Revelation 2:12-17 Church in the Shadows Pergamum
December 2, 2007
"Pergamum: The Church in the Shadow of Satan’s Throne"
This letter was written "to the angel of the church in Pergamum." As in all the letters, the angel is a divine messenger. This is in keeping with the opening verses of Revelation that tell us the Revelation of Jesus Christ is sent from God through Christ to an angel and then to John to give the message to the churches (Rev 1:1-2).
"To the angel of the church ...(Rev 2:1)" is a reminder that spiritual and divine forces are at work and are watching. Each of the angels of the churches, is a messenger who might be a presbyter/elder/priest, a bishop, or an evangelist is held by Christ (Rev 1:16,20) and lives in the presence of Christ; another reminder that the churches are under the guidance and protection of Christ, through a this-world, human agent.
John was told to write to the angel of seven different churches in Asia Minor. In apocalyptic language, seven is the number of completion or perfection. These seven churches represent all, the complete number of churches of Asia Minor. The seven symbolic churches also represent the full and complete number of all churches of all times and all places including our mission in this place this day. In writing to the church at Pergamum, Jesus also had us in mind.
"To the angel of the church in Indianapolis write...."
Pergamum was a very important political and religious center in the Roman Empire. Politically, it was the capital city of the province of Asia. Religiously, it was a center for pagan and emperor worship. Of the seven cities, Pergamum was the one in Asia in which the church was most likely to clash with the civil and religious authorities at the end of the first century. A person interested in history, reflects on what happens when government is in a position to control religion, or enlist religious leaders to their cause.
That didn’t work well in Europe in the days of Nazi Germany, or in time past when religious leaders, whether from Rome, Geneva or London either proclaimed themselves to be both sovereign in church or state, or held hands with the government. It didn’t matter historically whether it was a Protestant, Roman Catholic or pagan leader, it doesn’t work well for a tyrannical government to control all the engines of a culture.
Pergamum was an unusually difficult environment for a Christian church.
How fitting is the title of Jesus Christ: "These are the words of him who has the sharp, double-edged sword" (vs 12). This title, like the titles found comes from the vision of chapter 1: (Rev 1:16) In his right hand he held seven stars, and out of his mouth came a sharp double-edged sword. Pergamum, the capital of the Roman province of Asia, was the place of residence of the Roman governor. The power of the sword belongs to the Roman proconsul; he had the right to grant life or death, to pardon or to execute.
"These are the words of him who has the sharp, double-edged sword." The Greek says: "These are the words of the One having the sword, the two-edged, the sharp." By this title Jesus reminds the Christians of Pergamum that the Roman governor is not the only one with a sword. By this title Jesus challenges the sword of the Roman governor and the Roman Empire. By this title Jesus remindws the Christians of Pergamum that there is a sword that is greater than that of any earthly power. By this title Jesus reminded the persecuted Christians of Pergamum that ultimate power over life and death belongs to God and not to Caesar.
As God, Christ is everywhere present. He is all-knowing. He is all-seeing. Not only that, but Christ is also the One who "walks among the golden lampstands", that is, He is the One Who walks among the churches (cf Rev 1:12, 20; 2:1). So He can say "I know" to each of the seven churches (cf Rev 2:2, 9, 13, 19, 3:1, 8, 15).
"I know ..." says the risen and glorified Christ. Revelation states that Christ knows three things: the pagan world in which they lived, the faithful witness of the Church, and their Christ-like endurance under persecution.
Christ said: "I know where you live" (Rev 2:13). The word for "live" means is the place where you eat and sleep, conduct business and work, shop, play and raise your children. "I know where you live." Christ knew everything about the environment the Pergamum Christians live in. He knew what they had to endure, what they had to face. He knows the temptations and trials that confront all Christians everywhere. He knows the evil that surrounds us.
The church of Pergamum lived in an evil environment. We may think our environment is not friendly to Christianity. Jesus said that the city of Pergamum is "where Satan has his throne," and "where Satan lives" (Rev 2:13). What a frightening declaration. What an awful thing to say about any city!
