Biblical Church History

Biblical Church History Following the Hand of God and the Hand of Satan

Pergamos Revelation 2:8-11 c.325-500 A.D. “Much Marriage”

Pergamos I. The Commission Rev. 2: 12

(Rev 2:12) And to the angel of the church in Pergamos write; These things saith he which hath the sharp sword with two edges;

Pergamos II. The Character Rev. 2: 12b

(Rev 2:12) And to the angel of the church in Pergamos write; These things saith he which hath the sharp sword with two edges;

Pergamos III. The Commendation Rev. 2: 13

(Rev 2:13) I know thy works, and where thou dwellest, even where Satan's seat is: and thou holdest fast my name, and hast not denied my faith, even in those days wherein Antipas was my faithful martyr, who was slain among you, where Satan dwelleth.

Pergamos IV. The Condemnation Rev. 2: 14-15

(Rev 2:14-15) But I have a few things against thee, because thou hast there them that hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balac to cast a stumblingblock before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed unto idols, and to commit fornication. So hast thou also them that hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitans, which thing I hate.

Pergamos Smyrna • The Pollution of Balaam “Much Marriage ”

THE EUCHARIST

Pergamos Smyrna • The Pollution of Balaam • The Progression of the Nicolaitans “Much Marriage ”

(Rev 2:14-15) But I have a few things against thee, because thou hast there them that hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balac to cast a stumblingblock before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed unto idols, and to commit fornication. So hast thou also them that hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitans, which thing I hate.

Pergamos • Nicolaitians is a transliterated word which is made up of two different words • “Nico” which means to rule over • “laitians” which means common people • This view was called a “deed” in the Ephesus Church period, but is referred to a “doctrine in the Pergamos Church period. • In the Ephesus period the church hated the doctrine, but in this church period it has become an accepted doctrine H

Pergamos V. The Counsel Rev. 2:16

(Rev 2:16) Repent; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth.

Pergamos • If these people in the Pergamos Church period had heeded the Lord’s counsel in vs. 16 and repented, the whole Dark Ages, with all of it’s evil and bloodshed and death could have been avoided. • Notice that the warning is to the true Church to repent, but the punishment if they wouldn’t would be placed on the unbelievers • This statement proves Eternal security • This also proves the responsibility of the Church H

(Mat 22:13) Then said the king to the servants, Bind him hand and foot, and take him away, and cast him into outer darkness; there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

Pergamos VI. The Challenge Rev. 2:17

(Rev 2:17) He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth saving he that receivethit.

Pergamos Smyrna • The Promise of manna “Much Marriage ”

(Exo16:32-34) And Moses said, This is the thing which the LORD commandeth, Fill an omer of it to be kept for your generations; that they may see the bread wherewith I have fed you in the wilderness, when I brought you forth from the land of Egypt.And Moses said unto Aaron, Take a pot, and put an omer full of manna therein, and lay it up before the LORD, to be kept for your generations. As the LORD commanded Moses, so Aaron laid it up before the Testimony, to be kept.

(Joh6:48-51) I am that bread of life. Your fathers did eat manna in the wilderness, and are dead. This is the bread which cometh down from heaven, that a man may eat thereof, and not die. I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever: and the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.

(Mat 26:29) But I say unto you, I will not drink henceforth of this fruit of the vine, until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father's kingdom.

COUNCIL OF NICEA

Pergamos • The word “Nicea” means “victory.” • This is what Constantine and most writers of church history thought it was • Philip Schaff (whose eight volumes are the standard word on Church History in most Bible Colleges and seminaries) says… “It is the first and most venerable of the ecumenical synods, and next to the apostolic council at Jerusalem the most important and the most illustrious of all the councils of Christendom. H

Pergamos • …The Council of Nicea is the most important event of the fourth century, and its bloodless intellectual victory over a dangerous error is of far greater consequence to the progress of true civilization, than all the bloody victories of Constantine and his successors. It forms an period in the history of doctrine, summing up the results of all previous discussions on the deity of Christ and the incarnation, and at the same time regulating the further development of the Catholic orthodoxy for centuries. • Philip Schaff, History of the Christian Church, Vol. 3 H

Pergamos • The Bible has already clearly identified what to expect from “religious councils” • The reference: H

(Mat 12:14) Then the Pharisees went out, and held a council against him, how they might destroy him. (Mat 26:59) Now the chief priests, and elders, and all the council, sought false witness against Jesus, to put him to death; (Mar 13:9) But take heed to yourselves: for they shall deliver you up to councils; and in the synagogues ye shall be beaten: and ye shall be brought before rulers and kings for my sake, for a testimony against them.

(Act 5:21) And when they heard that, they entered into the temple early in the morning, and taught. But the high priest came, and they that were with him, and called the council together, and all the senate of the children of Israel, and sent to the prison to have them brought.

