Revelation 2: 12 – 17
If You Can’t Lick Them - Join Them
12 “And to the angel of the church in Pergamos write, ‘These things says He who has the sharp two-edged sword: 13 “I know your works, and where you dwell, where Satan’s throne is. And you hold fast to My name, and did not deny My faith even in the days in which Antipas was My faithful martyr, who was killed among you, where Satan dwells. 14 But I have a few things against you, because you have there those who hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balak to put a stumbling block before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed to idols, and to commit sexual immorality. 15 Thus you also have those who hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitans, which thing I hate. 16 Repent, or else I will come to you quickly and will fight against them with the sword of My mouth. 17 “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes I will give some of the hidden manna to eat. And I will give him a white stone, and on the stone a new name written which no one knows except him who receives it.”’
Today we are going to look at the third church in which our Lord addresses – Pergamos. In a quick review we have seen that these churches represent a history of the world beginning around 31 AD. With the listing of the church at Pergamos we are looking at a time period from 450 AD to 1050 AD. Again as reference we see the church’s time period listings;
1. Ephesus – 31 AD to 135 AD
2. Smyrna – 135 AD to 300 AD
3. Pergamos – 300 AD to 538 AD
Pergamum or Pergamos was the capital city of the province of Asia mentioned in Revelation as one of the seven churches of Asia. It was a celebrated city of Mysia in the Caicus valley, 15 miles from the Aegean Sea about 60 miles north of Smyrna. The river Selinus flowed through it and the river Caicus ran just south of it.
It was founded by Philelaerus, the lieutenant of King Lysimachus during his wars with Seleucus, it is now modern Berghama. In case you forgot or are not aware of Seleucus, he was one of the four generals who served under Alexander the Great - The Grecian Empire. When Alexander died he told his generals to spit up the world. The section of Pergamos came under Seleucus’s territory.
Pergamum was the famous site of the temple to Aesculapius, the Greek God of healing supposed to be the founder of medical science and immortalized in the sky as the constellation Ophiuchus. The city became the seat of Babylonian sun worship, a noble center of idolatry and demon controlled religions with splendid temples to Nature. People from all over the Roman Empire came to seek healing in this pagan temple and the shrine area was inhabited by thousands of harmless snakes. On the hills of Acropolis stood resplendent buildings, statuary, palaces and the great library as well as the temples and an altar of "Zeus the Savior." Medicine and science was worshipped here and the symbol of their worship was the serpent. The snake was carried down into our own day with a staff entwined with serpents called the caduceus, still using the snake as a symbol for the medical arts.
Noted for its great wealth and culture, Pergamos boasted of an immense library of 200,000 volumes. In the second century BC, the king of Egypt learned that King Eumenes II of Pergamum was amassing a library that surpassed the wonderous library of Alexandria. Eumenes had been importing large quantities of papyrus for the books copied and the rivalry caused The Egyptian King to put an embargo on the export of papyrus to Pergamum. Eumenes had his craftsman work to find a substitute and parchment was invented. This rivalry and jealousy over Pergamum and Egypt over the library was settled when Caliph Omar destroyed the Alexandrian library. The tragedy caused Antony to despoil the famous library at Pergamum in the 2nd century BC and remove it to Egypt as a present to Cleopatra to reimburse Alexandria for the volumes destroyed.
Pergamum became the chief town of the new province of Asia, and the site of the first temple of the Caesar cult, dedicated to the goddess Roma and the emperor Augustus in 29 BC. Pergamum, since 29 BC, had been active in the promotion of the imperial religion and became the provincial center of the Roman state religion. With this emphasis it was but natural that the Christians of Pergamum should undergo persecution for refusing to worship the emperor.
So, with this information we are now ready to take a look at our Precious Holy Adoni Yeshua – our Lord Jesus Christ’s letter.
12 “And to the angel of the church in Pergamos write, ‘These things says He who has the sharp two-edged sword
Remember now that we are living at a time when Rome ruled the world. So, of course, the people could well relate to the symbolic wording. The apostle Paul took this same description when teaching us how we are to prepare daily to face the world in which we live. He used the comparison of a Roman soldier getting dressed. We read this in the book of Ephesians chapter 6, “10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. 11 Put on the whole armor of God that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. 13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. 14 Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, 15 and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; 16 above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. 17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; 18 praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints— 19 and for me, that utterance may be given to me, that I may open my mouth boldly to make known the mystery of the gospel, 20 for which I am an ambassador in chains; that in it I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.”
The Roman sword was the only offensive weapon. The other parts of the Roman soldier outfit were for his protection. Do you see what our Lord is saying here He holds the sword which is His Word. This is the weapon in which all of us Christians are to use to fight evil.
