¤[music ends]¤¤
00:00:15.84\00:00:17.85
¤[soft harp music]¤
00:00:18.91\00:00:22.92
>>John Bradshaw:
Thousands of years ago,
00:00:29.96\00:00:32.09
nestled among these
mountains, was an ancient city,
00:00:32.13\00:00:37.07
a rich and powerful
city, filled with palaces
00:00:37.10\00:00:40.40
and temples,
monuments, and theaters.
00:00:40.44\00:00:44.81
But while most of the
city's wonder and majesty
00:00:44.84\00:00:47.28
has been lost to time,
we're exploring something
00:00:47.31\00:00:51.08
that lasts longer, much longer.
00:00:51.11\00:00:54.38
Welcome to Pergamos.
00:00:55.38\00:00:57.62
¤[dramatic
Middle-Eastern music]¤
00:00:57.65\00:01:00.66
Pergamos, also known
as Pergamum or Pergamon,
00:01:06.33\00:01:10.63
is located in western Turkey
00:01:10.67\00:01:12.87
just north of the
modern-day city of Bergama.
00:01:12.90\00:01:17.21
Unlike the cities
of Ephesus and Smyrna,
00:01:17.24\00:01:19.97
Pergamon was not a seaport
00:01:20.01\00:01:22.64
but was located 16 miles from
the coast of the Aegean Sea.
00:01:22.68\00:01:27.18
The name
"Pergamon" means "elevation."
00:01:27.22\00:01:31.42
The city was built
on top of a mountain.
00:01:31.45\00:01:33.19
Its major buildings, temples,
and so forth were constructed
00:01:33.22\00:01:36.83
on Pergamon's acropolis--
00:01:36.86\00:01:38.49
"acropolis" being a Greek word
00:01:38.53\00:01:40.10
meaning "the
summit of the city."
00:01:40.13\00:01:44.27
This city became one of
the greatest cultural centers
00:01:44.30\00:01:47.20
of the Hellenistic world
00:01:47.24\00:01:48.70
in the decades following the
death of Alexander the Great.
00:01:48.74\00:01:52.94
Only massive cities
like Athens in Greece
00:01:52.97\00:01:56.01
and Alexandria in Egypt rivaled
its cultural significance.
00:01:56.04\00:02:00.55
One of the city's most
famous exports was parchment
00:02:03.35\00:02:07.36
made from animal skins.
00:02:07.39\00:02:09.39
While the
Egyptians used papyrus,
00:02:09.42\00:02:12.06
550 miles away here in Pergamon,
00:02:12.09\00:02:15.20
parchment
exploded in popularity.
00:02:15.23\00:02:18.70
In fact, the word
"parchment" is derived
00:02:18.73\00:02:22.37
from the name of the city.
00:02:22.40\00:02:24.61
It was the writing
material often used
00:02:24.64\00:02:26.78
in many Mediterranean
countries during ancient times
00:02:26.81\00:02:30.78
and was especially popular,
owing to the major library here.
00:02:30.81\00:02:35.02
Pergamon's library
contained 200,000 volumes
00:02:35.05\00:02:39.92
and was second only to
the library at Alexandria.
00:02:39.95\00:02:44.99
Pergamon was at the
height of its political
00:02:45.03\00:02:47.03
and cultural powers
in the second century BC.
00:02:47.03\00:02:50.23
City leaders planned to
build a second Athens here.
00:02:50.27\00:02:53.84
The idea was that the
acropolis here would rival
00:02:53.87\00:02:56.71
the famous acropolis
in the Greek capital.
00:02:56.74\00:02:59.31
¤[dramatic
Middle-Eastern music continues]¤
00:02:59.34\00:03:02.34
The theater in
Pergamon, reminiscent of the one
00:03:03.85\00:03:06.88
in Ephesus, was one
of the greatest theaters
00:03:06.92\00:03:09.58
of the ancient world.
00:03:09.62\00:03:10.75
It's known to be
the steepest theater
00:03:10.79\00:03:13.99
to have been
preserved since antiquity.
00:03:14.02\00:03:16.86
And keep in mind, there
were no microphones used
00:03:22.33\00:03:25.93
in theaters like these.
00:03:25.97\00:03:28.80
[breathing heavily]
00:03:28.84\00:03:30.87
Whose idea was it...
[continues breathing heavily]
00:03:30.91\00:03:35.81
to build this theater so steep?
00:03:35.84\00:03:38.81
¤[soft, moody marimba music]¤
00:03:38.85\00:03:39.81
One of its most famous landmarks
00:03:39.85\00:03:41.88
is the altar of Pergamon,
a large monument of worship
00:03:41.92\00:03:46.55
decorated with depictions
of ancient Greek leaders,
00:03:46.59\00:03:50.43
legends, and gods.
00:03:50.46\00:03:52.86
While it no longer
stands in its native country,
00:03:52.89\00:03:56.03
it was reconstructed at
the famous Pergamon Museum
00:03:56.06\00:03:59.47
in Berlin, where
you can see it today.
00:03:59.50\00:04:02.84
¤[music continues]¤
00:04:02.87\00:04:05.07
This altar was the
center of much of the worship
00:04:05.11\00:04:07.41
that was conducted in the city.
