The Seven Churches, Part VI : The Church of Thyatira

In our survey of the seven churches, we are now in the middle—there are three churches before Thyatira and three churches after it. The middle church is an appropriate place to analyze where we have been and where we are going. The messages to the seven churches were given to the seven churches in western Turkey during biblical times. They also represent seven periods of time between the time of the apostles and the end of time. During this time—with the exception of the great revivals that took place during the second advent awakening in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and early nineteenth centuries—the course of the church of Christ since the days of the apostles has been mostly downward.

We see striking evidence of this fact if we look at the churches in sequence with the description given them by Jesus in the Revelation. The list would look like this: (1) Ephesus—the loveless church; (2) Smyrna—the persecuted church; (3) Pergamos—the compromising church; (4) Thyatira—the corrupt church; (5) Sardis—the dead church; (6) Philadelphia—the faithful church; and (7) Laodicea—the lukewarm church.

There is not much question about the period of the Ephesus church—the time of the apostles until the latter part of the first century. The Smyrna church covered the period of the great pagan persecutions in which “Paganism foresaw that should the gospel triumph, her temples and altars would be swept away; therefore she summoned her forces to destroy Christianity.” The Great Controversy, 39. This period lasted from the time of Nero (see Ibid., 40) until the edict of Milan in 313 a.d. We see, then, that almost immediately (less than ten years) after the edict of Milan, there was a tremendous compromising with the world by the Christian churches that lasted for over 200 years.

Tolerating Jezebel

When did the compromising have such an effect that the church could be described as corrupt? The church at Pergamos is described as a compromising church, but the church at Thyatira is described as tolerating the harlot Jezebel. This is a similar description to that of Babylon in Revelation 14:8; 17 and 18. The church is to be espoused to Christ and is to be presented as a pure virgin to Him at His coming. She is to have no other liaison or relationship.

“He who was our example kept aloof from earthly governments. Not because He was indifferent to the woes of men, but because the remedy did not lie in merely human and external measures. . . .

“Not by the decisions of courts or councils or legislative assemblies, not by the patronage of worldly great men, is the kingdom of Christ established, but by the implanting of Christ’s nature in humanity through the work of the Holy Spirit. . . .

“Now, as in Christ’s day, the work of God’s kingdom lies not with those who are clamoring for recognition and support by earthly rulers and human laws, but with those who are declaring to the people in His name those spiritual truths that will work in the receivers the experience of Paul: ‘I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me.’ Galatians 2:20.” The Desire of Ages, 509, 510. [Emphasis supplied.]

Amalgamation

When the church unites with the world instead of being united to Christ, she is called an adulteress in the Scriptures. When did the church compromise so much that she could be described as tolerating Jezebel in the church? Jezebel represents a union of paganism with the people of God—Israel—so much so that Jezebel—paganism—controls the people of God.

In the early 1980s, when it was being publicly debated whether the United States should have an official ambassador to the Vatican (as was established by President Ronald Reagan in 1984), it was stated that the Catholic Church is not just a church like Protestant churches. Rather, the Roman Catholic Church is both a church and a state government. Since Jesus said, as recorded in John 18:36, “My kingdom is not of this world,” whenever a church also becomes a kingdom of this world, that church is allowing that which the founder of Christianity would not allow—a mixture of churchcraft and statecraft. Jesus taught a strict separation of church and state. (See Matthew 22:21.)

When did the church first engage in this amalgamation? By decree it happened first in a.d. 533 when Justinian, the emperor of the Eastern Roman Empire, legally recognized the bishop (pope) of Rome as the head of all the Christian churches. However, because of the Arian domination of some of the Roman Empire by the barbarian tribes—Visigoths, Ostrogoths, and Vandals—this authority could not be exercised by the bishop of Rome until a.d. 538 when the Ostrogoths, the last of the barbarian kingdoms, retired from the city of Rome. So the date when the church could be said to be corrupt by allowing in Jezebel with all her abominations would be a.d. 538.

The Dark Ages, a long period of time lasting almost 1,000 years—a longer period of time than that of any of the other churches—began in a.d. 538. The letter to Thyatira is the longest of the seven letters to the seven churches.

Addressing the Church

The title of the one addressing the church at Thyatira is “the Son of God.” Revelation 2:18. This is the only time this title is used for Jesus in the letters to the churches or in the entire Book of Revelation. It was during this period that Jezebel usurped the place and authority of Jesus in the church. Since the church at Thyatira had usurped the place of Christ, the witnesses of Jesus were put in dungeons and sent to stakes and inquisitions.

No longer does Jesus picture a Balak who has induced some of the leaders of the church to apostatize for worldly honor, as in the church at Pergamos, but rather, this church has a Jezebel at the very heart of the church. The antichrist has come right into the temple of God (the church, see Ephesians 2:19–22) and has seated himself there, showing himself that he is God.

A Little About Thyatira

Thyatira was located about 25 miles southeast of Pergamos. It was founded by Seleucus Nicator, one of the generals of Alexander the Great. It was a city built on the plains with no natural fortifications, such as Pergamos had, and was captured and destroyed and rebuilt many times.

When the Book of Revelation was written, this city was a manufacturing city, and its citizens were mostly poor, laboring people—just the opposite of Pergamos. In addition to various metallurgy industries, this was a center for dyeing cloth, especially of the royal purple. (See Acts 16:14.)

