Revelation 2:12-17

Join me in prayer. Now, Please stand for the reading of God’s Word.

Revelation 2:12–17 (CSB)

“Write to the angel of the church in Pergamum: Thus says the one who has the sharp, double-edged sword: I know where you live—where Satan’s throne is. Yet you are holding on to my name and did not deny your faith in me, even in the days of Antipas, my faithful witness who was put to death among you, where Satan lives. But I have a few things against you. You have some there who hold to the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to place a stumbling block in front of the Israelites: to eat meat sacrificed to idols and to commit sexual immorality. In the same way, you also have those who hold to the teaching of the Nicolaitans. So repent! Otherwise, I will come to you quickly and fight against them with the sword of my mouth.

“Let anyone who has ears to hear listen to what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who conquers, I will give some of the hidden manna. I will also give him a white stone, and on the stone a new name is inscribed that no one knows except the one who receives it.

This is the word of the Lord, please be seated

Today we get to the Pastoral Prophetic message to the Church in Pergamum. Let’s do a brief little tour of Pergamum before we dive into the text.

*map of all seven churches* Pergamum is north of Ephesus and Smyrna, and also further inland. Scholars note that Pergamum was quite large - perhaps up to 200,000 people, very bizarre for the ancient world, and also was highly influential in the roman world.

It was home to a library, which is noteworthy in antiquity. Also there is some speculation that parchment was invented and popularized in Pergamum.

There was a large theater, like ephesus, which would have served as a hallmark of the hellenistic life with rhetoric being a highlight for many.

It was the first city in Asia minor which built a temple for citizens to worship the emperor of rome as a god, and was so proud of that fact that they referred to themselves as “Temple Wardens” for such worship. while they have not found the ruins of this temple - it is attested to in many historical records and on ancient coins. Here is another view of the theater with some of the old city on the hill.

Beyond just the emperor worship cult, it was also home to the shrine of Asclepius, who was a roman god of healing - and who’s symbol was a serpent. According to one record i read, those seeking healing would visit the temple and sleep amongst the serpents with the thought being that if a snake crawled on you that was perhaps the god giving healing.

Beyond the city limts was a large cone shaped hill, and it was filled with shrines to many pagan dieties, but most infamously included a shrine to Zeus that was in the form of the throne of Zeus - perhaps leading to Christ’s description of pergamum.

With that brief tour from around the globe - let’s begin. Revelation 2:12

Revelation 2:12 (CSB)

“Write to the angel of the church in Pergamum: Thus says the one who has the sharp, double-edged sword:

The message starts with direction to right to the angel of the church in Pergamum, and then includes a description of Jesus as taken from the vision in Revelation 1 - this one being that Christ as the sharp, double-edged sword.

We discussed this image and it’s potential meanings in our study of Revelation 1 - The double sword from his mouth. The fact that revelation 1 says it’s from his mouth is significant to me, as it corresponds with the power Jesus and the creation narrative, in which God SPOKE and the cosmos sprang into existence. The idea being that there is no struggle - when there is a dictation - it is what it is. By his decree life begins or ends. Sober reminder.

The implication of it being edged on both sides seemingly indicates that he will deal with those outside of the Church, and those inside the church. This is a heavy thought, which can bring a lot of thoughts to mind and we will come back to this - but the idea is that JEsus is standing over PErgamum, ready to remove any that is compromising the mission of God, whether they are enemies from out or within.

Verse 13

Revelation 2:13 (CSB)

I know where you live—where Satan’s throne is. Yet you are holding on to my name and did not deny your faith in me, even in the days of Antipas, my faithful witness who was put to death among you, where Satan lives.

Jesus begins this message with commendation, they have not denied their faith - even to the point of death. He even lists the name of the martyr, Antipas. We don’t know much beyond what’s listed here - but it seems that Antipas’s martyrdom must have left a large mark not just on the Pergamum church, but perhaps the church at large too - but despite the faithful being killed for faith - the church has not given up.

Even though the live where Satan’s throne is. Where Satan Lives. Man what does that mean?

