"I know where you live—where Satan has his throne. Yet you remain true to my name. You did not renounce your faith in me...Nevertheless, I have a few things against you..."
Like the church in Smyrna, the church in Pergamum faces intense persecution from the God-hating Roman empire and their fellow Jews. But the church in Pergamum also faces an enemy from within, a seductress who entices God's people to commit spiritual adultery.
Ephesus: Sound doctrine must be accompanied by love. The first letter addressed to the church in Ephesus was commended by our Lord for faithfully persevering in true doctrine and for driving certain false apostles out of the congregation (Rev 2:2). They are also commended for hating the teaching of the Nicolaitans (Rev 2:6), who were a heretical sect who sought to synthesize Christianity and paganism and who are singled again out for rebuke in Pergamum (Rev 2:15). But while given great praise for their faithfulness and perseverance in sound doctrine, they are given a very stern rebuke for losing their first love (Rev 2:4)–which is not a reference to their love for Christ, but a reference to their love for each other. Unless they repent and go back to doing those things which they did at the beginning (acts of mercy and charity which characterize the apostolic church in the opening chapters of Acts), Jesus will remove his lampstand from them, effectively removing his blessing and the effectiveness of the church's witness to the city (Rev 2:5). Works of charity and mercy (love) must go hand in hand with perseverance in sound doctrine.
Smyrna: Persecution followed by a great reward. The second letter was written to the church in Smyrna. Their circumstances are quite similar to those facing the church in Pergamum. Their congregation lived in a city with a sizable, but apparently, secularized Jewish population. In addition, the city was devoted to emperor worship, among the most devout found throughout the entire Roman empire. The Jews of Smyrna made peace with emperor worship–proclaiming allegiance to both YHWH and Caesar–but the Smyrnan Christians did not. Barred from the marketplace for refusing to pay homage to the emperor and slandered by the Jews (Rev 2:9b), the Christians in Smyrna lived in abject poverty (Rev 2:9a). Refusing to confess "Caesar is Lord" in order to buy and sell–which is to take the Mark of the Beast (Rev 13:7, 16-17)–the Smyrnan Christians paid dearly for their confession, "Jesus Christ is Lord." Many Christians were imprisoned. Many more would die at the hands of the Roman Beast. But Jesus makes a promise to his persecuted church in Rev 2:10-11, which is the warning of impending persecution and death, and does not sound like much of a promise. Yet the fact is that the Smyrnans will face persecution for a very short time–ten days–and by persevering, they will receive the crown of life (Rev 20:4). This is one of the great paradoxes in redemptive history–Satan loses the most ground when his wrath against God and his people is the greatest!
Betrayed by fellow countrymen. Pergamum is 60 miles north of Smyrna and about 15 miles inland. Like Smyrna, Pergamum was a city where Caesar was also worshiped as "a god" making this a very difficult place for a Christian to profess that "Jesus Christ is Lord." The Jews in Pergamum regarded Christians as "Nazarenes," a seditious sect who were to be shunned because they would not attend the pagan feasts or honor the Greek and Roman deities in the marketplace. It was the refusal to call Caesar "Lord" which prompted the Romans to have Christians arrested. As in Smyrna, the Jews were only too happy to help the Romans identify them. Christians in Pergamum faced the full wrath of the Satanically empowered beast, who "was given power to wage war against God's holy people and to conquer them" (Rev 13:7).
Using the template and pattern for all 7 churches, an overview of the church in Pergamum may be:
- The Church: Defiled (Rev 2:14-15).
- The Christ: The Warrior Lord "who has the sharp, double-edged sword" (Rev 2:12).
- The Commendation: Remaining true to Jesus' name amid Satan's attacks (Rev 2:13).
- The Condemnation: Embracing false teaching regarding sexual immorality and idolatry (Rev 2:14-15).
- The Command: Repent (Rev 2:16).
- The Consummation: Given "a white stone with a new name written on it" (Rev 2:17).