00:04:07.44\00:04:09.41
The worship of pagan gods
and emperors was a major part
00:04:09.44\00:04:13.68
of life and
culture in this town.
00:04:13.72\00:04:17.29
In addition to its
magnificent library,
00:04:17.32\00:04:19.55
Pergamon was home to many
other ancient Greek structures.
00:04:19.59\00:04:23.32
Prominent temples
were dedicated to Zeus,
00:04:23.36\00:04:25.79
Dionysus, and Demeter.
00:04:25.83\00:04:28.63
Another temple in Pergamon
was devoted to Asclepius,
00:04:28.66\00:04:32.60
a Greek god whose
symbol was a serpent.
00:04:32.63\00:04:36.84
¤[music ends]¤¤
00:04:36.87\00:04:38.47
Many believe this is
what Jesus was talking about
00:04:38.51\00:04:41.34
when He spoke of
the church at Pergamos
00:04:41.38\00:04:43.28
being located
where Satan's throne is.
00:04:43.31\00:04:46.72
¤[soft music]¤
00:04:46.75\00:04:47.72
Satan took the form of a serpent
00:04:47.75\00:04:49.95
when he deceived our first
parents in the Garden of Eden.
00:04:49.98\00:04:53.99
In the midst of all
this, we find a group of people
00:04:57.33\00:05:00.26
who chose to adopt a
different, less popular faith.
00:05:00.30\00:05:05.10
It was here that the
early Christian church
00:05:05.13\00:05:07.70
set down one of its roots,
00:05:07.74\00:05:10.37
a root that became known
as the church at Pergamos.
00:05:10.41\00:05:14.88
It's the third of
the seven churches
00:05:14.91\00:05:16.88
mentioned in the
book of Revelation.
00:05:16.91\00:05:19.21
And it's given a
personal message from God.
00:05:19.25\00:05:23.72
Now, if Jesus
spoke to you and said,
00:05:23.75\00:05:26.65
"I have a few
things against you,"
00:05:26.69\00:05:29.06
that might make you
feel a little uncomfortable.
00:05:29.09\00:05:32.03
So why did He say
that to the church
00:05:32.06\00:05:34.20
that existed right
here 2,000 years ago?
00:05:34.23\00:05:38.30
We'll take a look at
that in just a moment.
00:05:38.33\00:05:40.47
¤[soft piano
music swells and ends]¤¤
00:05:40.50\00:05:45.51
>>Announcer: Travel
back in time and visit
00:05:51.15\00:05:53.18
the historic sites of
Revelation's ancient churches,
00:05:53.21\00:05:56.52
where Christianity
grew against all odds,
00:05:56.55\00:05:59.12
and learn how messages
shared by Jesus 2,000 years ago
00:05:59.15\00:06:03.09
are also messages
from heaven for today.
00:06:03.12\00:06:05.99
Call now for your free copy
00:06:06.03\00:06:07.50
of "The Seven Churches of
Revelation: Messages for Today."
00:06:07.50\00:06:11.60
Call 800-253-3000.
00:06:11.63\00:06:14.37
That's 800-253-3000,
00:06:14.40\00:06:17.07
or visit us
online at iiwoffer.com.
00:06:17.11\00:06:20.51
>>John Bradshaw:
Crystals, yoga, Ouija boards,
00:06:22.28\00:06:24.91
witchcraft are back in vogue.
00:06:24.95\00:06:28.15
What the Fox sisters popularized
is now part of pop culture.
00:06:28.18\00:06:32.22
Books and movies
about witchcraft, wizardry,
00:06:32.25\00:06:34.56
and magic are everywhere.
00:06:34.59\00:06:37.06
What's often said to
be just entertainment
00:06:37.09\00:06:39.66
is part of something
much larger and darker.
00:06:39.69\00:06:43.30
Don't miss
"Dancing With the Devil,"
00:06:43.33\00:06:45.70
where we'll explore
the rise of the occult,
00:06:45.73\00:06:48.54
and you'll meet a young woman
00:06:48.57\00:06:49.64
who overcame her
involvement with the occult
00:06:49.67\00:06:51.91
through the power of God.
00:06:51.94\00:06:54.61
In a world where the media is
saturated with occult imagery,
00:06:54.64\00:06:58.15
in a society
where ghosts and demons
00:06:58.18\00:07:00.32
are treated as trivial and fun,
it's never been more important
00:07:00.35\00:07:03.75
to discern between the
sacred and the profane.
00:07:03.79\00:07:06.55
In "Dancing With the Devil,"
00:07:06.59\00:07:08.22
you'll learn there's
nothing new under the sun
00:07:08.26\00:07:10.76
and that the roots of what
we see today go all the way back
00:07:10.79\00:07:13.86
to the origin of sin.
00:07:13.90\00:07:16.13
"Dancing With the Devil,"
00:07:16.16\00:07:17.83
brought to you
by It Is Written TV.
00:07:17.87\00:07:20.87
>>John Bradshaw:
Welcome to "Line Upon Line,"
00:07:22.04\00:07:23.94
brought to you by It Is Written.