A couple things perhaps: first, think of all the pagan idolatry and emperor worship that is going on in Pergamum. The first temple to worship the emperors in Asia Minor? To the same empire that sacked Rome and destroyed the temple in Jerusalem? That is pretty dark and stark stuff. And with the shrine to Asclepius being serpents, reminiscent of Genesis 3, and the throne to Zeus - there are many specific things that could be in mind here.

Second, I think another way we can look at this is that this is apparently a stronghold for the enemy. It can feel ethereal, but there are times and places where it can seem as if the darkness is more prominent, more evident. Where satan is just more overt.

Scholars have all sorts of opinions on these things - but I think there is a lot of credence in thinking of pergamum being the temple warden for emperor worship being very front and center with this claim.

I appreciate GK Beale’s comment in summary here when he writes, Quote

As Revelation proceeds, we will see how Satan (the dragon) gives the political system (the beast) the power to persecute God’s people, as was undoubtedly occuring in this city.

GK Beale; Revelation, A Shorter Commentary

It’s incredible to think that even when heroes of the faith are being persecuted and killed, the church remains holding onto their faith in JEsus. Again - that’s a different level of persecution then we are used to in the west - but it exists and is more prevalent now globally speaking then it was two thousand years ago.

Remember - freedom of religion wasn’t a thing in the roman empire. The religion needed to be approved by Rome before they had any protections. The Jewish faith enjoyed such freedom which exempted them from sacrificing to idols and to the emperor as a god. But since around AD 70, the jewish people were trying to separate themselves from the Christians as distinct as a separate religion - which made Christians vulnerable to punishment for not sacrificing to the pagan gods and also to the romans for not participating in the imperial cult worship. If Christians in this time were adamant about not committing idolatry and worshipping other gods - there was real physical consequence.

Jesus commends the Church in Pergamum. He knows where they live. This is beyond just a cognitive knowing, the greek word here is oida - and it can mean understand and respect, or even to honor. Jesus is really acknowledging the hardships they have endured even by just their lived experience in a place where it seems darkness reigns.

And yet, he has some things to correct. Let;s start with verse 14

Revelation 2:14 (CSB)

But I have a few things against you. You have some there who hold to the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to place a stumbling block in front of the Israelites: to eat meat sacrificed to idols and to commit sexual immorality.

So even though the Church in Pergamum have held onto the faith - there are some amongst them that have begun to tolerate false and idolatrous practices.

Balaam is an infamous name from the book of numbers where he encouraged Israel to disobey God and sin specifically by committing idolatry and being immoral. His name became a catch all for false teacher, specifically, as some scholars have argued those who influence God’s people to evil for finical gain.

What is eating meat sacrificed idols? Well most people could not often afford to eat meat - that was a luxury in this time and this place. It was reserved for special occasions. But often times historians tell us that pagan temples would have festivals where people would worship the idols and bring sacrifices, but then the mean would be given away as a part to be eaten. It was explicitly a pagan festival. And people were expected to participate, both the pagan feasts and those honoring the Emperor.

We read about the food sacrificed to idols issue in other portions of scripture - like Acts 15, where the Jerusalem council says to abstain from it, and like 1 Corinthians 10, where Paul enters into the conversation and brings up the matter of conscience.

The fact of the matter is that almost all meat available in these towns was likely sacrificed to an idol - but Paul says in 1 Corinthians 10:25-26 this

1 Corinthians 10:25–26 (CSB)

Eat everything that is sold in the meat market, without raising questions for the sake of conscience, since the earth is the Lord’s, and all that is in it.

But John says to not eat meat sacrificed to idols.

Likely what is being said here is going to the grocery store and buying the meat may not be considered participating in the idolatrous practice - but going to the pagan temple and joining the feast to zeus is wrong.

But one could see that abstaining from the social gatherings where the whole town would get together at the theater to eat and be merry - under the name of Zeus - by refusing to attend or participate you could feel ostracism - and even feel economic burden, as the imperial cult controlled a lot of trade and influence amongst the trade guilds.

