The Compromising Church: Pergamum

The Sword of the Speaker

The New American Commentary: Revelation 3. To Pergamum (2:12–17)

The Lord identifies himself to the church at Pergamum as the One who has the sharp, double-edged sword, a reference to the previous identification of the risen Christ where the sharp sword came from the mouth of the risen Lord (1:16). The sword here is the rhomphaia, a long, flat, heavy sword. Even though the sword is probably to be identified with the words of the risen Christ at the beginning of the letter, nonetheless, this identification carries a rather ominous tone.

Revelation 1:16 KJV 1900

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 New American Commentary: Revelation 3. To Pergamum (2:12–17)

The sword here is the rhomphaia, a long, flat, heavy sword. Even though the sword is probably to be identified with the words of the risen Christ at the beginning of the letter, nonetheless, this identification carries a rather ominous tone.

The Seat of Satan

The New American Commentary: Revelation 3. To Pergamum (2:12–17)

The Lord has a strong commendation to make of the Pergamian church by observing that they had remained true to his name and had not renounced the faith even in the days when Antipas was put to death in the city where Satan lives.

We really do not know anything about Antipas other than this statement in Scripture that he was a martyr - a witness who paid with his life.

Simeon MetaPhrastes was a medieval writer who penned a ten volume history of various saints. He stated about Antipas:

Simeon MetaPhrastes was a medieval writer who penned a ten volume history of various saints. He stated about Antipas:

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible Chapter 2

SIMEON METAPHRASTES has a palpably legendary story, unknown to the early Fathers, that Antipas, in Domitian’s reign, was shut up in a red-hot brazen bull, and ended his life in thanksgivings and prayers.

“The faithfulness of the church at Pergamos is a challenge to Christians today to stand true when engulfed by the evil of this present world, the apostasy within the ranks of religion, and the temptation to compromise their stand for the truth.” John Walvoord

The Stumblingblock of False Belief

The New American Commentary: Revelation 3. To Pergamum (2:12–17)

But, if the few items, namely, the teaching of Balaam and the Nicolaitans, are not numerous, they are nevertheless serious enough to command one of the more serious threats to any of the churches.

The Teaching of Balaam

Numbers 31:16 KJV 1900

Behold, these caused the children of Israel, through the counsel of Balaam, to commit trespass against the Lord in the matter of Peor, and there was a plague among the congregation of the Lord.

The New American Commentary: Revelation 3. To Pergamum (2:12–17)

The church in every era has difficulty in dealing with heresy and immorality. A portion of the reason for this can even be remotely construed as noble. Often the church does not want to deal with those problems because most people in the church are very much aware of their own sinfulness and cite passages such as the instruction of Jesus “to take the plank out of your own eye” before you attempt to “remove the speck from your brother’s eye” (Matt 7:4). Who are we to sit in judgment on another? Furthermore, invariably dealing with either heresy or immorality in the church never wins friends, introducing as it does a measure of confrontation, conflict, and uncertainty into the life of the congregation. This may well have been exactly the case at Pergamum. Therefore, John characterizes the teaching and practices of these people as being that of Balaam and argues that the church must take action if it wishes to be the recipient of the blessings of God.

The Doctrine of the Nicolaitians

Possibly the idea that there is a difference between laity and clergy - the idea comes from splitting the word in two parts and translating it as ruling over the people.

It may also have been a counterpart to the doctrine of Balaam - by teaching that immorality adn idol worship did not really mean anything.

It may even have been some form of gnosticism - the idea that there was hidden knowledge and that the flesh is not meaningful - only the spirit - so what you do with your body does not really matter.

Only some had joined in --

BUT all are guilty by not taking action against them!

The Struggle Against the Lord

Failure to take action results in war against Christ the Messiah!

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible Chapter 2

with the sword of my mouth—resumed from Rev 1:16, but with an allusion to the drawn sword with which the angel of the Lord confronted Balaam on his way to curse Israel: an earnest of the sword by which he and the seduced Israelites fell at last. The spiritual Balaamites of John’s day are to be smitten with the Lord’s spiritual sword, the word or “rod of His mouth.”

The Special Reward from the Lord

Hidden Manna

Possibility One: Manna from the wilderness - just as the Egyptians did not know how they were suplied, so the Christians will be supplied supernaturally.

Possibility Two: Maccabean tradition taht the ark of the covenant was hidden away and remain so until the Messiah comes when they will be revealed. (including the pot of manna inside).

The New American Commentary: Revelation 3. To Pergamum (2:12–17)

If the reference is to such Jewish tradition, it almost certainly does not anticipate a literal fulfillment of the prediction in the pseudepigraphal texts but rather utilizes such as a method of suggesting that the overcomers will experience the manna of heaven uniquely prepared for them in that day

White Stone

Numerous possibilities:

A special Old Testament jewel

A token of admission or membership

A judicial vote for acquittal

A divine amulet

A token for dismissal as a gladiator

An initiation stone for the cult of Aesculapius

A writing material

NOBODY KNOWS :_)

The New American Commentary: Revelation 3. To Pergamum (2:12–17)

However, the color white is often associated with holiness, and more probably the white stone may merely be John’s reference to the imputed holiness and righteousness of the overcomer. Scott sums up the matter, “It is the expression of the Lord’s personal delight in each one of the conquering band.”

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible Chapter 2

TRENCH’S explanation seems best. White is the color and livery of heaven. “New” implies something altogether renewed and heavenly. The white stone is a glistening diamond, the Urim borne by the high priest within the choschen or breastplate of judgment, with the twelve tribes’ names on the twelve precious stones, next the heart. The word Urim means “light,” answering to the color white. None but the high priest knew the name written upon it, probably the incommunicable name of God, “Jehovah.” The high priest consulted it in some divinely appointed way to get direction from God when needful. The “new name” is Christ’s (compare Rev 3:12, “I will write upon him My new name”): some new revelation of Himself which shall hereafter be imparted to His people, and which they alone are capable of receiving. The connection with the “hidden manna” will thus be clear, as none save the high priest had access to the “manna hidden” in the sanctuary. Believers, as spiritual priests unto God, shall enjoy the heavenly antitypes to the hidden manna and the Urim stone.

New Name

Revelation 19:12 KJV 1900

His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself.

The New American Commentary: Revelation 3. To Pergamum (2:12–17)

To assign to the overcomers at Pergamum a name that no one but the recipient of the name knew is not only to suggest the authority of the divine Christ over the believer but also to establish a personal intimacy with the individual believer. Whereas the idea of real intimacy with the gods in most other faiths would be unthinkable, in Christianity it is altogether to be anticipated

Rev

The New American Commentary: Revelation 3. To Pergamum (2:12–17)

So the promises for the overcomers at Pergamum include sustenance with heavenly manna, holiness indicated by acquittal and recognized by a white stone, and a certain intimacy given by the authority of Christ himself to the individual believer.

Our Response

Pray for Doctrinal Purity

Pray for Courage to Stand in the World

Pray for Courage to Confront Christians

Pray for Strength to Overcome

King James Version Chapter 2

12 And to the angel of the church in Pergamos write; These things saith he which hath the sharp sword with two edges; 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. 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. 15 So hast thou also them that hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitans, which thing I hate. 16 Repent; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth. 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.