making Jesus known
the First and the Last,
the Beginning and the End.”
Rev 22.13
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A LETTER FROM THE LORD
(3) REVELATION 2.12-
After reading today’s passage, please hear what your group leader has to tell you about the prestigious city of Pergamum.
THE TRUTH IN PICTURES: Here in ‘Revelation’ we have God’s ‘gorgeous picture book’ and the truth is presented in pictures. We must learn to “read the pictures”. Tonight we have pictures of:
A two-
I. PERGAMUM’S LORD DESCRIBED (2.12)
A self-
PICTURE: ‘A TWO-
Consider the significance (in this letter about ‘Truth’) of the way the Lord chooses to describe himself.
what does ‘the two-
(See Rev 1.16 Ephesians 6.17)
what importance does this self-
For us today?
BIG ISSUE: JESUS STANDS FOR TRUTH: -
How high should ‘truth’ be on the Church’s agenda?
II. PERGAMUM’S LIFE DEPICTED (2.13-
PICTURES: SATAN’S THRONE
A FALSE PROPHET’S INFLUENCE
TERRITORY HOSTILE! The perilous location (13)
What does Christ say he knows about Pergamum? (13) (compare with Ephesus, 2.2 and Smyrna, 2.9)
‘His Satanic Majesty’!
What do you know of Pergamum? Why did Christ say Satan’s throne was there? To what might he have been referring?
BIG ISSUE: WHERE IS SATAN’S THRONE IN OUR SOCIETY?
Pergamum was a proud, prestigious place to live. Do you find any significance in the fact that Jesus said Satan’s throne was to be found in posh, intellectual, prestigious Pergamum rather than in a primitive, backwater dominated by witchdoctors and demons?
BIG ISSUE: WHO RULES THIS WORLD? (SATAN’S THRONE’!)
How can Satan be said to have ‘a throne’ and rule, when “the Lord is King” (Psalm 10.16) and Jesus is King of kings and Lord of lords (Rev 1.6)
How can he rule any part of God’s world? (John 14.30) (see Ephesians 2.1-
In what way is Jesus Lord here and now? In what way does Satan ‘rule’ in this world?
When and how will Satan’s rule be ended forever? (see Rev 11.15)
BATTLE INEVITABLE! The sharp persecution (13)
ATTACK FROM WITHOUT: BELIEF BOMBARDED:
What form did the attack on the church at Pergamum evidently take?
What does Christ commend about the church there -
What does it mean to be ‘true to Christ’s name’?
How does Christ describe Antipas?
who else is described in the same terms? (Rev 1.5, 3.14, 19.11)
Do you know what Antipas’ name means? What does the meaning suggest to you?
BIG ISSUE: WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO BE A FAITHFUL WITNESS IN A SATAN INFLUENCED WORLD?
“Many are prepared to openly demonstrate their faith in Christian circles but are equally prepared to play it down where Christian faith is unpopular or disadvantageous” Do you agree?
BIG ISSUE: HOW IS SATAN SEEKING TO ATTACK CHRISTIAN TRUTH TODAY? From what quarters does the attack come? On what particular areas of truth?
BIG ISSUE: IS IT ‘SAFE’ TO BELONG TO THE CHURCH?
ATTACK FROM WITHIN: BEHAVIOUR PERVERTED (14-
How, and in what way, was the church being attacked from inside? if successful, what would have been the outcome?
Why do you think the church could have allowed people inside to undermine Christian values in this way?
Which was proving the more successful Satanic attack: that form outside on belief or form inside on behaviour?
why do you think his was so? Any lessons?
BIG ISSUE: HOW IS SATAN SEEKING TO UNDERMINE CHRISTIAN BEHAVIOUR AND VALUES TODAY? What are the big issues? Are there those inside the church who are active in this?
III. PERGAMUM’S FUTURE DECIDED: (2.16-
PICTURES: CHRIST’S JUDGEMENT SWORD, HIDDEN MANNA and A WHITE STONE
VICTORY ESSENTIAL! The divine exhortation
There are two great incentives to right action:
CHRIST’S CERTAIN RETRIBUTION (2.16)
Against whom will this come? What form will it take?
(What does Christ’s sword’ stand for here? (Heb 4.12)
How can judgement be avoided?
CHRIST’S PRECIOUS REWARDS (2.17)
What precious blessings from Christ do you think are symbolised by:
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BIG ISSUE: WHAT FOR YOU IS THE BIG INSPIRATION TO HOLD TO THE TRUTH IN BELIEF AND BEHAVIOUR?
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