Revelation 2:12-17 — Pergamum

Today I want to take us through Jesus' epistle to Pergamum.¶

"And to the angel of the church in Pergamum write: 'The words of him who has the sharp two-edged sword.

Revelation 2:12 (ESV)¶

First, Pergamum means "height or elevation." I don't believe in coincidences — even the smallest details in God's word have a purpose — so keep that in mind. Then we are given a description of Jesus, as in each letter: "the words of him who has the sharp two-edged sword." This is a description from chapter one, and it often plays a role in how he deals with the church. The sword of the Spirit is the word of God (Ephesians 6:17).¶

For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. And no creature is hidden from his sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give account.

Hebrews 4:12-13 (ESV)¶

In this letter Jesus identifies himself as the one who has the sword — the word of God. This is paramount to the message he wants to deliver.¶

"Where Satan's throne is"¶

"'I know where you dwell, where Satan's throne is. Yet you hold fast my name, and you did not deny my faith even in the days of Antipas my faithful witness, who was killed among you, where Satan dwells.

Revelation 2:13 (ESV)¶

Jesus lets the church know he knows where they are — such a comfort even to us today. He knows the times they live in, sees the evil that surrounds them, and more than anyone knows their enemy, Satan. Pergamum was the birthplace of the cult worship of Roman caesars as gods. It held many temples and a massive altar — the Pergamon Altar (108×118 feet, with a 66-foot staircase), probably dedicated to Zeus and Athena; many scholars believe "Satan's throne" refers to it, due to its resemblance to a gigantic throne. The city also held temples to Dionysus, Athena, Hera, Demeter, Asclepius, and the Egyptian gods. It is easy to see what Jesus meant — a wicked, idolatrous city; a throne of lies. All these gods were set up to replace the one true God, who alone is God over wisdom, healing, harvest, family, and marriage.¶

Yet they held fast Jesus' name and did not deny his faith — even when one of their own, Antipas, was martyred for preaching Christ. All we know of Antipas is what Jesus tells us here. I pray that God would give us this same fearlessness to preach Christ crucified to a lost and dying world. Jesus desires us to hold fast his name in a world where Satan seems to be ruling.¶

What Jesus has against them¶

The fact that Jesus can have something against some of these churches should not be taken lightly. Our Savior — who loves us with an everlasting love and gave his life for us — can have something against us. He came as a lowly lamb, but he did not stay that way; he is now the Lion, the Judge, the Ruler, and all authority has been given to him. If Jesus has something to correct in us, we should listen. Praise God he gives the opportunity for repentance, and often uses those in his body to do the correcting. Christ shows us the order: he encourages and reminds first, but exhorts and rebukes when necessary.¶

But I have a few things against you: you have some there who hold the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to put a stumbling block before the sons of Israel, so that they might eat food sacrificed to idols and practice sexual immorality.

Revelation 2:14 (ESV)¶

Note that he does not call out the whole church here — he calls out those who are in sin. We should not judge entire churches by the failings of some. Some held the teaching of Balaam; not all did. We first learn of Balaam in Numbers — a prophet whom Israel's enemy Balak wanted to use as a weapon (Numbers 22-24). The teaching of Balaam: he inquired of God on the enemy's behalf; he did not accept God's answer; he kept asking until he thought he could get God to change it to what he wanted; he did it all for riches; and when he couldn't get God to give him what he wanted, he taught the enemy how to get it another way. Peter warns of false teachers who "followed the way of Balaam... who loved gain from wrongdoing" (2 Peter 2:15).¶

Do we seek to subvert or go around God's word? That is the teaching of Balaam: to seek to hear from God, and then be unsatisfied with what he says; to try to alter his word to be more favorable to ourselves; to seek his word with selfish motives. If God's word is keeping me from what I want, then — Balaam reasons — God's word must be wrong. Jesus warns this church to repent of this.¶

Therefore repent. If not, I will come to you soon and war against them with the sword of my mouth.

Revelation 2:16 (ESV)¶

Again, he will war not against the entire church, but against those who hold this teaching. Remember how Jesus introduced himself here: "him who has the sharp two-edged sword." Revelation is the revealing of Jesus Christ — his unveiling to the world. He is going to come soon to war against everyone who has rejected his word, who found a way to get around it as Balaam did (Revelation 19:15). By definition, a born-again believer is someone who not only believes that Jesus lived, died, and resurrected, but who believes his words.¶

Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him.

John 3:36 (ESV)¶

The contrast is between those who believe and those who disobey — which means those who believe must also obey. To want God but not his word — to claim to follow Christ but not his word — makes us only a follower of our own flesh, not of Christ.¶

The hidden manna and the white stone¶

He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who conquers I will give some of the hidden manna, and I will give him a white stone, with a new name written on the stone that no one knows except the one who receives it.

Revelation 2:17 (ESV)¶

The hidden manna is a symbol of Christ (John 6:57-58) — hidden because it is exclusively for those who believe. The white stone with a new name is likewise exclusive: only the one who receives it knows the name. Jesus calls himself the stone the builders rejected (Matthew 21:44; Romans 9:33; 1 Peter 2:8) — those who believe in him will not be put to shame; the rest stumble because they disobey the word, which tells them to believe. And the new name we receive is his name (Isaiah 56:5; Philippians 2:9-11; Acts 4:11-12). We are in him, co-heirs with Christ.¶

This church was in a battle of words — the words of false teachers who followed their own lusts, the words of Satan in the worship of every other god, and even our own words about what we want and think is best — against the words of the one who alone saves. Let us listen and obey the words of the one who holds the two-edged sword. This is how we conquer.¶

So Jesus said to the twelve, "Do you want to go away as well?" Simon Peter answered him, "Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life, and we have believed, and have come to know, that you are the Holy One of God."

John 6:67-69 (ESV)¶

I pray that we would be like Peter and recognize that Jesus and his word are the bread, the hidden manna, that sustains our very life.¶