No Safety in Church Membership

There are many people who have assumed that if you belong to the church and stay with the church you will be saved. The letter to the church of Thyatira proves that this reasoning is false. Jesus predicts that he is going to destroy not only Jezebel but her entire family—all her children will be slain. (See Revelation 2:23.) If you are one of Jezebel’s children in character, even if your name is on the church books and you are professing to be a part of God’s people, the Lord says that you will be killed if you do not repent of your works. (See verse 22.) This letter shows that being part of the church by profession will not save you. If the church tolerated Jezebel inside of it, then all that participate in the works of Jezebel and do not repent will be killed.

There were some others in the church at Thyatira who did not have this teaching—that is, they did not tolerate Jezebel within their borders. They did not allow the amalgamation of the kingdom of God with the kingdoms of this world. Since they did not allow Jezebel within their church, “they did not have this teaching”—the teaching of Jezebel whereby the church and the state were united, forming an adulterous marriage between the church and the world. (See verses 20, 24.) As a result, they “did not know the depths of Satan” as the family of Jezebel did who claimed the right to be the teachers of all Christians. The Lord said to them, “I will not place on you any other burden. However, what you have hold fast till I come.” Verses 24, 25.

Character of the Professed

There are many lessons that we can learn from the instruction to the church at Thyatira.

First of all, in spite of the fact that there was a Jezebel in the heart of the professed church of Christ and the whole family of Jezebel who did not repent of the spiritual fornication taking place was destined to be slain, there were many Christians during the Dark Ages who lived up to all the light that they had and were commended for it by the Lord. Jesus says, “I know your love and faith and service and steadfast endurance, and your last works [are] more than the first.” Verse 19. This reveals clearly that the eyes of Him who has “eyes as a flame of fire” (verse 18) discern and detect not just profession of Christianity or profession of being members of the body of Christ, but Jesus detects the real character of the professed believers.

All the letters to the seven churches reveal this fact, and this fact shows us that in which Jesus is really interested. He values His church, not by the numbers of its professed believers or by the outward measurements that we use to evaluate, but by the character of His professed followers. He knows whether or not we have the first love. He knows whether our faith and love make us spiritually rich or poor. He knows whether or not our lives deny His character, whether we are spiritually dead or alive, whether our hearts are faithful, and whether we are hot, cold, or lukewarm.

The True Church

Second, Jesus knows what doctrines we are allowing to be taught in the church we attend. In the church at Thyatira, there were some people that would not go along with the teachings of Jezebel. In other words, they would not consent to an adulterous union of the church of Christ with the kingdoms of this world. As a result, not only were they excommunicated from the “church,” but they were also persecuted and martyred by the millions. They were told that they were cast out from the true church and therefore relegated to everlasting punishment, but actually, they were the true church.

These people were the true church at Thyatira, and Jesus addresses them as such. The counsel to them is as follows:

  1. They are referred to, in the King James Version of the Bible, as “the rest in Thyatira.” Verse 24. The Greek word translated “rest,” loipois, is the same Greek word that is translated as “remnant” in Revelation 12:17. They were the “remnant” or the “remaining”; that is, those who remained faithful in the midst of a worldwide apostasy.
  2. They did not learn, teach, or subscribe to the false teachings that resulted in Jezebel’s family knowing the depths of Satan.
  3. Jesus said, “I will not place on you any other burden. However, what you have hold fast till I come.” God did not expect as much of the Christians during the Dark Ages as He does of us. Most of them did not have ready access to the Bible, and gospel preaching was outlawed. God’s expectations are based upon opportunity. It is not good enough for any of us to say that our parents and grandparents did things in such and such a way, and they were good Christians, so it must be all right for us to do it that way also. Each of us is held accountable according to our opportunities.
  4. Those who conquered or were overcomers and kept unto the end Christ’s works would be given “power over the nations.” Revelation 2:26. During the Dark Ages, millions of Christians—the true church—were put to death by the various nations at the instigation of Jezebel and her family, but Jesus revealed that the time was coming when the circumstances of these Christians would be reversed. They would be the ones in power, and their former persecutors would be subject to their decision. (See 1 Corinthians 6:2.)
  5. The time is coming when the general to whose army these martyrs belong will shepherd the nations with a scepter of iron. (See Revelation 19:15.) After the manner that the persecutors have judged, they will be judged. They will be given a double reward for everything they have administered to others. (See Revelation 18:6; Isaiah 40:2.)
  6. The nations that have persecuted the saints, which will include every nation at the end of time, will be shattered in pieces or, in other words, completely destroyed. (See Revelation 16, 17, 18:7–24; 19:11–16.) The complete break-up and destruction of the old nations of this world must precede the new order of things that Jesus is coming to create. Before the first dominion can be restored to the church of Christ—the dominion of Adam before his fall and the kingdom of David with Christ ruling as King of kings and Lord of lords—He must bring to an end all rule, authority, and power. (See Revelation 19:16–21; 1 Corinthians 15:24.)
  7. The climax of the promise to the remnant or the faithful in Thyatira is that they will receive the Morning Star. (Revelation 2:28.) There are many morning stars written about in the Bible. (See, for example, Job 38:7.) The covering cherub, Lucifer, was one of these morning stars. (See Isaiah 14:12—the literal translation is “daystar,” “morning star,” or “shining one.”) In the future life, there will be those among the saved who are described as stars (see Daniel 12:3; Matthew 13:43), but when the Bible speaks of the Morning Star in the singular or, in other words, the Chief Star of the morning, it is referring to Jesus Christ. (See 11 Peter 1:19; Revelation 22:16.) He is the Royal Star that arose out of Jacob. He is the Daystar that changes night to day.

