Revelation 2:12-17 – The message of Christ to the church in Pergamum

Christ’s message in Revelation 2:12-17 was sent to the church in Pergamum. This was a major city located some 65 miles north of Smyrna by road and about 15 miles from the Aegean Sea. The population of the city include residents from nearby regions of Mysia and Lydia as well as Greeks and Roman business people. Pergamum depended on textile production, many people worked as dyers and cloth makers. As the One Who has the two-edged sword, Christ has the judiciary power to judge. He has the superior authority and His word, as the author to the Hebrews had said, is sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart.    

Here Christ called the city of Pergamum the place where Satan has his throne. The reason why Christ called it Satan’s throne is not fully known. But it is known that in the city there was a sanctuary of Asclepius, the god of healing, who was sometimes referred to as “the savior.” The symbol for Asclepius was a serpent. Furthermore, Pergamum was where Asia’s first provincial temple to the emperor was located and was another major city for imperial cult. Christians living in that city would have to discern and consider the limits of their participation in any of the cultural festivities. Where should they draw the line? One such issue was probably about food offered to idols. Should they partake of them?

Many there did hold on to Christ when faced with the challenge. They refused to compromise but held on to their faith, refusing to deny Christ. They chose to act in accord with their faith. One such person was Antipas who was martyred for his faith. Sadly however, there were some that could have become a bit freer and way too flexible, and were being assimilated into the culture. This is an all too common scenario, isn’t it? After living in such an alien environment for a while, one’s spiritual sensitivity could be dulled and unwittingly get sucked in to go with the flow. For these people, Christ sent a stern warning. They were committing the same mistake the Israelites in the days of Balaam did. Balaam was enticed by the riches offered by Balak, the king of Moab, to proclaim a curse over the people of Israel. When God forbade him from his task, he devised a scheme to lure the people of God into sexual immorality through inter-marriage with the foreigners. And slowly but surely, the Israelites were induced into worshipping foreign gods, into sexual immorality and also the eating of food offered to idols.    

What about the Nicolaitans? They, as we said previously, were a group with deviant teachings. It could well be that they were propagating the teachings of Balaam. In some way some believers in the church in Pergamum had begun to be jaded witness. They had lost their spiritual sharpness and found it difficult to say “no” to the luring temptations.  So Jesus told them to repent, or find themselves having to face His the judgment of His two-edged sword that would be coming out of His mouth. His Word would be swift to cut through any mediocre spirituality.  

Like in the other two earlier churches, Ephesus and Smyrna, the Spirit of God has spoken. It is up to the discerning ones to hear it and act on it. Those in Pergamum who readily opened their spiritual ears to listen and respond will be given “hidden manna”. Spiritually speaking, they were living in a place depleted of truth, yet Christ Himself would supply them with spiritually nourishing food. If only we are prepared to come away and sit with Christ awhile, He will feed us with what is truly spiritually nutritious. In addition to the hidden manna, an overcomer would also be given a white stone with his new name. Buildings in Pergamum were constructed with black stones. For the inscription, they would use a white marble to carve the name on it so that it could stand out. There was also a custom where guests to a feast were given a white stone with their names as the admission ticket.

So here to every overcomer, Christ has promised a white stone with a new name written on it. What is that new name? No one would know except the person to whom it was given. What’s the point of this? Jesus was likely saying that this is a personal thing. When one is faithful and living an overcoming life, he or she will be sharing an intimacy with the Lord Jesus and have secrets only the two of them would know. Let’s refuse to compromise in the most trying of temptation. Let’s stand firm in our witness for Christ. We must constantly draw near to the Lord. As we do so, we will find that we will be sharing an intimacy with Him that no other would or need to know!