Revelation 2:12-17: The Letter to Pergamum

Introduction

Scripture

Revelation 2:12–17 ESV

12 “And to the angel of the church in Pergamum write: ‘The words of him who has the sharp two-edged sword. 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. 14 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. 15 So also you have some who hold the teaching of the Nicolaitans. 16 Therefore repent. If not, I will come to you soon and war against them with the sword of my mouth. 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.’

Outline

Revelation 1 - Introduction

Revelation 1:1-3 - Prologue & Benediction

Revelation 1:4-8 - Epistolary Introduction

Revelation 1:9-20 - A Vision of the Son of Man

Revelation 2-3 - The Seven Churches

Revelation 2:1-7 - The Letter to Ephesus

Revelation 2:8-11 - The Letter to Smyrna

Revelation 2:12-17 - The Letter to Pergamum

Revelation 2:12 - Address

Revelation 2:13-16 - Message to the Church

Revelation 2:17 - Command to Hear

Purpose of Book

The purpose of Revelation is to challenge/encourage believers, who are expectantly awaiting the reign of Christ, to live faithfully for Him despite worldly circumstances, persecution, and the cosmic battle between God and Satan.

Main Point

Jesus commends the church in Pergamum for persevering in faith despite the death of Antipas. He also exhorts them to reject false teachings that would cause them to intermingle with false religions.

Revelation 2:12 - Address

Revelation 2:12 ESV

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

And to the angel of the church in Pergamum write:

To the angel of the church

Celestial being responsible for oversight

There is help for them in the heavenly realm

Pergamum

Lexham Geographic Commentary on Acts through Revelation Chapter 49: The Social and Geographical World of Pergamum (Revelation 1:11; 2:12–17) (David A. Desilva)

Key Points

• Pergamum was a hub of imperial cult in the province of Asia Minor, the site of the provincial temple of Roma and Augustus, authorized in 29 BC and inaugurated in 19 BC.

• Though some scholars associate the temple of Rome and Augustus with the “throne of Satan” (Rev 2:13), the distinctive altar of Zeus on the brow of the acropolis may have been more in John’s view, given his equation of demons with the Greco-Roman gods and, therefore, Satan with their chief (see Rev 9:20–21).

• The popular support for the idolatrous rituals that pervaded Pergamene society, particularly for the imperial cult that had become such a source of civic identity and pride for the city, helps explain the motivation of the Christian teachers whom John calls “Nicolaitans” and followers of the teaching of “Balaam” to develop a theological rationalization for accommodation.

• Exploration of the temple of Sarapis revealed the ancient technology by means of which priests could make their idols seem to speak to the worshipers.

• Pergamum was incidentally the location where parchment appears to have been first developed and from which it continued to be exported throughout the Roman period.

Pergamum hosted the first temple dedicated to emperor cult worship in it’s province

Serpent god of healing was prominent

Throne-like altar to Zeus

Write

Command given to John

The words of him who has the sharp two-edged sword.

Revelation 1:16 ESV

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.

Sharp two-edged sword

Isaiah 11:4 ESV

4 but with righteousness he shall judge the poor, and decide with equity for the meek of the earth; and he shall strike the earth with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips he shall kill the wicked.

Isaiah 49:2 ESV

2 He made my mouth like a sharp sword; in the shadow of his hand he hid me; he made me a polished arrow; in his quiver he hid me away.

Powerful judgment upon his enemies, but vindication for the saints

Furthermore, Jesus will judge the churches who have compromised as we see here relating to vss. 14-16

Christ standing as the true Judge (both against Satan (and his forces) and those who are false teachers) entirely consumes this passage

Revelation 2:13-16 - Message to the Church

Revelation 2:13–16 ESV

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. 14 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. 15 So also you have some who hold the teaching of the Nicolaitans. 16 Therefore repent. If not, I will come to you soon and war against them with the sword of my mouth.

I know where you dwell, where Satan’s throne is.

I know where you dwell

Where Satan’s throne is

Entrenched Satanic worship is present in Pergamum

We are not sure exactly what this was specifically referring to, but we do know Satanic power was evident in multiple ways in Pergamum

Yet you hold fast my name,

Hold fast my name

Christ commends the church for persevering in him despite the satanic presence around them

And you did not deny my faith even in the days of Antipas my faithful witness, who was killed among you, where Satan dwells.