Apparently false teachers were coming into the church and promoting participation in such pagan festivals and feasts, and the church was tolerating this. beyond just that, we read about sexual immorality. the noun of this verb in the greak is Porneia - one can see the link to our current vocabulary.

Porneia was a broad word that included any immoral sexual practice outside of the Biblical concept of sex and marriage. from affairs to lust to pornography to homosexuality to prostitution, it is broad term.

But it also has a spiritual meaning throughout scripture. With the idea being of spiritual and illicit affairs with false gods and spiritual forces.

Going back to the concept we’ve talked about before of Mt Sinai in Exodus - which in many ways is a shown as a wedding ceremony between Yahweh and the israelites - and on the wedding day as it were, the israelites climb into bed with another God and worship a golden calf!

What’s interesting to note is the idea of spiritual immorality and sexual immorality typically go hand in hand and have throughout time.

Jesus is calling them out - they have not denied their faith in JEsus - but they are trying to get with other gods on the side. a little side gig. Just some flirtatious texting - that doesn’t count as cheating right?

Verse 15:

Revelation 2:15 (CSB)

In the same way, you also have those who hold to the teaching of the Nicolaitans.

We’ve discussed the nicolaitans in the message to the ephesian church - but it seems their beliefs were also exemplified in that of Balaam - the idea is compromise.

Doctrine and practice matters. What we believe drives what we do. So we need to constantly go back to the source, JEsus and his word, to ensure our doctrine is pure so that we can live well. There have always been and will always be teachers who come into the church and distort teachings for their own motives and their own good. And it is nefarious and evil and what is heart breaking to me is how many people go along with it.

Friends - we need to constantly be aware of the ever growing desire to compromise. We need to be aware of our own weakness and that we are susceptible to be lead astray. It takes humility, but especially in an age of mis an dis information where AI is a thing - we need to be constantly vigilant to the ways we are being manipulated. And then we need to do the hard work to remove those influence from our lives. But especially in view here - the church.

Look at verse 16

Revelation 2:16 (CSB)

So repent! Otherwise, I will come to you quickly and fight against them with the sword of my mouth.

Jesus tells them to repent - to rid themselves of the idolatry and immorality. To kick out the false teachers.

Otherwise - he will come quickly, and he will fight against them with the sword of his mouth. It’s interesting to note that in Numbers 31:8 the original balaam is killed by the sword, and now the false teachers are at risk of facing the same fate.

This seems to indicate that Christ is coming to fight against the false teachers specifically - but the call to repent is given to the entire church - for as we will see later in the church in Thyatira - tolerance of evil and false teachers is wrong and sinful too.

We OUGHT to call out false teaching. Not out of hate for the people - but out of mercy! Correction is a form a love if done well. But letting people run towards the edge of a cliff and take others with them is not loving! We ought to call out the wrong direction.

The whole church needs to step up in Pergamum - no more “you do you” orthodoxy and orthoproxy. We need pure doctrine and pure lives.

Or as Craig Keener says it - if we choose to look the other way when apostasy is occurring, then we must share the Lord’s reproof.

We now get to the promise at the end of the message, Revelation 2:17

Revelation 2:17 (CSB)

“Let anyone who has ears to hear listen to what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who conquers, I will give some of the hidden manna. I will also give him a white stone, and on the stone a new name is inscribed that no one knows except the one who receives it.

This is a reminder again - ANYONE who has ears to hear, listen to what the SPirit is saying to the churches. IF the shoe fits, wear it!

To the one who conquers, who overcomes - who follows the way of JEsus the lamb that was slain -

The promise to the overcomer - First, some of the hidden manna.

During the wilderness wandering, God provided manna from heaven to sustain the feed the israelites. This almost certainly refers to food that is not physically visible, but will be consumed when JEsus comes back at we will feast at the wedding feast of the Lamb in chapter 19.

It is almost certainly supposed to be contrasted with meat sacrificed to idols - which is available now but leads to death - it is not permanent. But the hidden manna, while not physically available now - will lead us to life everlasting.

