"Pergamum--a compromised congregation", Revelation 2:12-17 Pastor Bob Leroe, Cliftondale Congregational Church, Saugus, Massachusetts -Series on the 7 Churches of Rev 2-3
Do you have a mentor, someone with experience and expertise, who helps you learn to do a better job? Mentors care enough to tell us when we’re doing things wrong. The goal of a critique is to help, not tear us down. Christ is a role model for all mentors. He writes to the 7 churches out of compassion, offering both positive encouragement and negative appraisal of their ministries.
The city of Pergamum is located about 60 miles north of Smyrna and is set 15 miles in from the Aegean coast. The ancient historian Pliny called it "the most distinguished city in Asia Minor." Of all the cities of the 7 churches, Pergamum is the best-preserved archeologically. The name Pergamum means "a citadel", which is an appropriate description-the city rises like a fortress atop a huge hill in the Valley of Caicus. Key terrain with a commanding view of the Mediterranean Sea and surrounding area.
In spite of its natural defenses, the city surrendered quickly to Rome rather than be conquered. The city elders saw Rome’s aggressive advance and realized that there was little hope of survival should they oppose the Legion…so they offered their service to Rome and in return became the official Roman seat of government, the provincial capital of Asia Minor-a quid pro quo.
Pergamum was practically overrun with pagan temples. The city was the center of worship of the deity Asclepius, the so-called "god of healing". An ancient coin depicts the Emperor rendering honor to Asclepius, raising his right arm in an exact gesture of the Nazi salute. The symbol of this god was a snake entwined around a staff. This image can still be seen today as the caduceus, or emblem of the medical profession. A constant influx of people came to Pergamum to be healed of their diseases. The city was also renowned for its temple to Caesar Augustus, the first temple ever built to honor a living emperor.
Pergamum got its name from its invention of vellum, a writing material made from animal skins. This invention aided its library, which contained over 200,000 volumes. Authors from all over were invited to contribute to the massive collection of writings, which was second only to the library of Alexandria. I wonder if this library had the most significant book of all?
The description of Christ in vs 12 refers back to how He is vividly portrayed in 1:16, "…out of His mouth came a sharp double-edged sword." Pergamum was granted by Rome the rare power of capital punishment, symbolized by the sword. Jesus uses the sword of His truth to oppose falsehood and advance His Kingdom. Hebrews 4:12 observes that the "word of God is full of living power, sharper than any double-edged sword; cutting deep into our innermost thoughts and intentions, exposing us for what we really are." Our Savior’s words are life-changing, cutting away our camouflage and penetrating our defenses. They lay bare our sin and need.
Jesus tells His church, "I know where you live-where Satan has his throne" (vs 13). This may refer to a massive throne-like altar of Zeus that overlooked the city. Our Lord understands that His people are living in an unbelieving world; He is well aware of the continuous pressure of pervasive, anti-Christian influences. His followers are sheep among wolves. The same holds true for today-we are besieged with ungodly worldviews and secular philosophies. We are in enemy-occupied territory!
Of all the 7 cities, Pergamum was the one in which the church was most likely to clash with the Roman imperial worship. The pagan residents of the city were willing to accommodate other gods, but they were not willing to tolerate an exclusive religion, whose Savior claimed, "No one comes to the Father but through Me" (John 5:40).
In spite of opposition, the church was committed to Christ; they did not deny their faith. Jesus singles out a martyr, Antipas, who opposed the idolatry of the Empire and was faithful unto death. His name means "against all"; Jesus calls him a "faithful witness." How would He describe us?
In spite of their faithful stand, all was not well with the church. In vss 14-15 they are rebuked for tolerating in their fellowship the false teachings of Balaam and the Nicolaitan heresy (which the Ephesian church opposed, 2:6). Balaam was a renegade Jewish prophet hired by the king of Moab to curse Israel. The scheme was unsuccessful; God wouldn’t allow the prophet to utter curses. However, Balaam advised the king to corrupt the Jews by tempting them to intermarry with pagans and accommodate the worship of idols. The followers of Balaam are those who perform religious work for ulterior motives, covetous gain, and who corrupt God’s people in the process.
Paganism continues today. I’ve met people who claimed to be practicing pagans, of which there are many forms. Some call themselves New Age practitioners, others call themselves witches, druids, nature worshippers or wiccan. Pagan and occult thinking does not take sin seriously. It is a self-serving, self-indulgent, "anything goes" worldview. Witchcraft may seem harmless, but its values and practices are dangerous.
Paul cautions us, "Do not copy the behavior and customs of this world-don’t let the world squeeze you into its mold-but let God transform you into a new person by changing how you think" (Rom 12:2). The church of Pergamum was being influenced by worldly ideas and was moving into a compromising position.
Our Lord’s rebuke includes eating food sacrificed to idols. The notion is that we’re to avoid even the appearance of evil-doing. Meat sold in the marketplace wasn’t intrinsically evil, but it was associated with idolatry, and conveyed acceptance of anti-Christian practices. Paul explains that "what is sacrificed to idols is offered to demons" (I Cor 10). This is guilt-by-association. Do we engage in some questionable activities? How does our participation affect us, and our witness for Christ? Are we conveying a message that we condone unbiblical practices or ideas? We need to avoid even the appearance of evil.
We also need to know what we believe and why, in order to stand firm for the sake of Biblical truth. Otherwise, as Christ warns us in vs 16, His word of truth will become a word of chastening. In John 12 Jesus warns, "There is a judge for the one who rejects Me and does not accept My words; that very word which I spoke will condemn him at the last day" (12:48).
Pergamum had no problem accommodating Christianity--one more god was not a problem. And it was easy to appease the state religion. A bust of the Emperor was set atop an altar with a fire burning below. To make a sacrifice to the "Spirit of Rome" all one had to do was to sprinkle a few grains of incense on the fire and say the words, "Caesar is Lord". That’s all; simple and easy. But the call to faith in Christ is a call to be set apart. Paul urges us, "Don’t team up with those who reject God. How can you make a partnership out of right and wrong? How can light live with darkness? What harmony can there be between Christ and the devil? How can a believer be a companion with an unbeliever?" (II Cor 6:14-16). This is a call to separate ourselves from the unbelieving world.
Vs 17 promises two rewards for overcomers. The first is the "hidden manna", a reference to the pot of manna that was stored inside the Ark of the Covenant, a reminder of God’s faithful provision. Just as ancient Israel was fed by manna in the wilderness, so under the New Covenant we have our soul’s hunger satisfied by Christ. Jesus declared, "I am the Bread of Life. All who come to me will never go hungry. I am the living bread that came down from heaven. All who eat of this bread will live forever." Those who refuse the pagan banquets will feast at Christ’s Kingdom-table of eternal life.
The second reward is a white stone inscribed with a new name. Black and white stones were used by judges to convey their verdict. A black stone indicated a guilty verdict and conveyed judgment. A white stone indicated acquittal or pardon. Some see it a token to get into heaven. On this white stone is a new name. God occasionally grants new names to mark a new relationship or responsibility. For example, Abram and Saul (of Tarsus) became Abraham and Paul. It was customary in the days of the early church for converts to take on a new name at baptism, to signify one’s life changing rebirth (and because many-Gentile converts-were named after pagan deities).
Having a mentor is of little use if we’re not open to correction. We need to be willing to hear the good news and the bad. Not everyone is teachable. The book of Proverbs repeatedly points out that those who refuse to be counseled refuse to be helped. The words of Jesus our Mentor may sting, but they come from His great compassion. We need to remember that while God loves and accepts us as we are, He loves us too much to leave us that way. His objective is to transform our lives, for our good and His glory.