Did not deny my faith

Despite the death of a Christian, the church continued in truth faith

Antipas my faithful witness, who was killed among you

Revelation 1:5 ESV

5 and from Jesus Christ the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of kings on earth. To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood

We do not know the specific details of Antipas’ death

Where Satan dwells

Notice “dwell” being used twice in vs 13

I know where you dwell...

Where Satan dwells...

Light and darkness are unable to peacefully remain

But I have a few things against you:

Few things against you

Though they persevered during the death of Antipas, they still compromised in other areas by some in the congregation

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.

Hold the teaching of Balaam

Numbers 22-24 - Story of Balaam

Hebrews–Revelation Comment

Balaam was prevented by the Spirit of God from cursing Israel (even though he wanted to) and was compelled to bless them, but he found another way to subvert Israel. He incited Israel to join with the Moabites in their sacrifices and sexual immorality (Num. 25:1–2, 6; 31:16). Twenty-four thousand were killed in Israel for their unfaithfulness (Num. 25:9).

Balaam is a pattern for false teachers who deceive and promote false religions for self-gain

Stumbling block

Falling away from the eternal gospel of Jesus Christ

Eat food sacrificed to idols and practice sexual immorality

Food offered during idolatrous worship

Christians were engaging in these idolatrous worship settings out of social obligations contrary to what Christ stated

Sexuality immorality was occuring as believers were engaging with “spiritual intercourse” with pagan gods during idolatrous worship

So also you have some who hold the teaching of the Nicolaitans.

Hold the teaching of the Nicolaitans

Beliefs that would influence Christ-followers to compromise their true allegiance to the triune God

Therefore repent.

Repent

Command

Those holding to the false teachings related to Balaam and the Nicolaitans are commanded to repent

Notice that the root of false doctrine is from within, they have stood strong against the outside, but are not pure within

If not, I will come to you soon and war against them with the sword of my mouth.

If not

Failure to repent and obey Christ comes with severe consequences

Come to you soon

War against them with the sword of my mouth

Christ will war against the false teachers who are deceive his church

This is the cosmic battle Christ is engaged in with the enemy

One day this battle will be complete, but it is not yet finished

Joshua 13:22 ESV

22 Balaam also, the son of Beor, the one who practiced divination, was killed with the sword by the people of Israel among the rest of their slain.

Revelation 2:17 - Command to Hear

Revelation 2:17 ESV

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.’

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

Let him hear

Command

Meant to provoke to get the church to hear and obey

Mark 4:9 ESV

9 And he said, “He who has ears to hear, let him hear.”

Isaiah 6:9–10 LES2

9 And he said, “Go and say to this people, ‘You will hear by hearing and not understand; and although looking, you will look and not see.’ 10 For the heart of this people has been thickened; and they have heard heavily with their ears, and they closed their eyes in case they see with their eyes and hear with their ears and understand with their heart and turn, and I will heal them.”

Reality that there are believers and non-believers who hear this message in the churches

Some will be enlightened, some blinded

Spirit

The Spirit is active and at work through Jesus’ letters to the seven churches

To the churches

Both to the church in Pergamum, but also to the churches of all ages

To the one who conquers I will give him some of the hidden manna,

To the one who conquers

Those who repent and overcome the sin of tolerating the teachings of false teachers in line with Balaam and the Nicolaitans

Will give some of the hidden manna

Imagery revealing fellowship with Christ and the marriage supper

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.

Will give him a white stone

White stones indicated a vote of acquittal

Invitation to join Christ’ marriage supper

New name written on the stone

Isaiah 62:2 ESV

2 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.

Isaiah 65:15 ESV

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,

Speaks to victory of the Christ-follower in Jesus and they are now given a new status as a member of the community of the redeemed awaiting entry into the heavenly city

No one knows except the one who receives it

Those who are in Christ know his Lordship unlike those who are not truly his

Application

Reject the teachings of those who say you can engage in practices other than what Christ commands

Hear what Christ says, reject false teachings and persevere in true faith so you can enter the new city and enjoy eternal fellowship with Him

Main Point

Jesus commends the church in Pergamum for persevering in faith despite the death of Antipas. He also exhorts them to reject false teachings that would cause them to intermingle with false religions.