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THE MESSAGE TO PERGAMOS

REVELATION 2:12-17

The name Pergamos comes from much wedding - it was an unfaithful church.

In those days the city (now called Bergama) had one of the biggest libraries in the world, and it was where the method for turning lambskin into parchment was invented: the word parchment comes from pergamos. When Babylon was invaded by the Medo-Persians, their high-priest (called pontifex maximus by the Romans) and his clergy fled to Pergamos, and built many temples to their gods in that city. One was the temple of Esculapius, a god who was supposed to have healing powers and took the form of a serpent.

Our Lord identifies himself here as he who has the sharp-edged sword: this is the sword of judgment, as we read in Isaiah 11:4, 49:2 and Revelation 19:15, for the wickedness in this church would require punishment if there was no repentance (v.16).

He knows the faithfulness this church has shown in the past, for in spite of being situated where Satan's throne is, they hold fast to the name of Christ. This must be a reference to the Babylonian religion which dominated the city, including the serpent-worship in the temple of Esculapius (which means the serpent which instructs man). Persecution had been severe, and one of this church's faithful members, Antipas (which means against all), suffered martyrdom for his witness.

The church, however, is now compromising:

• within it, there were those who hold the doctrine of Balaam: this consists in encouragement of corruption by intermarriage with the pagan world, resulting in immorality and idolatry (Numbers 25:1-3, 31:16). Because civil and religious life were so intertwined in Pergamos, any social engagement probably meant some involvement with paganism, and many believers were compromising.

• in the same way, they were permitting the teachings the Nicolaitans (which the Lord hates) within the church. These were being resisted at Ephesus, but had a foothold in Pergamos, teaching the advantages of setting up a priesthood within the church, in the same way as the Jews had in accordance with the ordinance of the Old Testament.

• The church was told to repent, or Christ will come in judgment of it.

Pergamos is a picture of the majority of the churches from 313 to 606 AD. In 312 AD the Roman emperor Constantine legalised the Christian faith and adopted it as the official religion.

The doctrine of Balaam was enforced: baptism having become the door of entry into the new establishment, infant baptism was adopted and no real regard was given to personal faith; pagan priests were "converted" and became "Christian" as well as their temples; the emperor donated a quantity of imposing buildings, called basilicas, for conversion into Christian temples, giving generously towards their "decoration"; he provided the "clergy" with special robes, similar to those used by the priests of the pagan temples; bishops were soon seated on thrones, covered with magnificent robes and jewellery, having before them expensive marble altars decorated with gold and precious stones. A ritualised order of service became the norm, preaching and teaching was circumscribed, giving it more pomp and greater emphasis on pagan Greek philosophy; idols and pagan feasts were "Christianised" with names of "saints", etc.

The doctrine of the nicolaitans made such enormous progress, that a First Great Council of the Church was held at Nicaea, in 325 AD; the Council was composed of about 1500 delegates, the "laymen" outnumbering the bishops (clergy) 5 to 1. It was a stormy council, full of intrigue and political methods, and from the supremacy of the "clergy" over the "laity" it was evident that this doctrine had secured a strong and permanent foothold.

Two things are promised to him who overcomes:

1. he will be given of the hidden manna to eat: all the spiritual sustenance he will ever need.

2. a white stone and on the stone a new name which only he will know: probably a symbol of his approval and acceptance by God, and of his close relationship with Christ, who personally gives him a new name which is only his (see Isaiah 62:2, 65:15).

 

 

 

 

 

12 "And to the angel of the church in Pergamos write, 'These things says He who has the sharp two-edged sword:
13 "I know your works, and where you dwell, where Satan's throne is. And you hold fast to My name, and did not deny My faith even in the days in which Antipas was My faithful martyr, who was killed among you, where Satan dwells.
14 "But I have a few things against you, because you have there those who hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balak to put a stumbling block before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed to idols, and to commit sexual immorality.
15 "Thus you also have those who hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitans, which thing I hate.
16 'Repent, or else I will come to you quickly and will fight 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 him who overcomes I will give some of the hidden manna to eat. And I will give him a white stone, and on the stone a new name written which no one knows except him who receives it." ' Rev 2:12-17 (NKJV)