Pergamum: A Steadfast Church Flirting with False Teaching

Cling to Christ.

Rev.2:12 ““And to the angel of the church in Pergamum write: ‘The words of him who has the sharp two-edged sword.”

Jesus’ description comes from Rev.1:16 (“In his right hand he held seven stars, from his mouth came a sharp two-edged sword, and his face was like the sun shining in full strength.”). The fact that He has a sharp two-edged sword contrasts with the officials in Pergamum who could wield the power of the sword. The sword is Christ’s word of judgment. It is a reminder of who the true judge is, contrasted with the worldly authority of the Roman officials in Pergamum. The threatening image of the sword should encourage the readers to sit up and take notice of what was being said.

Rev.2:13 ““ ‘I know where you dwell, where Satan’s throne is. Yet you hold fast my name, and you did not deny my faith even in the days of Antipas my faithful witness, who was killed among you, where Satan dwells.”

It seems that Pergamum was some sort of locus for Satan’s evil rule as it was the place of his throne. Satanic (possibly demonic) influence must have been particularly entrenched in Pergamum, a continuing menace for the people of God. At the church of Smyrna, it was the synagogue that belonged to Satan because of Jewish opposition to Jesus. Here, the city itself is the throne of Satan, a city that was Gentile. Taken together, it shows total opposition to the people of God, from Jew and Gentile alike. Though evil is present, the church is commended because they hold fast to the name of Christ. This means they hold on to Christ tightly or forcibly, showing strong loyalty to Jesus. Despite their circumstances, they did not deny Jesus, even when persecution reached martyrdom level. It is unclear whether or not Antipas (which means “against all”) was put to death through official action or mob rule. Church tradition says that Antipas was roasted to death inside a brazen bull. Because the imperial cult figured prominently in Pergamum, Satan’s throne could refer to their influence. It was the first city to build a tempt for emperor worship. The verse concludes with a note that this is the place where Satan dwells. The abode of the adversary bookends this verse in which one of Christ’s followers suffers death for allegiance to Jesus.

We have long felt the blessings of living in the Bible belt, and I’m not preaching with the newspaper in hand here, but what I am saying is that if you study modern western culture long enough, you begin to see that the influence of the enemy has steadily crept in, to the point where the “home field advantage” christianity once enjoyed is no longer the case. In times like these, when the nominal christians around us opt for a more naturalistic and agnostic worldview, one that really more lines up with how they live, it underscores the NECESSITY of living out the call of the gospel — Lk.9:23 “And he said to all, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.”

Clean out Corruption.

Rev.2:14-15 “But I have a few things against you: you have some there who hold the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to put a stumbling block before the sons of Israel, so that they might eat food sacrificed to idols and practice sexual immorality. So also you have some who hold the teaching of the Nicolaitans.”

While generally the church was faithful, some were not, leading to possibly syncretistic practices. And, many practiced the Roman Imperial cult out of duty, which may be why they thought it was okay…civic duty vs. genuine embrace.

There certainly is something to be said about the dangers of elevating civic duty over and above one’s allegiance and loyalty to Christ!

Balaam was a self-serving prophet found in Numbers 24:12-14 and 31:16. The exact thing that he is condemned for here is placing a stumbling block before others. A stumbling block was anything that proved to be an enticement to sin (see Josh.23:13; Judges 2:3, Ps.106:36; Hos.4:17).

The food sacrificed to idols went beyond what liberty (according to Paul — 1 Cor.8:4 (“Therefore, as to the eating of food offered to idols, we know that “an idol has no real existence,” and that “there is no God but one.””)) afforded. Guilds would often throw “business parties” where it was common to eat food sacrificed to idols. There was likely financial pressure to compromise one’s faith. The Nicolaitans apparently embraced food sacrifices, as well as other idol practices, as aspects of worship. Sexual immorality is often used in the OT to describe Israel’s apostasy (see 2 Kgs.9:22; Isa.1:21; Jer.3:6; Ezk.23:19). It seems to have included a genuine embrace of some of the practices.

Ultimately, the issue is that it led to compromising sole allegiance of Christ.

The polluted practices of a few posed a threat to the WHOLE CHURCH. Just as you wouldn’t eat meal prepared with even a minute amount of feces, so a little bit of doctrinal compromise can damage the entire church. Again, I’m not talking about agreeing to disagree on theological issues that people far more spiritual than you and I will ever be have held to. But, I think a solid example is the fight for inerrancy the SBC went through a few decades back. (Dr. Long — the path from moderate to liberal is a steep and slippery slope!)

Rev.2:16 “Therefore repent. If not, I will come to you soon and war against them with the sword of my mouth.”

