The church in Pergamum, or Pergamos (KJV, NKJV), was the third church addressed by the Lord at the beginning of the book of Revelation. Like the church discussed in the previous lesson (Smyrna), this church and city are mentioned nowhere else in the New Testament. Also like Smyrna, the church in Pergamum experienced persecution. One of their number had even been killed as a result. Yet the Lord warned them not to compromise the truth, even in the face of persecution.
“And to the angel of the church in Pergamum write: The One who has the sharp two-edged sword says this: ‘I know where you dwell, where Satan’s throne is; and you hold fast My name, and did not deny My faith even in the days of Antipas, My witness, My faithful one, who was killed among you, where Satan dwells. But I have a few things against you, because you have there some who hold the teaching of Balaam, who kept teaching Balak to put a stumbling block before the sons of Israel, to eat things sacrificed to idols and to commit acts of immorality. So you also have some who in the same way hold the teaching of the Nicolaitans. Therefore repent; or else I am coming to you quickly, and I will make war against them with the sword of My mouth. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes, to him I will give some of the hidden manna, and I will give him a white stone, and a new name written on the stone which no one knows but he who receives it’” (Revelation 2:12-17).
About the City
Pergamum was not a commercial center like Ephesus or Smyrna. Its geographic position was not conducive to that. However, it was home to a famous library that contained over 200,000 books. The writing and recording of knowledge was so intertwined with the city’s identity that the word parchment is derived from the name Pergamos.*
The Lord also described the city as the place “where Satan’s throne is” (Revelation 2:13). We may immediately think of this as representing opposition to the truth as it is stated in connection with them holding fast to the name of the Lord and one of their own being killed. Yet there is more to this. Pergamum was the home of the false deity Asklepios, the god of healing, which had a serpent as its emblem.** The Christians there would recognize the Lord as the giver of life and the one with the power to heal, which would put them at odds with the population who attributed such power to their “god.” The city was also a center of Emperor worship, making these brethren appear even stranger to the populace.
Letter to the Church
The previous letter to the church at Smyrna deviated slightly from the structure of the other letters because those brethren received no condemnation or warning of punishment for sin if they did not repent. However, like Ephesus and the majority of these churches, Pergamum had some positive qualities that were to be commended and some problems that needed to be addressed.
- Description of Jesus – Jesus identified Himself to this church as “the One who has the sharp two-edged sword” (Revelation 2:13). In the previous chapter, this “sharp two-edged sword” was described as coming “out of His mouth” (Revelation 1:16). This signifies His words, teaching, and instructions. This is a clear reference to “the word of God [which is] is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart” (Hebrews 4:12). In a city of great learning with emphasis placed upon books, the Lord reminded them of the importance and power of His words.
- Current circumstances – They were, figuratively, dwelling where Satan’s throne was (Revelation 2:13). The Lord identified a disciple named Antipas as “My witness, My faithful one, who was killed among you” (Revelation 2:13). The Greek word witness (martys) is where we get the word martyr. While this persecution was coming against them, they also had false teachers among them (Revelation 2:14-15).
- Commendations – They held fast to the name of Christ (Revelation 2:13). They did not deny Him, even during the persecution that claimed one of their own.
- Condemnations – Some of them held the teachings of Balaam and the Nicolaitans (Revelation 2:14-15). This implies their tolerance of these false teachers, unlike the church at Ephesus, which was commended for refusing to accept such individuals (Revelation 2:3, 6). The “teaching of the Nicolaitans” (Revelation 2:15) included adopting pagan worship and committing acts of immorality (Revelation 2:14). Despite their refusal to deny Christ, they were compromising their faith and tolerating the false religion and sinful practices of the people around them.
- Punishment for sin – The Lord warned that He would come and “make war against [the false teachers] with the sword of [His] mouth” (Revelation 2:16). The implication is that those who tolerated them would be caught up in that punishment.
- Reward for faithfulness – If they would repent, they would receive “hidden manna, …a white stone, and a new name” (Revelation 2:17). This signifies that the Lord would sustain them and claim them as His own.
Main Lesson: Don’t Compromise the Truth
The brethren in Pergamum recognized Jesus and refused to deny Him, even in the face of persecution. This is certainly a good thing. Many Christians, from the first century until now, have failed to do this. However, they tolerated those who taught a different doctrine, and this would eventually lead to sin. It may not have gotten that far yet, but they were on the “slippery slope.” It was inevitable that this tolerance would lead to sin and total apostasy if they did not repent. Yet when persecution rages, it is tempting to band with any ally that can be found, including the false teachers they had no business accepting.
This is the lesson for us today. We must not accept or tolerate error, even if we are faced with the threat of persecution.
Paul warned the Galatians about this at the beginning of his letter to them: “I am amazed that you are so quickly deserting Him who called you by the grace of Christ, for a different gospel; which is really not another; only there are some who are disturbing you and want to distort the gospel of Christ. But even if we, or an angel from heaven, should preach to you a gospel contrary to what we have preached to you, he is to be accursed! As we have said before, so I say again now, if any man is preaching to you a gospel contrary to what you received, he is to be accursed!” (Galatians 1:6-9). Changing the gospel makes it a different gospel, which will never allow us to please the Lord. Instead, we will have departed from the grace He has extended to us. But the danger is not just in what we personally believe and practice; it also includes the ones we accept into our fellowship. Notice what John wrote:
“Anyone who goes too far and does not abide in the teaching of Christ, does not have God; the one who abides in the teaching, he has both the Father and the Son. If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not receive him into your house, and do not give him a greeting; for the one who gives him a greeting participates in his evil deeds” (2 John 9-11).
John warned that if we tolerate false teachers, we lose our fellowship with God. Those who teach error must be marked and avoided (Romans 16:17), not welcomed and accepted. Yet tolerance becomes more tempting as our society becomes increasingly godless and persecution arises. Two hundred years ago, brethren debated and combatted false doctrines like Calvinism. Today, with debates over issues like transgenderism, Calvinism does not seem like so much of a threat. While we need to confront the prominent social issues today, we cannot compromise the truth on other issues in the process.
Conclusion
We need to hold onto our faith, even in the face of persecution. Yet we also need to defend the truth. If we compromise and tolerate false teachers, we can lose our fellowship with God.
Let us value the truth because it is from God, and hold fast to it as we hold fast to the Lord.
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*William Barclay, Letters to the Seven Churches, p. 41.
**William Barclay, Letters to the Seven Churches, p. 42-43.