00:07:23.97\00:07:26.11
¤[upbeat music]¤
00:07:26.14\00:07:28.78
Was it God's plan for
sin to enter the world?
00:07:28.81\00:07:32.31
>>Wes Peppers: Is the
building of the temple
00:07:32.35\00:07:34.02
necessary before Jesus returns?
00:07:34.05\00:07:36.15
>>John: That's a good question.
00:07:36.18\00:07:37.35
And I think we've got a
pretty good answer for you here.
00:07:37.39\00:07:40.19
¤[music continues]¤
00:07:40.22\00:07:42.29
>>Wes: Temptation is not sin.
00:07:42.32\00:07:44.43
>>John: God says,
"Put me to the test."
00:07:44.46\00:07:46.90
¤[music swells and ends]¤¤
00:07:46.93\00:07:50.90
¤[Middle-Eastern instrumental
music with ethereal singing]¤
00:07:52.50\00:07:57.51
>>John Bradshaw: Pergamos,
00:08:02.01\00:08:03.14
the third of the seven
churches of Revelation,
00:08:03.18\00:08:05.81
described by Jesus as the
location of Satan's throne.
00:08:05.85\00:08:10.49
¤[music continues]¤
00:08:10.52\00:08:13.52
In addition to their renowned
library and multiple temples,
00:08:21.33\00:08:25.27
ancient Pergamon
was home to a hospital.
00:08:25.30\00:08:28.44
Known as the Asclepion,
00:08:28.47\00:08:30.47
it apparently majored
in alternative treatments.
00:08:30.51\00:08:34.51
In mythology,
Asclepius was the son of Apollo.
00:08:34.54\00:08:38.65
And he was the
Greek god of healing,
00:08:38.68\00:08:41.48
depicted as having a staff
with a snake wrapped around it.
00:08:41.52\00:08:46.79
That symbol is still prominently
associated with medicine,
00:08:46.82\00:08:49.79
especially as representing
the World Health Organization.
00:08:49.82\00:08:53.46
The Asclepion in
Pergamon utilized treatments
00:08:55.90\00:08:58.63
such as mud baths,
water, herbs, and exercise,
00:08:58.67\00:09:02.84
along with other
healing modalities
00:09:02.87\00:09:05.17
that weren't quite as sound.
00:09:05.21\00:09:08.44
[voice echoing] This
was a healing tunnel.
00:09:08.48\00:09:11.28
Patients would be
brought here to rest,
00:09:11.31\00:09:13.05
or they might have dreams,
00:09:13.08\00:09:14.48
or they might be
visited by a pagan god,
00:09:14.52\00:09:17.92
and healing may or
may not come as a result.
00:09:17.95\00:09:21.66
So, people would come
here to receive healing
00:09:21.69\00:09:25.59
from pagan gods.
00:09:25.63\00:09:28.33
And Christians lived
in the midst of it all.
00:09:28.36\00:09:30.83
¤[music ends with
ethereal singing]¤¤
00:09:30.87\00:09:34.74
It isn't hard to see why
compromise affected this church.
00:09:34.77\00:09:38.97
Being a Christian during
these times required commitment,
00:09:39.01\00:09:43.01
a determination to honor
God and to avoid everything
00:09:43.04\00:09:46.35
that wasn't
consistent with the Word of God.
00:09:46.38\00:09:49.62
¤[moody Middle-Eastern
instrumental music]¤
00:09:49.65\00:09:51.99
In addition to
temples honoring Zeus
00:09:52.02\00:09:54.09
and hospitals
named after Asclepius,
00:09:54.12\00:09:56.69
shrines dedicated to emperor
worship can be found here.
00:09:56.73\00:10:00.66
The cult of emperor
worship in Pergamon started
00:10:00.70\00:10:03.53
during the reign of the very
first Roman emperor, Augustus.
00:10:03.57\00:10:08.60
And the emperors themselves
were very serious about this.
00:10:08.64\00:10:11.64
The emperor Trajan,
00:10:11.67\00:10:13.54
who died here in
Turkey in around 117 AD,
00:10:13.58\00:10:17.65
styled himself as God's
representative on earth.
00:10:17.68\00:10:22.05
These were big
claims, blasphemous claims.
00:10:22.08\00:10:25.82
Yet judging from the number of
shrines that can still be found
00:10:25.85\00:10:28.96
across Pergamon, it
seems the citizens of this town
00:10:28.99\00:10:32.29
were very anxious
to please the Romans.
00:10:32.33\00:10:34.60
¤[music fades]¤
00:10:34.63\00:10:36.00
This background of pagan worship
00:10:36.03\00:10:39.30
helps us to
understand the setting
00:10:39.33\00:10:41.17
in which Jesus' message
to this church was received.
00:10:41.20\00:10:45.31
[footsteps crunching on gravel]
00:10:45.34\00:10:46.64
¤[soft harp music]¤
00:10:46.68\00:10:48.08
"And to the angel of the
church in Pergamos write,
00:10:48.11\00:10:51.48
"'These things says He who
has the sharp two-edged sword:
00:10:51.51\00:10:55.75
"'"I know your
works, and where you dwell,
00:10:55.78\00:10:58.35
"'"where Satan's throne is.
