Slide 1:

Letter to the church in Pergamum:

– Modern Turkish city of Bergama sits in the valley below the ruins of Pergamum.
– Prosperous city with a population between 150,000 to 200,000 people
– It had ius gladii, “the right of the sword
– Home to largest Asclepian in the ancient world
– Asclepius was the Greco-Roman god of healing and medicine

Slide 2:

12 “And to the angel of the church in Pergamum write: ‘The words of him who has the sharp two-edged sword. 13 “‘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. 14 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. 15 So also you have some who hold the teaching of the Nicolaitans. 16 Therefore repent. If not, I will come to you soon and war against them with the sword of my mouth. 17 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.’” Revelation 2:12-17

Slide 3:

Three thrones:

– Caesar
– Zeus
– Dionysius

Slide 4:

14 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. Revelation 2:14

Slide 5:

The Temple to Dionysius:

– The Greco-Roman god of wine and orgy
– Starting point for the Sacred Way
– Built the tallest theater in the ancient world
– Festival of Dionysius = raw meet, lots of wine, rampant sexual immorality
– Balaam is a prophet in Numbers 21 and 22
– Balak is the King of the Moabites

Slide 6: 

When Israel lived in Shittim, the people began to commit sexual immorality with the daughters of Moab. Numbers 25:1

Slide 7: 

Theme: compromise

Slide 8:

Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. Colossians 3:5

Slide 9:

“lust” (epithumeō): to set the heart upon; to desire, long for, have earnest desire.

Slide 10:

Lust’s road to destruction:

– Eyes seeing
– Thoughts dwelling
– Heart craving

Slide 11:

Steps to an affair:

1. Readiness
2. Alertness
3. Innocent Meeting
4. Intentional Meeting
5. Public Lingering
6. Private Lingering
7. Purposeful Isolating
8. Pleasurable Isolating
9. Affectionate Embracing
10. Passionate Embracing
11. Capitulation
12. Acceptance

Slide 12:

29 If your right eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away. For it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body be thrown into hell. 30 And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. For it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body go into hell. Matthew 5:29-30

Slide 13:

16 Therefore repent. If not, I will come to you soon and war against them with the sword of my mouth. 17 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.’” Revelation 2:16-17

Slide 14:

32 Jesus then said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, it was not Moses who gave you the bread from heaven, but my Father gives you the true bread from heaven. 33 For the bread of God is he who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.” John 6:32-33

Slide 15:

White stone:

– Token of acquittal
– Token given to contestants in Greek games for entrance into celebrations
– Token of admission to assemblies or festivals
– Asclepian stone of healing

Slide 16:

Grace: “a new name written on the stone.”