The morning star rises during the darkest part of the night, just before dawn. To those who lived during one of the darkest periods of earth’s history—“such persecution as the world had never before known,” The Desire of Ages, 631—was given the promise that they would receive the Morning Star—the Arbiter of all destinies; the General of all battles; the Ruler of all rulers; the Creator of the heavens and of the earth; the One whom the Father has appointed as the Heir of all things; the One who created the entire universe and Who upholds numberless worlds, solar systems, and galaxies by the Word of His power; the One who by Himself made a purification for our sins and Who sits on the right hand of His Father’s throne. This One unites His interest, presence, sustaining power, and grace with His torn, bleeding, scattered, persecuted flock who have been excommunicated, denounced, proscribed, persecuted, and sentenced to death by the professed church of Christ.

“Through the agency of Romanism, Satan took the world captive. The professed church of God was swept into the ranks of this delusion, and for more than a thousand years the people of God suffered under the dragon’s ire.” The Signs of the Times, November 1, 1899.

False Teachings Transmitted

Third, Jesus understands how false teachings and practices are transmitted from generation to generation. The tragedy and abomination of Jezebel in the church includes the fact that she has children. The false teaching and doctrine that Jezebel brought into the church in the past has been handed down by her children from generation to generation and will have to be dealt with by God’s people in the end of time. These false doctrines are what have caused a shaking among God’s people today.

“God’s Spirit has illuminated every page of Holy Writ, but there are those upon whom it makes little impression, because it is imperfectly understood. When the shaking comes, by the introduction of false theories, these surface readers, anchored nowhere, are like shifting sand. They slide into any position to suit the tenor of their feelings of bitterness.” Testimonies to Ministers and Gospel Workers, 112.

In the final generation, the great mother harlot is spoken of as having “daughters” who are also harlots. (Revelation 17:5.) As already demonstrated, a church becomes a harlot when she becomes joined to a state government instead of being joined only to Christ, as was the apostolic church in the first century. The result of churches becoming joined to state governments always results in persecution of non-conformist Christians and churches. The threatened judgments in the letter to Thyatira include not only the mother but also all the daughters—the entire family of Jezebel will be destroyed. This is Christ’s own verdict on all churches that retain the teachings and practices introduced into the church by Jezebel.

They may claim to have separated from Jezebel, but if they still cling to any of her doctrines and practices, and commit spiritual fornication with the kings and nations by uniting with them when opportunity presents itself, they will receive the same punishment as Jezebel herself. These threatened judgments, then, include all Christians and all Christian churches—including Seventh-day Adventist churches that refuse to give up all the doctrines and practices introduced into the church by Jezebel.

End of Time Challenges

The following quotations show that the church in the end of time will have to deal with the same theological controversies with which the church of Thyatira had to deal.

“Past history will be repeated; old controversies will arouse to new life, and peril will beset God’s people on every side. Intensity is taking possession of the human family.” Review and Herald, August 31, 1897.

“Old controversies which have apparently been hushed for a long time will be revived, and new controversies will spring up; new and old will commingle, and this will take place right early. The angels are holding the four winds, that they shall not blow, until the specified work of warning is given to the world; but the storm is gathering, the clouds are loading, ready to burst upon the world, and to many it will be as a thief in the night.” Special Testimonies, Series A, No. 01b, 38.

“In history and prophecy the Word of God portrays the long continued conflict between truth and error. That conflict is yet in progress. Those things which have been, will be repeated. Old controversies will be revived, and new theories will be continually arising.” Selected Messages, Book 2, 109.

“The last great conflict will be short, but terrible. Old controversies will be revived. New controversies will arise.” Ibid., Book 3, 419.

Searches Affections and Minds

Fourth, Jesus understands the issues that will determine the eternal destiny of every professed church member. No one is saved because he or she professes to be a Christian or because his or her name is on the church books of any church. “It is the character, not the placing of our names on the church books, that makes us Christians.” The Upward Look, 28.

Jezebel claims to be a prophetess and a teacher of God’s people, but she teaches them to break the Law of God. (See Revelation 2:20.) The fact of her professed membership and leadership of God’s true church will not keep her and her children from the great tribulation that Christ will bring upon her for refusing to repent of her sins. (See verse 22.) The punishment of Jezebel and her children is going to be just as worldwide and well known as the sin was worldwide and well known—all the churches are going to know that Jesus is the One who searches the affections and minds (literally the “kidneys and hearts”). (See verse 23.)

In ancient times, the kidneys were thought to be the seat of the will and the affections, and the heart was thought to be the seat of intellect. So, using speech that they understood, Jesus is telling us that He is the One who searches the will and affections and intellect. In other words, He is the One who searches both the thoughts and the emotions or feelings.

Moral Character

“The thoughts and feelings combined make up the moral character.” Testimonies, vol. 5, 310. Jesus is teaching us here that it is our moral character that will determine our eternal destiny. Our thoughts and our feelings find expression in our works or actions. So, when Jesus says, “I will give to each of you according to your works,” He is saying, “I will reward each of you according to your character.” If we say it in the simplest way, character determines destiny. (See Christ’s Object Lessons, 74.)

Hold Fast

Fifth, Christian excellence is an attainment that requires holding fast. It is very easy when most of the church is compromising, as was the Pergamos church, to begin to compromise with the doctrines of Balaam and the Nicolaitans in order to retain friendship with others who are compromising.

“Many are the ways by which Satan works through human influence to bind his captives. He secures multitudes to himself by attaching them by the silken cords of affection to those who are enemies of the cross of Christ. Whatever this attachment may be, parental, filial, conjugal, or social, the effect is the same; the opposers of truth exert their power to control the conscience, and the souls held under their sway have not sufficient courage or independence to obey their own convictions of duty.” The Great Controversy, 597.

