00:42:30.280 --> 00:42:30.519 this 00:42:30.519 --> 00:42:30.820 bread 00:42:30.820 --> 00:42:31.420 always 00:42:31.420 --> 00:42:32.039 and 00:42:32.039 --> 00:42:32.380 Jesus 00:42:32.380 --> 00:42:32.880 said 00:42:32.880 --> 00:42:33.820 I 00:42:33.820 --> 00:42:34.039 am 00:42:34.039 --> 00:42:34.180 the 00:42:34.180 --> 00:42:34.420 bread 00:42:34.420 --> 00:42:34.579 of 00:42:34.579 --> 00:42:34.980 life 00:42:34.980 --> 00:42:36.180 whoever 00:42:36.180 --> 00:42:36.780 comes 00:42:36.780 --> 00:42:36.960 to 00:42:36.960 --> 00:42:37.200 me 00:42:37.200 --> 00:42:37.700 shall 00:42:37.700 --> 00:42:37.980 not 00:42:37.980 --> 00:42:38.420 hunger 00:42:38.420 --> 00:42:39.000 whoever 00:42:39.000 --> 00:42:39.659 believes 00:42:39.659 --> 00:42:39.840 in 00:42:39.840 --> 00:42:40.039 me 00:42:40.039 --> 00:42:40.519 shall 00:42:40.519 --> 00:42:41.019 not 00:42:41.019 --> 00:42:41.599 thirst 00:42:41.599 --> 00:42:42.000 what 00:42:42.000 --> 00:42:42.159 does 00:42:42.159 --> 00:42:42.539 Jesus 00:42:42.539 --> 00:42:42.940 mean 00:42:42.940 --> 00:42:43.079 when 00:42:43.079 --> 00:42:43.220 he 00:42:43.220 --> 00:42:43.440 says 00:42:43.440 --> 00:42:43.559 to 00:42:43.559 --> 00:42:43.700 the 00:42:43.700 --> 00:42:43.900 one 00:42:43.900 --> 00:42:44.099 who 00:42:44.099 --> 00:42:44.519 conquers 00:42:44.519 --> 00:42:44.980 I 00:42:44.980 --> 00:42:45.159 will 00:42:45.159 --> 00:42:45.400 give 00:42:45.400 --> 00:42:45.559 the 00:42:45.559 --> 00:42:45.820 hidden 00:42:45.820 --> 00:42:46.159 manna 00:42:46.159 --> 00:42:46.500 he 00:42:46.500 --> 00:42:46.840 means 00:42:46.840 --> 00:42:47.039 he 00:42:47.039 --> 00:42:47.360 gives 00:42:47.360 --> 00:42:47.880 himself 00:42:47.880 --> 00:42:48.559 to 00:42:48.559 --> 00:42:48.920 those 00:42:48.920 --> 00:42:49.099 who 00:42:49.099 --> 00:42:49.360 come 00:42:49.360 --> 00:42:49.559 to 00:42:49.559 --> 00:42:50.019 him 00:42:50.019 --> 00:42:50.539 he 00:42:50.539 --> 00:42:50.900 is 00:42:50.900 --> 00:42:51.099 the 00:42:51.099 --> 00:42:51.380 bread 00:42:51.380 --> 00:42:51.559 of 00:42:51.559 --> 00:42:51.880 life 00:42:51.880 --> 00:42:52.079 you 00:42:52.079 --> 00:42:52.300 will 00:42:52.300 --> 00:42:52.720 never 00:42:52.720 --> 00:42:53.099 thirst 00:42:53.099 --> 00:42:53.119 ! 00:42:53.240 --> 00:42:53.500 again 00:42:53.500 --> 00:42:54.240 this 00:42:54.240 --> 00:42:54.900 promise 00:42:54.900 --> 00:42:55.440 is 00:42:55.440 --> 00:42:55.940 far 00:42:55.940 --> 00:42:56.500 superior 00:42:56.500 --> 00:42:57.019 to 00:42:57.019 --> 00:42:57.320 even 00:42:57.320 --> 00:42:57.599 the 00:42:57.599 --> 00:42:58.260 threat 00:42:58.260 --> 00:42:58.620 of 00:42:58.620 --> 00:42:58.780 the 00:42:58.780 --> 00:42:59.020 sword 00:42:59.020 --> 00:42:59.160 of 00:42:59.160 --> 00:42:59.520 judgment 00:42:59.520 --> 00:43:00.680 it 00:43:00.680 --> 00:43:00.760 is 00:43:00.760 --> 00:43:01.480 wonderfully 00:43:01.480 --> 00:43:02.180 promising 00:43:02.180 --> 00:43:02.760 to 00:43:02.760 --> 00:43:03.200 whoever 00:43:03.200 --> 00:43:03.480 will 00:43:03.480 --> 00:43:03.680 come 00:43:03.680 --> 00:43:03.840 to 00:43:03.840 --> 00:43:04.240 Jesus 