00:10:58.39\00:11:00.69
"'"And you hold fast to my
name, and did not deny my faith
00:11:00.72\00:11:04.93
"'"even in the days in which
Antipas was my faithful martyr,
00:11:04.96\00:11:08.53
"'"who was killed among
you, where Satan dwells.
00:11:08.56\00:11:12.43
"'"But I have a
few things against you,
00:11:12.47\00:11:14.87
"'"because you have there those
who hold the doctrine of Balaam,
00:11:14.90\00:11:18.91
"'"who taught Balak
to put a stumbling block
00:11:18.94\00:11:21.34
"'"before the
children of Israel,
00:11:21.38\00:11:23.45
"'"to eat things
sacrificed to idols,
00:11:23.48\00:11:26.45
"'"and to commit
sexual immorality.
00:11:26.48\00:11:29.95
"'"Thus you also
have those who hold
00:11:29.98\00:11:31.72
"'"the doctrine of the
Nicolaitans, which thing I hate.
00:11:31.75\00:11:36.16
"'"Repent, or else I
will come to you quickly
00:11:36.19\00:11:39.79
"'"and will fight against
them with the sword of my mouth.
00:11:39.83\00:11:43.40
"'"He who has an ear,
00:11:43.43\00:11:45.07
"'"let him hear what the
Spirit says to the churches.
00:11:45.10\00:11:48.64
"'"To him who overcomes
00:11:48.67\00:11:50.54
"'"I will give some of
the hidden manna to eat.
00:11:50.57\00:11:53.48
"'"And I will
give him a white stone,
00:11:53.51\00:11:55.74
"'"and on the
stone a new name written
00:11:55.78\00:11:58.88
which no one knows
except him who receives it."'"
00:11:58.91\00:12:01.92
This is a powerful message,
00:12:03.45\00:12:05.19
and like most of the messages
to the churches of Revelation,
00:12:05.22\00:12:08.82
it contains both
praise and rebuke.
00:12:08.86\00:12:12.33
From what we've seen of
the popular worship here,
00:12:12.36\00:12:14.36
it isn't hard to understand why
Jesus would refer to this place
00:12:14.40\00:12:19.13
as the location of Satan's seat.
00:12:19.17\00:12:22.70
As you look at the
letters to the seven churches,
00:12:22.74\00:12:24.97
it's very clear that
these are actual letters
00:12:25.01\00:12:27.61
to actual congregations
in actual locations
00:12:27.64\00:12:30.98
in the time of the early church.
00:12:31.01\00:12:32.95
But numerous
scholars have suggested
00:12:32.98\00:12:35.05
that each of the
letters to the churches
00:12:35.08\00:12:36.85
also corresponds
with a period of history,
00:12:36.89\00:12:40.89
in particular, church history.
00:12:40.92\00:12:42.72
¤[soft piano music]¤
00:12:42.76\00:12:43.93
The first church, Ephesus,
relates to the apostolic church.
00:12:43.96\00:12:49.30
Smyrna covers
the period in which
00:12:49.33\00:12:51.23
the Roman emperor
Diocletian commenced
00:12:51.27\00:12:53.44
a 10-year period of persecution
against Christianity.
00:12:53.47\00:12:57.17
¤[melancholy orchestral music]¤
00:12:57.21\00:12:58.17
The period covered by
the church of Pergamos
00:12:58.21\00:13:00.41
is the period in
which persecution ceased
00:13:00.44\00:13:03.51
when the church compromised
in order to make peace
00:13:03.55\00:13:06.35
with the Roman
Empire-- and as a result,
00:13:06.38\00:13:09.52
lost the purity of the
original gospel message.
00:13:09.55\00:13:14.09
The church was elevated,
00:13:14.12\00:13:16.56
but compromise
brought dire consequences.
00:13:16.59\00:13:21.10
The famous Red
Basilica of Pergamon
00:13:21.13\00:13:23.70
illustrates the blending
of paganism with Christianity
00:13:23.73\00:13:27.14
that took place
during this time.
00:13:27.17\00:13:29.77
This was originally a
temple dedicated to the worship
00:13:29.80\00:13:32.41
of Egyptian gods,
such as Isis and Serapis
00:13:32.44\00:13:36.41
and probably
also Osiris and Horus
00:13:36.44\00:13:38.81
and some lesser gods as well.
00:13:38.85\00:13:41.98
But when the Roman Empire
came to profess Christianity,
00:13:42.02\00:13:45.05
this temple became a Christian
church and was dedicated
00:13:45.09\00:13:49.19
to the apostle John, the one who
wrote the book of Revelation.
00:13:49.22\00:13:53.36
The Christian
faith became corrupted,
00:13:53.40\00:13:56.30
taking on the symbols
and icons of heathenism
00:13:56.33\00:14:00.40
and baptizing
them into Christianity.
00:14:00.44\00:14:03.47
¤[melancholy
orchestral music continues]¤
00:14:03.51\00:14:06.24
This is what
happened to Christendom
00:14:06.27\00:14:07.84
during the centuries immediately
following the end of persecution
00:14:07.88\00:14:11.61
by pagan Rome.