Christ will defend His people, both in the short-term and on the Day of the Lord. The question that lies before the church is this: will you go to war with the heretics, or will Christ? Jesus’ warning calls for a quick response, for if they do not repent, He will come…soon. The idea of coming soon, along with the sword of my mouth, sharpens the conscience and the consequence. John continues to tie in the OT/Balaam motif, for Balaam was threatened (Num.22:23, 31) and killed (Num.31:8) by the sword. There is a distinction between you and them at play in verse 16 that should not be missed. Certainly the church as a whole did not face the judgment of Jesus, but the unrepentant would. Further, “them” indicates that these do not belong to Jesus. God executes judgment by speaking (from His mouth) in Job 4:9 (“By the breath of God they perish, and by the blast of his anger they are consumed.”) and Ps.33:6 (“By the word of the Lord the heavens were made, and by the breath of his mouth all their host.”)

Crave Spiritual Nourishment.

Rev.2:17 “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who conquers I will give some of the hidden manna, and I will give him a white stone, with a new name written on the stone that no one knows except the one who receives it.’”

Manna provided by God stands as quite the contrast with the food sacrificed to idols. II Peter 1:3 indicates that God provides all things that the believer needs through Christ. The final consummation of God’s provision has not yet been fulfilled for Christ is still hidden — He has not yet returned.

The white stones prove a little more difficult to understand. It could be a further reference to the manna which appeared as bdellium (Num.11:7) in the OT. Bdellium is a white stone. Or, Jews would sometimes use stones to indicate judgments on a matter, and white indicates righteousness. The white stones could then indicate the Lord’s pardon.

Regardless, both of these pictures, the manna and the white stones, both come from Christ’s provision…His grace that we surely do not deserve.

Let us pause for a moment and consider where we would be without the daily sustaining grace of Jesus. We are called to run with perseverance the marked before us. It is His grace that carries us along and strengthens us to keep our eyes focused on Christ.

When blessings come into our lives, they are subtle reminders of the love of God…that He genuinely cares for us and truly wants what is good for us.

When disaster strikes…when tribulation comes…when sorrows seem to overwhelm…the draw our attention and affection back to Christ, the Author and Finisher of our faith.

Every answered prayer is an invitation to continue pleading our case before a Father who love us, seeing His gracious and sovereign hand at work in our lives.

Every uplifting service where the music swells and the preaching challenges and convicts and spurs the affections for Christ. That’s God’s grace.

And, every time everyone in the building knows the message fell flat for whatever reason, that’s God’s grace, too, reminding us that we are all dependent on the Spirit, and that every single one of us is human…there are no all-star, super star, rock star Christians. As the wisdom guru Zac Brown notes, “We’re all in the same boat, fishin’ from the same hole, wonderin’ where the same time goes, we’re all in the same boat.” We’re all, every single one of us, followers of Christ redeemed by Christ and by grace laying down our lives in order to follow Christ.

And, God will even use the sin struggles in our lives to remind us that He is gracious and merciful, patient and kind, slow to anger and abounding in love. Grace reminds us of the truth of Isa.61:3 “to grant to those who mourn in Zion— to give them a beautiful headdress instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, the garment of praise instead of a faint spirit; that they may be called oaks of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that he may be glorified.”

Then notice, the Lord gives a new name, and only the recipient knows it. God is in the business of doing new things:

Isa.43:18-19 “Remember not the former things, nor consider the things of old. Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.”

Isa.65:17 “For behold, I create new heavens and a new earth, and the former things shall not be remembered or come into mind.”

Finally, a new name tends to indicate spiritual transformation:

Isa.62:2-4 “The nations shall see your righteousness, and all the kings your glory, and you shall be called by a new name that the mouth of the Lord will give. You shall be a crown of beauty in the hand of the Lord, and a royal diadem in the hand of your God. You shall no more be termed Forsaken, and your land shall no more be termed Desolate, but you shall be called My Delight Is in Her, and your land Married; for the Lord delights in you, and your land shall be married.”

Isa.65:15 “You shall leave your name to my chosen for a curse, and the Lord God will put you to death, but his servants he will call by another name.”

Jacob to Israel in Gen.32:28 “Then he said, “Your name shall no longer be called Jacob, but Israel, for you have striven with God and with men, and have prevailed.”

And even Saul’s name becomes Paul in the NT.

Here’s the question that for me inevitably comes to mind: Is there a difference in the person you once where and the person you are now? Is there genuine evidence that there has been a turn from a life of self pursuits to life of Christ-centered pursuits? I’m not asking if you’re perfect. I’m asking if you’ve been changed. It’s a slow process and it’s not instantaneous…and it’s not smooth ascent, but your love…your devotion…your concerns and cares…the affections of our hearts should be in a constant drift away from the things of this world and toward Christ and obedience to His word. Have you been changed?

The church cannot deny the faith, even though sometimes it will seem Satan himself is attacking it. In order to stand firm, the church cannot compromise with false teaching…a little yeast ruins the whole batch! Obedience provides spiritual sustenance, needed spiritual food for those who have been transformed.