The two-edged sword can inflict damage no matter how it is swung. In the book of Hebrews chapter 4 this scripture verse teaches us how powerful the Word of God is. If you can try to memorize it – “For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.”
The Christians who lived during this age especially here in this locality would need the encouragement of God’s Word to sustain them because they lived in an extremely dangerous environment.
The Lord is telling Pergamos that He has a two-edged sword. That sword is the word of God and by cutting both ways, has the power to convict and correct as well as to convert, distinguishing between soul and spirit. It is such that it proceeds out of His mouth laying stress upon the verbal word of prophecy but not limited to the written word and directed to the nations. They are not told to get out of the church but rather to repent of the false doctrine so the sword here is especially for those who will not repent. To flee from the wrath to come, we need to "bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance," as John the Baptist would say. These fruits are the works that Jesus is already praising them for, now it is up to those that have need of repentance to make that turn about, not merely sorrow and contrition but a changed life and renewed mind.
There were intense satanic conflicts going on in this area.
Back in chapter 11 of Genesis we read about Nimrod developing the city and ultimately pagan religion of Babylon. In the advance of history this parallels the building of the first temple dedicated to Satan. Babylon would for ever be the symbol of mankind’s ultimate rebellion and rejection of our Holy Adoni Yahweh summing up in it all idolatry and occult practices. Ultimately the worshipers of Baal fled from Babylon and took up residence at Pergamos. So, we can see our Lord’s comment on where the enemy has taken up a new residence.
13 “I know your works, and where you dwell, where Satan’s throne is.
When Rome became the leading city of the world the Babylonian religion was alive and flourishing. Pergamos was the capital of the Roman province of Asia in Asia Minor. Just as the initial local church at Pergamos was situated in a city where Satan swayed human politics, much of this work of God’s church occurred within the bounds of the government of Satan’s Eastern Empire. Those who followed the Lord had to take a stand even to the point of death.
And you hold fast to My name, and did not deny My faith even in the days in which Antipas was My faithful martyr, who was killed among you, where Satan dwells.
There is no other mention in the bible about this guy Antipas. Yet what I see here is the Wonderful care of our Precious Master. He knows everyone. No one is ignored by Him. I love the verse in the book of Psalms 27, “When my father and my mother forsake me, Then the LORD will take care of me.” He will never forget anyone who belongs to Him.
We probably have a good idea why Antipas was killed. The Roman Government accepted all religions as long as they knew they were loyal to Rome. To test each person’s loyalty, every person once a year went and declared publically by throwing some incense on a fire and say, ‘Caesar is lord.’ If you did this then you could go and do and worship whoever you wanted.
You see the Christians knew that there Is only One Lord. He Is our King and Master, our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. These people were sold out for our Lord and would not acknowledge any Lord but our Wonder Holy Adoni Yeshua.
You see ‘compromise’ is not good. Today, we are just as some of the people who compromised their faith in fear of being put to death. Here as some excuses then and are also used today.
1. I don’t believe Caesar is lord so my words are meaningless
2. I can do more for the kingdom of God if I am able to live and serve people.
3. I should get along with all people
4. Other people are entitled to their views also
I am sure you can add a few more possible excuses to not take a stand for the Lord Jesus. Anyway, most likely Antipas refused to throw down some incense and say that Caesar is lord. So, they killed him. This brave stand for the Lord did not go un-noticed by our Lord.
Here is another word for you to add to your list of meanings. Please notice the statement where Satan dwells and his throne. This is the point being made - Throne [sit] = Ruler [Authority] If I asked this question, ‘Who is the ‘sitting’ President’. The answer is in regards to ‘Who is the current leader of US.
Back in Genesis chapter 3 we read about the confrontation between our Lord with Adam, Eve, and Satan. In pronouncing His judgment regarding their sin our Holy Master informed Satan that He would send His Anointed into the world to redeem mankind. He would be born of a virgin. Satan would bruise His heal but the Messiah would crush Satan’s head, or rulership over this world and mankind.
From that point onward all women wanted to be the selected one of God to bear the Messiah. When you come to chapter 10 you come across a character named Nimrod. He is the one who built Babylon and ultimately the Tower of Babel. If you can find it still in print I recommend that you pick up a book called ‘Two Babylon’s’ by Hilsop who goes into more detail then what I am reporting here. Accordingly Nimrod married a woman by the name of Simmaramous who bore him a son who they called Tamuz. This son was killed by a wild boar. Simmaramous created the tale that she was the woman who bore the promised son of God. The people mourned for 40 days and then the boy came back to life. The woman and boy were both worshiped as the Madonna and child. Ultimately Babylon was destroyed and the throne of Satan with his false religion moved onto Pergamous.