00:43:04.240 --> 00:43:04.760 no 00:43:04.760 --> 00:43:04.980 matter 00:43:04.980 --> 00:43:05.280 what 00:43:05.280 --> 00:43:05.460 their 00:43:05.460 --> 00:43:05.940 perspective 00:43:05.940 --> 00:43:06.220 has 00:43:06.220 --> 00:43:06.420 been 00:43:06.420 --> 00:43:06.580 up 00:43:06.580 --> 00:43:06.680 to 00:43:06.680 --> 00:43:06.880 this 00:43:06.880 --> 00:43:07.200 point 00:43:07.200 --> 00:43:07.580 no 00:43:07.580 --> 00:43:07.780 matter 00:43:07.780 --> 00:43:08.140 what 00:43:08.140 --> 00:43:08.340 their 00:43:08.340 --> 00:43:08.660 sin 00:43:08.660 --> 00:43:08.840 is 00:43:08.840 --> 00:43:08.980 at 00:43:08.980 --> 00:43:09.200 this 00:43:09.200 --> 00:43:09.560 point 00:43:09.560 --> 00:43:10.160 he 00:43:10.160 --> 00:43:10.440 will 00:43:10.440 --> 00:43:10.900 receive 00:43:10.900 --> 00:43:11.200 them 00:43:11.200 --> 00:43:11.320 and 00:43:11.320 --> 00:43:11.500 he 00:43:11.500 --> 00:43:11.680 will 00:43:11.680 --> 00:43:11.880 give 00:43:11.880 --> 00:43:12.060 them 00:43:12.060 --> 00:43:12.200 the 00:43:12.200 --> 00:43:12.420 bread 00:43:12.420 --> 00:43:12.560 of 00:43:12.560 --> 00:43:12.920 life 00:43:12.920 --> 00:43:13.680 he 00:43:13.680 --> 00:43:13.960 is 00:43:13.960 --> 00:43:14.140 the 00:43:14.140 --> 00:43:14.400 hidden 00:43:14.400 --> 00:43:14.840 manna 00:43:14.840 --> 00:43:15.620 that 00:43:15.620 --> 00:43:15.760 will 00:43:15.760 --> 00:43:16.200 sustain 00:43:16.200 --> 00:43:16.440 his 00:43:16.440 --> 00:43:16.800 people 00:43:16.800 --> 00:43:17.700 for 00:43:17.700 --> 00:43:18.140 all 00:43:18.140 --> 00:43:18.820 of 00:43:18.820 --> 00:43:19.340 eternity 00:43:19.340 --> 00:43:20.280 not 00:43:20.280 --> 00:43:20.480 for 00:43:20.480 --> 00:43:20.860 40 00:43:20.860 --> 00:43:21.220 years 00:43:21.220 --> 00:43:21.380 in 00:43:21.380 --> 00:43:21.520 a 00:43:21.520 --> 00:43:21.800 desert 00:43:21.800 --> 00:43:22.260 place 00:43:22.260 --> 00:43:22.940 but 00:43:22.940 --> 00:43:23.440 forever 00:43:23.440 --> 00:43:24.280 and 00:43:24.280 --> 00:43:24.580 ever 00:43:24.580 --> 00:43:26.040 what 00:43:26.040 --> 00:43:26.220 about 00:43:26.220 --> 00:43:26.400 this 00:43:26.400 --> 00:43:26.680 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00:44:28.680 --> 00:44:29.200 victory 00:44:29.200 --> 00:44:30.140 through 00:44:30.140 --> 00:44:30.380 the 00:44:30.380 --> 00:44:30.860 cross 00:44:30.860 --> 00:44:31.420 and 00:44:31.420 --> 00:44:31.560 the 00:44:31.560 --> 00:44:32.080 resurrection 00:44:32.080 --> 00:44:32.880 that 00:44:32.880 --> 00:44:33.140 we 00:44:33.140 --> 00:44:33.480 gain 00:44:33.480 --> 00:44:33.960 access 00:44:33.960 --> 00:44:34.640 to 00:44:34.640 --> 00:44:34.900 this 00:44:34.900 --> 00:44:35.320 heavenly 00:44:35.320 --> 00:44:35.900 banquet 00:44:35.900 --> 00:44:36.560 that 00:44:36.560 --> 00:44:36.780 is 00:44:36.780 --> 00:44:37.000 the 00:44:37.000 --> 00:44:37.380 marriage 00:44:37.380 --> 00:44:37.740 supper 00:44:37.740 --> 00:44:37.920 of 00:44:37.920 --> 00:44:38.040 the 00:44:38.040 --> 00:44:38.320 lamb 00:44:38.320 --> 00:44:38.960 do 00:44:38.960 --> 00:44:39.080 you 00:44:39.080 --> 00:44:39.260 see 00:44:39.260 --> 00:44:39.600 