A half century ago, Newport Kentucky was referred to as "sin city" the play ground for the ne-erdowells of the Tri state area, especially of the prim and proper Cincinnati. But even "sin city" was not referred to as the place where Satan has his throne. Las Vegas, even then was the glitzy pre-eminent sin city rising in a desert.
However, even in Pergamum, Satan is not omnipresent like God; yet, Jesus declared that Pergamum was "where Satan has his throne" and "where Satan lives." What does this mean? Who was really in control in Pergamum and in modern cities? Located in Pergamum was a temple of Asklepios, the pagan god of healing. The symbol of Asklepios is a serpent and was to be found throughout the city. This emblem symbolized healing to the pagans. However, for Christians, since the time of the Garden of Eden and in the book of Revelation, the snake or serpent was a symbol representing Satan.
Also located in Pergamum was a huge throne-like altar of the Greek god Zeus. This altar was built in honor of Zeus after Pergamum defeated an invading army. The citizens of Pergamum offered their sacrifices to Zeus and referred to him as "Zeus the Savior." For the Christian, however, it isn’t Zeus but Jesus Who is Savior, the only Savior!
Pergamum was also a center for emperor worship. It was the first city of Asia to receive permission to build a temple dedicated to the worship of a living emperor. In due course, a second and third temple in honor of the emperor was also built. After a time, the worship of the emperor became a test of loyalty to Rome. A refusal to take part in emperor worship was judged high treason. So, the Christian confession "Jesus is Lord" ran counter to the Roman confession that "Caesar is Lord."
Do you see Satan’s goal in Pergamum? It is total control of every aspect of a persons life. Satan’s goal is to keep people blind to the truth. Satan’s goal is false comfort from false religion. The merger between church and state, religion and government meant that there were fewer choices, a decrease of freedom.
Satan’s goal is to feed people what does not satisfy their spiritual hunger and to enslave them.
The emperor worship assured the citizens of Pergamum safety from enemies; the blessings of Peace -- the Pax Romana. It assured an occasional free meal as animals were sacrificed on altars dedicated to the divine Caesar; it assured the spectacle of the arena where enemies of the state fought with gladiators for their lives, or were fed to wild beasts. The fertility cults, the religions also guaranteed sexual gratification and the pagan priests blessed the orgy.
Christ knew the faithful witness of the Christians in this seductive environment: "Yet you remain true to my name" (Rev 2:13). In spite of the fact that the church was surrounded by pagan and emperor worship, the believers of Pergamum remained true to Christ and lived out His life.
The converts in Pergamum came from paganism. Great social and religious pressures were exerted on them to abandon Christ, to turn back to their pleasure culture, to burn incense to the emperor who provided all, and to declare that "Caesar is Lord."
These Christians were steadfast cherishing Christ’s name. They not only held, on, they were also held. Three times we are told that Christ firmly holds the seven stars (Rev 1:16, 20; 2:1). The text states that believers firmly hold to the name of Christ in the same way that Christ firmly holds the seven stars which are the seven angels of the seven churches (Rev 1:20).
The Christians of Pergamum remained true to Christ’s name. They knew what was at stake here. They knew that to deny Christ’s name is to forsake salvation. They knew "there is no other name under heaven given to men" by which we are saved (Acts 4:12). They knew the words of Christ Himself: (Mt 10:32-33) "Whoever acknowledges me before men, I will also acknowledge him before my Father in heaven. (33) But whoever disowns me before men, I will disown him before my Father in heaven." Christ knew their faithful witness and He sees yours as well.
Christ also knew their endurance under persecution. Christ mentioned "Antipas, my faithful witness, who was put to death in your city" (Rev 2:13). Little is known of this early martyr except the most important thing -- he was faithful to the end.
With the threat of persecution and death hanging over them, the Christians of Pergamum remained true to the Lord. Says Christ, "You did not renounce your faith in me, even in the days of Antipas" (Rev 2:13). The martyrdom of a fellow believer must have come as a shock to the Christians of Pergamum. It must have made them all wonder whether their devotion to the Lord was worth the price. Yet, they remained true to the Lord.
