Life in Pergamum
• Capital of the region
• 2nd largest library
• Famous hospital
• Center of pagan worship
• Party town
• Christians persecuted

Revelation 2:12-17. “And to the angel of the church in Pergamum write: ‘The words of him who has the sharp two-edged sword. “‘I know where you dwell, where Satan’s throne is. Yet you hold fast my name, and you did not deny my faith even in the days of Antipas my faithful witness, who was killed among you, where Satan dwells. But I have a few things against you: you have some there who hold the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to put a stumbling block before the sons of Israel, so that they might eat food sacrificed to idols and practice sexual immorality. So also you have some who hold the teaching of the Nicolaitans. Therefore repent. If not, I will come to you soon and war against them with the sword of my mouth. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who conquers I will give some of the hidden manna, and I will give him a white stone, with a new name written on the stone that no one knows except the one who receives it.’

“Shape” of the Letters
1. Portrait of Christ
2. Picture of the church
3. Prescription for faithfulness
4. Promise for the overcomer

Portrait of Christ - “The words of him who has the sharp two-edged sword.”

Ephesians 6:17
“…the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.”

Hebrews 4:2
“For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.”

Revelation 1:16
“In his right hand he held seven stars, from his mouth came a sharp two-edged sword, and his face was like the sun shining in full strength.”

Portrait of Christ
1. Christ is the source of truth
2. His word is powerful
3. He knows “where we dwell”

Picture of the Church
The Good - Faithful to share Christ
The Bad, Part 1 - Some compromising truth
The Bad, Part 2 - The rest unwilling to confront the compromisers

Prescription for Faithfulness
“Repent” = Think differently; change direction
1. Refuse reasons to “shape” God’s word to fit our desires
2. Courageously challenge those who claim Christ to fully follow his word

Promise for the Overcomer
A new life…identity…and birthright!

Pastor’s Challenge:
1. Faithfully witness
2. Fully follow
3. Courageously challenge