Revelation 2.12-29

Recap:

The 7 Letters have a 7-fold Structure

Jesus, as seen in the inaugural vision, is the one judging the churches.

Letter to the Church at Ephesus

Letter to the Church at Smyrna

Pergamum Rev. 2.12-17

Revelation 2:12–17 NASB95

“And to the angel of the church in Pergamum write: The One who has the sharp two-edged sword says this: ‘I know where you dwell, where Satan’s throne is; and you hold fast My name, and did not deny My faith even in the days of Antipas, My witness, My faithful one, who was killed among you, where Satan dwells. ‘But I have a few things against you, because you have there some who hold the teaching of Balaam, who kept teaching Balak to put a stumbling block before the sons of Israel, to eat things sacrificed to idols and to commit acts of immorality. ‘So you also have some who in the same way hold the teaching of the Nicolaitans. ‘Therefore repent; or else I am coming to you quickly, and I will make war against them with the sword of My mouth. ‘He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes, to him I will give some of the hidden manna, and I will give him a white stone, and a new name written on the stone which no one knows but he who receives it.’

About Pergamum

Pergamum was added to the Roman Empire in 133 BC

Willed by King Attalus III with the rest of his kingdom in Asia Minor

Along with Ephesus and Smyrna, Pergamum was a center of the imperial cult

first city to build a temple to a living emperor in 29 BC

Zeus Altar

built by King Eumenes II (d. 159 BC)

Could be seen for miles along the main trade routes into and out of the city.

Depicted the Gigantomachy - battle between the Giants and Olympian gods. Its considered one of the greatest artistic masterpieces of the Hellenistic Period.

Pergamum was famous for this altar and held Zeus in high regard.

A City of Learning and Art

we already saw the Zeus Altar

Pergamum had one of the largest libraries in the ancient world, second only to Alexandria

Pergamum is credited with advancing the use of parchment for book copies

The library was said to have had 200,000 volumes but none survive.

The Asklepion Center

“an ancient medical center built in honor of the god of healing Asklepios.” (Stevens, 311)

these centers were usually connected to a sacred water spring. The idea is that this would provide healthy water for drinking and medicinal rituals.

Mud baths, herbal remedies, massages, and musical concerts happened here.

There was also a sleep center where participants would spend the night hoping to have a dream or contact with Asklepios.

At night the center was inhabited by harmless snakes. Contact with a snake was understood to be a visit by Asklepios who would inspire a dream.

Pergamum Identification Rev. 2.12

Revelation 2:12 ESV

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

Back to the Inaugural vision of Jesus!

sharp, two-edged sword (1.16), martial imagery allusive of war, but “out of the mouth” means not a normal war.

Its a war of witness, a war of words. (Cf. Is 11.4)

All Christians must answer what Jesus asked his disciples, “who do you say that I am?”

There is a conflict between Caesar as lord and Jesus as lord.

It is Jesus who comes with truth against worldly lies, that speaks to the church.

Pergamum Account Rev. 2.13

“Where you dwell” - an emphasis on location here.

“Satan’s throne” can be architectural or conceptual.

Some believe this to be a reference to the Zeus Altar. Feasible but not the only option.

Conceptually, Pergamum is the epitome of a Greco-Roman idolatry: Imperial cult , Zeus, Asklepios and others.

In this way, Satan rules over people, but not omnipotently.

Satan may be attacking the church as seen in the death of Antipas, but he is still only ruling on earth.

Jesus in Rev. 1.5 is ruler of the kings on earth!

this is not cosmic dualism. Instead its the story of Jesus’ church enduring until his return.

“Yet you hold fast my name, and you did not deny my faith” - their was pressure to recant following Jesus in a place like Pergamum.

Antipas is an example of their holding fast. Note that he is a faithful witness in the same way Christ is describe in the inaugural vision cf. Rev. 1.5.

Pliny’s Legal Letter to Trajan

Pliny the Younger (d. 112) - Governor of Bithynia

Emporer Trajan d. 117.

later than revelation, but gives us an idea of what Christians had to face.

