Letter To The Church In Pergamum

Letter to the Church in Pergamum

Rev. 2:12-17

As we begin our study and draw some application to present day, let’s look back historically to get an idea what was happening 19 centuries ago. We find that Pergamum was the capital of Asia, and had been the capital city of Asia for almost 400 years. Pergamum was the first city of Asia to openly support the imperial cult or emperor worship, and therefore was considered the chief seat. Smyrna, had won the honor over 11 other cities to build a temple to worship Emperor Tiberias. Emperor worship became a test of one's loyalty to Rome, and those not participating in the official cult were labeled with high treason, followed by execution. Christians faced great pressure to attend feasts in honor of the gods and eat meat sacrificed to idols at these feasts. To refuse an invitation could cost you your job and business in the trade guild (the union of the day), which meant, you would not have a livelihood to feed your family.

"Pergamum regarded itself as the custodian of the Greek way of life and of Greek worship." One of the many Greek gods which was worshipped in Pergamum was Zeus, and a great altar was constructed for Zeus which was 40ft. high, standing on a projected rock ledge of the acropolis, and from hundreds of feet below looked like a great throne sitting on the hillside.

Culturally, Pergamum was known for its famous library containing over 200,000 parchments, second only to the library of Alexandria. The city became a learning center where knowledge was accumulated, applied, and articulated to others.

In Revelation 2:12-17, we come to the town of Pergamum and see one of the most corrupted churches in the first century. The believers at Pergamum held fast to their faith and witness for Christ, even though they lived in one of Satan’s strongholds (Revelation 2:13). Satan had moved in next door to the church at Pergamum, yet the believers dug in and held their ground. If only they hadn’t compromised theologically they would go down in history as a shining example of how believers thrive in a godless culture.

We should not miss the good words Christ has to say about this church (Rev. 2:13).

When Jesus says that Satan had his “throne” there, He meant that Satan had found a place where he could exercise diabolical influence over an entire region. Through some combination of idol-worship and sensual pleasure, Satan held sway over that city. It was a region covered with a dark cloud of evil.

As we look to the Scripture in verse 12, I want you to see the title Jesus uses to refer to Himself. Please notice with all seven of the churches, Jesus chooses to use specific titles which would have significance for the Christians in these seven cities and the circumstances they were facing. In this case - Jesus describes Himself as the One who has the sharp two-edged sword. Now why would that be significant to the Christians in Pergamum?

The proconsul of Asia possessed unlimited imperium—which included ius gladii, or “the right of the sword.” When an emperor permitted a governor to wear a sword, the Roman proconsul could execute anyone who disobeyed his orders (see Tacitus, Histories, 3.68; Dio Cassius, Roman History, 53.13.6-7 & 53.14.5). This deadly and powerful “right of the sword” commanded the obedience of Pergamene citizens. Capital punishment cases did not have to be referred to Rome. The proconsul in Pergamum decided who lived and who died.

By this title, Jesus reminds His followers that He has the sharp two-edged sword, that He will have the last word when it comes to judgment for eternity's sake. Jesus is sending a word of encouragement by telling His faithful disciples that earthly power and judgment is transient, but what is decided in heaven lasts forever. “ My sword has the final say and I will judge those who judge you.?”

Then in verse 13, Jesus comments that He knows where the Christians dwell, He knows where they live, where they choose to stay amidst great opposition. It is the place of Satan's throne. Now whatever Satan's throne stands for, we can be sure it stands for a center of evil practices, something that was anti-Christ.

Whether Satan’s throne referred to the 40ft. altar of Zeus, or the fact Pergamum was a chief seat for emperor worship in Asia, which was a tremendous danger to Christians who believed Jesus was Lord not Caesar, the fact remains, the Christians hung in there where evil practices were central - and that would not be easy to deal with.

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Even though there was the great threat to conform to emperor worship, the Christians at Pergamum held fast to their faith, they did not deny their Lord even when it meant death, as it was with Antipas in v.13. For what greater test could there be of an individual's faithfulness and loyalty to a cause than to die for it?