There are thousands of churches in Indaiana. How many of them would be vacant, if even one Christian were dragged out by authorities and publicly beaten and killed? The church in North America is not surrounded by pagans and is not required to worship the emperor worship was the church at Pergamum.
Nevertheless, the great enemy Satan is as active today as he was then. The false religions, the seductions that surround us exert a different pressure on us to disown Christ and deny His name.
There is no doubt that we live in a post-Christian era in which Satan has one over-riding aim: to make America thoroughly secular, to make religion irrelevant, to remove all mention of God and elevate the pleasure principle above all.
In the last decade, most of public life is conducted with no or only a passing and superficial reference to God. Christmas-time displays by towns and cities can focus on Santas, sleighs, lights, presents, but not on the baby Jesus. In our public school system students are no longer allowed to start the day with Bible reading or prayer, the Judaeo-Christian viewpoint and morality cannot be taught and often is openly mocked, and teachers who try to bring their Christianity into the classroom are fired or transferred into a non-teaching position.
The candidates for President in 2008 can talk about their personal faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, but must disavow that this faith actually makes a difference in public policy or on the position the candidate takes on such real life issues as sanctity of life, definition of marriage and any other issue.
Are we true to Christ’s name like the church of Pergamum? Have we withstood the pressures of America’s false religions and pagan gods? Do we conduct all of life under the awareness of Christ’s Lordship or have we let the secular spirit of our day hold sway so that Jesus is left with only Sunday morning worship and meal-time devotions? Is our goal in life the Kingdom of God and its righteousness in all aspects of life?
Do we live for the pleasure principle or, like the church of Pergamum do we and will we remain true to Christ’s name and keep our faith?
Although Christ praises the church of Pergamum for remaining faithful in the midst of severe pressure and opposition He is not blind to her faults. He knows these as well: (Rev 2:14-15) Nevertheless, I have a few things against you: You have people there who hold to the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to entice the Israelites to sin by eating food sacrificed to idols and by committing sexual immorality. (15) Likewise you also have those who hold to the teaching of the Nicolaitans.
If you remember, the first letter to the seven churches, the one to the church of Ephesus, praises the Ephesian church for hating the practices of the Nicolaitans and condemns her because she has forsaken her first love. The Pergamum church has the opposite problem: she may have love, but she tolerates the teaching of the Nicolaitans and Balaam. The church of Pergamum was too tolerant of other views and practices.
The church of Pergamum tolerated the teachings of Balaam and the Nicolaitans. Do you remember the story of Balaam and Balak, found in Numbers 22-25? Balak, king of Moab, knew that he could not defeat the Israelites in battle. So he called Balaam, who was some kind of witch-doctor, to put a curse on Israel. God, however, thwarted this plan; He put words of blessing instead of curse in Balaam’s mouth. Balaam blessed Israel and cursed Israel’s enemies.
When this plan failed it was Balaam who suggested another plan(cf Num 31:16). Balaam suggested that Israel could be defeated by seduction. So young and beautiful Moabite women came to the camp of Israel and invited the men to participate in the sexual immorality and feasts associated with the worship of Baal. Some 24,000 Israelite men took up this invitation. Pagan food and pagan women accomplished what armies and Balaam could not do.
Centuries later, the Nicolaitans in the Church thought that Christians could safely participate in the sexual immorality and feasts associated with pagan worship in first century Rome, hence the comparison with ancient Israel’s moral failure at the time of Balaam.
The church of Pergamum tolerated the teachings of Balaam and the Nicolaitans in her midst. The church of Pergamum allowed believers to participate in the sexual immorality and feasts associated with pagan worship and still come to Christian communion. Does not this sound familiar? There are always plenty of political leaders and errant prelates willing to bless all sorts of immoral behavior in exchange for a vote, public approval and a few dollars.
