The Compromising Church (Rev. 2:12)

SPIRITUAL DAIRY FOR 02/20/2005

 

My Worship Time                                          Focus: The Compromising Church

 

Bible Reading & Meditation                         Reference:  Revelation 2:12

 

            Message of the verse:  12 “And to the angel of the church in Pergamum write: The One who has the sharp two-edged sword says this:  (NAS95) 12 ¶ “Write this letter to the angel of the church in Pergamum. This is the message from the one who has a sharp two-edged sword:  (NLT)

            The description of Jesus Christ comes from Rev. 1:16 “In His right hand He held seven stars, and out of His mouth came a sharp two-edged sword; and His face was like the sun shining in its strength.”  This sharp two-edged sword is different than the one described in Ephesians 6, where the spiritual armor is described, as this one is a very large sword and the one in Ephesians 6 is a small knife like weapon. As written from the SD on Rev. 1:16 this still seems to be speaking of the Word of God, for the Word of God is “living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart.” 

            The city of Pergamum was the first city to build a temple for the worship of the Roman Emperors, and the city also had a temple dedicated to Aesculapius, who was the god of healing, and its insignia was the entwined serpent of the staff, which is still a medical symbol today.

            A good description for this church would be a compromising church, and this will come up in the verses that follow.

 

            Spiritual meaning for my life today:  It seems to me that in the description of Christ given in the first chapter of Rev. that He uses the different parts to judge these churches as they need judging, and so this also means that Jesus Christ is judging His Church even today, and in some ways that is scary, and in some ways that brings comfort to me.

 

The Word of God was a challenge to my heart as I read it this morning, and it was also brought about conviction too.

 

My Steps of Faith Today:  Continue to trust the Lord with all of the storms that He has seen fit to send us into.