A. Revelation 2:12- “To the angel of the church in Pergamum write: These are the words of Him who has
the sharp, double-edged sword.”
1. When the GLORIFIED Christ first appeared to John, the apostle said that He had a “sharp double-
edged sword protruding from His mouth”- Revelation 1:16.
2. I believe there are two meanings to the “DOUBLE-EDGED SWORD” that Christ has.
a. Firstly, as Christians we understand that the Word of God is described as a SWORD.
-Ephesians 6:17- “We are to take up the Sword of the Spirit—the Word of God.”
-Hebrews 4:12- “For the Word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts
and attitudes of the heart.”
COMMENT:
The WORDS of Christ to the church of Pergamum are going to CUT DEEP as He judges their ACTIONS, THOUGHTS and ATTITUDES.
b. Secondly, the city of Pergamum was the CAPITAL of the Roman province in Asia, and a PROCONSUL was appointed in that city by Caesar who was give special AUTHORITY known
as the “Right of the Sword”, which literally gave him the power of life and death—on his word a
person could be EXECUTED on the spot.
COMMENT:
But Christ says He is the One who has “the sharp, double-edged sword”. The Greek word used here is “rhomphia” that DESCRIBES a large SWORD used in BATTLE about 4 feet long that had to
be WIELDED with both hands.
It is Christ who ultimately has the POWER of LIFE and DEATH—not the Roman EMPEROR and his PROCONSULS. Not only will there be an “ultimate JUDGEMENT of the NATIONS that will be struck down by the SWORD from the mouth of Christ” as described in Revelation 19:15, but He will also JUDGE the CHURCH to determine His FOLLOWERS from COMPROMISERS.
B. BACKGROUND OF THE CITY: Pergamum was about 100 miles north of Ephesus and 70 miles from
Smyrna.
1. Bergama, Turkey is now located on the site, but many of the RUINS of the city of Pergamum still
STAND.
a. Being the CAPITAL CITY of the Roman Province in Asia, it was a huge CULTURAL CITY known for its EDUCATION and LIBRARY (the second largest in the Roman Empire), the
ARTS, the GAMES, its TALL STRUCTURES, and its HEALING CENTER.
b. People traveled from all over the EMPIRE to visit the CITY—it was the PARIS of Asia Minor.
2. Emperor Worship was rampant in the CITY.
a. Although the city of Smyrna was the first in Asia to build a TEMPLE to Caesar, Pergamum wasn’t
about to be OUTDONE.
b. They built THREE Temples dedicated to the Emperors of Rome who were worshipped as gods.
COMMENT:
Remember, Rome didn’t care if Christians worshipped Jesus as a GOD, as long as they would also give homage to “Caesar as Lord” once a year or else SUFFER the consequences.
3. Pergamum was also the CENTER of worship of ZEUS the god of thunder, the SUPREME DEITY of
Greek mythology.
COMMENT:
Upon a ledge JUTTING out from the hillside 800 ft. in the air SET a huge ALTAR dedicated to Zeus. According to historians the altar was 40 ft. high, and from the base of the HILL it looked exactly like a GREAT THRONE. Smoke endlessly ascended from the SACRIFICES offered there.
“ZEUS, the SUPREME god?”! The CHURCH knew better. Yahweh, the Creator of the Universe, was the one and only TRUE God that was to be WORSHIPPED.
4. Pergamum was also known for its HEALING CENTER located in the Temple of Asclepius, the god
of medicine and healing.
a. Asclepius is seen holding a ROD with a SERPENT curled around it, because SNAKES were often
used in HEALING RITUALS.
COMMENT:
You may have seen these SYMBOLS before—they are MEDICAL SYMBOLS taken from
Asclepius’ ROD and has become the logo for MEDICINE.
b. Thousands would TRAVEL from all over the Empire hoping to be HEALED by the TEMPLE
PRIESTS. They would bow down to the IDOL and utter the words “Asclepius our Savior.”
COMMENT:
Christians were APPALLED by that. They knew there is only One SAVIOR, and His name is JESUS the “Great Physician” who heals SPIRITUAL SICKNESS and has the CURE to give
ETERNAL LIFE.
MESSAGE:
I. THE COMMENDATION OF CHRIST- Revelation 2:13 (READ)
A. “I know where you live...”
1. Christ is well aware that the church of Pergamum is LOCATED in a very difficult and dangerous
PLACE for Christians who WORSHIP the One and Only TRUE God.
COMMENT:
Their LIVES and their LIVELIHOOD were constantly THREATENED because of their REFUSAL to take part in EMPEROR and PAGAN WORSHIP that was so prevalent in their city.
2. Christ- “I know you live where Satan has his THRONE.”
a. More than likely this has reference to the ALTAR of ZEUS that looked like a GIANT
THRONE high-up in the HILLS overlooking the CITY.
b. Who SAT upon that THRONE?
