Npergamum church in the book of revelations

A study on the 7 churches in revelation churchleaders. The book of revelation opens with seven letters to seven churches. This is the word of god and the testimony of jesus christ. Our purpose in this article is to lay a foundation and generate an interest in what is probably the most unique of all our books of scripture. The book of revelation is addressed to believers, his servants, of the churches in seven cities of the roman province of asia. Seven churches of revelation bible study david jeremiah blog. Franciscan father stephen doyle provides a catholic commentary on the book of. The book begins, the revelation of jesus christ, which god gave unto him, to shew unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass. It almost goes without saying that it is visionary.

This thinking is based primarily on the absence of the word church from revelation 3. There is a church tradition that says antipas was the bishop of the church in pergamum and had been ordained to that office by the apostle john. One of elaine pagelss great gifts is much in abundance. The church, as such, is never mentioned in any passage dealing with the tribulation.

In the first verse of the book, the apostle john recorded christs words, the revelation of jesus christto show unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass. Remember that on a separate page there are common notes for the. While the death toll for covid19 could potentially approach that of the spanish flu, there is no reason to suspect that it is heralding the end either. The church and the book of revelation commentary a. The book of revelation, quipped ambrose bierce, is a famous book in which st. Book of revelation read, study bible verses online. I know where you live, in the place where satan is enthroned, and that you still hold firmly to my name, and did not disown your faith in me even when my faithful witness, antipas, was killed among you, where satan lives. A friend and i flew to izmir, turkey, where we rented a car and drove to all seven churches in a quick, threeday trip. Scholars like to debate the reasons for jesus warning to the church at pergamum in the book of revelation. After some deliberation and prayer, we felt led to publish them.

Aug 04, 2009 revelation the dragon pursuing a woman, from the bamberg apocalypse. These things says the holy one, the one who is true. In the book of revelation, the apocalyptic hopes of the early christian community find their clearest and most complete expression. Watch our overview video on the book of revelation, which breaks down the literary design of the book and its flow of thought. The reception of the book of revelation in the early church. In the same way, the existence of saints in the tribulation does not prove that the church is there either, and not even once are they called the church. Biblical scholars have debated over the reference of babylon in the book of revelation as to what its identity is. The book is also written to all believers everywhere. Nov 01, 2016 there is little doubt that most people are confused by the book of revelation. The church that would face severe persecution revelation 2.

The 7 churches of revelation pergamum idol worship. Ephesus, the first church mentioned in the messages to the seven churches of revelation, served as the center for johns ministry at the end of the first century. Hundreds of the people asked that the notes of this study be published. The revelation of christ revelation 15 seven churches third message, pergamos. A temple was built and dedicated to the joint worship of the goddess roma a personification of the spirit of the empire and the emperor augustus. The church at large, the body of christ, the universal church, consisting of true believers across denominational boundaries, thats the first usage. He made it known by sending his angel to his servant john, 2 who testifies to everything he saw. Church in pergamum, seven church of revelation turkey. No such distinction is evident in the decree of the jerusalem council in the book of acts, nor in the seven messages of the book of revelation. When john begins to see his vision, the first thing hes told is to write letters to the seven churches of asia.

It was probably the site of a settlement from a very early date. To the church in pergamum 12 to the angel of the church in pergamum write. Those churches were in ephesus, smyrna, pergamum, thyatira, sardis, philadephia, and laodicea. One reason often suggested for this statement is that pergamum housed a famous temple to asklepius, the greek god of healing, symbolized by the figure of a snake finegan 1981. Many scholars believe this altar is the throne of satan mentioned in the book of revelation. The book of revelation addresses seven letters to seven churches in asia minor modernday turkey revelation 23. To the church in pergamum 11 he who has an ear, let him hear what the spirit says to the churches.

The book of acts makes no mention of the founding of this church. Understanding the book of revelation the church of jesus christ. The church that needed to repent of sin revelation 2. The revelation of jesus christ walnut street church of christ. The book of revelation is a series of expository preachingnotes that gives the listener an account of what happens in the book of revelations with commentary on each scripture within the text. The book of revelation has its own contextual setting and historical setting, but it is relevant today. The city of pergamum pergamos had been the capital of the roman province of asia for two centuries after its last king,attalus iii, bequeathed it to rome in 3b. Here you can find information about the history of ancient turkey, about biblical sites to visit in turkey and greece, major christian saints, missionary journeys of st. The book of revelation provides descriptions of each church.

Revelation is that he was a significant figure in the early church in the. The next church addressed in revelation is the church in pergamum. In the new testament church much more often refers to the local church rather than to the universal church. What is behind this message christ gave to ephesus that is vitally important for the church in todays world. Each letter, as proclaimed by jesus and recorded by john the apostle, declares the triumphs and failings of the recipient churches and warns each congregation to repent. The book of revelation cannot be adequately understood except against the historical background that occasioned its writing. We will find that important message and hold it up to ourselves for instruction. What was jesus message to the church in pergamum i n revelation. The way the book of revelation is actually written is as a series of kind of unfolding revelations, each one of which gets to something deeper in the story. The church whose false prophetess was leading people. Probably the nicolaitans were prophetteachers who were urging compromise with roman values and roman religion in order to gain social acceptance and avert economic disaster in the asian cities.