When I read this, my mind went to the temptation of JEsus in the wilderness by satan. Let me read a few verses from that, Matthew 4:1-4

Matthew 4:1–4 (CSB)

Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. After he had fasted forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. Then the tempter approached him and said, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.”

He answered, “It is written: Man must not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.”

on ever word that comes from the mouth of GOd - I think part of this hidden manna has to be the perceived and sustaining gracious gaze from God to his faithful followers. The word of God sustains us, not just in the here and now - but for all eternity.

Verse 17 continues with a gift of white stone, with a new name on it that now one knows.

The white stone is likely connected to the manna - in Numbers 11:7 manna is described as bdellium - which is a white stone.

Numbers 11:7 (CSB)

The manna resembled coriander seed, and its appearance was like that of bdellium.

So this is also a heavenly reward. White is a color that shows righteousness.

Another suggestion of the gift of the white stone is that of legal standing. In courts at this time, the jury would have black stones, and white stones, adn if you were found guilty they would cast the black stone - but if you were found innocent they would cast the white stone.

The idea being that even if you are found guilty in the eyes of the romans for not worshiping their gods of sticks and stones - you will ultimately be found righteous in the court of heaven - which is of much more importance.

The new name goes back to the Old Testament, where people often received new names in line with new status. The idea being that this new name, perhaps the name of Christ, is written on us - we are sealed as his.

Also - it seams that is is a fulfillment of Isaiah 62:2

Isaiah 62:2 (CSB)

Nations will see your righteousness and all kings, your glory. You will be given a new name that the Lord’s mouth will announce.

and Isaiah 65:15

Isaiah 65:15 (CSB)

You will leave your name behind as a curse for my chosen ones, and the Lord God will kill you; but he will give his servants another name.

Again - showing that Jesus sees the church as the fulfilled and new israel following JEsus the messiah the king.

In Christ we are a new creation - a new creature, redeemed and set apart - and we are given a new redeemed nature all because of the victory of JESus that we receive and participate in by grace through faith.

NOw that we come to the end of our passage we get to ask our question

So What?

What does the pastoral prophetic message to the church in pergamum have to say to us in centerville SD today?

Friends - this message, like all of the seven churches, can cut right to the core.

First, notice the pastoral and compassionate heart of Christ - even when the people of God are compromising, he still affirms them for holding on to his name. Jesus is encouraging his bride, his church. Perhaps you need to be encouraged. Perhaps your faith has been battered and you are just barely hanging on - and yet you are still hanging out. Maybe you didn’t want to show up to church today. Didn’t want to show up to prayer - but you did. That’s faith. Jesus sees that, and acknowledges it - and knows where you live. He see’s the hardships - he knows.

My advice to you - if you are weary in the faith - is to stay faithful. Stay true. for there is a promise of life, as sustanance, and righteousness for those who put their trust and faith in Jesus.

Keep the faith. Trust the Lord. come honest, come with lament, but keep showing up - he does hold the keys to life and death. And he is faithful.

Second, we need to look in a mirror when it comes to the pressure to compromise. Especially in our hyper-tolerant world. I am NOT saying that we shouldn’t be the most compassionate people in the world - we ought to. As we in Christ have been forgiven, we need to be on the front lines of loving even the most hateful people.

But we need to be aware to the ways that we have been influenced negatively and have compromised our message.

Sometimes we have so watered down the call of Jesus and the way of JEsus that it is almost indistinguishable from the rest of the world! Some christian’s faith and practice is just like the rest of the america - just a bit more hypocritical and weird!

Craig Keener has a great work on this in his commentary on Revelation, he says that when we value what the world does instead of valuing the kingdom, we forfeit our role as witnesses for Christ’s kingdom in this world. So much our the western christian ethic has become almost the same as out culture, and too much of our evangelistic strategy has been to try and show the world that we are acceptable because we are just like them. But - it we affirm what the world or affirms and live just as the world does - what do we invite them in conversion that is different then what they already experience?

We need to WAKE UP! Friends there is a war for people souls going on and the good news of Jesus Christ is GOOD NEWS.

And yet our witness is compromised. Our lives are destitute in many ways. We swim in the same sinful pools that we did before we knew Jesus. We tolerate bizarre false teachers who lead people astray.