- Was it the Roman Emperors who demanded to be called “Lord God”?
- Was it Zeus the Supreme god?
- Was it Asclepius “The Savior”, the god of healing?
c. No, SATAN sat upon that THRONE!
COMMENT:
Satan is the RULER of all EVIL. He is the “Prince of this world”- John 12:31. When one refuses to WORSHIP Christ as Lord, they are, in fact, worshipping Satan the god of this world.
ILLUSTRATION:
Church, don’t think for one moment that Christ doesn’t KNOW the PRESSURE that Satan puts on YOU and your FAMILY—the TEMPTATIONS you FACE, the STRUGGLES you go through at WORK or at SCHOOL, the PROBLEMS that arise from living in a SOCIETY that is
moving farther and farther AWAY from God.
Christ knows that the “Prince of this World” is out to DESTROY you and this church merely because we LOVE and WORSHIP Jesus as our Lord and Savior.
B. “You have remained true to My Name.”
1. Despite where they LIVE and the PRESSURES and ATTACKS that have come from SATAN’S THRONE, the majority of the Christians at Pergamum have remained LOYAL to the name of
Christ and have not RENOUNCED their FAITH in Him.
a. Not even when one of their own, Antipas, was EXECUTED for his FAITH.
COMMENT:
We do not know anything else about Antipas from Scripture other than what Christ says about him. We learn that he was a “faithful witness”. Being a “witness for Christ” meant that Antipas wasn’t a CLOSET CHRISTIAN—no one had to GUESS if he was or wasn’t. He was VOCAL
about his FAITH and ALLEGIANCE to Christ as the Son of God.
b. And it cost Antipas his LIFE.
COMMENT:
Imagine what the church of Pergamum went through that fateful DAY? In the back of their minds there was always a CONCERN that they could actually DIE for their FAITH, but no one ever did—that is until Antipas. Was he put on TRIAL for his FAITH? Did the PROCONSUL who had the “RIGHT of the SWORD” decide one day just to KILL him? We don’t know for SURE, although there are some CONFLICTING traditions about his DEATH.
Whatever happened, it put the CHURCH on ALERT that anyone of them could be NEXT, and, yet, MOST remained “true to the name of Christ, and didn’t renounce their faith in Him.”
II. THE CHASTISEMENT OF CHRIST- Revelation 2:14-15 (READ)
COMMENT:
Christ said, “I have a few things against you.” No one ever likes to hear those words, but especially coming from Christ with a SWORD protruding from His MOUTH. What did He have
against them?
A. There were those who called themselves “Christians” but had COMPROMISED their LOYALTY to
Christ with some WORLDLY TEACHERS, and the CHURCH did nothing to STOP it.
1. Christ- “There are those among you who hold to the teachings of Balaam and the Nicolaitans.”
a. You can read about Balaam in Numbers 22-24.
COMMENT:
Balaam was a prophet of God who manipulated the men of Israel to commit IMMORALITY with the pagan women of Moab and sacrifice to their IDOLS so that the Nation of Israel would no longer be BLESSED and PROTECTED by God.
Why did he do that? Because he was offered RICHES and POWER by Balak the king of Moab. He COMPROMISED the relationship between Israel and God for his own GAIN.
b. The Nicolaitans were believed to be followers of “Nicolas who was appointed a special servant (DEACON) along with six other men to take care of the needs of widows in the Jerusalem
church- Acts 6.
COMMENT:
According to the writings of early church fathers, Nicolas challenged the TEACHINGS and DOCTRINES of the CHURCH believing they were too STRICT. He TAUGHT that Christians could STRADDLE the FENCE by LIVING the life of Christ while still INVOLVING themselves
in the PRACTICES of the WORLD.
You can still be a FOLLOWER of Jesus while committing IMMORALITY. You can be LOYAL to Christ and still participate in the PAGAN feasts, rituals and revelry. “PARTY ON Christian and LIVE ANYWAY you want to, and I’ll see you in WORSHIP next Sunday.”
2. It was this teaching and practice of COMPROMISE from the Nicolaitans that Christ told the
Ephesian church that He “HATED”- 2:6.
a. Nowhere in the teachings of Jesus Christ does He say that His FOLLOWERS can have a FOOT
in both WORLDS.
b. In fact, Jesus said, “Every kingdom divided against itself will be ruined, and every city or household divided against itself will not stand”- Matthew 12:25. (ISN’T THAT ALSO TRUE OF THE HOUSE OF GOD—THE CHURCH?)
c. And then Jesus said, “He who is not for me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters”- Matthew 12:30. (WE ARE EITHER LIVING FOR CHRIST OR LIVING FOR THE WORLD. WE CAN’T HAVE IT BOTH WAYS.)