that 00:44:39.600 --> 00:44:41.760 that 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00:44:50.600 --> 00:44:51.060 access 00:44:51.060 --> 00:44:51.760 to 00:44:51.760 --> 00:44:51.900 the 00:44:51.900 --> 00:44:52.300 banquet 00:44:52.300 --> 00:44:53.900 to 00:44:53.900 --> 00:44:54.100 that 00:44:54.100 --> 00:44:54.400 great 00:44:54.400 --> 00:44:54.760 heavenly 00:44:54.760 --> 00:44:55.160 banquet 00:44:55.160 --> 00:44:55.400 that 00:44:55.400 --> 00:44:55.760 John's 00:44:55.760 --> 00:44:55.860 going 00:44:55.860 --> 00:44:55.960 to 00:44:55.960 --> 00:44:56.220 go 00:44:56.220 --> 00:44:57.000 further 00:44:57.000 --> 00:44:57.200 in 00:44:57.200 --> 00:44:57.320 the 00:44:57.320 --> 00:44:57.460 book 00:44:57.460 --> 00:44:57.600 of 00:44:57.600 --> 00:44:58.060 revelation 00:44:58.060 --> 00:44:58.300 to 00:44:58.300 --> 00:44:58.700 unfold 00:44:58.700 --> 00:44:59.000 before 00:44:59.000 --> 00:44:59.200 us 00:44:59.200 --> 00:44:59.320 a 00:44:59.320 --> 00:44:59.640 wonderful 00:44:59.640 --> 00:45:00.280 promise 00:45:00.280 --> 00:45:01.100 what 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00:45:10.099 --> 00:45:10.500 sin 00:45:10.500 --> 00:45:10.659 is 00:45:10.659 --> 00:45:11.139 always 00:45:11.139 --> 00:45:11.659 pleasurable 00:45:11.659 --> 00:45:12.059 for a 00:45:12.059 --> 00:45:12.380 season 00:45:12.380 --> 00:45:13.339 it 00:45:13.339 --> 00:45:13.500 will 00:45:13.500 --> 00:45:13.880 offer 00:45:13.880 --> 00:45:14.259 you 00:45:14.259 --> 00:45:15.219 access 00:45:15.219 --> 00:45:15.739 to 00:45:15.739 --> 00:45:15.960 its 00:45:15.960 --> 00:45:16.400 feast 00:45:16.400 --> 00:45:16.679 and 00:45:16.679 --> 00:45:16.779 to 00:45:16.779 --> 00:45:16.980 its 00:45:16.980 --> 00:45:17.619 celebrations 00:45:17.619 --> 00:45:18.039 here 00:45:18.039 --> 00:45:18.880 but 00:45:18.880 --> 00:45:19.299 Jesus 00:45:19.299 --> 00:45:20.239 the 00:45:20.239 --> 00:45:20.599 great 00:45:20.599 --> 00:45:20.759 and 00:45:20.759 --> 00:45:21.079 righteous 00:45:21.079 --> 00:45:21.679 judge 00:45:21.679 --> 00:45:22.579 offers 00:45:22.579 --> 00:45:22.779 you 00:45:22.779 --> 00:45:23.119 something 00:45:23.119 --> 00:45:23.420 far 00:45:23.420 --> 00:45:23.759 greater 00:45:23.759 --> 00:45:23.980 than 00:45:23.980 --> 00:45:24.239 that 00:45:24.239 --> 00:45:26.019 the 00:45:26.019 --> 00:45:26.319 hard 00:45:26.319 --> 00:45:26.599 thing 00:45:26.599 --> 00:45:26.980 is 00:45:26.980 --> 00:45:28.360 what 00:45:28.360 --> 00:45:28.799 Jesus 00:45:28.799 --> 00:45:29.319 offers 00:45:29.319 --> 00:45:29.559 will 00:45:29.559 --> 00:45:29.880 cost 00:45:29.880 --> 00:45:30.039 you 00:45:30.039 --> 00:45:30.639 everything 00:45:30.639 --> 00:45:32.079 it'll 00:45:32.079 --> 00:45:32.299 cost 00:45:32.299 --> 00:45:32.460 you 00:45:32.460 --> 00:45:32.819 everything 00:45:32.819 --> 00:45:35.159 it's 00:45:35.159 --> 00:45:35.699 not 00:45:35.699 --> 00:45:35.880 that 00:45:35.880 --> 00:45:36.000 you 00:45:36.000 --> 00:45:36.199 have 00:45:36.199 --> 00:45:36.319 to 00:45:36.319 --> 00:45:36.559 pay 00:45:36.559 --> 00:45:36.759 him 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