Pergamum:
Pergamum was a very important city during this time period.
Previously, this was a chief city of the Attalids, in fact the capital city.
Pergamum was built on a high cone shaped hill and was prominent in Asia. It was inland, and so, was not a very good trade city.
It housed the temples of several gods and goddesses. Many people came
from near and far to receive healing from the gods of this city. It was very
well known for its library of over 200,000 volumes. In 133 B.C., Attalus III
bequeathed his kingdom to Rome, and Pergamum
became Roman property. Around the base of the altar in the temple of Zeus were wall paintings depicting
the victory the people of this city had over all the mighty enemies of the earth in the past.
This marked the victory of civilization over barbarianism. Religion flourished
in Pergamum. This
was the center of worship for some of the major cults of this day. However, in
the first century A.D. emperor worship was a particular issue for the Christians of this famous city. The imperial cult was prominent here and enforced by Rome. This was the first city in Asia to earn the right to build a temple to the emperor
of Rome. Pergamum was now the capital city of the Roman territory in Asia that
consisted of the seven churches of Revelation.
v.
12 – To the angel of the church in Pergamum
write: These are the words of him who has the sharp, double-edged sword.
This Roman province was the capital and
housed the proconsul of Rome within it. Such a city was able to use the sword against any infidel. They
had the “right of the sword” and could execute at will. The sword
may have even been the symbol for the proconsul. Rom 13:4-5 - But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword for nothing. He is God's servant, an agent of wrath
to bring punishment on the wrongdoer. (NIV)
It is Christ who reminds the Christians of this city that He alone has the ultimate power over life and death (true
life and death). They may be threatened, but they should be strong in the Lord.
v.
13 – 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.
Jesus knows how difficult it is to live
in the environment these Christians are living. Yet, they have remained faithful
to His name. Jesus tells them that they live where Satan has his throne. This could be symbolic or real or both. The
Temple of Zeus
appeared like a great throne on the mountain that was the focal point of this great city.
Another possibility is that the cult of Asklepios had a serpent as its symbol, which would be very familiar to these
Christians. I even read somewhere that the shape of the hill appeared as a great
throne overlooking the city when viewed from afar. However, another thought is
that this is the city where emperor worship was prominent. This is an abomination
to God and therefore the place where Satan has his throne. Yet, even in these
conditions, Pergamum remained faithful to the name of Christ. They would not yield to the pressures of those around them, the emperor worshipers
and officials of their city. They did not deny their faith even when one of them,
Antipas, was martyred in their midst for his faith in Christ. He was given a
commendation from Jesus Himself in this letter. He called him His faithful
witness. This verse ends with a confirmation that this is the place where Satan
dwells. This works with the beginning of the verse to state that the Christians
in Pergamum and Satan dwell in the same location. The workings
of Satan are evident among us, even in our own location. We are at spiritual
war. It may cost the lives of some for the sake of the mission, but God is aware
of this and even rewards those who give their lives for the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
They are victors in the effort.
v.
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.
There are a few things Jesus takes exception to. We cannot say with certainty
what they are, but we know something about the inferences that may help realize the severity of the offense. “Balaam was the man who, after being prevented from cursing Israel,
apparently advised Balak, king of Moab,
that the Israelites would forfeit God’s protection if he could induce them to worship idols. (Num. 31:16).” (Morris,
p. 67). There were false teachers among the Pergamum
church. They were somehow leading the church astray to eating food (meat) sacrificed
to idols, and to sexual immorality. The people understood the story of Balaam
and Balak. It was almost proverbial to indicate any type of entrapment that would
lead the people of God astray. Often meat that was the result of pagan animal
sacrifices would subsequently be sold in the markets for food. This is most likely
not the case here. It is believed that the people were knowingly eating sacrificial
meat and indulging in sexually promiscuous acts that were all part of the idol worship practices of that time and place.
v.
15 – Likewise you also have those who hold to the teaching of the Nicolaitans.
Likewise – you also –
among these things pointed out, they also had these Nicolaitans among them. The
practices and teachings of these people were similar to the ways of Balaam as it is connected to the previous verse. As mentioned
earlier, there is very little known about the Nicolaitans except that they were false teachers within the church and soon
fizzled out.
v.
16 – Repent therefore! Otherwise, I will soon come to you and will fight
against them with the sword of my mouth.
Repent is the strongest form of command
here. God’s hatred of these practices is looming overhead. Jesus is about to come in judgment against them for allowing this to exist among them. The evil must be rooted out from the church and not condoned or overlooked.
“I will soon come” is in the present tense in the Greek and should translate, “I am coming.” Jesus is already on His way to deal with this situation in judgment if they don’t
repent. The very words of Jesus that bring life and peace can also bring destruction
and judgment. The sharp sword of His mouth that He wields represents very words
of His mouth, words that can condemn as well as bless. No one would want to be
on the receiving end of Jesus words of judgment.
v.
17 – 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. I will also give him a white stone with a new name written on
it, known only to him who receives it.
We have already
discussed the phrase, “He who has an ear,” and “To him who overcomes.” These appear in each of the letters
to the churches. “Hidden manna”
seems to refer to some special food that is only available to those who overcome these evils and repent. The promise is to all who are victorious in Christ. The “white stone with a new name” has been the source of much confusion in reading
Revelation. However, this is another special thing offered only to the victorious
in Christ. It is not known exactly what this white stone means except that it
offers some type of assured blessing to the recipient. The new name written on
the stone will be known only to the one who receives it. Remember the importance
of names to the Israelites and even other cultures. Remember also about the use
of and knowledge of a name. Knowing the name gives an advantage to the one who
knows it. In this case the new name is given by God to the victorious recipient. Here the secret name represents a new character given by God and is a special knowledge
between the person and God. It is the mark of a new thing that God has done in
a person held as very precious since it remains hidden. God gives us a new character
which no one knows except the one who receives it.