Pliny asks Trajan what to do with the increasing cases of Christians.

It is my practice, my lord, to refer to you all matters concerning which I am in doubt. For who can better give guidance to my hesitation or inform my ignorance? I have never participated in trials of Christians. I therefore do not know what offenses it is the practice to punish or investigate, and to what extent. And I have been not a little hesitant as to whether there should be any distinction on account of age or no difference between the very young and the more mature; whether pardon is to be granted for repentance, or, if a man has once been a Christian, it does him no good to have ceased to be one; whether the name itself, even without offenses, or only the offenses associated with the name are to be punished.

Meanwhile, in the case of those who were denounced to me as Christians, I have observed the following procedure: I interrogated these as to whether they were Christians; those who confessed I interrogated a second and a third time, threatening them with punishment; those who persisted I ordered executed. For I had no doubt that, whatever the nature of their creed, stubbornness and inflexible obstinacy surely deserve to be punished. There were others possessed of the same folly; but because they were Roman citizens, I signed an order for them to be transferred to Rome.

Soon accusations spread, as usually happens, because of the proceedings going on, and several incidents occurred. An anonymous document was published containing the names of many persons. Those who denied that they were or had been Christians, when they invoked the gods in words dictated by me, offered prayer with incense and wine to your image, which I had ordered to be brought for this purpose together with statues of the gods, and moreover cursed Christ--none of which those who are really Christians, it is said, can be forced to do--these I thought should be discharged. Others named by the informer declared that they were Christians, but then denied it, asserting that they had been but had ceased to be, some three years before, others many years, some as much as twenty-five years. They all worshipped your image and the statues of the gods, and cursed Christ.

They asserted, however, that the sum and substance of their fault or error had been that they were accustomed to meet on a fixed day before dawn and sing responsively a hymn to Christ as to a god, and to bind themselves by oath, not to some crime, but not to commit fraud, theft, or adultery, not falsify their trust, nor to refuse to return a trust when called upon to do so. When this was over, it was their custom to depart and to assemble again to partake of food--but ordinary and innocent food. Even this, they affirmed, they had ceased to do after my edict by which, in accordance with your instructions, I had forbidden political associations. Accordingly, I judged it all the more necessary to find out what the truth was by torturing two female slaves who were called deaconesses. But I discovered nothing else but depraved, excessive superstition.

I therefore postponed the investigation and hastened to consult you. For the matter seemed to me to warrant consulting you, especially because of the number involved. For many persons of every age, every rank, and also of both sexes are and will be endangered. For the contagion of this superstition has spread not only to the cities but also to the villages and farms. But it seems possible to check and cure it. It is certainly quite clear that the temples, which had been almost deserted, have begun to be frequented, that the established religious rites, long neglected, are being resumed, and that from everywhere sacrificial animals are coming, for which until now very few purchasers could be found. Hence it is easy to imagine what a multitude of people can be reformed if an opportunity for repentance is afforded.

https://faculty.georgetown.edu/jod/texts/pliny.html

This tells us about the legal status of Christians in the Empire and perhaps what happened to Antipas.

legal policy … regarding Christians had not yet been established.

the name Christian alone is not a crime but already seems on its way due to general public and official Roman attitudes.

Persistence in Christian confession meant death.

Pressure came from the general public, not Roman officials.

Recantation was through indexes of imperial cult practices, pagan religions, and cursing Christ’s name, which for some already had happened twenty years before, which would be during the reign of Domitian. [Neat!]

Christian meetings were classed as political associations. This classification makes problems for assembly and worship inevitable.

Christian faith had spread beyond the large metropolitan areas in significant numbers with broad demographics, and the practice of pagan idolatry duly had been impacted. [neat!]

Pliny considered measures he had taken to be successful in checking the pernicious “superstition” for the time being.

Stevens, 317.