Now here is something else you want to write down. In the bible a ‘woman’ = a religion. Many teacher’s refer to Ephesians chapter 5 to say that a ‘woman’ equals a ‘church’. This is stretching the Scripture in my opinion. In the book of Ephesians we read about ‘wives’. Now a wife is a woman but she is much more. She is unified with a husband [the two shall become one].So. I believe our identification is this; a woman is symbolic of ‘religion’ A wife is symbolic of ‘Relationship’.
When a word is used in the bible another one cannot mean the same thing. We our informed by our Great and Precious Holy Spirit that Stars are ‘angels’ and a lampstand is a ‘church’
We see these things as follows;
1. Lampstand = church = Christ’s light = wife = relationship
2. Lampstand = church = no Christ = women = religion
14 But I have a few things against you, because you have there those who hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balak to put a stumbling block before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed to idols, and to commit sexual immorality. 15 Thus you also have those who hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitans, which thing I hate.
I recommend to you to take some time and read some of the book of Numbers beginning at chapter 22. You will find out the information regarding Balaam. It is a marvelous story on our Lord’s care and control over every situation.
To give you a short version of what happened, it was during the nation of Israel’s Wandering in the desert years. From time to time they came across people who wanted to fight them. Our Lord helped the Israelites be victorious in each conflict. There was a king by the name of Balak who was frightened that his nation would be destroyed next. So, he calls upon this Soothsayer by the name of Balaam to curse the people of Israel.
Balaam offers a sacrifice and God tells him not to go with the representatives of Balak. The king tells his representatives to go back and tell Balaam that he will give him more money and fame if he comes and curses the Israelites.
Now, the key thing to remember is that the Lord said that he is not to go. So, thinking of all the money and fame he can get, Balaam comes back in false piousness and sees if he can go with Balak’s men.
The Lord says okay go and on the way the Lord set about to kill Balaam for his false intentions. A donkey saves the Soothsayers life and the Lord informs Balaam that he can go but he is limited to say only what God will tell him to say.
Four times Balak wanted Balaam to curse the Israelites and four times Balaam is controlled to only pronounce a blessing on the people of Israel.
So, now we hear in this chapter of Revelation that the people of Pergamum - 14 But I have a few things against you, because you have there those who hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balak to put a stumbling block before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed to idols, and to commit sexual immorality.’
You see what happened Balaam in his great desire to get the money and fame advised Balak to get his prettiest girls to go down into the Israelite camp and seduce the men of Israel. In this acts then God will have to turn His back on the people. Look at what chapter 25, “Now Israel remained in Acacia Grove, and the people began to commit harlotry with the women of Moab. 2 They invited the people to the sacrifices of their gods, and the people ate and bowed down to their gods. 3 So Israel was joined to Baal of Peor, and the anger of the LORD was aroused against Israel. 4 Then the LORD said to Moses, “Take all the leaders of the people and hang the offenders before the LORD, out in the sun, that the fierce anger of the LORD may turn away from Israel.”
In the Lord’s first letter to the Ephesians we learned about the Nicolaitans and here we find them again - 15 Thus you also have those who hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitans, which thing I hate.’ If our Lord hates something we better find out what it is and not go along with it. Would you agree?
The root of the word Nicolaitans comes from Greek nikao, to conquer or overcome, and laos, which means people and which the word laity comes from. The two words together especially means the destruction of the people and refers to the earliest form of what we call a priestly order or clergy which later on in church history divided people and allowed for leadership other than those led by the spirit of the risen Lord. A good translation of Nicolaitan would be "those who prevail over the people." This clerical system later developed into the papal hierarchy of priests and clergy lording over the flock. The Council of Trent stated, "If anyone shall say that there is not in the Catholic Church a hierarchy established by the divine ordination, consisting of bishops, presbyters and ministers, let him be anathema." It is not the question of the ministries but rather in the separation of them into a hierarchy over the people. This very idea was taken over by the Protestants with their own corruption of leadership roles and coverings. The Church of Ephesus was commended for hating the deeds of the Nicolaitans. The wrong separation of the clergy from the laity is a great evil in God's sight and He hates the lust for religious power over others. There is an ungodly spiritual authority in the Church today, which is nothing more than the prideful spirit of control, manipulation, domination and intimidation and a rebellion of the rightful authority of God.