00:14:11.65\00:14:13.98
The emperor Constantine
claims to accept Christianity
00:14:14.02\00:14:17.25
during this time, and he
made the Christian religion
00:14:17.29\00:14:20.29
popular in the pagan world.
00:14:20.32\00:14:23.36
Heathen gods and heathen
customs were incorporated
00:14:23.39\00:14:27.23
into Christian
worship practices.
00:14:27.30\00:14:29.96
Yes, there were
those who stayed true
00:14:30.00\00:14:31.60
to the original Christian faith,
00:14:31.63\00:14:34.07
but millions of unconverted
pagans crowded the gates
00:14:34.10\00:14:38.07
of the church, and the message
of the gospel became corrupt.
00:14:38.11\00:14:43.11
The faithful few who kept alive
the genuine Christian message
00:14:44.28\00:14:47.98
are represented by Antipas,
the martyr mentioned by Jesus
00:14:48.02\00:14:52.39
in His message to
the Pergamos church.
00:14:52.42\00:14:54.89
The evidence of
history indicates that Antipas
00:14:54.92\00:14:57.13
was ordained by the
apostle John as a bishop
00:14:57.16\00:15:00.63
during the reign of
the Roman emperor Nero.
00:15:00.66\00:15:03.13
It's believed he was martyred
00:15:03.16\00:15:04.90
during the persecution
of Christians under Nero.
00:15:04.93\00:15:08.47
But Antipas definitely appears
to have been in the minority
00:15:08.50\00:15:12.17
of Christians during this time,
00:15:12.21\00:15:14.11
and the message from
Jesus bears this out.
00:15:14.14\00:15:17.55
It seems that
many more had fallen
00:15:17.58\00:15:19.65
for the morally permissive
teachings of the Nicolaitans,
00:15:19.68\00:15:23.02
who were mentioned in the
letter to the church at Ephesus.
00:15:23.05\00:15:26.59
These professed Christians
seemed to have developed
00:15:26.62\00:15:29.99
a gospel which
promised salvation
00:15:30.03\00:15:32.79
without regard to
how people chose to live.
00:15:32.83\00:15:35.86
Jesus connects
this corrupt gospel
00:15:35.90\00:15:38.07
with the teachings of
Balaam in the Old Testament,
00:15:38.10\00:15:41.87
who successfully
lured the children of Israel
00:15:41.90\00:15:44.51
into sexual immorality through
the worship of pagan gods
00:15:44.54\00:15:50.21
just before Israel crossed
Jordan into the land of Canaan.
00:15:50.25\00:15:55.38
You can read the
story in Numbers 25.
00:15:55.42\00:15:58.55
Balaam had been unable to
curse the people of Israel
00:15:58.59\00:16:01.62
as the Moabite king
Balak wanted him to.
00:16:01.66\00:16:05.09
What Jesus is telling us
here in the message to Pergamos
00:16:05.13\00:16:07.86
is that just as Balaam convinced
Balak to tempt the Israelites
00:16:07.93\00:16:11.73
to engage in sexual sin and
worship idols in the process,
00:16:11.77\00:16:17.74
similar thing
happened in Constantine's time
00:16:17.77\00:16:20.88
and the centuries afterwards
00:16:20.91\00:16:22.58
when idolatry
flooded into the church.
00:16:22.61\00:16:26.51
And because of this, the
history of the Christian church
00:16:26.55\00:16:28.65
in the ages that followed
was darkened by apostasy
00:16:28.68\00:16:32.59
and by the persecution of
those who stood up against it.
00:16:32.62\00:16:35.52
¤[somber music]¤
00:16:35.56\00:16:36.52
Now, Jesus said
to the church here
00:16:36.56\00:16:38.43
that He had a sharp,
two-edged sword in His mouth.
00:16:38.46\00:16:43.87
Now, why was that?
00:16:43.90\00:16:45.47
We'll find out in just a moment.
00:16:45.50\00:16:49.57
¤[somber music
swells and ends]¤¤
00:16:49.60\00:16:55.41
>>Announcer: Travel
back in time and visit
00:16:58.08\00:17:00.15
the historic sites of
Revelation's ancient churches,
00:17:00.18\00:17:03.65
where Christianity
grew against all odds,
00:17:03.69\00:17:06.22
and learn how messages
shared by Jesus 2,000 years ago
00:17:06.25\00:17:10.06
are also messages
from heaven for today.
00:17:10.09\00:17:12.96
Call now for your free copy
00:17:12.99\00:17:14.46
of "The Seven Churches of
Revelation: Messages for Today."
00:17:14.46\00:17:18.57
Call 800-253-3000.
00:17:18.60\00:17:21.30
That's 800-253-3000,
00:17:21.34\00:17:24.17
or visit us
online at iiwoffer.com.
00:17:24.21\00:17:27.38
>>John Bradshaw: It was
given as a gift by the wise men
00:17:29.78\00:17:32.15
to the newborn Christ.
00:17:32.18\00:17:34.35
Later an entire city
named after the precious perfume
00:17:34.38\00:17:38.15
would feature prominently
in the book or Revelation.