A person does not need a degree in the study of human behavior to know that gambling can be addictive and can destroy a home and a person’s life. For decades, there were laws that prohibited gambling. It is questionable, and a cause of considerable debate whether the state should approve gambling. Once a state or two did approve it, the politicians in other states were bribed, or bought off by the lure of being elected and the cancer spread to other states. Then, the question came, why shouldn’t the state not only regulate gambling but participate in it. The carrot that was dangled in front of the electorate was that of finding easy way of funding schools. The legislators of the various states sponsored and approved legislation that makes all of us participants in a gigantic gambling enterprise, with seductive advertising preying on the weak in our society. The latest ads I heard on radio used voices like those of memory of Luci and Desi Arnez to sell lotto tickets.
City after city and state after state are being seduced by the financial gains to be made by introducing gambling, Las Vegas style adult entertainment and the like. And of course the decline in morality on the level of government doesn’t end with preying on those who can be seduced into gambling away their money. The question of legalizing prostitution inevitably follows the question of legalizing casinos. Newport Kentucky is not so many miles away from Indianapolis. Those moral battles were fought in Northern Ky and Southern Ohio within my memory. Christians rallied to the battle and for a generation, evil was restrained: the casinos and pleasure palaces in Northern Ky. were shut down. But this is a new day, and the battles will have to be fought again in this generation.
What about the issue of marriage? Who would have thought in the relatively innocent 1950’s that there could be a legal question about who would be proper candidates for marriage? The question back then was age. How old must one be to be married? Most people and most leaders thought it outrageous that a young teen could be married in a certain southern state. What of divorce? Should divorce be granted was a question in the 1950’s; and if a divorce can be granted, on what grounds? The stability of the family and protection of children was important to legislators and judges back then.
Now divorce is easy. A recent joking throw-away line by a female comic was her reference to her first marriage as her "starter husband." Once again, a free wheeling state was free to encourage not only a gambling industry, but a marriage industry. Divorces and marriages were easily obtained in a Western city. Legalized prostitution was advertised across our country, and the cancer has spread to other states.
In our day, the question is, who are candidates for marriage? Why limit marriage to a male and a female, or even to human beings? Why not explore other possibilities? And so a few states have begun to change the rules and that cancer will spread. But it isn’t enough that the seduction came from the world and power hungry political types. . . . the world has like Balak in his attempt to bring down Israel, has to drag in a witch doctor, a Balaam to bless the procedings. Sure enough, there are bishops and other clergy who not only break out of the old restrictive Christian mold and participate in the revelry, but are there to offer prayers and blessings giving an air of respectability to the new found freedoms.
Marrying Sam was a comic character a half century ago in the Lil Abner cartoons. Marrying Sam was always available, for a small fee to bless political assemblies and improbable matrimonial unions. Beginning with the quick marriage chapels in one of our Western States, marrying Sams and wedding chapels have become part of the landscape in many cities. Check the internet in any city using the term “marriage chapel and see what you find.”
"Be not deceived, God is not mocked. As a man sows, so shall he also reap.
There is an aged Anglican priest with whom I regularly correspond on the West=Coast. In mid last century he served in a west-coast churches and also taught in a university in the days when the geographical and moral location of a generation could be identified with the words "Haight-Ashbury." Haight-Ashbury not only described a geographic location where two streets intersect in coastal city, it described a moral intersection for a rising generation of Americans. The question was whether there are such things as moral limits? Where does freedom end? Are there any boundaries?
Freedom, blessed freedom was an issue. I can do with my body whatever I want, itis my body. Party. I can party when I want with whom I want. I can smoke what I want, eat what I want, sleep where I want. Where is Mary Jane? Where is the snow? I can eat marijuana laced brownies, snort cocaine and have sex with any living thing. Tune in, Turn on and drop out.
I was 10 years or so older than those revolutionaries when I heard them snarling those challenges to anyone who would listen. So was my priest friend on the west coast. There is always a Balaam around to bless the proceedings. Bishop Pike was the West Coast Balaam of that time and was the superior to whom my friend. There are Balaams around today, bishops, priests and other clergy who will bless any sort of union.
How did the Balaam of the 1970’s do?