Pergamum Assessment Rev. 2.14-15

Revelation 2:14–15 NASB95

‘But I have a few things against you, because you have there some who hold the teaching of Balaam, who kept teaching Balak to put a stumbling block before the sons of Israel, to eat things sacrificed to idols and to commit acts of immorality. ‘So you also have some who in the same way hold the teaching of the Nicolaitans.

The Nicolaitians are active here as in Ephesus - they may be involved in the imperial cult.

Balaam had turned Israel to Idolatry and immorality in Num. 22-24. He becomes a picture of turning away from the Lord. 2 Pt. 2.15-16

2 Peter 2:15–16 NASB95

forsaking the right way, they have gone astray, having followed the way of Balaam, the son of Beor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness; but he received a rebuke for his own transgression, for a mute donkey, speaking with a voice of a man, restrained the madness of the prophet.

“eat things sacrificed to idols” is in the context of pagan religions that conducted feasts after sacrificial rituals.

Trade guilds also held monthly feasts that included ritual worship of local patron deities to insure success of future business.

The assessment is that the Church had some who turned away from sole worship of Jesus in a manner like Pliny describes.

Pergamum Exhortation Rev. 2.16

Revelation 2:16 NASB95

‘Therefore repent; or else I am coming to you quickly, and I will make war against them with the sword of My mouth.

The call is to repent from idolatry in whatever medium it takes.

The Nicolaitions do not belong to Christ, whatever their teaching is.

Jesus makes war “against” them. How? by the sword of his mouth.

The testimony of Jesus vs. the testimony of the Nicolaitions.

“The gospel adjudicates the truth of Christian confession” Stevens, 320.

Pergamum Promise Rev. 2:17

Revelation 2:17 NASB95

‘He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes, to him I will give some of the hidden manna, and I will give him a white stone, and a new name written on the stone which no one knows but he who receives it.’

“Hidden Manna” - remember this is the food from God that sustained the Israelites in the wilderness.

The Manna here is in juxtaposition to the idol foods of the Nicolaitions.

The idea is that God will sustain his people through “wilderness” of paganism by this food.

God’s food is hidden in the gospel message. The idea that Jesus is the bread of life (John 6.35, 48)

“white stone and a new name” - we don’t know

With this is linked a white stone inscribed with a new name. This has puzzled commentators for centuries. At least seven suggestions have been made with some confidence. One arises from legal practice, where a member of a jury who was for acquittal handed in a white stone. A second view sees a reference to reckoning, since white stones were often used in calculations. A third idea is that the white stone is the symbol of a happy day (like our ‘red-letter day’). Along somewhat the same lines is that which sees the stone as an amulet bringing good luck. A more prosaic suggestion is that the white stone represented a ticket to bread and circuses. A sixth suggestion arises from a rabbinic speculation that when the manna fell from heaven it was accompanied by precious stones (note that manna has just been mentioned). The seventh view is that the reference is to a stone in the breastplate of the high priest with the name of one of the tribes written on it. A variant sees a reference to the Urim (Exod. 28:30). Some of these may legitimately be criticized on the ground that either the stone is not white or it has no inscription. But none of them carries complete conviction. We simply do not know what the white stone signified, though clearly it did convey some assurance of blessing. (TNTC)

Whatever the blessing is, the idea is that there is good in store for the believers who overcome or endure.

What are some applications here?

Thyatira Rev. 2.18-29

Revelation 2:18–29 NASB95

“And to the angel of the church in Thyatira write: The Son of God, who has eyes like a flame of fire, and His feet are like burnished bronze, says this: ‘I know your deeds, and your love and faith and service and perseverance, and that your deeds of late are greater than at first. ‘But I have this against you, that you tolerate the woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess, and she teaches and leads My bond-servants astray so that they commit acts of immorality and eat things sacrificed to idols. ‘I gave her time to repent, and she does not want to repent of her immorality. ‘Behold, I will throw her on a bed of sickness, and those who commit adultery with her into great tribulation, unless they repent of her deeds. ‘And I will kill her children with pestilence, and all the churches will know that I am He who searches the minds and hearts; and I will give to each one of you according to your deeds. ‘But I say to you, the rest who are in Thyatira, who do not hold this teaching, who have not known the deep things of Satan, as they call them—I place no other burden on you. ‘Nevertheless what you have, hold fast until I come. ‘He who overcomes, and he who keeps My deeds until the end, to him I will give authority over the nations; and he shall rule them with a rod of iron, as the vessels of the potter are broken to pieces, as I also have received authority from My Father; and I will give him the morning star. ‘He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’

About Thyatira

Renamed Thyatira after Seleucus I found out his wife had given birth to a daughter in 290 BC.

