"THE BOOK OF REVELATION"

Letter To Pergamos (2:12-17)

INTRODUCTION
  1. Previously, we considered the letter to Smyrna, in which Jesus...
    1. Commended their rich faith in the midst of tribulation and poverty
    2. Offered no words of condemnation (one of two churches in which nothing negative is said)
    3. Promised to those who overcome, the crown of life and not hurt by the second death
  2. We noted that it provides information regarding the opposition they were facing...
    1. By those who said they were Jews, but were actually a synagogue of Satan
    2. I.e., unbelieving Jews, like those who persecuted Christians in Palestine, Asia Minor, Greece
  3. The third letter is written to the church in Pergamos (or Pergamum). Some background information...
    1. The city of Pergamos
      1. One of the most important cities in Asia Minor - Eerdmans Bible Dictionary
      2. The earliest capital of the Roman province of Asia - NLT Study Bible
      3. Signs of its splendor included a theater, Asclepium (healing center), gymnasium, and several famous temples - EBD, ibid.
      4. It also hosted temples to "the divine Augustus and the goddess Roma" - ESV Study Bible
      -- The city thus boasted a religious primacy in the province, especially in regards to what developed into an imperial cult involving the worship of the caesars and Rome
    2. The church at Pergamos
      1. Probably began through Paul's work while at Ephesus - cf. Ac 19:8-10
      2. They had already experienced martyrdom (Antipas) in their congregation - cf. Re 2:13
      3. Later recorded martyrs at Pergamos besides were Carpus, Papylus, and Agathonike - ISBE
      -- Other than what is written here in Revelation, little else is known about the church

[As we proceed to examine the letter written to the church at Pergamos, again note carefully the setting as it provides insight for why and what is to follow in the Book of Revelation. Again we start with…]

  1. THE LORD'S SELF-DESIGNATION (12)
    1. "THESE THINGS SAYS HE WHO HAS THE SHARP TWO-EDGED SWORD"...
      1. This "sword" is that which went "out of His mouth" in the vision in chapter one - Re 1:16
      2. It would be used in judgment against both His disciples & the nations - cf. Re 2:16; 19:15
      -- A reminder that Jesus judges both churches and nations as King of kings and Lord of lords
    2. THE "SWORD" IS A METAPHOR FOR THE WORD OF GOD...
      1. A figure of speech in OT Messianic prophecy - cf. Isa 49:2
      2. Used of the Word of God, the sword of the Spirit - cf. He 4:12-13
      -- A discerner of thoughts and intents of the heart, from which none can hide

    [An example of the sort of judgment the Lord rendered in regards to His churches we will notice in His condemnation and warning, but first we read of...]

  2. THE LORD'S COMMENDATION (13)
    1. FOR THEIR WORKS, WHERE THEY DWELL, WHERE SATAN'S THRONE IS...
      1. Their faithful service, despite living near "Satan's throne"
      2. Satan's throne "might refer to the altar of Zeus on the mountain above the city or to emperor worship at the temple of Augustus." - NLT Study Bible
      3. Or "the earliest shrine of the provincial cult of Rome and Augustus, established there in 29 B.C. In view of other allusions in Rev. to the imperial cult, this is most probably the reference here." - F.F. Bruce (New International Bible Commentary)
      -- Political and social pressure to worship Caesar as a god must have been intense
    2. FOR HOLDING FAST TO HIS NAME AND NOT DENYING HIS FAITH...
      1. Even when Antipas, His faithful martyr (witness), was killed among them
      2. Even though living where Satan dwells, i.e., among his great influence that included emperor worship
      -- They had remained strong in faith and service to Christ in very difficult times

    [But all was not well in the church at Pergamos. Thus we read of...]

  3. THE LORD'S CONDEMNATION AND WARNING (14-16)
    1. HIS CONDEMNATION...
      1. They have those who hold the doctrine of Balaam - cf. Num 31:16
        1. Who taught Balak to put a stumbling block before Israel
        2. To eat things sacrificed to idols, and to commit sexual immorality
      2. Thus they have those who hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitans, which He hates
        1. This may explain the teaching and practice of the Nicolaitans
        2. I.e., compromising with the world in order to get along
        3. Whose deeds those in the church at Ephesus hated - cf. Re 2:6
        4. But whose teachings were held by some at Pergamos!
        -- The influence of the Nicolaitans was stronger at Pergamos than at Ephesus
    2. HIS WARNING...
      1. Repent or He will come to them quickly
        1. Not His final coming, but as a judgment upon a city or nation (cf. the OT)
        2. Similar to His warning to the church at Ephesus - cf. Re 2:5
      2. He will fight against them with the sword of His mouth
        1. Compare this judgment with that given to the church at Ephesus
        2. Fighting against those at Pergamos vs. removing the candlestick of Ephesus!
        -- Judgment differs between simple apathy (Ephesus) and sinful participation (Pergamos), but the consequences are serious nonetheless!

      [Despite commendation for past faithfulness, they needed to correct false teaching and sinful practices in their midst. To encourage them to do so, we read of...]

  4. THE LORD'S EXHORTATION AND PROMISE (17)
    1. "HE WHO HAS AN EAR, LET HIM HEAR WHAT THE SPIRIT SAYS TO THE CHURCHES"...
      1. This time the repeated refrain comes before rather than after the exhortation & promise
      2. Again, this is an exhortation for all churches, for all time!
      -- Brethren, are we listening?
    2. "TO HIM WHO OVERCOMES I WILL GIVE SOME OF THE HIDDEN MANNA TO EAT"...
      1. The manna recalls the food from heaven that sustained Israel in the desert - Exo 16:4,14-15,31
      2. Perhaps here a reference to eternal life that Jesus offers
      3. Certainly plausible in view of Jesus' words in Jn 6:27-35,51
      -- Which is offered as an alternative to eating things sacrificed to idols - cf. Re 2:14
    3. "AND I WILL GIVE HIM A WHITE STONE, AND ON THE STONE A NEW NAME WRITTEN WHICH NO KNOWS EXCEPT HIM WHO RECEIVES IT"...
      1. There is uncertainty as to the exact meaning of the "white stone" and "new name"
      2. "It seems best to link the stone to the thought of the manna and see it as an allusion to an invitation that entitled its bearer to attend one of the pagan banquets." - Expositor's Bible Commentary
      3. "either the name of Christ himself, now hidden from the world but to be revealed in the future as the most powerful of names (Re 3:12; 14:1), or the believer's new name or changed character through redemption (Isa 62:2; 65:15)." - ibid.
      4. Undoubtedly these were metaphors familiar to those at Pergamos, offering promises of blessings that would encourage them to remain faithful in difficult times
      -- We do not have to understand the exact meaning to understand the main point: to him who overcomes (remains faithful even unto death), blessings will follow! - cf. Re 14:13
CONCLUSION
  1. From the letter to the church at Pergamos, we learn that Christians were living...
    1. In difficult circumstances, with one of their own members having been martyred
    2. With a civil government under the rule of Satan himself - cf. Re 12:9; 20:8
  2. While the church at Pergamos as a whole had been steadfast to the faith at great cost…
    1. They had members who were teaching compromise with their sinful culture
    2. They needed to repent, or Jesus would come in judgment against them

Again, through His letters to the seven churches in Asia, we learn the circumstances that prompted Jesus to have John write the book of Revelation.

We also learn the sort of faith necessary for us to overcome any Satanic influenced society we may face today, and inherit the eternal promises found in the Word of God!

Next we shall consider the letter to the church in Thyatira...