It is very easy, in times of persecution, to begin to compromise to avoid trouble, loss, and suffering. But compromise, once started, never seems to end. The devil continually agitates for even more compromise. This is the way Babylon developed in the first place. There will be an army of people in the last generation just as there was in Thyatira who will hold fast.

“There will be an army of steadfast believers who will stand as firm as a rock through the last test.” Selected Messages, Book 3, 390. If we are going to stand firm as a rock then, we must stand firm as a rock now. “Those who would not receive the mark of the beast and his image when the decree goes forth, must have decision now to say, Nay, we will not regard the institution of the beast.” Early Writings, 67. [Emphasis in original.]

“We must know individually the prescribed conditions of entering into eternal life. We must know what is the voice of God, that we may live by every word that proceeds out of his mouth. We cannot allow these questions to be settled for us by another’s mind, or another’s judgment. We must search the Scriptures carefully with a heart open to the reception of light and the evidences of truth. We cannot trust the salvation of our souls to ministers, to idle traditions, to human authorities, or to pretensions. We must know for ourselves what God has said.” Review and Herald, March 8, 1887.

You Must be Faithful

Sixth, this letter contains a clarion call for Christian fidelity in the midst of an internal apostasy within the borders of the church as well as the unbelief of the world. The counsel is, if you have been part of Jezebel’s family by your teachings or practices, you must repent. And if you have been part of the remnant who have not partaken in the apostasy, then you must hold fast to the truth that you understand and be faithful to the truth that you know until Jesus comes. You must be faithful to the end. You must be an overcomer, a conqueror in the battle for Christian character, and you must keep until the end the works (character) of Christ. It is required that you be faithful. (1 Corinthians 4:2; Matthew 24:13.) Every church member must be an overcomer if he is to be retained in the church when it becomes triumphant.

One with Him

Seventh, as Christians, we are united in a close fellowship with our Captain, Lord, and King—Jesus Christ—closer fellowship than exists between any earthly general and his troops. As we are united in battle and war, we will be united in victory and triumph at the end. In this world, we are together in witnessing to the truth of the gospel. We are together at the stake, the prison, the dungeon, and the headsman’s chopping block. We serve our Lord here in the midst of great tribulation with many tears and temptations. We are crucified together; we die together and are buried together. (See Romans 6.) But we are destined to rise together, to live together, and to be glorified together. As we become one with Him in heart, life, and suffering, we are destined to become one with Him in triumph and glory.

Broken to Shivers

We open our affections and minds to be searched by the Lord, but we also have the promise that we will be part of the future victory. When reigning with Christ, all opposition will be shattered into fragments. Our weapons are not fleshly, but spiritual and mighty through God. Our watchwords, if we are part of the remnant, will be: “The Word of God only! The cross of Christ only! The might of the Spirit only!”

The day of Christ’s triumph will become the day of our triumph. The enemy someday will flee, and the armies of the living God will take the field. The ultimate triumph will involve the breaking into shivers all opposition from Jezebel and her children. If we suffer with Him now, we will reign with Him then.

In that day, those who have raged against our Lord Jesus Christ will be broken into shivers, as the vessels of the potter. Then the dominion will be given to the saints of the Most High. Let us all remember from the letter to Thyatira that we each one have a dreadful alternative between which we now stand—either we will reign with Christ or, if we have clung to any of the teachings or practices of Jezebel, we will be broken to shivers.

[Some Bible texts quoted are literal translation.]

Pastor Grosboll is Director of Steps to Life and pastors the Prairie Meadows Church in Wichita, Kansas. He may be contacted by e-mail at: historic@stepstolife.org, or by telephone at: 316-788-5559.

The Seven Churches, Part V : The Church of Pergamos

After a long and severe conflict, the faithful few . . .”—there were only a few left. The changes that came in when the church began to compromise took a lot more souls than the sword of pagan Rome. Only a few were left. “. . . the faithful few decided to dissolve all union with the apostate church . . .” The Great Controversy, 45. This was the Christian church. There was only one church, but there were two churches within that one church—the faithful and the apostate. “. . . if she still refused to free herself from falsehood and idolatry. They saw that separation was an absolute necessity if they would obey the word of God. They dared not tolerate errors fatal to their own souls, and set an example which would imperil the faith of their children.” Ibid.

I have often wondered at the incredible naïveté of Christians today—especially those in God’s remnant church, who somehow unbelievably think they can sit and listen to any kind of thing being preached or taught without affecting their souls or even the souls of their children. “Just go on,” they think, “it is God’s church; do not worry about it. God will take care of it.” The incredible naïveté! I am telling you that people are being affected in their thinking, in their practices, and in their activities, and they do not even know it.

Ellen White continued, “To secure peace and unity they were ready to make any concession consistent with fidelity to God; but they felt that even peace would be too dearly purchased at the sacrifice of principle. If unity could be secured only by the compromise of truth and righteousness, then let there be difference, and even war.

“Well would it be for the church and the world if the principles that actuated those steadfast souls were revived in the hearts of God’s professed people.” Ibid., 45, 46.

No, no, no! We do not want anything to stir the waters or rock the boat or bring any kind of dissension or trouble. We just want to have peace and love, even at the expense of truth. No, not any big truths, of course, but those little truths that go step-by-step. Some of those little truths are a lot bigger than most people think, I tell you.

So it was that God commended the faithful few who would be true to duty and principle no matter what—those who were willing to die rather than sacrifice their principles, who would not yield to nor maintain ministerial or administrative apostasy in the church. Do you think we need that same attitude today that will not go along with apostasy? Some people think that it is a terrible attitude!