00:17:38.19\00:17:40.99
¤[soft solemn music]¤
00:17:41.02\00:17:41.99
While exiled on Patmos,
00:17:42.02\00:17:43.76
John writes to a young church
of Christian believers in Smyrna
00:17:43.79\00:17:48.36
to encourage
them as they prepare
00:17:48.40\00:17:50.07
to endure fierce persecution
at the hands of a Roman emperor.
00:17:50.10\00:17:54.97
In a foreshadowing of
what awaits God's people
00:17:55.00\00:17:57.54
in the last days, the apostle
shares Christ's message of hope:
00:17:57.57\00:18:02.61
"Do not fear any of those things
00:18:02.64\00:18:04.45
"which you are
about to suffer....
00:18:04.48\00:18:06.45
"Be faithful [unto] death,
00:18:06.48\00:18:08.48
and I will give
you the crown of life."
00:18:08.52\00:18:11.85
"The Seven Churches
of Revelation: Smyrna"--
00:18:11.89\00:18:15.52
discover how Jesus can
turn your trials into victories.
00:18:15.56\00:18:20.16
"The Seven Churches
of Revelation: Smyrna,"
00:18:20.20\00:18:23.90
brought to you
by It Is Written TV.
00:18:23.93\00:18:27.04
¤[music ends]¤¤
00:18:27.07\00:18:28.07
¤[soothing piano
and orchestral music]¤
00:18:30.94\00:18:34.91
>>John Bradshaw:
Jesus spoke very pointedly
00:18:34.94\00:18:36.51
to the Christians at Pergamon.
00:18:36.54\00:18:38.61
And those same words ring
down through the centuries
00:18:38.65\00:18:41.15
to these post-modern times.
00:18:41.18\00:18:43.85
He said to them
00:18:43.89\00:18:45.59
that He had a
sharp two-edged sword
00:18:45.62\00:18:48.29
and that with it He would punish
00:18:48.32\00:18:50.49
those who refused to repent.
00:18:50.53\00:18:52.46
You see something very similar
over in Revelation, chapter 19
00:18:52.49\00:18:56.20
at the time of Jesus' return.
00:18:56.23\00:18:58.37
Revelation 19,
verse 15 says this:
00:18:58.40\00:19:01.00
"Now out of His
mouth goes a sharp sword,
00:19:01.97\00:19:04.77
"that with it He
should strike the nations.
00:19:04.81\00:19:07.64
"And He Himself will
rule them with a rod of iron.
00:19:07.68\00:19:11.18
"He Himself treads the
winepress of the fierceness
00:19:11.21\00:19:14.18
and wrath of Almighty God."
00:19:14.22\00:19:17.22
So what is this sword
that Jesus spoke about?
00:19:17.25\00:19:20.32
The New Testament mentions
it on two other occasions.
00:19:20.36\00:19:23.89
Writing to the church in
Ephesus, not far from here,
00:19:23.93\00:19:27.30
Paul said that the
Ephesian Christians should "take
00:19:27.36\00:19:29.60
"the helmet of salvation,
and the sword of the Spirit,
00:19:29.63\00:19:34.10
which is the word of God."
00:19:34.14\00:19:36.34
The Bible mentions it
also in the book of Hebrews:
00:19:36.37\00:19:40.18
"For the word of God
is living and powerful,
00:19:41.14\00:19:44.15
"and sharper than
any two-edged sword,
00:19:44.18\00:19:47.08
"piercing even to the
division of soul and spirit,
00:19:47.12\00:19:50.42
"and of joints and
marrow, and is a discerner
00:19:50.45\00:19:54.06
of the thoughts and
intents of the heart."
00:19:54.09\00:19:57.19
The sword Jesus spoke
of is the Word of God,
00:19:57.23\00:20:01.23
and you can see,
given the context,
00:20:01.26\00:20:02.86
that He is referring
to the Ten Commandments,
00:20:02.90\00:20:05.73
an expression of
the character of God--
00:20:05.77\00:20:08.27
really, promises to the believer
of what the life of a believer
00:20:08.30\00:20:11.91
will look like when
Jesus lives in the heart.
00:20:11.94\00:20:15.08
Solomon understood this when he
wrote the book of Ecclesiastes:
00:20:15.11\00:20:19.65
"Let us hear the
conclusion of the whole matter:
00:20:19.68\00:20:22.72
"Fear God, and
keep His commandments,
00:20:22.75\00:20:25.49
"for this is the
whole duty of man.
00:20:25.52\00:20:28.66
"For God will bring
every work into judgment,
00:20:28.69\00:20:31.99
"including every secret thing,
00:20:32.03\00:20:34.56
whether [it be] good
or [whether it be] evil."
00:20:34.60\00:20:37.60
¤[music fades]¤
00:20:38.93\00:20:40.04
Thank God, Jesus' message
to the church at Pergamon
00:20:40.07\00:20:42.94
doesn't end with a warning.
00:20:42.97\00:20:45.14
He makes a promise to those who
overcome through faith in Him,
00:20:45.17\00:20:49.58
as opposed to those compromisers
who try to make peace with sin.