Thyatira is a derivative of the Greek word for daughter.

The city was a significant center for wool trade (LBD).

Lydia was from this city. “A woman named Lydia, from the city of Thyatira, a seller of purple fabrics, a worshiper of God...” Acts 16.14 NASB

Thyatira was a small town. It was a military outpost, but not one that was easily defensible. It was a “frontier town.”

More about Trade Guilds

Trade guilds were a central feature of Roman economy… Their main purpose was to provide laborers in a an occupation political voice to advance the cause of their trade and social function for identity and community. Stevens, 322.

trade guilds and their patron deities were need for a job

guilds had monthly fellowships which were huge for one’s social standing.

guilds had patron gods, to whom sacrifice was required at these monthly meetings.

the fellowship would often end “debauchery.”

Failure to participate was socially dishonorable and came with enormous economic, social and personal consequences.

Can you see how following Jesus can disrupt life?

In regard to Thyatira, trade guilds were strong and dominant. Scholars can document more guild names here than any other city in Asia Minor.

Here are some trade guild occupations noted at Thyatira: wool-workers, linen-workers, outer garment makers, dyers, leather-workers, tanners, potters, bakers, slave-traders, and bronze smiths.

Thyatira Identification Rev. 2.18

Revelation 2:18 NASB95

“And to the angel of the church in Thyatira write: The Son of God, who has eyes like a flame of fire, and His feet are like burnished bronze, says this:

“Son of God” - the only time this appears in revelation. Actually not found in the inaugural vision.

Quite possible that this is to counter the trade guilds and their patron God.

The emperor was also consider son of Zeus.

The empire nor the guilds compare with the unity of the Church under the true Son of God. For the church, its not about social clout, but identity Christ. Gal. 3.28-29

“eyes like a flame of fire, and whose feet are like burnished bronze” - Back to chapter 1!

Jesus is seen as the Ancient of Days who sees into the hearts of people. Jesus therefore sees the perseverance or comprise of the church with the guilds.

Members of the body may not know if a brother is comprising their faith with guild idolatry, but Jesus knows.

Bronze is an allusion to a particular bronze guild under the god Apollo Tyrimnaeus. Jesus is the true . Apollo vs. Jesus.

Thyatira Account Rev. 2.19

Revelation 2:19 NASB95

‘I know your deeds, and your love and faith and service and perseverance, and that your deeds of late are greater than at first.

Jesus who sees with his fiery eyes, knows the deeds of the church.

Love, faith, service and perseverance all glorify Christ.

these virtues are in contrast to Jezebel, as we will see.

Thyatira Assessment Rev. 3.20-23

English Standard Version Chapter 2

20 But I have this against you, that you tolerate that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess and is teaching and seducing my servants to practice sexual immorality and to eat food sacrificed to idols. 21 I gave her time to repent, but she refuses to repent of her sexual immorality. 22 Behold, I will throw her onto a sickbed, and those who commit adultery with her I will throw into great tribulation, unless they repent of her works, 23 and I will strike her children dead. And all the churches will know that I am he who searches mind and heart, and I will give to each of you according to your works. 24

The name Jezebel is metaphorical. Jezebel was the wife of King Ahab in 1-2 Kings.