COMMENT:
The TEACHING of COMPROMISE leads to a WEAK version of Christianity that has no
real POWER and CONVICTION in the WORLD.
And, yet, we see so many Christians today following the TEACHINGS of the Nicolaitans and don’t even REALIZE it. They live for the WORLD and still call themselves “Christians”. Jesus Christ KNOWS better.
B. But if MOST of the Christians at Pergamum are not COMPROMISING their FAITH, why is Christ
AGAINST the WHOLE CHURCH?
1. Because the FAITHFUL within that CHURCH knows those who are following the teachings of
Balaam and the Nicolaitans and are DOING NOTHING to try to STOP it.
a. Remember what Christ said to the Ephesian church, “You have this in your favor: You hate the
practices of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate”- Revelation 2:6.
COMMENT:
These same COMPROMISERS were trying to infiltrate the Ephesian Church, but they did not ALLOW it to happen. They wanted no part of their COMPROMISE.
b. Christ knows the LONGER that the church of Pergamum allows these COMPROMISERS to REMAIN among them without any CONFRONTATION, their LOYALTY and FAITH in Him, for which He COMMENDED them, will soon WEAKEN allowing their allegiance to shift from the GLORIFIED Christ to SATAN’S THRONE.
2. We all STRUGGLE with SIN, but never should we think that it is ALL RIGHT to LIVE for JESUS and the WORLD, too. We must STRIVE to OVERCOME SIN and LIVE for Christ.
III. THE COUNSEL OF CHRIST- Revelation 2:16-17 (READ)
A. “REPENT!”
1. That is the COUNSEL of Christ. Repentance is what will turn the church of Pergamum around.
a. As you know, REPENTANCE is not merely being SORRY or feeling GUILTY for your sins,
but a CHANGE of MIND and BEHAVIOR.
COMMENT:
The FAITHFUL Christians at Pergamum were going to have to do the HARD WORK of REFORM and STOP tolerating the SINFUL and COMPROMISING ACTIONS of those within the CHURCH. A church FAILS when it becomes a PLACE where people are COMFORTABLE
with their SINFUL LIFESTYLE.
Paul told the Philippian church that “they were to be so DIFFERENT from the crooked and depraved generation that surrounded them, that they were to SHINE like STARS in the UNIVERSE”- Philippians 2:14-16. But a church can’t “shine like the stars” when it BLENDS in with the DARKNESS of the world.
b. REPENTANCE is what will bring about RESTORATION and RENEWAL. Christ is telling this CHURCH that there is HOPE if they only REPENT.
2. But then Christ said, “If you don’t REPENT, I will come and FIGHT you with the SWORD of my
MOUTH.”
a. Wow! Those are HARSH words. But it REVEALS how much Christ hates COMPROMISE!
b. As you read on in the book of REVELATION, you will learn that the “sword protruding from
Christ’s mouth is used against the church’s ENEMIES, not the church”- Revelation 19:11-16.
COMMENT:
Yet, Christ wants the church of Pergamum to KNOW that if they continue to allow COMPROMISE within their MIDST, they become His ENEMIES. But, again, that is not what Christ wants. He wants this CHURCH to OVERCOME and put a stop to the COMPROMISE.
B. Christ will BLESS the OVERCOMER.
1. “I will give you the hidden manna.”
COMMENT:
“Manna is the bread that God provided the Israelites as they wondered in the wilderness
for 40 years under the leadership of Moses trying to reach the Promised Land”- Exodus 16.
a. Jesus told His disciples, “I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eat of
this bread, he will live forever…”- John 6:51.
b. Jesus is our SPIRITUAL SUSTENANCE, and only by FEASTING off of Him (not the PAGAN FEASTS that the COMPROMISERS reveled in), but LIVING for Him ONLY will the OVERCOMER be given ETERNAL LIFE.
2. “I will give you a white stone with a new name written on it.”
a. In Revelation the color “WHITE” is used often, usually symbolizing purity, victory, freedom.
b. WHITE STONES were given for several reasons in ancient ROME.
-Given to one who was TRIED for some CRIME and ACQUITTED.
-Given to one FREED from SLAVERY—proof of CITIZENSHIP.
-Given to a WINNER of a RACE or a VICTOR of a BATTLE.
COMMENT:
The “WHITE STONE” given by the glorified Christ simply signifies that the RECIPIENT has OVERCOME the WICKED SCHEMES and EVIL ATTACKS that come from SATAN’S THRONE.
c. But what is the NAME written upon the STONE? I don’t know. It’s PERSONAL. Jesus said,
“only the one who receives it, knows.”
COMMENT:
But one thing I do KNOW is, the name “COMPROMISER” is not found on that STONE.
CONCLUSION:
