Revelation 2:12-17

The next three letters show a path to worldliness, moving from a church which had to a church which tolerated to a church which was consumed by worldliness.

Commission: to the angel of the church in Pergamos.  The name means “elevation,” applying the city’s height over a valley to its elevated political position as capital of Asia Minor.  Three Roman temples to the state religion were there as well as temples to four patron deities: Zeus (savior), Athena (victory bearer), Dionysian (god-bull) and Asclepius (god-serpent whose temple included a center for healing that was home to great medical men of the day).

Character of Christ: Jesus speaks as the one with the two-edged sword of judgment coming from His mouth (1:16).  His word is the word of the Lord!

Commendation: Jesus knows their works, that Pergamos is a very difficult place.  Satan’s throne and dwelling are there, perhaps referring to the temples to Zeus and Asclepius.  It was a hot-bed of evil, and He commends their faithfulness, even in the days of Antipas who was apparently their first martyr.  

Condemnation: Jesus has a few things against them.  They had people in the church who held the doctrine of Balaam (ref. to a story in Numbers 22-25; 31:16).  When Balaam could not convince God to judge Israel for the Midianite king he gave the king the idea of sending his young men and women to seduce the young Israelites, knowing it would bring God’s judgment on Israel.  In the church at Pergamos there were those who mixed with the world in such a way as to commit spiritual harlotry.  This included the Nicolaitans (whose doctrine the Lord hated) which, unlike the Ephesian church, this church had not expelled.

Correction: The correction is to repent.  It is to repent, not of the sin of worldliness, but of having in the church those who held to a doctrine or viewpoint that would mix Christ with the world.  A church will always be full of people at various stages in the path to Christ-likeness, but all will agree: we are not to be conformed to this world (Rom. 12:2).

Call: He who has an ear let Him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.  We are in the world but not of the world.  Do we hear Christ’s warning against lifestyle or outreach that adopts the world’s principles (1 Jn. 2:16) and practices?

Challenge: To the overcomer two things are promised.  Hidden manna refers to the sustenance hidden in Christ, available to those who depend on Him, the Bread of Life.  The white stone with a new name could refer either to the stone given by a judge indicating a not guilty verdict; or to a stone used as a ticket for entrance into important events.  

Christ sent us into the world (1 Cor. 5:9-13).  But He intended our lives to be a testimony to the world of His life and grace.  In the face of persecution by the world our answer must not be to sacrifice our Christ-likeness.