Revelation 2, new king james version nkjv the bible app. First, revelation was not only relevant for the firstcentury churches to give them hope to withstand persecution, but also relevant to the church in the 21st century to continue our hope and build our faith in god and the book of revelation. The first three chapters of revelation deal with seven firstcentury historical churches, assemblies of believers in asia minor. And to the angel of the church in philadelphia, write. An apocalyptic letter, it relies on visions, symbols, and old. The church of pergamos was one of these congregations revelation 1. Among the things found in this book was the idea that revelation was speaking about such things as the soviet union, nuclear attacks between the ussr and the us, etc.

In this article we will consider the history of the city of pergamos at the time the message was delivered and during subsequent centuries, the message christ sent to them and the messages significance for us today. If you have been reading the new testament and following along in this blog, thank you. Pergamum was one of the most prominent cities of asia, located in the western part. The book itself suggests that the crisis was ruthless persecution of the early church by the roman authorities. The island of patmos, where john received the vision recorded in the book of revelation, was only 50 miles from ephesus. People going through these deadly periods in the past have frequently looked to it as a sign of the end. According to eastern orthodox traditions, according to the commentary on the apocalypse of andreas of caesarea, believe saint antipas to be the antipas referred to in the book of revelation, revelation 2. Interactive map of the seven churches in revelation. The book of revelation, a prophecy of warning and hope. Call the 700 club prayer center at 1 800 7007000, 24 hours a day. We have arrived at the final book of the new testament and of the christian bible. Church tradition says that antipas was a physician suspected of secretly propagating christianity. The book of revelation, the last book of the bible, has fascinated and puzzled christians for centuries. Christ says to the church that he knows where they dwell, where satans seat is.

It was one of the chief cities of romandominated asia and competed with places such as pergamos and ephesus for the title first city of asia. The revelation of jesus christ revelation one in the first words of revelation we find a general introduction to the entire message. These are the words of him who has the sharp, doubleedged sword. This morning, as we once again explore the book of the revelation together, we will also discover that sometimes, we can become blind to what is truly dangerous. John received the vision of jesus and the instruction to write this book while he was on the isle of patmos. Son of god likely comes from the messianic reference to gods son in psalm 2, which anticipates the full quotation from psalm 2. A church married to the world the city and the assembly 2. The book is, then, an exhortation and admonition to christians of the first century to stand firm in the faith and to avoid compromise with paganism, despite the.

Before we look at these letters as a whole, lets briefly look at the seven cities where the recipients lived. The people of pergamum were known as the templekeepers of asia. A catholic perspective on the book of revelation by stephen c. Perhaps is not surprising, then, that people are equally confused by its journey into the new testament canon. Sep 30, 2011 the book of revelation is a book of prophecy about what is to come. The city boasted almost 180,000 inhabitants about 3 times the size of burlington, vt and was known throughout the world for its architectural innovations, including the temple of athena, the great altar to zeus, and a library that held over 200, 000 volumes.

These things saith he that hath the sharp twoedged sword. Revelation s warning the church in philadelphia was the sixth of seven churches who received a spiritual evaluation directly from god through jesus christ. The book of revelation unveiled kindle edition by united. The imperial cult temple housed a white stone stele inscribed with a decree issued by fabius, the governor of asia, around 9 b. The book next contains seven short letters of exhortation to the christian churches in the seven leading cities of asia minor ephesus 2. The interpretation of the book of revelation is not that of the restored church of god, or any person within it, including me.

It is assumed by pretribulationists that the church is not present on earth during the events spoken of in the majority of the book of revelation. The relevancy of the book of revelation to todays christian. For a year and a half i taught the book of revelation to the midweek crowds of the miller road baptist church in garland, texas. Click on any of the map markers and more information about that place will pop up. Christs reference to satans throne verse may have alluded to the citys altar of zeus. Were the seven churches of revelation a prophecy for today. June will be a nice month to tackle this mysterious work. The apocalyptic book of revelation is a symbolic glimpse into. How revelation 17 pictures the roman catholic church. Pergamum was a center for the worship of dionysus, zeus, and other pagan gods.

The advice in these letters is prophetic, forewarning presentday christian communities of the snares that. Is coronavirus one of the plagues in the book of revelation. Here in pergamum a group of jesus followers came together as a church, one of seven churches addressed in the beginning of the book of revelation, the last book of the bible. You did not renounce your faith in me, not even in the days of antipas, my faithful witness, who was put to death in your citywhere satan lives. After all, this is the theme of the entire word of god. The book of revelation often called the revelation to john, apocalypse of john, the revelation from jesus christ from its opening words, the apocalypse, the revelation, or simply revelation is the final book of the new testament, and consequently is also the final book of the christian bible. Pergamos, the church where satan dwells offers us a unique view of city and culture finely tuned to be the center for satans operations in not only that city but the region. Why is revelation, the last book of the bible, so different from the rest of. In this lesson we look at the message to pergamum, the compromising church revelation 2.

