The church in Pergamos (sometimes spelled Pergamum) is next. Pergamos was about 50 miles north of Smyrna and 16 miles inland from the Aegean Sea. It was a Greek city, the capital of the old Thracian empire. The message to this church is found in Revelation 2:12-17.
The message follows the same order as the others and starts with these commendations: they had held fast to the name of Christ and had not denied the faith. Again, we have to remember these were Christian churches in places where heathen cults had predominated for centuries. The resistance to this new doctrine was fierce. People were used to the idolatry and the debauchery and sexual promiscuity that was part and parcel to what they knew to be religion and their pathway to the gods. Now comes this new religion that will have no part in these things. The differences could not have been clearer.
Evidence to this is the mention of the martyrdom of Antipas. There is a book called The Acts of Antipas. Christian tradition says he was the Bishop of Pergamos and that John (the writer of Revelation) appointed him to that position. Probably the most prominent quote from the book is when he was witnessing in the marketplace and someone shouted, “Antipas, the whole world is against you!” To which he replied, “Then I am against the whole world!” He was put to death by being placed inside the belly of a brazen bull and roasted alive.
I mentioned above that Pergamos was a Greek city. The altar from one of its temples is on display at the Pergamonmuseum in Berlin. It is interesting that this particular altar has a large relief on its walls depicting a battle between the Greek gods of Olympus and giants. Again, as previously discussed in past lessons, most ancient cultures have a mythology that includes legends of giants, the same giants found in Genesis 6, then in many references throughout the Old Testament.
We should mention also the phrase in verse 13, “where Satan’s seat is”. There are two possible explanations to this, both closely related. The first is that the center of the old Babylonian cult was moved from Babylon to Pergamos. The result, of course, was that the city came to be dominated by this idolatrous cult and the perversions that accompanied it.
The second could be that historically the inhabitants of Pergamos were loyal to Rome. The result was that the original Greek influence eventually gave way to Roman influence. When Constantine made Christianity the recognized, official religion of the Roman Empire, he commissioned an ecumenical council in Pergamos to settle the disputes that had resulted in the clash between Christianity and Babylonian idolatry. The result was devastating to the real church, which had flourished in the midst of persecution. Constantine brought peace through the only way possible – compromise with evil.
This brings us to verses 14-15 and the things this church was condemned for: the doctrine of Balaam and the doctrine of the Nicolaitanes. We’ve already discussed the doctrine of the Nicolaitanes, mentioned in the message to the church in Ephesus. They were commended for resisting this doctrine that taught the path to true spirituality was through sexual perversion and promiscuity. The difference was that there were some in the church in Pergamos that had come to accept this teaching.
So, let’s make sure we understand the doctrine of Balaam. The Book of Numbers, chapters 22 through 25, gives us the account of Balaam. To condense this, I’ll just give the pertinent points. Balak, the king of Moab feared Israel because they had destroyed the Amorites (giants again). He knew God was with Israel and after several attempts was able to entice Balaam with the promise of great reward to tell him how he could get God to curse Israel. Balaam’s advice was to offer the most beautiful women in Moab to the men of Israel, thus leading them into fornication and idolatry. The doctrine of Balaam is to teach wrong doctrine for personal gain.
Clearly, the church in Pergamos had problems. There seems to be a contradiction here. First they are commended for holding fast to the name of Christ and for not denying the faith. Then they are condemned because there were those in the church that held the doctrine of Balaam and of the Nicolaitanes. Actually, I think the message to the church in Pergamos illustrates a progression. This church began with a genuine purity that was eroded over time by religion. It became something that had no resemblance to the original. This is what happens when the culture is allowed to determine doctrine and the state interferes in spiritual things.
Let’s learn a new word – syncretism. Syncretism is the process of reconciling two differing systems of belief into one. In Pergamos there was a group of believers that held fast to the name of Christ and refused to deny their faith in the face of fierce opposition and persecution. Some died as a result. But over time the opposition persisted (Satan is not a quitter). Then, when Christianity gained more and more support, it became the recognized, official religion. Yet, the opposition to this new thing still persisted. Now it’s time to compromise. This is syncretism. Now the church in Pergamos (no thanks to Constantine and his ecumenical council) was perverted in the interest of peace. It was forced to adopt some elements of idolatry and perversion. So, the persecution ended. There were no more martyrs. Everyone could get along. And the real church was destroyed.
What was actually lost in this process? It was the individual priesthood of the believer. Let me be clear. In the beginning the church in Pergamos understood true faith. And if we need to have this discussion again, we can do that. But faith is not determined by what you believe. It is never based on mental assent. True faith is based on your personal, individual experiences with God as you submit yourself to Him and He reveals Himself to you and works in your life to conform you to the image of His Son. And that kind of faith cannot, will not coexist with a religion that is defined, manipulated and controlled by others – especially those who have no understanding of the truth.
Syncretism is the tool that has been used to create all the different denominations, the splinter groups that have spun off of them and any of the more recent groups that have come on the scene as a result of “new” revelation. They all claim to be Christian, but they’re all different in some way. And none of them teach what the church in Pergamos practiced in the beginning. When you destroy the priesthood of the believer, you destroy truth. When this happens, people are not loyal to Christ and to the true practice of their faith; instead, they’re loyal to the false leaders of their religion and to their group or denomination. This is the history of religion. It is the history of what is called Christianity.
This brings us to verse 16. Those who were willing to participate in the perversion and eventual destruction of this church are told to repent or face judgment. That’s clear, no explanation needed. The day will come when Christ returns to establish His kingdom and all these groups, along with the rest of the false religions of the world, will be abolished. The truth (the “sword of His mouth”) will prevail.
Then lastly, verse 17 has the promise to those who are willing to listen to this warning and repent. They will be given the “hidden manna” to eat. This manna is hidden only to those who will not repent. Those who reject the compromises of religion and practice true faith are promised Christ, the bread of life pictured by the manna from heaven. The principle of eating this manna is found in John 6:26-58. I suggest you read it.
The white stone was physical proof of pardon in those days, just as a black stone was a symbol of guilt and condemnation. This white stone will have a new name written on it. So, what could be the significance of a new name? I would suggest that a new name for those who overcome is evidence of a new, more complete or unique relationship with God. Abram meant exalted father. But, when he fully submitted his life to God and determined to walk with Him, God changed his name to Abraham, meaning, the father of a multitude. Sarai meant princess. Then God changed her name to Sarah, meaning, mother of princes. These changes in names were evidence of a newer, more blessed relationship. God intends to give each overcomer a new name as evidence of a newer, more blessed relationship in eternity.