The martyred church of Smyrna was the last letter we studied.

Like Ephesus, Smyrna was one of the better churches. Smyrna, however, did not receive any word of condemnation. Jesus only had positive words to speak to Smyrna.

We will now study the third letter, the letter to the church of Pergamum.

Pergamum: The Pagan Church

Pergamum was located about 45 miles north of Smyrna. It had one of the finest libraries of antiquity, boasting over 200,000 volumes. It was the place where parchment was first used. At one time, it was the capital of the Roman province of Asia.

The word “Pergamum” in the Greek is “Πέργαμος.” Transliterated it is “Pergamos” which is the word used in the King James Version. The word means “height” or “elevation.” Quite picturesque considering that it was built on a mountain and was a fortified city.

Pergamum represents church history between A.D. 314 to A.D. 590. It was a period marked by the world moving into the church and the church moving away from the person of Christ.

Jesus’ Letter to the Church at Pergamum

“And to the angel of the church in Pergamum write: the One who has the sharp two-edged sword says this.” –Revelation 2:12.

Here is the third description Jesus gives of Himself. The “sharp two-edged sword” is found in the Bible several times.

For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sward, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart. –Hebrews 4:12.

Also,

And the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. –Ephesians 6:17.

And,

And out of His mouth came a sharp two-edged sword. –Revelation 1:16.

What is this sword? The scripture is clear: it is the word of God. What is the Word of God?

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. –John 1:1.

It’s Jesus.

The Good News

“‘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.’” –Revelation 2:13.

Jesus notes two things right away about Pergamum. He notes that in spite of Satan setting up shop there, Jesus acknowledges His faithful who dwell there and “hold fast [His] name, and did not deny [His] faith.” That’s a huge commendation.

It is also revealing that it dismisses that notion that Satan is in hell. This is such a common belief that it is almost taken for granted. There is nor has there been anyone in hell up to this time. That does not mean that hell does not exist. It very much does. It has already been prepared but no one is there . . . yet. Satan and all his fallen angels as well as those that are not in Christ, will be cast into hell much later in Revelation 20:10-15.

When I first read this passage and saw the name “Antipas,” I initially thought this was referring to Herod Antipas. That was until I read the description of this person that followed: “My witness, My faithful one.” I knew immediately that Jesus was not referring to Herod.

This Antipas–a name which means “like the father–was a Christian whom we know nothing about other than he was a martyr in Pergamum. Although we may know nothing about him, Jesus certainly does as He mentions him by name!

The thought ends much as it began. Jesus says twice that Pergamum is where Satan dwells and that it is the place of his earthly throne at that time.

The Bad News

“‘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.’” –Revelation 2:14.

The story of Balaam and Balak is found in Numbers 22-24. Balak had asked Balaam–a prophet–to curse Israel who had come into the land of Moab. Every time Balak asked Balaam to curse Israel, Balaam would actually bless Israel!

However, Balaam wasn’t necessarily a good guy. At that time, Israel fell into pagan worship of the god Baal. Later in Numbers we find out who counseled them to do this:

Behold, these caused the sons of Israel, through the counsel of Balaam, to trespass against the Lord in the matter of Peor, so the plague was among the congregation of the Lord. –Numbers 31:16.

Peter mentions Balaam as well:

Forsaking the right way, they have gone astray, having followed the way of Balaam, the son of Beor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness. –2 Peter 2:15.

This is the covetousness of one who hires himself to do religious work only for personal gain.

The half-brother of Jesus, Jude, also mentions the “error of Balaam”:

Woe to them! For they have gone the way of Cain, and for pay they have rushed headlong into the error of Balaam. –Jude 11.

Here, Jude explains that Balaam had hired himself out as a prophet. This epitomizes his deceit and covetousness.

Back to Revelation:

“‘So you also have some who in the same way hold the teaching of the Nicolaitans.” –Revelation 2:15.

Remember back in the letter to the Ephesian church, Jesus praised them for hating the teaching of the Nicolaitans. Here it’s word of condemnation for Pergamum’s toleration of them!

“‘Therefore repent; or else I am coming to you quickly, and I will make war against them with the sword of My mouth.’” –Revelation 2:16.

You do not want to be on the opposing side of a war with Christ!

The Promise to the Overcomer

“‘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.’” –Revelation 2:17.

“The hidden manna” here refers to Christ Himself.

“Your fathers ate manna in the wilderness, and they died. This is the bread which comes down out of heaven, so that one may eat of it and not die. I am the living bread that came down out of heaven; if anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever; and the bread also which I will give for the life of the world is My flesh.” –John 6:49-51.

The “hidden manna” notes the sufficiency of Christ for the believer’s needs.

The “white stone” refers to a vote of acquittal. In the ancient courts of justice, the accused were condemned by black pebbles and the acquitted by white. It signifies our assurance that we will be acquitted when we stand before God.

Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. –Romans 8:1.

As for the “new name,” J. Vernon McGee explains:

It is helpful to learn that the people of Asia Minor to whom John was writing had a custom of giving to intimate friends a “tessera,” a cube or rectangular block of stone or ivory, with words or symbols engraved on it. It was a secret, private possession of the one who received it. Well, Christ says that He is going to give to each of His own a stone with a new name engraved upon it. I do not believe that it will be a new name for you and me but that it will be a new name for Him. I believe that each name will be different because He means something different to each one of us. It will be His personal and intimate name to each of us. –J. Vernon McGee, Thru the Bible with J. Vernon McGee.

In spite of the dire message to the church, Jesus ends His letter with a wonderful promise.

This is the pagan church: the church at Pergamum.

The next letter is written to the church at Thyatira: representative of Romanism. We’ll study that letter next time.

May He Increase!