Curse of Compromise

Mrs. White wrote, “There are fearful woes for those who preach the truth, but are not sanctified by it, and also for those who consent to receive and maintain the unsancti-fied to minister to them in word and doctrine.” Testimonies, vol. 1, 261, 262. That was the trouble with the church of Pergamos. A few chose not to receive unfaithful ministers, but the majority chose to receive them and just try to live a good, consistent life at home. Step-by-step, they and their children began to make the same compromises they saw in the leadership.

The people are to make the choice whether they will receive a minister or not. As stated in the above statement, it is a sin to receive one who is not sanctified.

The papacy began to teach that those congregations that made their own choice as to whether they would receive a minister or not, were insubordinate and troublemakers. One of the first departures of Rome was to teach that the central leadership was to make the choices of who was to minister to all the churches. “It is one of the leading doctrines of Romanism that the pope is the visible head of the universal church of Christ, invested with supreme authority over bishops and pastors in all parts of the world.” The Great Controversy, 50.

That was not true of the church in the purest of days. In the New Testament, who had authority over who was to preach in the church? The church had that authority, not a central administration. Let us look at the way God had set up the church in the earliest of times. In Acts 20:17, Paul calls for the elders—plural; these are the local elders of Ephesus. He counsels them, in verses 28 and 29: “Therefore take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood. For I know this, that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock.” Then he continued his counsel to these local elders of the church: “Therefore watch, and remember that for three years I did not cease to warn everyone night and day with tears.” Verse 31. Who was it that was to guard and protect the flock? The local elders of the church; they were to maintain their purity in the providence of God.

Lessons from the Past

God allowed some circumstances to develop even in the early church, in order for it to be a guiding counsel to us throughout the history of Christianity on this earth. Ellen White says God allowed Peter to make a serious mistake in Galatia, in order to correct the abuses of the papacy throughout the Middle Ages. (See The Acts of the Apostles, 197, 198.)

One of the abuses of the papacy was to think that they had supreme authority over all the church leaders, over all the churches. Look at what it says in Galatians 2:11–13: “Now when Peter had come to Antioch, I withstood him to his face, because he was to be blamed; for before certain men came from James, he would eat with the Gentiles; but when they came, he withdrew and separated himself, fearing those who were of the circumcision. And the rest of the Jews also played the hypocrite with him.” Now, here were Peter and James from the central headquarters church in Jerusalem—the two greatest leaders at that time from the headquarters church.

In Galatians 3:1, Paul exclaimed, “O foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you that you should not obey the truth?” It was the leadership from the headquarters church that had bewitched them. Satan, of course, was working through them, but from a human standpoint, it was the church leadership.

Paul counseled them further in chapter 5, verse 1, “Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage.” That is talking about the ceremonial law and the method by which these laws were again being enforced upon the people of Galatia. But the Pergamons chose to allow themselves to be entangled with the yoke of bondage to an apostate leadership, and God said, “I will come and fight against you with the sword, because you would not fight against those leaders.”

God commended those who were suffering martyrdom rather than yielding to apostasy, but he condemned those who were allowing the apostasy to enter into the church. “I have a few things against you, because you have there those who hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balak to put a stumbling block before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed to idols, and to commit sexual immorality.” Revelation 2:14. Balaam, in the Old Testament, as you will remember, came into the camp of Israel and caused them to make friends with the Moabites. This led to compromise with heathenism and to God’s blessing being withdrawn from the church. Likewise, there were leaders in the early church, after the church became popular, who wanted to make compromises with the pagan church. There were a few faithful, but many of the leaders decided to make some compromising concessions.

“He [Satan] led the heathen idolaters to embrace a part of the Christian faith. . . . Some thought that if they should come down and unite with those idolaters who had embraced a portion of the Christian faith, it would be the means of their full conversion.” Early Writings, 211, 212. Oh, they had high ideals and principles behind what they were doing. They were going to convert these people. Have you ever heard of someone marrying a non-Christian in order to convert the person—I love this person; maybe if I marry him or her, I can convert him or her? That is exactly what the church leaders tried to do. These were not non-Christians. They all believed in Jesus now. They all professed to be Christians. Why not unite with them and help them to come up to an even higher standard? But that is not what happened.

“At last the standard was lowered [instead of being raised], and . . . the heathen were uniting with the Christians. . . . As the followers of Christ gradually united with them, the Christian religion became corrupted and the church lost its purity and power.” Ibid., 211. Oh, God, save us from that today.

Thus some people, thinking to be tolerant, thinking to convert, thinking to unite, thinking to cooperate with these other people who were claiming Christianity, came together in unity—but who was converted? The Christians were converted to paganism instead of the pagans being converted to Christianity. This was the opposite of the people in the apostolic days, the church of Ephesus. “I know your works, your labor, your patience, and that you cannot bear those who are evil. And you have tested those who say they are apostles and are not, and have found them liars.” Revelation 2:2.

Pergamos’ Great Mistake

This was Pergamos’ great mistake. It was one of the two things that God held against them; thus God said that He would become their enemy. Oh, that we would learn the lesson of the Pergamons. Soon those who were perseveringly trying to uphold the standard of truth and would not go along with the majority began to be persecuted. Those who had once been brothers and sisters now began to persecute each other.