The sword is used against Christians. The sword is also symbolic of something else. Roman governors were granted the "power of the sword" by the emperor in order to put to death those Christians who refused to acknowledge the divinity of Caesar. While the Satanically inspired beast–the Roman empire–wields the sword against Christians and wages war upon them, Christ uses the same symbol to remind his church of just who it is who wields the real sword of justice and power. The message is clear: All of those who persecute Christ's people with the sword in this life will themselves face the judgment of Jesus Christ in the next. The ancient proverb is true: Those who live by the sword will die by the sword. But this warning is also aimed at those individuals who seduce Christ's people through false doctrine. They too will face his sword of judgment. Jesus is a jealous bridegroom who will do everything in his power to protect his bride.
Faithful to Jesus amid Satan's persecution. This must be kept in mind when Jesus says to the church in Pergamum: "I know where you live—where Satan has his throne. Yet you remain true to my name. You did not renounce your faith in me, even in the days of Antipas, my faithful witness, who was put to death in your city—where Satan lives" (Rev 2:13). As the Lord of his church, Jesus knows exactly what the Christians in Pergamum are facing. The city is dominated by paganism and emperor worship. In fact, the cities' most prominent landmark was a large hill upon which the temple of Zeus stood and which dominated the cities' skyline. This is where Satan lives. This is where he has placed his throne! But despite the deeply rooted paganism, the Christians in Pergamum have remained faithful to their Lord even though one of their own, a man named Antipas, was put to death in this very city dominated by Satan himself.
Resisting the sword but succumbing to false teaching regarding idolatry and sex. This persecuted church has faced the Roman sword and yet remained faithful to her Lord. Nevertheless Jesus does have a strong word of rebuke for the Pergamum church. This church has become far too tolerant of false teaching and compromise: "Nevertheless, I have a few things against you: You have people there who hold to the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to entice the Israelites to sin by eating food sacrificed to idols and by committing sexual immorality. Likewise you also have those who hold to the teaching of the Nicolaitans" (Rev 2:14-15). These doctrinal errors are so grievous that Jesus threatens to "come to them soon and fight against them with the sword of his mouth" (Rev 2:16). For tolerating such heresy, Jesus commands the Pergamum church to repent, lest he come in judgment.
Denying Christ by compromise. The issue is similar to what Christians faced in Smyrna with a difference. The Christians in Pergamum have faithfully resisted the powerful external pressure put upon them by the local Roman government to deny Christ, even after the Satanically inspired beast put some of their own number to death (Rev 2:13). But a number of these same Christians are slowly but surely being seduced by false teachers in the congregation who are leading them away from Christ through deceptive means. These false teachers do not force believers to deny Christ at the point of a sword. Instead, they entice believers to deny Christ using more subtle means. How?
Balaam's enticing teaching. The group singled out for rebuke hold to the teaching of Balaam (Numbers 22-25). Through the means of his deceitful counsel, Balaam deceived Israel into worshiping idols and committing immorality bringing the nation under the wrath of God (Num 25:1-9; 31:16): "While Israel was staying in Shittim, the men began to indulge in sexual immorality with Moabite women, who invited them to the sacrifices to their gods. The people ate and bowed down before these gods. So Israel joined in worshiping the Baal of Peor. And the LORD's anger burned against them. The LORD said to Moses, `Take all the leaders of these people, kill them and expose them in broad daylight before the LORD, so that the LORD's fierce anger may turn away from Israel.' So Moses said to Israel's judges, `Each of you must put to death those of your men who have joined in worshiping the Baal of Peor.' Then an Israelite man brought to his family a Midianite woman right before the eyes of Moses and the whole assembly of Israel while they were weeping at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting. When Phinehas son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron, the priest, saw this, he left the assembly, took a spear in his hand and followed the Israelite into the tent. He drove the spear through both of them—through the Israelite and into the woman's body. Then the plague against the Israelites was stopped; but those who died in the plague numbered 24,000."
Not flagrantly nor formally denying God yet denying God. In this account, Israel never denied YHWH in so many words. Rather, many in Israel began worshiping Baal without ever formally denying YHWH. But anyway you look at it, this is a denial of YHWH, because YHWH alone is God and he will not share his glory with any other. As a result of Israel's spiritual adultery, God not only brought judgment upon a couple caught flagrante delicto (Latin: "in blazing offence) but some 24,000 Israelites died from a plague God sent upon the people. The summary comment in Num 31:16 says, "They were the ones who followed Balaam's advice and were the means of turning the Israelites away from the LORD in what happened at Peor, so that a plague struck the LORD's people."
