PERGAMUM

Pergamum had served as the capital of the Roman province of Asia Minor for over 25 years and was an important religious center for a number of pagan cults. It was the first city in Asia to build a temple to Caesar and it became the capital of the cult of Caesar worship. Of Pergamum an ancient writer said it was given to idolatry more than all Asia. The book of Acts makes no mention of the founding of this church. According to Acts 16:7-8, Paul passed through the region of Mysia, where Pergamum was located, on his second missionary journey, but there is no record that Paul either preached the gospel or founded a church there during that time. Most likely, Paul founded this church during his ministry at Ephesus (Acts 19:10) when the gospel was preached throughout Asia. Many writers have noted that Pergamum comes from the Greek word gamos that means marriage. This letter pictures a church married to the world rather than to Christ. Being faithful under persecution is one of the key messages of revelation Next to this was the grove and temple of Asklepios, the god of healing, called the god of Pergamum, with a university for medical study. Pergamum was the first city in Asia (A.D. 29) with a temple for the worship of Augustus (Octavius Caesar). Hence in the Apocalypse Pergamum is a very center of emperor-worship "where Satan dwells If the Ephesian church was guilty of elevating truth above love, the church at Pergamum had elevated love above truth. Their commitment to love and tolerance had apparently degenerated into a weak sentimentality that threatened the theological purity of the church. Pagamus was not primarily famous for either political or economic achievements , but for religion. Pergamum was the center of worship for at least four of the most important pagan cults of the day: The church at Pergamum was surrounded by a pagan culture, just as we are surrounded by an increasingly godless culture. As you study this letter, be attentive to what God wants to teach you through His Word.

Rev. 2:12 To the angel of the church in Pergamum write: These are the words of him who has the sharp, doubleedged sword.
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Jesus states that he is the one with the sharp double edged sword. What is that?

Heb 4:12 For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.
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So the sword from the mouth of Jesus is the Word of God. Jesus is the Word. The Bible is not a dead book. When it comes forth as truth it judges mens thoughts and attitudes. This happens when we read the Word and learn from Jesus, the Word made flesh. It convicts us of our sinful thoughts and motives. Ultimately Jesus will also judge the nations for He is coming to rule and judge.

Re 19:15 Out of his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations. "He will rule them with an iron sceptre." He treads the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God Almighty. Re 19:21 The rest of them were killed with the sword that came out of the mouth of the rider on the horse, and all the birds gorged themselves on their flesh.

Rev. 2:13a I know where you live--where Satan has his throne(rev.n12:12). Yet you remain true to my name.
It comes as little surprise, then, that Jesus should begin his letter with the reassuring words: I know where you dwell (v. 13a). We have already seen that the Lord knows the churches, for he walks among them. In this letter, however, He makes it clear that His intimate knowledge extends not only to the works His people do (as in Ephesus) and to the tribulation they endure (as in Smyrna) but to the environment in which they live. I know where you dwell, He says. He is not ignorant of the fact that the Christian Church is set in the non-Christian world, and that it feels on all sides the continuous pressure of heathen influence Thus the place where Satans throne is (v. 13) most likely refers to the primary role of Pergamum as the center of the imperial cult, and as such the center of Satans kingdom in the east. We call Chicago the windy city and Las Vegas sin city. Pergamum may rightly be called Satans city!
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The temples, the worship of the emperor as a God, Pergamum was an evil place. Yet the Christians there remained true to Jesus name. Remain True To The Name Of Jesus. What does that mean? They still called themselves "Christians" (or "belonging to Christ, of Christ), followers and worshipers of Christ only, when their culture told them they had to worship
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Caesar as a god. This became very obvious when they did not attend certain festivals, or did not bow down to him if he came to visit. We are called to stand up for the name of Jesus. If we call ourselves Christians that is something we must be prepared to defend and die for if necessary. Do we stand against the sin in our cultures? Do we offer God the sacrifice of praise, not just in church, but in life? Col 3:17 And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. Heb 13:15 Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise--the fruit of lips that confess his name.

Rev. 2:13b 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.
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Dont Renounce The Faith: They had the truths of the Gospel in their possession, which were dear and valuable to them. Even though there was danger of losing them, they held them fast, with great courage and strength even though there were a greater number against them and they were persecuted and ridiculed for their faith.

1Ti 6:12 Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses. Heb 4:14 Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has gone through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. Jude 1:3 Dear friends, although I was very eager to write to you about the salvation we share, I felt I had to write and urge you to contend for the faith that was once for all entrusted to the saints.
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And this warning to those who do renounce their faith in Christ.

