Welcome back to our study of the book of Revelation, today we’ll turn our eyes to Revelation 2:12-17, the message sent to the church in Pergamum.
What is the historical context of Pergamum during the time this letter was written?
To fully comprehend this passage, it’s essential to understand Pergamum’s historical context when this letter was written. Known as the most prominent city in Asia Minor, Pergamum was home to the inaugural temple dedicated to Caesar, positioning it as a strong advocate for the imperial cult. Additionally, the city housed a temple devoted to Aesculapius, the deity of healing. Legend has it that Aesculapius, the god of healing one one occasion in the house of a man named Gaucus, whom he was to cure, while he was absorbed in his thoughts, a serpent twined around his staff. He killed it, and then another serpent came in carrying in its mouth a herb with which it recalled to life the one that had been killed. Aesculapius consequently used that herb, with healing effects on mankind. So an elaborate system of magic grew around this god and Pergamum became a focus of idolatrous worship. This is certainly why Revelation 2:13 identifies Satan’s throne and domicile as Pergamum. Now the snake coiled around the staff remains a recognized emblem in today’s medical field.
The Passage
12 “And to the angel of the church in Pergamum write: ‘The words of him who has the sharp two-edged sword.
13 “‘I know where you dwell, where Satan’s throne is. Yet you hold fast my name, and you did not deny my faith[b] even in the days of Antipas my faithful witness, who was killed among you, where Satan dwells. 14 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. 15 So also you have some who hold the teaching of the Nicolaitans. 16 Therefore repent. If not, I will come to you soon and war against them with the sword of my mouth. 17 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.’
Verse 12 : The opening message
Who are the intended recipients of this message?
The message is primarily directed towards the congregation or church in Pergamum. These individuals were enduring substantial persecution, as confirmed by the scripture, but they also faced the damaging impact of compromise. Certain individuals had managed to infiltrate the church and began spreading misleading doctrines. It’s important to recall that this city was identified as the location of Satan’s throne and dwelling place, implying that he would undoubtedly deploy every tool at his disposal against God’s people.
What is the significance of the “sharp two-edged sword”?
The “sharp two-edged sword” mentioned in the Lord’s initial message to the church in Pergamum carries significant symbolism. It represents the Word of God, a powerful tool that accomplishes its intended purpose. As highlighted in the book of Ephesians, among all the elements in the armor of God, the Word of God is the only weapon used for attack.
This concept is further exemplified in Jesus’ encounter with Satan in the wilderness. Even when faced with Satan’s attempts to manipulate God’s own words to lead Him astray, Jesus effectively used the Word of God to counter and overcome these attacks. Thus, the “sharp two-edged sword” symbolizes not just conflict, but the power of God’s Word to triumph over adversities.
Verse 13: Approval
The repeated mention of “Satan’s throne” and “Satan dwells” is significant, emphasizing the corruption within the city. Pergamum was the first city to erect a temple dedicated to Caesar, thereby promoting and reinforcing emperor worship. This wasn’t merely a matter of local religious practice; from Jesus’ perspective, it was a direct challenge and defiance against the armies of the living God. Satan’s throne represents a spiritual dimension that we often overlook.
Often, people dismiss such idol worship as mere custom or tradition. However, behind these practices lies a system orchestrated by Satan himself. The establishment of the first temple dedicated to Caesar in Pergamum marked the city as Satan’s dwelling place. And let’s not forget that in the same city, was celebrated Aesculapius, the god of healing, so this was really a culmination of evil, therefore Satan’s dwelling place.
Jesus, in His two previous letters, usually begins with “I know your deeds.” But in this case, He says, “I know where you dwell,” reflecting his awareness of their situation. He understands the complexities of their city and encourages them to hold fast to his name. They did not deny who He is. They did not deny His faith see what the scripture says here. He didn’t say you didn’t deny your faith. He said you didn’t deny “my faith”, thus putting an emphasis on the fact that Jesus is the one who produces and establishes Faith in his followers. So this is the faith that HE has given or granted to us and the church in Pergamum exuded it.
Antipas was martyred for his refusal to declare Caesar as lord , and even though the church knew that they awaited the same fate, they remained loyal to their unwillingness to accept Caesar as lord. They declined to sprinkle incense on the altar and proclaim Caesar as their lord. The Lord’s self-description, “He who wields the sharp sword,” undoubtedly fortified their resolve. As He communicated with them, He declared Himself as the bearer of the double-edged sword – a symbol often associated with war and conflict.
They understood that it was Him who held the double-edged sword. They didn’t succumb to pressure or agree with the Romans ‘ mandate. Despite the Romans’ attempts at coercion, including persecution and even murder to force them to acknowledge Caesar as their lord, they stood firm. They resisted all, refusing to yield to temptation. Now, let’s delve into verses 14 and 15.