Refusing to deny Christ, yet engaging in idolatry and sex with the world. Therefore, when we read in the NT that Christ threatens the church in Pergamum with the sword for tolerating the Nicolaitans, what provokes our Lord's righteous ire must be false doctrine similar to that of Balaam. Here Christians would absolutely refuse to deny Christ at the point of a Roman sword. But at the same time, they thought nothing whatsoever wrong with participating in certain pagan practices with their non-Christian friends, family and business associates outside the church. Just as in the days of Balaam when citizens of Israel worshiped YHWH and Baal at Peor, so here in Pergamum, Christians were being led away from Christ by those in their midst who were teaching that it is perfectly acceptable to worship Jesus and at the same time to participate in certain pagan ceremonies and sexual practices which dominated the civic and cultural life of Pergamum.
Flee idolatry and immorality. That the Nicolaitans were not denying Christ directly, but doing so implicitly can be seen when Jesus warns this church about eating meat sacrificed to idols, as well as reminding them that Christians must avoid all sexual immortality, especially when these things are directly connected to paganism. These are very prominent themes throughout the NT even though they seem foreign to us so many years removed. Paul too speaks about sexual issues (1 Cor 5:1-13; 6:12-7:41) and on food offered to idols (1 Cor 8:1-11:1). Although the food's having been offered to idols doesn't defile it (1 Cor 8:4-7; 10:25-26), the social context can turn the innocent act of eating into serious sin, either by sending mixed signals (1 Cor 8:7-13; 10:23-33) or even by sharing "the table of demons" at banquets in honor of pagan deities (1 Cor 10:14-22). With respect to meat offered to idols, Paul issued the terse command, "Flee idolatry" (1 Cor 10:14), just as he commanded, "Flee immorality" (1 Cor 6:18). Dabbling with idolatry or immorality denies that we belong to Jesus, our jealous husband who tolerates no rivals (1 Cor 6:13, 19-20; 10:22). This matter is also addressed at the Jerusalem Council of Acts 15, when the leaders of the church affirmed with one voice the doctrine of justification by grace alone through faith alone on account of Christ alone, while at the same time insisting that Gentiles avoid eating meat used in pagan sacrifices and sexual immorality. What is in view here is not vegetarianism or celibacy. God is not against meat or sex. What is in view is the fact that Christians cannot eat meat which was left over from pagan sacrifices and rituals, and then sold in the marketplace at a discounted price. For a Christian to eat such meat is, in effect, to sanction or condone the pagan practice of animal sacrifice and bloody fertility rites. Paul calls this sharing the table with demons. While Christians are to avoid all sexual relations outside of marriage, this is especially a serious matter in places like Pergamum where so many people were involved in temple prostitution or participated in drunken feasts and orgies and directly tied to the civic, cultural and commercial life of the city.
Tempted to marry outside the church for various benefits. In order to conduct business, Christians were invited to pagan feasts where ungodly things took place. Since it was possible to improve one's social standing or business prospects by marrying someone whose family was well-connected, Christians were tempted to marry outside the church so as to avoid the stigma and persecution associated with being a follower of Christ. As the Israelites indulged themselves with Moabite women, so too, the Christians in Pergamum saw nothing wrong with being sexually involved with pagans or joining with them in pagan religious practices. Tor this, Jesus will come to them with the sword of judgment.
Not denying Christ yet loose with regards to idolatry and sex. The principle for the church in Pergamum as well as the application for us today is simple. Christians cannot worship Christ and at the same time participate in pagan or non-Christian religious practices. We have but one master, Jesus Christ. We serve him only. To participate in paganism in any form is to deny Jesus Christ and invoke his wrath. Indeed, what Satan has not been able to accomplish through the sheer power of the Beast, he has able to do through the seduction of the church. Christians in this congregation saw nothing wrong whatsoever with worshiping Christ on the Lord's day and then participating in the ceremonies of pagan religions later in the week. Furthermore, the biblical sexual ethic was being obliterated by a pagan sexuality in which professing Christians were marrying outside the church, or participating in sexual activity directly tied to paganism.
