Revelation 2:12-17

To the Compromising Church

Pergamos was the capital of the province of Asia. It was built on a large conical hill overlooking a broad fertile valley 30 miles north of Smyrna and 15 miles inland from the sea. The sharp two-edged sword out of Christ's mouth would seem to be His word, with which He defends and comforts the faithful while fighting against the faithless (Hebrews 4:12; Ephesians 6:17). Jesus knows what Christians do as well as what they go through because he knows where they live. Hailey says, "As early as 29 B. C. a temple dedicated to Roma and Augustus was erected in the city as the first and, for a time, the only temple of the imperial cult in all Asia." There was an altar to Zeus there which was 90 feet square and 40 feet high. There was also an altar to Athena and they worshiped Asklepios the god of healing and medicine. This god was symbolized by a serpent on a staff and there was both a temple and school of medicine in the city devoted to him. Despite all of this, the Christians there held fast to the deity and Lordship of Jesus, or his authority. Antipas was an example of a faithful witness who had died for his testimony (Revelation 2:12-13; 1 John 2:22; Judges 1:3).

While most of the church at Pergamos was faithful, they tolerated the doctrine of Balaam. This must have reference to Numbers 23:1-30; Numbers 24:1-25 where Barak, king of Moab, tried to get Balaam to curse God's people. When God would not allow such a curse, Balaam advised the king to use the women of Moab to entice Israel into idolatry through harlotry (Numbers 31:16; Numbers 25:1-9). The word "stumbling block" comes from the word skandalon which is the part of a trap the bait is placed upon. The doctrine of the Nicolaitans must have been that one could be a Christian and still participate in the pagan feasts going on in the city. Such a doctrine would entice people away from service to God (1 Corinthians 10:21; 2 John 1:7-11). Tolerating error in the name of love seems to have been the problem of this church (Revelation 2:14-15; 1 Corinthians 5:1-7).

God first wanted repentance from an indifferent church. Of course, the goal of their disciplinary actions would be to restore the erring, or their repentance. If the church does not take care of such matters, the Lord will because such is an effort to seduce his bride (Numbers 31:8; 2 Corinthians 11:2-3; Ephesians 5:23-27). Seeking to bring a curse upon the Lord's bride will cause one to be slain by his sword. There is the usual admonition to heed the words of this letter followed by a promise to those who overcome. Hidden manna seems to be a description of food at the Lord's banquet table. This could even describe receiving Christ in his fullness in heaven (John 6:33-35). McCord says, "As a white stone was a sign in a Greek trial of acquittal and innocence so Jesus was illustrating the complete justification of sinners in heaven according to the divine plan of the ages." The name on it was known only to Christians who received the stone. It may well actually be a descriptive name for those Christians in their new relationship with the Lord in heaven (Revelation 2:16-17).