Revelation chapter two is where we're going to be. And each of these letters, John is writing to the church at large, but it's Jesus's words.

Jesus appears to John in chapter one of Revelation, and he gives John these visions, and he says,

I want you to write down the words from me to my church. Remember, it's Jesus' church, right?

It's not our church. It's not the pastor's church. It's Jesus' church. All right, we have to remember that. And he stands in the midst of the

churches. Revelation chapter 1 says that. I stand in the midst of the churches, and I know exactly what's

going on, good or bad. And we have to remember that. Jesus is still doing that today. He's in the midst of the

churches, seeing the churches at large across the globe, and he has some good words to say, and he has

some harsh, convicting words to say as well, that we need to take heed from. And so most scholars

also agree that these were seven literal churches that Jesus is going to talk to and have letters for, but most scholars also agree that these were seven literal churches that Jesus is going to talk to

and have letters for. But most scholars also agree that it represents seven time periods of church

history. And right now we are living still in the church age and most likely living in the time

of Church of Laodicea. But for today, I'm going to look at Pergamum and Thayatira in particular

and see what they have for us for this morning. And I've entitled my teaching for today, because we're

going to talk about this extensively at the end of my teaching, overcoming instead of overlooking.

Overcoming instead of overlooking.

And so let's just read Revelation chapter 2, verse 12, and then just let the Lord settle our hearts as we pray and see what God has for us.

It's going to be kind of drinking out of a fire hose.

I want to go into depth of the cultural background of Pergamum and Thiatira so that you can

understand and appreciate how we can apply this to our

lives today. So Revelation chapter 2 verse 12. Jesus would say, and to the angel of the church in Pergamos

write, these things says, he who has the sharp two-edged sword, I know your works and where you dwell,

where Satan's throne is, And you hold fast to my name

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