We are told that the same thing will happen in the last days. “As the storm approaches, a large class who have professed faith in the third angel’s message, but have not been sanctified through obedience to the truth, abandon their position and join the ranks of the opposition. By uniting with the world and partaking of its spirit, they have come to view matters in nearly the same light; and when the test is brought, they are prepared to choose the easy, popular side. Men of talent and pleasing address, who once rejoiced in the truth, employ their powers to deceive and mislead souls. They become the most bitter enemies of their former brethren. When Sabbathkeepers are brought before the courts to answer for their faith, these apostates are the most efficient agents of Satan to misrepresent and accuse them, and by false reports and insinuations to stir up the rulers against them.” The Great Controversy, 608. This is an exact parallel with what happened in Pergamos.

The Bible tells us, “All who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution.” 11 Timothy 3:12. If the church as a whole is godly, they will suffer persecution by the world. Satan has enough agents yet to bring persecution. But if the church becomes worldly, then those within the church who remain pure will suffer persecution by the rest of the church. That is what happened in Pergamos. The church of Smyrna was a pure church, and the pagans persecuted them. When the church itself became corrupted, then those within the church persecuted those who would remain true, firm, and faithful.

Second Mistake

Besides Balaam, what was the other thing that God had against the church of Pergamos? Revelation 2:15 says, “Thus you also have those who hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitans, which thing I hate.” From our study of the church of Ephesus, you will remember that the Nicolaitans were those who believed that, as long as you had faith, it did not matter what you did. The Nicolaitans had a pseudo love; they believed that as long as you professed love to God, it did not matter whether or not you kept His commandments.

Today, “The doctrine is now largely taught that the gospel of Christ has made the law of God of no effect; that by ‘believing’ we are released from the necessity of being doers of the Word. But this is the doctrine of the Nicolaitans, which Christ so unsparingly condemned.” The Signs of the Times, January 2, 1912.

We are counseled that, “It is our work to know our special failings and sins, which cause darkness and spiritual feebleness, and quenched our first love. Is it worldliness? Is it selfishness? Is it the love of self-esteem? Is it striving to be first? Is it the sin of sensuality that is intensely active? Is it the sin of the Nicolaitans, turning the grace of God into lasciviousness? Is it the misuse and abuse of great light and opportunities and privileges, making boasted claims to wisdom and religious knowledge, while the life and character are inconsistent and immoral? Whatever it is that has been petted and cultivated until it has become strong and overmastering, make determined efforts to overcome, else you will be lost. It is these cherished sins, abhorrent to God, that make enfeebled moral courage, and leave you to choose to walk apart from God, while you retain a miserable, heartless, outward form. Once the soul was all aglow with love for Jesus; but all this is changed. The great Head who moves in the midst of his candlesticks will never be without a church. There will be faithless ones who will go out from us because they were not of us. There will be apostasies. But ‘nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his.’ [11 Timothy 2:19.]” Review and Herald, June 7, 1887.

May you separate yourselves from the religion of Balaam and the Nicolaitans.

To be continued . . .

Pastor Marshall Grosboll, with his wife Lillian, founded Steps to Life. In July 1991, Pastor Marshall and his family met with tragedy as they were returning home from a camp meeting in Washington state, when the airplane he was piloting went down, killing all on board.

The Seven Churches, Part IV : The Church of Pergamos

Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamos, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, Laodicea. I suppose that we have all memorized these seven names at some time. These churches represent the different periods of the church from Jesus’ death until His Second Coming. The names of the first and last churches, Ephesus and Laodicea, are always easy to remember, of course—like Genesis and Revelation. We have trouble remembering the ones in between.

Ephesus

The first church, Ephesus, started when Jesus ascended into heaven in 31 a.d. and continued until about the death of the last apostle. This was the apostolic church, and its timeframe was 31–100 a.d. The Bible says that these were the ones who were faithful to the truth. They were hardworking, but they were lacking one thing. (See Revelation 2:2–4.) The Scripture mentions about six good things about this church and one bad thing. What was it? They left their first love, that fervent love. For that and that alone, the Bible says, they would be removed from being a church before the Lord.

You see, no doctrine in the entire world is as important as love. As it says in 1 Corinthians 13, you can have faith to remove a mountain; you can understand all prophecy, but if you do not have love, you are worth nothing. It does not say nearly nothing; it says nothing. It says you can give all your goods to feed the poor and leave nothing for yourself; you can give even your body to be burned, but if you have not love, it does not do one bit of good—nothing. That should cause us all to stop and analyze our lives.

How would you like to give your tithes and offerings to a church and find out that it is worth nothing? I do not want to try to be earning my way to heaven. We cannot do that. But if I get to the end of my life and I find that I am lost, after trying to serve the Lord all my life, simply because I have not allowed Jesus’ character of love to come into my heart, that would be so sad.

Self Interferes

Jesus talked with His disciples about this love for three years, but they just could not seem to comprehend. They would not be broken from self. They thought they were pretty good, because they were doing a lot of work, and they were doing what was right and preaching the truth. But in Luke 22 is recorded the very last weekend Jesus had with His disciples. At the Last Supper, “He took bread, gave thanks and broke it.” This is the last night Jesus had with His disciples. In less than 24 hours from this time, He would be dead. But what does it say in verse 24? “Now there was also a dispute among them . . . .”

Jesus was giving His life for them, and we read that there was rivalry. Can you imagine? When Jesus was getting ready to give His life for them, they were striving as to who was the greatest! Who was the greatest? Who was going to be the first? What led to this rivalry, this seeking for position, this arguing over who was the greatest and climbing the ladder? It was a lack of love. They had a lot of love for themselves, but the dispute was caused by a lack of love for one another and for Jesus.