Mt 10:33 But whoever disowns me before men, I will disown him before my Father in heaven.
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Antipas, the first pastor of the church was a shining example to the church because he was martyred for his faith. He is called the "faithful martyr" of Pergamos. He was bishop of Pergamos during the reign of Emporer Domitian in 83 A.D. His name means "against all" which could represent that he was standing alone for the faith against the forces of evil, The residents of Pergamos were worshipping demons who had appeared to them and the demons told them that they could not live there or accept their sacrifices because the power of Antipas was casting them out. Antipas was captured by idolaters of Pergamos and delivered to their conservative
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governor who tried to convince Antipas that the older things are more honorable than the new. aged Antipas, after refusing to pinch some incense in the red hot copper bull-shaped altar of Caesar, was thrown into the same brazen altar alive and roasted. While he was there, the sang fervently prayed to God, glorifying His great power and thanked Him for being worthy to suffer for His love. After him many thousands of Christians died for their faith. I believe that his first century persecution mirrors what will happen in the last days. There is coming a world church that will persecute true Christians who hold to their faith and do not compromise with the whore of Babylon, the apostate world church.

Re 17:6 I saw that the woman was drunk with the blood of the saints, the blood of those who bore testimony to Jesus. When I saw her, I was greatly astonished. Re 18:24 In her was found the blood of prophets and of the saints, and of all who have been killed on the earth."

Rev. 2:14 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.
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Even though this church was commended for not renouncing their faith in the very lap of Satanic worship, they had allowed false doctrines into their church. What was outside the church had invaded the inside. Balaam was the prophet that Balak tried to get to curse Israel. Balaam wanted to summon up God to get Him to curse Israel, hoping to be paid for doing so, but God told Balaam to bless Israel each time he tried. Balaam later led many in Israel astray by urging them to immorality with the peoples around them, against Gods decrees. He told them that eating meat sacrificed to idols was just fine. Be aware that in Pergamum practically all the meat available in the marketplace was left over from sacrifices to idols. Balaam practiced sorcery for profit. Later God killed him. But his teachings lingered on. Some teach that immorality is fine for Christians. Today many Christians are basically telling other Christians to "go ahead and sin". God will forgive. But repentance is not only asking forgiveness, being sorry, but a turing away from the sins of the "old self" and turing to obedience to God. Some of his methods of Baalam are still around today. Jude warned against false prophets.

Jude 1:11 Woe to them! They have taken the way of Cain; they have rushed for profit into Balaam's error; they have been destroyed in Korah's rebellion.

Rev. 2:15 Likewise you also have those who hold to the teaching of the Nicolaitans.
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Rev. 2:16 Repent therefore! Otherwise, I will soon come to you and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth. Rev. 2:17a 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.
John 6:48-50 I am the bread of life. Your forefathers ate the manna in the desert, yet they died. But here is the bread that comes down from heaven, which a man may eat and not die.

Rev. 2:17b I will also give him a white stone with a new name written on it, known only to him who receives it. . Problems at Pergamum (2:14-16)
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While the church in Pergamum was assaulted from the outside, it also faced grave internal religious deception. This is described as the teaching of Balaam and the Nicolaitans (2:14-15). Revelations use of the Balaam typology underscores the books reliance on Old Testament symbols. Balaams story is found in Numbers 22-24. He was a prophet who manipulated Israel into falling under Gods curse. Balaams motive was personal gain (2 Peter 2:15; Jude 6). He had been offered riches and power by Balak, a gentile king, to destroy Gods people, Israel. The prophet found a way to accomplish the kings nefarious desire. Balaam devised a plan whereby he caused the men of Israel to commit sexual immorality with Moabite women and to sacrifice to their gods in a community meal during a festival (Numbers 25:1-2). Thus he led Israel into sin by causing the nation to accommodate itself to idolatrous pagan religion and its immortality. Balaam came to stand for an evil individual who seduces Gods people into sin. But in what sense were members of the church committing sexual immorality and eating food sacrificed to idols (2:14)? It is generally thought that this phrase refers to food eaten at festivals in which pagan gods were honored, as well as the sexual activities that may have gone on as part of such feasts. Both expressions could also be understood metaphorically. That is, they would refer to general religious infidelity engaged in by Christians who participated in pagan rites and festivities. Both a literal and figurative meaning may be in view here in Revelation. Since sexual immorality was sometimes associated with worship in pagan religion, the Christian would be taking both sexual licenses as well as committing religious infidelity if he participated in the religious practices of the city. The Balaamites may have been teaching the converts that participating in temple feasts or other activities in which the gods were invoked was not wrong because it served a good end. The unknown prophets or self-appointed teachers, metaphorically called "Balaam," were probably counseling accommodation with the pagan culture. Balaam and the Nicolaitans as well as another heretical group we encounter later the followers of a prophetess named "Jezebel" probably all taught generally the same thing. G.R. Beasley-Murray, in speaking of the Nicolaitans, wrote:
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"They will have maintained that idols are nothing...Therefore Christians need not hesitate to take part in pagan feasts, whether among trade guilds or in temples.... Nor need they be over-scrupulous about acknowledging the divinity of Caesar, for they can do it in the same spirit as many pagans did as a gesture of loyalty to Rome, without religious significance." (The New Century Bible Commentary, "Revelation," p. 86)