00:20:49.61\00:20:54.22
Let's take a look
at that promise again:
00:20:54.25\00:20:55.95
¤[soft orchestral music]¤
00:20:55.98\00:20:56.82
"To him who overcomes
00:20:56.85\00:20:58.05
"I will give some of
the hidden manna to eat.
00:20:58.09\00:21:01.06
"And I will give
him a white stone,
00:21:01.09\00:21:03.19
"and on the stone
a new name written
00:21:03.22\00:21:05.99
which no one knows
except him who receives it."
00:21:06.03\00:21:08.83
So what is this "hidden
manna" Jesus is speaking of?
00:21:10.10\00:21:14.40
Hebrews, chapter 9
says that a golden pot
00:21:14.44\00:21:17.01
was placed inside
the Ark of the Covenant.
00:21:17.04\00:21:20.14
It contained manna,
00:21:20.18\00:21:22.14
that food with which God
miraculously fed His people
00:21:22.18\00:21:25.08
as they wandered
through the wilderness
00:21:25.11\00:21:26.95
on their way to Canaan.
00:21:26.98\00:21:28.55
The Bible calls it angels' food.
00:21:28.58\00:21:31.15
It's a symbol of
the bread of life,
00:21:31.19\00:21:34.46
the life-giving Word of
God Jesus was speaking of
00:21:34.49\00:21:37.79
when He said that people
should live not "by bread alone,
00:21:37.83\00:21:40.20
but by every word that
proceeds from the mouth of God."
00:21:40.23\00:21:44.97
Jeremiah the prophet
spoke of the Word of God
00:21:45.00\00:21:47.37
in the same way when he said,
00:21:47.40\00:21:49.67
"Your words were
found, and I ate them."
00:21:49.70\00:21:53.17
Jesus is saying to those who
choose to live a life of faith
00:21:53.21\00:21:56.81
that they'll be
nourished by God's Word.
00:21:56.85\00:22:00.25
Like Israel in the wilderness,
00:22:00.28\00:22:02.32
they will eat the
bread of heaven itself.
00:22:02.35\00:22:07.16
Now, what about this
white stone Jesus refers to?
00:22:07.19\00:22:09.76
Well, truth is there's very
little consensus among scholars
00:22:09.79\00:22:14.00
as to what is represented
here, very little agreement.
00:22:14.00\00:22:17.20
There's a school
of thought that says
00:22:17.23\00:22:18.37
this references the tessera;
00:22:18.40\00:22:20.54
these were essentially
tokens of admittance.
00:22:20.57\00:22:23.81
Others associate
it with acquittal.
00:22:23.84\00:22:26.98
Well, whatever it is precisely,
00:22:27.01\00:22:29.34
we know that Jesus is
giving something enduring,
00:22:29.38\00:22:33.18
something pure to His people,
00:22:33.21\00:22:35.75
and He is letting them
know that they have eternal life
00:22:35.78\00:22:39.32
with Him, life with the
Savior, the Redeemer forever.
00:22:39.35\00:22:44.33
¤[contemplative synth music]¤
00:22:44.36\00:22:47.13
At different times
in biblical history,
00:22:47.13\00:22:49.70
God gave people a new name
00:22:49.73\00:22:52.43
to signify they'd
received a new character,
00:22:52.47\00:22:55.94
a new experience, or
a new spiritual destiny.
00:22:55.97\00:23:00.21
Like that time Jacob
wrestled with an angel:
00:23:00.24\00:23:03.75
"Your name shall no longer
be called Jacob, but Israel;
00:23:04.91\00:23:09.15
"for you have
struggled with God and with men,
00:23:09.18\00:23:12.15
and have prevailed."
00:23:12.19\00:23:13.46
The book of Revelation
says that when Jesus comes,
00:23:14.79\00:23:17.29
He will have a "name written"
that no one knew except Himself.
00:23:17.33\00:23:21.70
In His promise to His
followers in Pergamon,
00:23:23.70\00:23:25.80
Jesus promises them that they,
too, will receive a new name--
00:23:25.83\00:23:30.67
insignia of
honor, tokens of triumph.
00:23:30.71\00:23:34.34
Like Jacob, the victorious
saints will receive a new name
00:23:34.38\00:23:37.88
as a reward for their
faithfulness and perseverance.
00:23:37.91\00:23:41.72
Of course, the wonderful truth
00:23:41.75\00:23:42.98
is that you can
have the white stone.
00:23:43.02\00:23:46.65
You can have a new name.
00:23:46.69\00:23:49.62
Even in this world where
sin is not just tolerated
00:23:49.66\00:23:52.76
but accepted and promoted,
00:23:52.79\00:23:55.40
even in this world
where there's a lot of doubt,
00:23:55.43\00:23:57.57
there's
skepticism and agnosticism
00:23:57.60\00:24:00.40
and atheism and relativism
and criticism and all of that,
00:24:00.44\00:24:05.81
you can have everything God
wants you to have in this life:
00:24:05.84\00:24:09.48
peace.
00:24:09.51\00:24:10.75
God can restore your dignity.