Jesus told them, “The kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them, and those who exercise authority over them are called ‘benefactors.’ But not so [among] you; on the contrary, he who is greatest among you, let him be the younger, and he who governs as he who serves. For who [is] greater, he who sits at the table, or he who serves? [Is] it not he who sits at the table? Yet I am among you as the One who serves. But you are those who have continued with Me in My trials.” Verses 25–28. So Jesus said, “I come as a servant, and if you want to really be great, become a servant.”

Desire to be First

No one will ever get to heaven by being first. You cannot get into heaven by crowding in ahead of someone else. The Bible says the last shall be first, but the first shall be last. (Matthew 19:30.) Yet the selfish, sinful human nature seeks to be first. That is what it means to be broken—when we learn to put self out of sight and put God first and others before ourselves. We cannot do that of ourselves, can we?

The disciples did not. It only happened when they saw Jesus bruised and bleeding and dying for them. Jesus told them, when He left, “This is how you will know that you are My disciples, when you have love for one another.” (John 13:35.) They had not yet developed that love. This was the hardest thing in all the world for them to do. No matter what Jesus said, it seemed to make no difference. He could change their thinking on theology; He could get them to go out and work; He could counsel them on a lot of other things, but no matter what He said about being broken or about learning to love one another, it never worked. Jesus’ own example did not work until they saw Him bleeding on the cross; then their hearts were broken.

Just as the disciples had not learned from Jesus, so the converts the disciples brought into the church had the same problem as had the disciples. No matter what they said, it did not seem to make any difference. The disciples could get the converts to work; they could get them to understand theology; they could get them to be firm for the gospel, but they could not get the converts to really love one another and to love the Lord with all their hearts. They could not seem to understand it. Of course, if you had asked them about love, they would have said they had love. Why else would they be doing all this work?

Smyrna

It took persecution to finally convert the church of Ephesus. That separated the chaff and the wheat; the unconverted left the church. The church was left pure, and that began the next church. That church was called the church of Smyrna, and it existed from 100 a.d. until 323 a.d. when, at the conversion of Constantine, persecution ceased. For over 200 years there was serious persecution at the hands of the Roman emperors. You have surely read or heard the stories of the amphitheater of Rome and how Christians were cast to the lions, and some were dipped in tar and then placed up on posts and set ablaze to provide light for the emperor’s garden in the Coliseum.

The church of Smyrna was the opposite of the last church, the church of Laodicea. Not one good thing was to be said about the church of Laodicea. There is not one bad thing said about the church of Smyrna. They were told to be faithful, and they would receive the crown of life. This was a church at the purest state. As long as they were pure, Satan could not destroy them no matter what he did. He tried everything to destroy them, but nothing worked. So Satan developed a different plan.

“Although Satan rejoiced because of the sufferings of the saints, yet he was not satisfied.” Early Writings, 210. As the saints were being clawed and chewed to death by the lions there in the amphitheaters, Satan rejoiced, but it was not a very good rejoicing. He was not satisfied, because they went down to their graves as champions, as conquerors. He could not get them to relinquish their faith and their love for one another. “He wanted control of the mind as well as the body. The sufferings that they had endured only drove them closer to the Lord, leading them to love one another.” Ibid. What is it that finally brought the church to love one another? Suffering and persecution. What a shame it took that! Could they not learn it without that suffering? But that is what it took.

“[The sufferings caused] them to fear more than ever to offend Him. . . . Although thousands were slain, yet others were springing up to supply their places. Satan saw that he was losing his subjects. . . . Satan therefore laid his plans to fight more successfully against the government of God and to overthrow the church.” Ibid. Satan found that persecution did not work, so what did he try? “He led the heathen idolaters to embrace a part of the Christian faith.” Ibid.

Constantine’s “Christianity”

Constantine was one of the great heathen idolaters who was led to embrace Christianity. Constantine, in 321 a.d., made the first Sunday law, but he was not a Christian. It was to honor the venerable day of the sun. Two years later, he embraced Christianity. He did not change any habits; he declared that all of his soldiers were now Christians—after he marched the whole army through the river and then proclaimed they were all baptized Christians! How wonderful! Everyone was a Christian! It was suddenly popular to be a Christian.

These Christians professed to believe in the crucifixion and the resurrection of Christ. They proposed, without a change of heart, to unite with the followers of Jesus. Oh, the fearful dangers of the church at this time. This, then, began the third period of the church. There was first the apostolic period; that was the church of Ephesus. Then, the church, during the first persecution period, was the church of Smyrna. Then came the popular period and the church of Pergamos. It went from 323 a.d. until about 538 a.d.

Pergamos

Our study about the church of Pergamos in prophecy begins with Revelation 2:12:

“And to the angel of the church in Pergamos write, ‘These things says He who has the sharp two-edged sword.’ ”

In the church of Smyrna, the church about which God had nothing bad to say, who was carrying the sword to that church? The devil was carrying the sword of persecution. In verse 10, we read the message sent to the church of Smyrna: “Do not fear any of those things which you are about to suffer. Indeed, the devil is about to throw [some] of you into prison, that you may be tested, and you will have tribulation ten days. Be faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life.”

The Bible says the devil was carrying the sword of persecution to the church of Smyrna. But now Jesus has the sword of the Word. Things have changed a little bit. Would you rather suffer from Satan’s sword or from God’s sword? That is a question everyone will have to answer in the last days before Jesus comes, because in the last days, it is not going to be Satan’s sword and then Jesus’ sword; they will both be here on the earth at the same time. We could read a number of verses in this respect, but in Revelation 12:9, we read, “The great dragon was cast out, that serpent of old, called the Devil and Satan.” Then verse 17 says, “The dragon was enraged with the woman, and he went to make war with the rest of her offspring, who keep the commandments of God and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.”