Of course, Revelation does not reveal the specific identity of the Nicolaitans nor does it rigorously define their beliefs. Irenaeus and other early church fathers claimed that the Nicolaitans practiced unrestrained indulgence (Against Heresies, 1.26.3). If they have not falsely defined their enemies the Nicolaitans would have taught a life of loose morals, but no doubt under the guise of a deceptive theological rationale. The term Nicolaitans comes from two Greek words: 1.) Niko = to conquer or overthrow 2.) Laso = the people or the laity When put together means "Victory over the people (laity) or to Conquer the Laity." Nicolaitism sought to establish an ecclesiastical order that would rule the people, to have a ruling class in the Church that dominated the people or "the laity"
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Following the teaching of the Balaamites and Nicolaitans, some church members in Pergamum had violated the freedom and grace they enjoyed in Christ. They had lapsed into a sinful accommodation with idolatry and immorality. The seriousness of the poor spiritual condition of some at Pergamum was underscored by Christs warning. He would fight against the heretics with the sword of his mouth (2:16). The mistakes of the Pergamum church are important lessons to all Christians who must struggle to keep their spiritual balance in a darkened world.

Promise to Pergamum (2:17)

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To the overcomer, i.e., those who repent and neither participate with nor permit the activities of the Nicolaitans, there is three-fold reward.

Those who conquered in the Pergamum church who didnt fall prey to this heresy were promised salvation under the metaphor of the "hidden manna" and "white stone with a new name" (2:17). Manna is another Old Testament symbol. It was the food God supernaturally supplied to the Israelites during their 40-year sojourn in the wilderness (Exodus 16:11-15). In Revelation the manna would refer to the spiritual food by which God gives life to his people. It is, like the fruit of the tree of life, a symbol of salvation and eternal life. The meaning of the white stone is less clear. Several interpretations are possible. Thats because stones were used in a variety of situations in ancient times. A white stone given to a person at the close of a trial meant he was acquitted of his crime. This symbolic meaning for the Christian is clear. The child of God has been exonerated of his or her sins through Christs cleansing sacrifice. It is through Jesus atoning blood that we freely receive our acquittal. The ideal of judicial judgment would also link the white stone to the "great white throne judgment" (20:11). This is a symbol of Gods final, just and merciful judgment on humanity. Stones also served as admission tickets to public festivals and assemblies. Metaphorically, this would mean the Christian had been granted admittance to the messianic feast at the Saviors return (19:18-19). A white stone may also have represented a happy and momentous day for the Christian the receiving of the ultimate reward of salvation. The English equivalent would be a "red letter day." An interesting custom in Thrace was the marking of good days by a white stone (Pliny Natural History, 7.40.131; Plutarch: Life of Pericles 64; Pliny, Letters 6:11). Certainly, Gods intervention in human affairs and the salvation of the church in the resurrection of the dead will be a wonderful and momentous time (Revelation 19:1-6). We should also note that the color white is characteristic of Revelation. It speaks of white garments (3:5), white robes (7:9), white linen (19:8, 14), and the aforementioned great white throne judgment (20:11). White, in these cases, represents a kind of spiritual purity. The meaning of the "new name" written on the white stone appears to have Old Testament roots as well (2:17). When speaking of Zion a type of the church perfected Isaiah repeated the promise of God to his people: "You will be called by a new name that the mouth of the Lord will bestow" (Isaiah 62:2). The new name represents a new status given to the individual by God. We see the custom in the Old Testament. Jacob becomes Israel (Genesis 32:28); Abram becomes Abraham (Genesis 17:5); Sarai becomes Sarah (Genesis 17:15). In the New Testament, Saul becomes Paul (Acts 13:9). The custom of giving a person a new name to go along with a new status was also found in the Roman world. Octavius became Augustus when he was crowned Roman emperor. For the Christian, the "new name" would have great spiritual significance. Christ will give the member a new status. He will be resurrected into the kingdom of God with a new existence and unparalleled glory (Romans 8:18-21). The idea of newness in the "new name" is another theme in Revelation. We have a new Jerusalem (3:12; 21:2); a new heaven and earth (21:1); a new song (5:9; 14:3). And God says at the books end, "I am making everything new!" (21:5).
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