Jezebel of the OT is: a Baal worshipper, responsible for the death of the Lord’s prophets, seeks to kill Elijah, and more. She opposes YHWH persuades her husband to do the same (LBD)

As Jezebel of the OT corrupted God’s people then, so does this new Jezebel do to the church.

she attributes to herself the title of prophetess, but promotes sexual immorality and the eating of food sacrificed to idols, both are comprising to following Jesus (especially against the back drop of trade guilds).

Jezebel is a threat to the Gospel at Thyatira and has been warned in the past.

She has not repented.

Perhaps Jezebel is a woman of standing, giving her the opportunity to step in a leading role at the church. If true, she could have had a huge impact for the gospel like Lydia.

Where Lydia was the patroness of the church at Philippi, perhaps Jezebel was the patroness of the church at Thyatira. The problem however, is that she is causing the church to comprise.

Judgement is being pronounced on Jezebel and her followers. She has been given the opportunity to repent, but has refused.

Judgement is not punitive here; it intends repentance. God never judges such that he is not trying to save. Stevens, 327

death may be metaphorical here as in the 2.11. The issues is not physical death, but the second death.

This judgement is for all the churches to see. Its a message to all the churches as well, that immorality and leading the church astray is not tolerated.

Matthew 18:6 NASB95

but whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to stumble, it would be better for him to have a heavy millstone hung around his neck, and to be drowned in the depth of the sea.

Thyatira Exhortation Rev. 2.24-25

Revelation 2:24–25 NASB95

‘But I say to you, the rest who are in Thyatira, who do not hold this teaching, who have not known the deep things of Satan, as they call them—I place no other burden on you. ‘Nevertheless what you have, hold fast until I come.

The call for the church to persevere through the social, political and religious duress.

Hang in there until the Return of Christ.

Thyatira Promise Rev. 2.26-28

Revelation 2:26–28 NASB95

‘He who overcomes, and he who keeps My deeds until the end, to him I will give authority over the nations; and he shall rule them with a rod of iron, as the vessels of the potter are broken to pieces, as I also have received authority from My Father; and I will give him the morning star.

To those who persevere, (who resist the social pressure and Jezebel and company) there will be a reward.

But who do we understand this reward? Authority over the nations and ruling with a rod of Iron?

“Rod of iron, as the vessels of the potter are broken...” this is an allusion to Ps. 2.9.

Ps. 2 has a royal enthronement background of a king on the Davidic throne. Jewish thought would consider this messianic psalm. This letter begins with an identification of the son of God and ends with an allusion to his enthronement.

English Standard Version Psalm 2

I will tell of the decree:

The LORD said to me, “You are my Son;

today I have begotten you

So what do we do with authority over the nations? We have to make an interpretive choice.

Political/military as imported from European monarchal thought? remember the Reformation?

or, is it the context of Thyatira where have seen that this is a war of words and testimony?

“The authority given to Jesus by the Father is the authority of the Gospel, which Jesus has entrusted to the apostles, and the apostles have entrusted to the generations that followed them, including believers in Thyatira” (Stevens, 330).

This is a hard text, but it could be seen that the authority of Gospel truth reigns over pagan worship and does not bend as with a rod of iron. Further, the Gospel truth does not shatter as the jars of commercial enterprise that tempt believers to compromise.

The morning star given to the faithful?

This star is Venus and is the brightest star of the morning and evening. Venus in Roman myth is Aphrodite.

Some emperors claimed ancestry to Aphrodite; she was established in every level of Roman life.

Small homes had figurines. In the civic sphere, statues and temples were built for her. Coins were minted and the legions carried the sign of Venus on their sacred standards.

Revelation 22:16 NASB95

“I, Jesus, have sent My angel to testify to you these things for the churches. I am the root and the descendant of David, the bright morning star.”

Jesus calls himself the true morning star. In doings he gives his people himself.

Roman generals would honor and credit Aphrodite for their battles by building temples.

In the Son of God however, the believers conquer Rome.

Thyatira Call Rev. 2.29

Revelation 2:29 NASB95

‘He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’

here’s the same prophetic call we see in 2.7.

this is a call to live out the prophetic exhortations.

What are some applications here?