The Church at Pergamos Was Worldly
July 12, 2022
Commentary
Pergamos was the capital of a Roman province located about 55 miles north of Smyrna and was known for its learning, science and especially medicine. Like Ephesus and Smyrna, it was a wealthy city but was stooped in idolatry and was averse to any Christian life and testimony. It claimed to have one of the finest libraries of that day and was the first place where parchment was used. Jesus emphasizes to the believers of Pergamos that he has the sharp double-edged sword to take care of the faithful (v. 12). The Lord commends the church for its steadfastness in the very center of Satan’s domination (v. 13). People worshiped the Greek gods in the temple in which the most prominent object was the writhed serpent. The Christians at Pergamos had been true to God under severe testing but had compromised their testimony in other ways which is mentioned next.
Tolerance of worldly morality and pagan doctrine was prevalent in the church. They were guilty of severe compromise by following the teaching of Balaam and the teaching of the Nicolaitans (vv. 14-15). Balaam had taught king Balak that he could get Israel to sin through intermarriage with heathen women and through idol worship (Num. 22:25; 31:15-16). Intermarriage with heathen women was a problem in Pergamos. The teaching of the Nicolaitans had reference to an unwarranted exaltation of the clergy. Christ sharply rebuked this church with a call to repentance and a warning of judgment (v.16). He then promised that there are rewards for repentance and faithful service (v. 17).
Application
I must be faithful under internal as well as external pressure. My life needs to display my beliefs.
Revelation 2:12– 17 (NET)
12 “To the angel of the church in Pergamum write the following:
13 ‘I know where you live—where Satan’s throne is. Yet you continue to cling to my name and you have not denied your faith in me, even in the days of Antipas, my faithful witness, who was killed in your city where Satan lives. 14 But I have a few things against you: You have some people there who follow the teaching of Balaam, who instructed Balak to put a stumbling block before the people of Israel so they would eat food sacrificed to idols and commit sexual immorality. 15 In the same way, there are also some among you who follow the teaching of the Nicolaitans. 16 Therefore, repent! If not, I will come against you quickly and make war against those people with the sword of my mouth. 17 The one who has an ear had better hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who conquers, I will give him some of the hidden manna, and I will give him a white stone, and on that stone will be written a new name that no one can understand except the one who receives it.’
Illustration: Bells at Westminster Out of Tune
Some years ago, musicians noted that errand boys in a certain part of London all whistled out of tune as they went about their work. It was talked about and someone suggested that it was because the bells of Westminster were slightly out of tune. Something had gone wrong with the chimes and they were discordant. The boys did not know there was anything wrong, and quite unconsciously they had copied their pitch. So we tend to copy the people with whom we associate; we borrow thoughts from the books we read and the programs to which we listen, almost without knowing it. God has given us His Word, which is the absolute pitch of life and living. If we learn to sing by it, we shall easily detect the false in all of the music of the world. (Source Unknown).