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Eternal
punishment—there are many metaphors and euphemisms
[euphemism: the use of a less direct expression or word or phrase
(the substitution) of an agreeable or inoffensive expression for
one that may offend or suggest something unpleasant; the
expression/word/phrase which is substituted] that we see and that
we use to represent “hell,” to represent “eternal
punishment.” And I’m not sure this teaching about
hell/eternal punishment was ever a popular teaching, but it
certainly isn’t a popular teaching today—not for people
in a society who want nothing but happiness, want nothing but to
feel good about themselves and about others, who don’t want
to be judgmental about their own actions, or behaviors, or those of
others, as well.
There are many
ideas such as “universalism,” for example, which
suggests that any separation from God or punishment is only
temporary, and in the end, all will be enjoying the benefits of an
eternal home with God. There are those who believe in what is
called “annihilation,” and that is, after death there
is no experience, no knowledge, no feeling at all, for those who
are in this state of condemnation. There are those who just
don’t believe in any kind of separation or punishment at
all. That’s not what we are going to read about and
study about in the book of Revelation. Of
course, it’s not the only book in the Bible that speaks about
eternal punishment, but in this book it is made abundantly clear
through the imagery that, indeed, there is a place, an eternal
place of punishment, that is reserved for those who are outside of
Christ—for those who are unbelievers.
As we finish
looking at the church in Smyrna, it’s worth noting that this
persecuted and suffering church is not condemned for any
fault. They are a faithful congregation of the Lord’s
people, suffering mightily, but nevertheless remaining
faithful.
“He who has an ear, let him
hear what the Spirit says to the churches.”
LETTER TO THE CHURCH IN
PERGAMOS (verses 12-17)
We’ll now
move on to the church in Pergamum, or Pergamos.
Let’s
read the text beginning with verse 12,
“And to the angel of the church in Pergamos write,
‘These things says He who has the sharp two-edged
sword:
[Verse
13] “I
know your works, and where you dwell, where Satan's throne is.
And you hold fast to My Name, and did not deny My faith even in the
days in which Antipas was My faithful martyr, who was killed among
you, where Satan dwells.
[Verse
14] But I have a
few things against you, because you have there those who hold the
doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balak to put a stumbling block
before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed to idols,
and to commit sexual immorality.
[Verse
15] Thus you
also have those who hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitans,
which thing I hate.
[Verse
16] Repent, or
else I will come to you quickly and will fight against them with
the sword of My mouth.
[Verse
17] He who has
an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him
who overcomes I will give some of the hidden manna to eat. And I
will give him a white stone, and on the stone a new name written
which no one knows except him who receives
it.”’”
An
Introduction to the City of Pergamum
(Pergamos)
You may
remember that one of the things that was outstanding about the City
of Pergamum or Pergamos was that was where parchment was
invented. This writing material was called parchment from the
name of the city.
Pergamum was
situated about 55 miles northeast of Smyrna. Remember that
Smyrna is about 35 miles north of Ephesus, so we’re going
north now, and inland from the Aegean Sea.
The
1st Century historian Pliny spoke of this city as being
the most famous city in Asia. In about 240 BC, the Pergameneswon a great victory over the
savage invading Gauls. History tells us that a great battle
was fought there. To commemorate that victory, they built an
altar to Zeus (Jupiter), in front of the temple that had already
been consecrated to Athena. This altar was built on a ledge
of rock and, because of its positioning and because of the
architecture—being on the rock and with the background of the
Temple of Athena—it had the appearance of being a great
throne. And from its altar came the smoke of pagan sacrifices
everyday. Do you suppose this is what the Lord had in mind
when He talked about the “throne of Satan” here in
Pergamos? Maybe so!
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