Repent or some purifying judgment would ensure. This is a very serious matter. Jesus commands, "Repent therefore!" (Rev 2:16a) This repentance would mean exercising church discipline, refusing to tolerate Nocolaitan teaching. The church and its leaders must confront the Nocolaitans, as Paul instructed Timothy (2 Tim 2:25-26). If they do not, "I will soon come to you and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth" (Rev 2:16b). Not all the promises and threats of Jesus' coming in Revelation refer to the second coming. Here Jesus will "soon come" (since he already walks among the lampstands) by intervening in the church's life through his providential control of events and the work of his Spirit to call the Nicolaitans to account. When the Corintian church abused the Lord's Supper, the result was illness and death in the congregation. Those providential instruments of discipline were motivated by Christ's love and directed to their good, "so that we may not be condemned with the world" (1 Cor 11:30-32). Some similar visitation of purifying judgment would sweep through then church at Pergamum, unless church discipline and repentance ensured. "Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches" (Rev 2:17a).
Jesus sustains those who overcome with "manna." "To the one who is victorious (To him who overcomes), I will give some of the hidden manna. I will also give him a white stone with a new name written on it, known only to him who receives it" (Rev 2:17b). To those who overcome by remaining faithful to Christ, Jesus promises them to eat from the hidden manna–a reference, perhaps, to the manna which is preserved in the Most Holy place in the tabernacle. In the wilderness, Moses had shown that the manna pointed beyond itself (Deut 8:3; Mt 4:4). Jesus announced that the manna pointed to his sacrificed body as the "bread from heaven" (Jn 6:32-35, 48-51), which nourishes his people.
The eternal blessing and reward of a new name. Those who overcome will be given "a white stone with a new name." The white stone points to the climax of the church's pilgrimage. It may symbolize purity and comfort to those who had fallen victim to sexual immorality. But the name that the stone bears is more important. The name which appears upon it is known only to the one who receives it, even as Jesus Christ, the rider of the White Horse of judgment has a name known only to himself (Rev 19:12-13). The name is a shared secret between the Lord and the recipient, blending mystery and disclosure. The victor's "new name" could be his transformed identity in Christ, as the renaming of Abram to Abraham and of Simon to Peter signaled their transformation by God's power and grace. To the one who holds fast his name (Rev 2:13) Jesus gives a new name, to mark us as his property and to reshape our identity to fit his perfection (Rom 8:29). The white stone with the new name therefore binds the recipient to the Savior, who one day will come with his sword to execute judgment upon those nations who have persecuted Christ's people, as well as judging all those who seek to lead Christ's people away from him through the seduction of spiritual adultery. Those with the white stone need never fear the sword of justice, for they are Christ's and he knows those who are his! Amen.
Can you remain true to Jesus without compromising and becoming defiled?
Questions:
- Why does Jesus refer to himself as the One "who has the sharp two-edged sword" (Rev 2:12; 1:16; 2:16; 6:8; 19:15, 21)? What is this "sword" (Heb 4:12)? How does this indicate the theme of this letter?
- What does it mean that Pergamum is "where Satan's throne is" (Rev 2:13a)? What is the church commended for (Rev 2:13b)?
- What does Jesus "have against" this church? Who are "Balaam" and "Balak" (Rev 2:14; Num 25:1-2; 31:16)? What sins do they tempt us to commit? What biblical truths are you tempted to compromise? How are the "Nicolaitans" related to Balaam and Balak (Rev 2:15)?
- What does Jesus command the church to do (Rev 2:16)? Is this "coming" Christ's second coming or a coming in judgment (1 Cor 11:30-32)? How will Christ "make war" against these believers? Why will He do this?
- What is the "hidden manna,""white stone," and "new name" that the overcomer receives (Rev 2:17)?
- Johnson, Dennis E. Triumph of the Lamb: A Commentary on Revelation. Pillipsburg: P&R Publishing Company. 2001.
- Sermons on the Book of Revelation. Kim Riddlebarger, Sr. Pastor, Christ Reformed Church. Anaheim.
- The Revelation of Jesus Christ (Rev 1:1-20).
- Christian, Listen Up! (Rev 2:1-3:22).
- Discernment Without Love (Rev 2:1-7): To the Church in Ephesus.
- The Riches of Poverty (Rev 2:8-11): To the Church in Smyrna.
- Keeping God's Word With Little Strength (Rev 3:7-13): To the Church in Philadelphia.
- The Poverty of Riches (Rev 3:14-22): To the Church in Laodicea.
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