Faithful believers who have put on Christ Jesus, are all God's laity. Peter exhorted us in his first book chapter 5 to, “ Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not for filthy lucre but of a ready mind. Neither as being lords over God's heritage but being examples to the flock. And when the chief shepherd shall appear, you shall receive a crown of glory that fades not away.”
Shepherds serve the sheep but the wolves that clothe themselves with so-called leadership and spiritual authority serve themselves, thinking that they serve God, in essence, this makes them false christs. Early church leaders were established as overseers, not a ruling hierarchy.
The ruler of Rome by the name of Constantine made Christianity the state religion. It was the Roman church however that the blame resides. Constantine was a useful ally; he had stopped the persecutions and did what He could to bring peace to the church by holding an ecumenical council to decide some tough issues that needed to be dealt with. It was not his fault. The persecutions had strengthened the church but the Roman church had already compromised by this time by bringing the Nicolatian errors of the separation of clergy and laity. By destroying the unity and humility of the doctrine of the priesthood of all believers, the pride of lording it over the people stifled the prophetic influence and plunged the church into the dark ages. They compromised further by allowing pagan Roman idolatry to influence their worship in what can only be called syncretism.
The church was no longer a separate sanctified people and the Roman influence became a stumbling block. The effect of the rule of Constantine meant that the state supported the church and the emperor became its benefactor. When the Empire crumbled and the throne was vacant, the wordly authority was taken over by the papacy who turned the throne into "satan's seat." The bishop of Rome was now Pontifex Maximus with all the pretention and false authority over the church that the old imperial office held.
Successive generations of the Roman church show this admixture of pagan influence and the gospel of Christ existing side by side. In this atmosphere however is the spirit of God that consists of a gospel that will not return void. The church has always had its true worshippers and those that held fast to the name of Jesus because the true church of Jesus Christ consists of those that have partaken of salvation. The church is the bearer of the truth of this salvation but salvation itself comes from Jesus and does not proceed from the church no matter what the church tells us. Salvation is stronger than man's attempt to divert the source and there will always be those that have not denied the true faith.
The Balaam influence here is in compromising with the world and allowing idolatry and sexual immorality to be tolerated. Also in that they had tried to curse the people of God that came to reform the church. Balaam had disobeyed the word of the Lord and had gone his own way. The sword drawn against Balaam by God parallels the reformation period of the church. Remember the time period we are talking about is not only applicable to Pergamos in 90 AD about when John wrote the book of Revelation. We are talking about the time of 450 AD to 1050 AD. This is the time period of the beginning and growth of the Roman Catholic Church. Can you see the similarities?
With all that has been said by our Lord against what was going on He says this:
16 Repent, or else I will come to you quickly and will fight against them with the sword of My mouth. 17 “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes I will give some of the hidden manna to eat. And I will give him a white stone, and on the stone a new name written which no one knows except him who receives it.”’
Our Precious Holy King gives to the church at Pergamos both a strong word of exhortation and one of encouragement. The exhortation is told to those who profess the name of Christ and are failing in their responsibilities. They should recognize the phonies who follow the ways brought into the church with evil ways that were addressed by our Lord. The church needs to purge the evil doers out. There is only One Whom we are to go to and that is our Lord Jesus Christ. No one can come between Him and us.
If the church refuses the Lord’s direction then they are in effect fighting the very One Who died for them - 16 Repent, or else I will come to you quickly and will fight against them with the sword of My mouth.
To encourage His children to stand in the face of this huge opposition, our Lord promises some great rewards.
First of all He says He will do this -17 “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes I will give some of the hidden manna to eat.
If you remember way back in the book of Exodus, our Great Holy Jehovah Elyon – Our Lord Most High – feed His people in the Wilderness with bread from Heaven. The people called it Manna, or ‘what is it?’ Our Lord instructed Moses to take a pot of Manna and put it in the Ark of the Covenant.
It is a promise of eternal life. For we know that our Lord Jesus is the ‘Bread of Life’ and He will guarantee us all a resurrection at His Second coming.
Please notice how our Lord contrasts what is real and a blessing to the eating of idolatrous food. Those believers who reject the world’s savory temptations will enjoy the Heavenly life.
In addition He promises those who stand true to Him - And I will give him a white stone, and on the stone a new name written which no one knows except him who receives it.”’
When I went to college I joined a fraternity. In order to be accepted into the fraternity every member was given a white marble and a black one. If one fraternity brother didn’t like you they put in the black marble. Just getting one of these eliminated you from being able to join them. Our Lord promises those faithful Christians that He is voting ‘yes’ for them. In fact He Is going to even give them a new name. I always say when I mess up with a person’s name, ‘Hey, that might be your new name that our Lord is giving you.’
