Have you ever tried to straddle a fence? Not a good choice in life or church. Sometimes as a Christian we think we can sneak a little sin in our life and it won’t have any long term effect. However, Jesus wrote a letter (sent through the Apostle John) to the church in Pergamos to warn them of the danger of worldly influences.
City: Pergamos
Pergamos was the ‘Washington DC’ of the area. By the time John penned Revelation, Pergamos had been Asia’s capital for almost 250 years. It was a powerful city.
It was the first city to erect a temple to Zeus (one of 7 Wonders of the World) and the first to erect a temple to Caesar Augustus (29 BC). It was a place where emperor worship most practiced. To be a good citizen was to worship Zeus and Caesar.
The city’s name comes from pergos ‘tower’ and gamos ‘marriage.’ In this city religion and politics were combined. Politics was religion and religion was politics. This gives you a little background of the church. They were faced with many pressures to adjust to the unChristian society. It’s kind of like today.
Christ: Two-edged Sword
Jesus describes Himself with a ‘sharp, two-edged sword.’ This reference is to God’s Word that should be used to decipher false teaching and doctrine.
Commendation: Not Deny His Name
Jesus’ one positive comment is that they did not ‘deny His name.’ Though the church was near ‘Satan’s Seat’ (possibly the Altar of Zeus or Caesar’s statue or the mystery religion of Babylon), they still professed faith in Jesus. However, the doctrine of Jesus is not enough.
Condemnation: Balaam & Nicolatans
This church allowed two false doctrines to be taught:
The Doctrine of Balaam. Balaam, in the Old Testament, had the heathen women seduce the Hebrew men into marrying them, which led to their idol worship. There were those in the church who taught that sexual sins and idolatry were okay.
The Doctrine of the Nicolaitans. The word, Nicolaitans, means ‘conquer people.’ This group taught ecclesiastical hierarchy (high & low class in church). Jesus hated this division. Though the majority in the church did not participate in these errors, they tolerated it.
Correction: Repent
These false teachers were told by Jesus to repent or He would deal with them. And the church was to repent for their attitude of compromise with evil. Jesus will fight against His own church if it allows false doctrine. The only remedy for sin is repentance.
Challenge: Manna & Stone
Jesus promises ‘hidden mann’ and a ‘white stone’ to those who follow His instructions. The ‘hidden manna’ is a reminder of how God feeds His people. It also refers to Christ (John 6:51) and is a reminder that intimate fellowship with Christ strengthens us.
The ‘white stone’ refers to court cases in those days. Innocent verdicts were cast with a white stone. Though condemned in Roman courts, believers are justified at the court of eternal justice.
On this stone was a ‘new name.’ This may refer to the closeness with Jesus – so close Jesus can give knowledge of Himself no one else can share.
Churches and individual Christians should never compromise with immoral activities or false teachings. We should do all we can to live right and believe right. When we do, we will experience a closeness to Jesus that is amazing.