This is the message from the one who has the sharp doubleedged sword. Revelation is one of those debated books in the early church, along with books like 2 peter, 23 john, and jude. The church in the book of revelation westminster theological. Revelations is a slim book that packs in dense layers of scholarship and meaning. The acknowledged trials and the promises of victory to the. The book of revelation was written to seven churches as both encouragement and challenge. Pastor paul leboutillier of calvary chapel ontario oregon teaches through the bible from the book of revelation. Map shows the approximate locations of the cities with the seven churches that are mentioned in the bibles book of revelation. Does the book of revelation teach that the church will be.

I know thy works, and where thou dwellest, even where satans seat is. We continue with our study of the seven messages to the churches of asia in revelation chapters 2 and 3. One christian in pergamum named antipas is mentioned as a faithful witness. There is especially one feature of the church at pergamos rev. A catholic interpretation of the apocalypse by john tickle. One church leader named antipas had already been martyred in the city. Sitting atop the acropolis of pergamum to this day are the ruins of the vaulted platform that held the temple to caesar augustus later redone under. Smyrna, originally peopled by asiatics known as the lelages, is located 56 kilometers 35 miles from ephesus and 79 kilometers 49 miles from pergamos pergamon. Although this book promises blessings on those who read it out aloud, and to those who hear it read, revelation is the only book that is not read within the divine liturgy of the eastern orthodox church, and it was omitted from the original table of readings for the book of common prayer. The city itself, pergamum, once the center of a small kingdom, is here labeled a place where satan has his throne, or where satan lives v. Like daniel and other apocalypses, it was composed as resistance literature to meet a crisis.

The church in pergamum 17 about 70 miles north of smyrna stood the magnificent city of pergamum, one of the most important cities in the roman empire. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading the book of revelation unveiled. It is a book that should be labored over to understand. To the church in pergamum to the angel of the church in pergamum write. The seven churches mentioned in the book of revelation were actual physical churches in the names of the locations john gives, so the letters that john writes to these churches were actually delivered. Pergamum was the chief center of cultural and intellectual life of the hellenistic world. The aesculapians members of the medical guild accused antipas of disloyalty to caesar.

Revelation 1, king james version kjv the bible app. How revelation 17 pictures the roman catholic church david cloud, way of life literature, p. Each of these messages includes a specific word to a specific church, but there are also lessons applicable to the lives of believers today. You can look back at earlier posts on the church in ephesus and the church in smyrna. This morning we come to the third church to be addressed by jesus in the opening chapters of this book, the church in the city of pergamum. Apocalypticism was not a new phenomenon among christians. Until recently, i didnt even know all seven churches were located in modernday turkey. The revealing is done by the commentators, who know nothing. New jerome biblical commentary 3rd edition by raymond e. This blog for revelation is a little late in coming. The 7 churches in the book of revelation exist today, in one form or another, because some things never change. The rapture solution the church in the book of revelation. He was the only person named in book of revelation as a martyr.

This is a vision of the lord in regards to himself, his authority and his relationship to his church. The city had three temples dedicated to the worship of the roman emperor, another for the goddess athena, and the great altar of zeus, the king of the greek gods. In the 1970s there was an extremely popular book titled the late great planet earth which allegedly interpreted the book of revelation. Jeske immanuel lutheran church saratoga, california let s study the book of revelations, the adult bible class suggested to the new pastor. Chapter one the keys to understanding the book of revelations rev.

These are the words of the one who holds the sharp, doubleedged sword. About three years ago just after pastor james arrived. The revelation of jesus christ to the seven churches and to us published in hard. The book itself reveals that the author was a jew, well versed in scripture, a church leader who was well known to the seven churches of asia minor, and a deeply religious person fully convinced that the christian faith would soon triumph over the demonic forces at work in the world. The book of revelation has been available in english since the king james version was translated from the original greek in 1611. However, the theme of the book is still the exaltation of jesus. What lessons might we learn from about integrity of faith in a modern world that offers us many opportunities to compromise. Church in pergamum, seven church of revelation turkey, seven churches of revelation, biblical tour guide is a web site where we share with you our knowledge and offer you our top services. What was jesus message to the church in pergamum in.

The trip of a lifetime landed in my lapvisiting the seven churches of revelation. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. No man is capable of opening a single prophecy in this book. Jan 29, 2012 there is a church tradition that says antipas was the bishop of the church in pergamum and had been ordained to that office by the apostle john. The church that had abandoned its first love for christ revelation 2. The church at ephesus had more written to it then to any other of the seven churches in revelation. Pergamum was a cultural center in the early roman empire, and augustus even declared the city his capital in the province of asia. The pergamos period of the church is thought to be from around 3 a. The book of revelation unveiled kindle edition by united church of god. It is said that the pagan priests went to the roman governor and complained that the prayers of antipas were driving their spirits out of the city and hindering the worship of their gods. Yet you have held fast to my name and have not denied. The one who overcomes will not be harmed by the second death.