The formulaic address of Jesus to each church:
Identifies Himself according to a description from Chapter 1
Points out what the church is doing well
Points out what the church is doing wrong
Pronounces a judgment that will happen if they don’t correct what’s wrong
The judgment relates to the description He introduced himself as
Promises a reward for those who do what is right
THE CHURCH AT PERGAMOS
Pergamos was the Roman capital in Asia
Located on the top of a hill, the city was considered unassailable.
Roman emperors kept often kept treasures there believing they could not be captured
Had the second largest library in the world, having over 200,000 manuscripts
Later, the capital was moved to Ephesus because Pergamos did not have a port
Was a center of Roman religion
Believed to be the birthplace of Zeus
Altar of Zeus was there. Uncovered in the 30’s, it was acquired by Hitler who brought it to Germany and reassembled it in Berlin. It’s still there in the Museum of Pergamos.
Emperor worship was also centered here
Temples were constructed to Julius Caesar and Augustus Caesar
Ritualistic worship of Roman emperors was considered a test of an individual’s loyalty to Rome
Jews & Christians refused to participate in these rituals
Jews were initially persecuted for this but later received an exemption
Christians were continuously persecuted for this
Revelation 2:12, And to the angel of the church in Pergamos write; These things saith he which hath the sharp sword with two edges;
A reference back to Rev 1:16, And he had in his right hand seven stars: and out of his mouth went a sharp twoedged sword: and his countenance was as the sun shineth in his strength.
The sword is a symbol of Jesus’ authority. It represents the word of God and His judgment
Revelation 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.
“Satan’s seat” refers to the pagan worship of Zeus and the emperors that was occurring there.
The Christians were being persecuted because of their rejection of this pagan worship
According to some historical sources, Antipas was a Christian who was martyred for the faith.
There is a 10,000 seat amphitheater at Pergamos
It’s said Antipas was locked inside a brass statue of a bull and cooked alive in front of thousands
Through all their persecution, the Christians did not renounce their faith
Revelation 2:14, 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.
Balaam was an OT prophet. See Numbers 22-24.
Balak was the king of the Moabites who were at war with Israel
At every turn, Balak seemed to be thwarted by the Israel armies.
His counselors told him it was because God would tell Balaam what Balak would do before he did it.
Balak offered gold to Balaam to curse Israel but Balaam could not
Balaam suggested to Balak that, if the Moabite women could seduce the soldiers of Israel, they would begin to turn away from God and lose God’s favor
This is what was happening at Pergamos.
Christian men were marrying (or not marrying) the Roman women.
They began to be tolerant of the false religions
Revelation 2:15, So hast thou also them that hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitanes, which thing I hate.
Remember that, in the church at Ephesus, they rejected the doctrine of the Nicolaitanes
The problem at Ephesus was that they were more legalistic than evangelistic.
Pergamos was sort of the opposite. They were, “open minded” to worldly ideas.
As a church, we need to be accepting of every person but not every idea
One problem in the church today is progressive Christianity
Charles Stanley’s son, Andy, recently endorsed homosexual marriage.
Other popular ideas in “christian” churches are universalism, pluralism, and gnosticism (Nicolaitanes)
Revelation 2:16, Repent; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth.
Referring back to His introduction, Jesus is saying He will come in judgment and cut away this cancer that is growing in the church - either literally or symbolically with the word of God.
Revelation 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 receiveth it.
I’m not sure of the significance of “hidden,” but manna is a metaphor of the body of Christ
John 6:31-35, Our fathers did eat manna in the desert; as it is written, He gave them bread from heaven to eat. Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Moses gave you not that bread from heaven; but my Father giveth you the true bread from heaven. For the bread of God is he which cometh down from heaven, and giveth life unto the world. Then said they unto him, Lord, evermore give us this bread. And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst.
Rev 2:17b, and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written
White is a sign of sinlessness
The new name shows we will have a new identity in heaven
Names like John Wilkes Booth or Benedict Arnold are synonymous with their bad deeds
When we get to heaven, we will no longer be known by the things we did on earth
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