TEXT: Revelation 2:12-17
The angel was the pastor at the Church of Pergamos
Referred to the state church from AD 300 to AD 500
This was a very difficult time for the work of God
This church's role in church history laid the groundwork for the catholic church
Pergamos was an inland city that sat 50 miles north of Smyrna
It was the provincial capital of Roman Asia
Famous for a library of nearly 200,000 volumes, second only to the library of Alexandria
While rich and wealthy, idolatry reigned
Statues were erected to Dionysus, Athena, Asclepius, Demeter as well as three temples to the Roman CULT
it held an alter to Soter Zeus
The two main religions here were the worship of Dionysus, the god of the royal kings symbolized by the bull
Asclepius, the savior god of healing, represented by the snake.
The latter feature caused Pergamos to be labeled "The lourdes of the ancient world"
The time frame of this church a little after AD 300 began with constantine.
After a dream Constantine caused the persecutions of the Smyrna age to cease and Christianity became the religion of the state
Constantine became not only the civil leader of the state, but the religious one
The conference of Nicae was called to deal chiefly with the nature and person of christ
318 Bishops attended this conference, five times more than the laity
Christianity cheered this leader, esteemed him highly because he ended persecution
It was the death nail of the church
Constantine had a sick view of the new birth - Baptism in particular
This church suffered a serious relapse from the state of Smyrna
She condoned EVIL on many levels and was condemned for IT
Constantine's elevation of the church to that of the state was NOT A BLESSING but brought A CURSE!
The church lost her prophetic voice and her pilgrim was as she married a political system and ceased to be "CALLED OUT BODY"
Ephesus - Apostolic church - Ended 100 AD
Smyrna - Martyr church - 100-300 AD - Rome hurled 10 bloody persecutions against the church
Pergamos - State church - 300 AD to 500 AD. Constatine great legalized Christianity making it state religion of Roman Empire - Invasion of paganism into church
Thyatira - Papal church AD 500 - Present. Rome assumed power over church - Pope
Sardis - AD 1500 - Luther - Justification of faith
Philadelphia - Missionary church - AD 1800 to AD 1900s
Laodicae - Present day apostate to rapture
Adam To Christ 4000. Church 1991 years
5991 years of human history
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