The next chapter tells how the people who do not receive the mark of the beast or worship his image will be killed (Revelation 13:12–15), and how they will not be allowed to buy or sell (verses 16, 17), unless they have received this mark in their right hands or their foreheads.

Chapter 14 goes on to explain what God says about those who do receive the mark. Man will kill those who do not receive the mark of the beast. Verses 9 and 10 tell us what will happen to those who do receive the mark: “Then a third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, ‘If anyone worships the beast and his image, and receives [his] mark on his forehead or on his hand, he himself shall also drink of the wine of the wrath of God.’ ”

Whose Sword?

Oh, what a predicament the people in the last days are going to have. They will all be under a sword; it is just a matter of whose sword. It will either be man’s sword or God’s sword. They will have to choose whether they fear God or whether they fear man, whether they have respect to God or whether they have respect to man. They are either going to be condemned to death by the human tribunals or they are going to be condemned to death by a divine tribunal. Who do you fear, God or man? By whom do you want to be condemned, God or man? It is going to be one or the other. If you have to choose, who are you going to choose to offend, God or man?

The disciples had to choose whom they would respect and obey. They said, “We must obey God or man; we cannot do both, because they are going in two different directions. Who are we going to obey, God or man?” They decided they should obey God rather than man. (Acts 5:29.) That is the choice that all of us have to make before Jesus comes.

The church of Smyrna pleased God, and they came under persecution by man. The church of Pergamos pleased man, and they came under God’s condemnation.

Satan’s Throne

Why was it that God said He was going to fight against the church of Pergamos? Well, He does say a few good things about them, before He tells us why He was going to come at them with a sword.

In Revelation 2:13, we read: “I know your works, and where you dwell, where Satan’s throne [is].” Where is Satan’s throne in prophecy? From the prophecy of Revelation 12:4 and 13:2 we know that Satan’s throne is Rome.

We find, in chapter 13:2 that Satan—the dragon—gave his throne to the next power that came along. In the chapter before, we find that that throne was the capitol of the pagan world. It was from pagan Rome that Satan ruled the world for centuries. Then, again, it was from Rome where, through false Christianity, Satan wielded the sword throughout the Middle Ages. At the time after Constantine’s conversion, Rome very quickly became the predominant Christian center of
the world. For a long time, it was Alexandria and Rome, but because Constantine was from Rome and had been the head of the pagan church, he was the pontificate maximus; that was his title. That title, of course, was taken over by the bishop of Rome some years later, and he became the pontificate maximus. Constantine was called the pontificate maximus, and he was used to being in charge of the church. After he became a Christian, he did not see any reason why he should quit. He immediately declared that the church in Rome was to have predominance, preeminence, above all the churches of Christianity. The Council of the Bishops settled questions of doctrine in Rome. The church in Rome began to bear rule over all the churches.

Papa and Antipas

The head of the church of Rome began to be called papa. In fact, all of the bishops began to be called papas. Today, the term is used to refer to the pope.

Jesus had something to say about this title of papa. Papa in Latin is father. In Matthew 23:9, Jesus said, “Do not call anyone on earth your father [or your papa]; for One is your Father, He who is in heaven.” Not all of the Christians readily assented to calling the head of the church papa or the bishops papas. Some of those who did not immediately give reverence to these leaders were martyred. Now, instead of the pagans martyring the Christians, it was the Christians martyring their fellow Christians who would not come under the authority of the leadership of the church.

Revelation 2:13 says, “I know your works, and where you dwell, where Satan’s throne [is]. And you hold fast to My name, and did not deny My faith even in the days in which Antipas [was] My faithful martyr, who was killed among you, where Satan dwells” there in Rome. Who was Antipas? The historians have searched and searched for someone by the name of Antipas, perhaps someone who was martyred. They have never found anyone.

Remember that these books are symbolic, and each symbol has meaning. When it says, “where Satan’s throne is,” we have to compare Scripture with Scripture to find “where Satan’s throne is.” Antipas comes from two words, anti and pa or papa, which in the plural would be pas. William Miller, in his lectures, stated: “It is supposed that Antipas was not an individual, but a class of men who opposed the power of the bishops, or popes, in that day, being a combination of two words, anti, opposed, and papas, father, or pope; and at that time many of them suffered martyrdom in Constantinople and Rome, where the bishops and popes began to exercise the power which soon after brought into subjection the kings of the earth.” Miller’s Lectures, 138, 139. That is what William Miller believed Antipas meant.

There was a faithful remnant who refused to compromise in order to have peace. This verse indicates that the core of those who refused to compromise were the church. Neither Satan nor his throne was ever considered in these prophecies to be the church any more than Ahab was the church in the Old Testament. However, these false leaders affected the church.

“From the beginning, faithful souls have constituted the church on earth.” The Acts of the Apostles, 11.

(I want to tell you, though, that faithful souls are often influenced by leadership, by those around them, and by society.) Who were these faithful souls, many of whom were martyred such as Antipas was—not Antipas as a person but, as the Bible indicates here, by the symbolic Antipas? A little bit of the history that took place during this time has been given to us by Ellen White:

“It required a desperate struggle for those who would be faithful to stand firm against the deceptions and abominations that were disguised in sacerdotal garments and introduced into the church.” The Great Controversy, 45.

To be continued . . .

Pastor Marshall Grosboll, with his wife Lillian, founded Steps to Life. In July 1991, Pastor Marshall and his family met with tragedy as they were returning home from a camp meeting in Washington state, when the airplane he was piloting went down, killing all on board.