(Act 6:12) And they stirred up the people, and the elders, and the scribes, and came upon him, and caught him, and brought him to the council,

Pergamos • The observation: • Every time the word is used in the New Testament in reference to a group meeting together for the purpose of making some kind of decision, or carrying out some kind of action… It is always a group of religious heretics (Acts 23:6) who unite, and attain a spirit of “one accord” for the purpose of wiping out the Word of God (Acts 5:40) H

The events leading up to the event

Pergamos • 1. The Diocletian Persecution • Diocletian was a Roman Emperior • The Diocletian persecution (303 A.D.) was the 10th official Roman persecution against Christianity. • Fox’s Book of Martyrs states that” invention was exhausted to devise tortures against” believers in this period. • William Byron Forbush, D.D. Fox’s Book of Martyrs • The believers and tired, and looking for a break. H

Pergamos • 2. The Phony “Conversion” of Constantine • The battle of Milvian Bridge in 312 A.D. • Constantine's “vision” H

Pergamos • 3. The Edict of Milan in 313 A.D. • It grants religious liberty to Christians • Much property confiscated in the Diocletian persecution is returned to Christians • Constantine emerges as a hero • 4. The controversy concerning the doctrine of the Trinity. H

Pergamos • Two key leaders and their opposing views: • Arius- He believed that Christ was of a different essence, or substance from the Father. (That Christ was a “Begotten” God.) {NASB Jn 1:18} • Athanasius- He believed that Christ had existed with the Father, and was of the same essence as the Father. (That Christ was equal with the Father.) • Then there are those that are Neo- evangelical (Leaded by Eusebius of Caesarea) these were the middle of the road position. H

Pergamos • What Constantine is really interested in: • Keeping his empire together • He sees Christianity as the “glue” and wants to make sure all of the pastors are united • What Satan is really interested in: • He wants to usurp the authority from Christ and the Bible, and hand it to Constantine, and set him up over the church, and marry his pagan system of religion to Christianity. H

THE CONTENT OF THIS COUNCIL

Pergamos • Constantine sends out an invitation to all of the pastors in the empire to come for an all expense paid meeting together with he and the “other” leaders of the church. • Philip Schaff, History of the Christian Church, Vol. III • Of the 1800 pastors at the time, between 300 and 318 of them actually showed up. • Philip Schaff, History of the Christian Church, Vol. III H

Pergamos • Eusebius of Caesarea, who is called the “Father of Church History”, who delivered the opening address at the Council, and was seated at Constantine's right hand during the Council described Constantine's entrance like this:… H

Pergamos .. “After all the bishops had entered the central building of the royal palace, on the sides of which very many seats were prepared, each took his place with becoming modesty, and silently awaited the arrival of the emperor. The court officers entered one after another, though only such as professed faith in Christ. The moment the approach of the emperor was announced by a given signal, they all rose from their seats, and the emperor appeared like a heavenly messenger H

Pergamos ….of God, covered with gold and gems, a glorious presence, very tall and slender, full of beauty, strength, and majesty. With this external adornment he united the spiritual ornament of the fear of God, modesty, and humility, which could be seen in his downcast eyes, his blushing face, the motion of his body, and his walk. When he reached the golden throne prepared for him, he stopped, and sat not down till the bishops gave him the sign. And after him they all resumed their seats.” Schaff, Vol. III, 625, 873, 624-625 H

Pergamos • Eusebuis lets us know how that at other times, …” the citizens flocked in great crowds to the palace to hear the imperial preacher, who would in vain try to prevent their loud applause by pointing to heaven as the source of his wisdom” • Schaff, Vol. III 34 H

Pergamos • Walker comments,…”To Constantine’s influence the adoption of the Nicene definition was due. That he ever understood its shaded of meaning is more than doubtful; but he wanted a united expression of the faith of the church on the question in dispute, and believed that he found it.” • Williston Walker, A History of the Christian Church, 109 H

Pergamos • Newman adds,…”In all of his dealings with Christian matters the supreme motive seems to have been that of securing unity. About doctrinal differences he was almost indifferent. But he dreaded dissension among those on who he depended for the support of his government.” • Albert Henry Newman, A Manual of Church History, 307 H

Pergamos • Making sure we understand the real issues of the council of Nicea, and the practical implications upon Christianity today… • While Constantine and Eusebius and all of these pastors are trying to come to some agreement about the doctrine of the Trinity….And supposedly championing the cause for the real unity in Christianity at that time… • These are the things that are going on in their churches!!!! H

Pergamos • We believe in one God the Father All-sovereign, maker of all things. And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, begotten of the Father, only-begotten, that is, of the substance of the Father, God of God, Light of Light, true God of true God, begotten not made, of one substance with the Father, through whom all things were made, things in heaven and things on the earth; who for us men and for our salvation came down and was made flesh, and became man, suffered, and rose on the third day, ascended into the heavens, and is coming to judge living and dead. And in the Holy Spirit. And those that say 'There was when he was not,' and, 'Before he was begotten he was not,' and that, 'He came into being from what-is-not,' or those that allege, that the son of God is 'Of another substance or essence' or 'created,' or 'changeable' or 'alterable,' these the Catholic and Apostolic Church anathematizes. H

Biblical Church History