God is not mocked. St Paul said it very well, "Be not deceived, God is not mocked, as a man sows so shall he also reap. If he sows to the flesh, of the flesh he will reap destruction." Bishop Pike is remembered and respected by the aging west-coast priest of whom I speak. I also remember and respected Bishop Pike when he was strong and a good bishop who wrote a good introduction to Christianity and the Anglican way. My priest-friend remembers, with sadness, not only the greatness of the man . . .he also remembers how that man experimented with mind-altering drugs, how the bishop’s son was destroyed by the excesses of his generation and how the bishop himself died a suicide. God is not mocked. . . .My friend spent many years serving a generation of men in San Francisco dying of aids, homeless men, forgotten men who at one time thought they were free to do it all.
I look at the world with wonder. I see young men, young women wondering how to begin a life together in a troubled society, amidst a society divided over basic issues very basic issues = love, war, marriage, sexual morality, proper use of things.
Time and again I find myself unable to give simple answers to complex questions. When asked an opinion, I’m often silent lest I give a book length answers to the questions of the day.
When people, including my brother clergy seem perplexed over the complexities of our time, over choices, instead of belaboring people with long answers, I find myself asking questions, simple questions such as: Doesn’t baptism mean anything? Unpack that question. When you were baptized, did not that imply an entire lifestyle, one that answered not only the call of the spirit back to the Father , the Creator, but also did it not answer provide the answer to many moral questions and provide a guide for life?
To whom were you baptized, asks this aging priest. St. Paul asked that same question 2000 years ago. Were you baptized to Appolos or to Paul? To the government? To pleasure? To a profession or a job?
So our moral quandries comes down to very basic questions. To whom were you baptized? When the ubiquitous affirmation appears from the media: "What is done in Vegas stays in Vegas." Ask the question. . .to whom was the writer of that line baptized? For those who embraced the idea of turning the gentle waters of the Ohio valley into a gambling den, to whom were they baptized?
For those states who have already received the blessings of the Balaam’s of this age and wish to redefine marriage all across this land. . . .to whom were they baptized?
The basic question . . .does baptism mean anything? Does marriage mean anything?
How did this sad situation develop? In a country that for generations touted the moral standards of Puritans who settled New England, Baptists who settled Rhode Island, and Roman Catholics who settled Georgia, how could a nation established by devout, moral Christians tolerate the demise of public morality?
How could Christians in Pergamum 2000 years ago participate in the feasts and sexual immorality of pagan worship? I’m afraid that the church became like the city. Pergamum was a city that had combined the religions of three peoples and three ages into one city so that they peacefully co-existed. Side by side was the worship of Asklepios, Zeus, and Caesar. Pergamum was able to accommodate them all. There were pagans, no doubt, who thought their city was able to absorb yet another religion: the Christian one. There were also Christians the Nicolaitans, who thought the same way. By compromising just a little bit here and there, by accommodation, the Christian religion could peacefully co-exist and flourish next to the pagan religions. The Nicolaitans did not think they were destroying Christianity; they thought they were improving and modernizing it. Indeed, they succeeded. For within two more centuries, Rome put forth a Christian religion that was official. Of course, that marriage of church and state irrevocably changed the church.
A generation ago, Bishop Pike was rethinking the catechism he taught and wrote effectively about as younger man. He thought it time to modernize the message. . . .the drift began.
Jesus judged the church of Pergamum even though only a few were actually guilty of the sin of the Nicolaitans. Jesus judged the church of Pergamum because she tolerated such a sin in her midst. This church refused to discipline and admonish those guilty of violating the commandments.
Amazing, isn’t it?! The church of Pergamum was more than able to fight the enemy outside of the gates. In the face of persecution she remained true and faithful to Christ and His name. The church of Pergamum, however, failed miserably in fighting the enemy within the gate. She was too tolerant and not vigilant enough.
The church of Pergamum, I would have to say, would fit in very well with our culture today. For, in the eyes of popular culture what is today’s greatest sin? In our culture the greatest and biggest sin anyone can commit is the sin of intolerance. Churches that dare to condemn homosexual practice or public immorality are raked over the coals for being intolerant and bigoted. After services one day, a few years back, an urbane, well dressed gentlemen referred to me as a Bible-Thumper. O.k., I’ll take that as a compliment: we understood each other very well.