Some time in evangelical circles we equate faith with just mental assent to a certain set of doctrinal states - rather than a whole heart oriented towards Jesus.

Jesus wants ALL of us. All of you. He wants us to have clean hands and pure hearts. He wants us to be in the world, but not influenced by it.

We need to be aware in our own hearts the ways that we are tempted to be lead astray, and to compromise, or to justify our own sin. And we need to repent.

And last, we need to reflect on the image of Jesus standing at the church, ready to judge those in the church. That can feel rather disturbing! Is Jesus saying that he is going to remove those from the Church? Are these people at risk of losing their salvation?

I don’t know if that’s what’s being communicated here: I think JEsus is getting at removing those from the earthly equation who have compromised and hurt the church, and those who were never saved - I think of Matthew 7:20-23

Matthew 7:20–23 (CSB)

So you’ll recognize them by their fruit. “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father in heaven. On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, didn’t we prophesy in your name, drive out demons in your name, and do many miracles in your name?’ Then I will announce to them, ‘I never knew you. Depart from me, you lawbreakers!’

Jesus wants us ALL.

So what do we do? How do we respond to a perfectly holy God? How can I not sin?

Friend this is the power of the GOspel - you cannot atone for your own sin. We will continually fall short.

We NEED Jesus’s blood to cover us so we can be forgiven.

But our lives need to then be in the light. Consider 1 John 1:7-10

1 John 1:7–10 (CSB)

If we walk in the light as he himself is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin. If we say, “We have no sin,” we are deceiving ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say, “We have not sinned,” we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.

So we confess our sin - we confess it, and bring it all to the light -= becuase he’s faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

How do we know that we are in Christ? I think a key part is when we are quiet, what do we actaully want? Like the deepest parts of us: do you want Christ and his Kingdom

AND when we sin, not if we sin, but when we sin, what is our response? IS it to cover it up? Is it to justify it? Or is it contrition? Is it repentance?

King David story - bathsheba, adultery, murder, but God didn’t abandon him - and when he came face to face with his sin - he confessed and repented. And God called him a man after his own heart.

What we DON’T need is a show - we don’t need people to pretend like things are all okay while our lives are destitute. No we need to be radaically committed to faith. Radically committed to holy living. And Radically committed to loving everyone we come in touch with.

We need to follow JEsus. We should want to become like him. A person of love who lived for the sake of others.

And we should hate sin.

So friends - to end, I want to end with a reading of Psalm 51. Which is the psalm david wrote after being confronted with his sin by the prophet nathan. Let’s read this and confess that we are still in need of a savior. Remembering, that in Christ we are forgiven. And so we offer our whole lives as an offering to God.

Psalm 51 (CSB)

Be gracious to me, God, according to your faithful love; according to your abundant compassion, blot out my rebellion. Completely wash away my guilt and cleanse me from my sin. For I am conscious of my rebellion, and my sin is always before me.

Against you—you alone—I have sinned and done this evil in your sight. So you are right when you pass sentence; you are blameless when you judge.

Indeed, I was guilty when I was born; I was sinful when my mother conceived me. Surely you desire integrity in the inner self, and you teach me wisdom deep within.

Purify me with hyssop, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow. Let me hear joy and gladness; let the bones you have crushed rejoice.

Turn your face away from my sins and blot out all my guilt. God, create a clean heart for me and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not banish me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me.

Restore the joy of your salvation to me, and sustain me by giving me a willing spirit. Then I will teach the rebellious your ways, and sinners will return to you.

Save me from the guilt of bloodshed, God—God of my salvation—and my tongue will sing of your righteousness.

Lord, open my lips, and my mouth will declare your praise. You do not want a sacrifice, or I would give it; you are not pleased with a burnt offering.

The sacrifice pleasing to God is a broken spirit. You will not despise a broken and humbled heart, God.

In your good pleasure, cause Zion to prosper; build the walls of Jerusalem. Then you will delight in righteous sacrifices, whole burnt offerings; then bulls will be offered on your altar.

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