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).