In our consumer culture, Jesus is just one option among many on the book and cd shelves. The world today prizes tolerance and is intolerant of those who are intolerant of consumer based religion.
The church of Pergamum fits into this kind of thinking. She was tolerant, of those who accommodated themselves to the ways and thought-forms of the secular world.
If we want to make Good Shepherd a spectacular success in a short time, hire a band, dress them in football uniforms, hire some dancers, dress them as cheer leaders and advertise wedding chapel services. Enlarge on the "come as you are" theme to include, "don’t change anything."
What did Jesus and the Baptist know? Who were they to say repent?
Christ words are counter-cultural. To the Church at Pergamum and to us he said, "Repent therefore!" He demands that the church fight evil within. And Christ also gives a warning: (Rev 2:16) Repent therefore! Otherwise, I will soon come to you and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth.
Unless Pergamum repents of its extreme tolerance, Christ will visit her in judgment.
Notice, Christ will judge the church with the sword of His mouth. The sword of His mouth is the Word of God (cf Heb 4:12). The Word of God is a double-edged sword: it either brings us condemnation and judgment when we don’t repent or salvation and comfort when we do repent and believe.
How do we measure up compared to the Pergamum church? Like Pergamum, do Chistians tolerate go with the tide the world’s agenda or do we resist?
Do we join with other Christians in raising a voice for Christian morality or do we remain silent hoping no one will notice us? Do we prize toleration, accommodation, and compromise, looking for ways to go along with the world?
We talk about and deal with sin and false teaching in our clergy conferences. We strive for obedience to Christ and His Word. We know we have the congregation’s full support.
But even more important, we know we have the blessing of "him Who holds the seven stars in his right hand and walks among the seven golden lampstands" (Rev 2:1).
"He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches."
If we hear, if we listen, if we remain faithful and true to Christ, then ours is this promise of the Lord: "To him who overcomes, I will give some of the hidden manna" (vs 17). It is believed by the Jews that manna is the food of the heavenly kingdom. Those who eat this bread live forever. Of course, this bread is given only by Jesus for it is Jesus Himself who is the true bread of heaven.
But that is not the only promise. Jesus gives another promise as well:
(Rev 2:17) To him who overcomes ... I will also give him a white stone with a new name written on it, known only to him who receives it.
In ancient times guests invited to a banquet were given a white stone to serve as a ticket of admission. When gladiators were freed from the arena, they were given stones with their name and date of discharge inscribed. A stone with a new name inscribed on it was often given to those who joined the cult of Asklepios. A white stone means entrance to the heavenly wedding banquet.
What does the new name means? Even as God gave "Abram" the new name of "Abraham," even as "Simon" was given the new name of "Peter," so God gives a new and fitting name to those who overcome. To be named by someone is a sign that they are your superior, that you are under their care and protection. The prophet Isaiah speaks of this: (Is 62:2) The nations will see your righteousness, and all kings your glory; you will be called by a new name that the mouth of the LORD will bestow. (Cf Is 65:15)
Those who are faithful to Christ are given a white stone with a new name for admission to the heavenly wedding banquet. Revelation 19 says, "Blessed are those who are invited to the wedding supper of the Lamb" (Rev 19:9b).
Are you, am I, are we faithful to the Lord? Do we successfully withstand attacks from without and within?
The Eucharistic feast to which we now turn is a foreshadowing of the heavenly banquet when Christ as we leave this arena where we are battling with lions that would destroy not only our own souls but the souls of everyone in the land. When He greets us at the end of this struggle, the words will be "Well done, good and faithful servant. . .come in. . .inherit the Kingdom the Father has prepared for you. . . .welcome to the feast."
As you take the eucharistic bread. . . .remember the white stone with the your name on it. Your baptism into the Christ does mean something. . .it is your real identity.
Charles Scott
http://www.goodshepherdindy.org
crscott@email.com