00:24:10.78\00:24:12.81
You can walk with your head held
high, not in a prideful sense
00:24:12.85\00:24:16.35
but knowing that
you are a child of God
00:24:16.38\00:24:19.05
simply through faith in Jesus--
00:24:19.09\00:24:23.43
the reason Jesus
died on the cross,
00:24:23.46\00:24:25.36
so that your sin
could be taken away
00:24:25.39\00:24:27.86
and so that you could
receive all of the blessings
00:24:27.86\00:24:30.17
that He has for you.
00:24:30.20\00:24:32.53
So there's no need to
wait. There's no need to doubt.
00:24:32.57\00:24:35.74
There's
definitely no need to fear.
00:24:35.77\00:24:39.01
God is looking to you
today and asking that you would
00:24:39.04\00:24:41.98
simply allow Jesus to be
everything that He truly is.
00:24:42.01\00:24:48.92
[waves crashing on beach]
00:24:48.95\00:24:52.92
¤[soft, soothing synth music]¤
00:24:52.95\00:24:55.96
You know what I find so
interesting about Pergamos,
00:25:03.23\00:25:06.63
that once magnificent city,
the ruins of which are set high
00:25:06.67\00:25:11.44
on the acropolis
overlooking the city?
00:25:11.47\00:25:13.81
Well, it's the fact
that today it's ruins.
00:25:13.84\00:25:16.88
Once stately and palatial
and magnificent--today, ruins.
00:25:16.91\00:25:22.08
Trajan the emperor
was worshiped as a god.
00:25:22.12\00:25:25.32
Today? What has he become?
00:25:25.35\00:25:27.66
A statue.
00:25:27.69\00:25:28.62
No, no, a headless statue.
00:25:28.66\00:25:31.43
Temples where people worshiped
deities that were not deities
00:25:31.46\00:25:35.50
had been reduced to rubble.
00:25:35.53\00:25:37.67
You get the idea
that nothing lasts.
00:25:37.70\00:25:40.30
And I'll tell you that
there's something that lasts,
00:25:40.34\00:25:42.54
and John knew what that
was when he was writing here
00:25:42.57\00:25:46.71
on the island of Patmos.
00:25:46.74\00:25:48.34
He had witnessed the
crucifixion of Jesus.
00:25:48.38\00:25:50.91
He saw Jesus after Jesus
was raised from the dead.
00:25:50.95\00:25:54.95
And then, in this place, John
wrote the book of Revelation
00:25:54.98\00:25:58.22
that speaks about a kingdom
that will never pass away
00:25:58.25\00:26:02.86
and about a God who wants
you to be part of that kingdom.
00:26:02.89\00:26:05.59
You want something that lasts?
00:26:05.63\00:26:08.00
Christ lasts.
00:26:08.03\00:26:09.46
Eternity lasts. Heaven lasts.
00:26:09.50\00:26:12.63
There will be an earth
made new that God wants you in,
00:26:12.67\00:26:17.17
and your life will last
as long as the life of God.
00:26:17.21\00:26:22.28
¤[music ends]¤¤
00:26:22.31\00:26:24.65
>>John: Thank you for
remembering that It Is Written
00:26:24.68\00:26:26.65
exists because of the kindness
of people just like you.
00:26:26.68\00:26:30.05
To support this international
life-changing ministry,
00:26:30.09\00:26:33.22
please call us
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00:26:33.25\00:26:37.49
You can send your
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00:26:37.53\00:26:38.99
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00:26:39.03\00:26:40.46
or you can visit us
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00:26:40.50\00:26:44.23
Thank you for your prayers
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00:26:44.27\00:26:47.07
Our number
again is 800-253-3000,
00:26:47.10\00:26:51.37
or you can visit us
online at itiswritten.com.
00:26:51.41\00:26:54.41
>>John: Let me
pray with you now.
00:26:55.84\00:26:57.38
Our Father and our
God, in Jesus' name,
00:26:57.41\00:26:59.31
we thank You for
that which lasts,
00:26:59.35\00:27:01.98
for eternity, for
heaven, for an earth made new,
00:27:02.02\00:27:05.65
for Jesus, for
the things of heaven.
00:27:05.69\00:27:08.96
Right now we
claim that which lasts.
00:27:08.99\00:27:11.63
We claim that eternal
life through faith in Jesus.
00:27:11.66\00:27:15.40
We don't deserve
it. We cannot buy it.
00:27:15.43\00:27:18.47
But we believe it through
Christ's death on the cross.
00:27:18.50\00:27:22.80
We thank You for everlasting
life. And we praise You,
00:27:22.84\00:27:28.58
in Jesus' name.
00:27:28.61\00:27:30.81
Amen.
00:27:30.85\00:27:32.41
Thanks so much for joining me.
00:27:32.45\00:27:33.65
I'm looking forward to
seeing you again next time.
00:27:33.68\00:27:36.08
Until then, remember:
00:27:36.12\00:27:38.19
"It is written, 'Man
shall not live by bread alone,
00:27:38.22\00:27:42.89
but by every word that proceeds
from the mouth of God.'"
00:27:42.92\00:27:47.83
¤[dramatic,
triumphant theme music]¤
00:27:47.86\00:27:52.83
¤[music ends]¤¤
00:28:26.33\00:28:28.34