Verses 14-15: Accusation
Essentially, there’s a wealth of information here that requires careful examination. These people exhibited immense courage in the face of persecution, yet they were far from flawless in the eyes of the Lord. Satan was unsuccessful in destroying them through overt force and persecution, so he resorted to deceitful tactics to infiltrate their church, hence the term “compromising church.”
So, what happened next? The story of Balam, an Old Testament prophet ( a shady character), becomes relevant. In the Book of Numbers, Balak, the king of Moab, approached Balam, a fortune teller and false prophet, to curse God’s people. Despite Balak’s repeated attempts, Balam insisted that he couldn’t curse those whom God had blessed. Each time Balak sought his guidance, Balam refrained from cursing the people of Israel.
However, Balam was fond of money, and because he was overmastered by God, he sought revenge by causing Israel to sin. Though Balam couldn’t curse God’s people directly, he advised Balak on how to lead them into sin – by encouraging marriages between their communities. This led to the Israelites sinning against God, as documented in Numbers 31.
Numbers 31:16 states, “Moses said to them, ‘Have you let all the women live? Behold, these, on Balam’s advice, caused the people of Israel to act treacherously against the Lord in the incident of Peor, and so the plague came among the congregation of the Lord.'” The women enticed the men of Israel, leading to sin against God and subsequent punishment, resulting in 24,000 deaths. The incident was recorded in Numbers 25:1-9,
While Israel lived in Shittim, the people began to whore with the daughters of Moab. 2 These invited the people to the sacrifices of their gods, and the people ate and bowed down to their gods. 3 So Israel yoked himself to Baal of Peor. And the anger of the Lord was kindled against Israel. 4 And the Lord said to Moses, “Take all the chiefs of the people and hang[a] them in the sun before the Lord, that the fierce anger of the Lord may turn away from Israel.” 5 And Moses said to the judges of Israel, “Each of you kill those of his men who have yoked themselves to Baal of Peor.”
6 And behold, one of the people of Israel came and brought a Midianite woman to his family, in the sight of Moses and in the sight of the whole congregation of the people of Israel, while they were weeping in the entrance of the tent of meeting. 7 When Phinehas the son of Eleazar, son of Aaron the priest, saw it, he rose and left the congregation and took a spear in his hand 8 and went after the man of Israel into the chamber and pierced both of them, the man of Israel and the woman through her belly. Thus the plague on the people of Israel was stopped. 9 Nevertheless, those who died by the plague were twenty-four thousand.
A comparable situation was unfolding in the church in Pergamum, which Jesus addressed. Therefore, understanding the meaning of ‘Nicolaitans’ becomes crucial. The term ‘Nicolaitans’ signifies ‘ruling the people,’ which is similar to Balam’s meaning, ‘lord of the people.’ These individuals professed to be believers and were exercising control over others. As I previously mentioned, the story of Balam offers a relevant analogy.
In the church in Pergamum, the members fell into the Nicolaitans’ trap. They began to suggest that there was no harm in being friendly with Rome or showing loyalty to Caesar by sprinkling a pinch of incense on the altar. Essentially, the Nicolaitans infiltrated the church, convincing members that these actions were harmless and even encouraging compromise, which led people into sin. As per another commentary, the Nicolaitans were a group of Gnostics who believed that physical actions did not matter as long as one’s spirit loved the Lord. They likely enticed people to commit acts displeasing to God, such as sexual immorality, under the false belief that what one did with their body had no spiritual consequences. They also encouraged some of the congregants to consume food sacrificed to idols. Under the pressure of persecution ( abject poverty), some may have compromised their faith.
The Nicolaitans may have told them, “If offered, why not eat it? It won’t hurt you.” This kind of compromise can lead to spiritual defeat. Hence, the Lord expressed His displeasure for those holding onto the teachings of the Nicolaitans. Jesus then explains what He intends to do in response. That leads us to verses 16 and 17.
Verses 16-17: The Admonition
Jesus issues a call to repentance. He warns, “If not, I will come to you soon and wage war against them with the sword of my mouth.” Essentially, Jesus is urging them to change their ways, warning that He will soon arrive to wage war against those who refuse.
Who are the ones He’s referring to? The Nicolaitans. Jesus promises to wage war against the Nicolaitans and anyone who adheres to or lives by their teachings, all of whom will face the Lord’s wrath. However, it’s important to note that the “coming” referred to here isn’t the Second Coming. Instead, it refers to an impending consequence or disciplinary action for these actions.
In verse 17, the message continues, “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.” This phrase concludes each message, indicating that those who hear and receive this message must take action – in this case, repentance. Basically, if the spirit enables anyone to hear and receive this message, then there is to be an action, repentance has to follow. And Jesus also says,
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.’
How are we to understand this? I’ve been examining some commentaries on this topic, specifically the Wiersbe commentary and the Preacher’s Homiletic Commentary. I’m eager to share their insights on this particular verse.
Wiersbe Commentary:
God fed the Israelites with the manna during the wilderness and a pot of the manna was placed in the ark of the covenant ( Exodus 16:32-36, Hebrews 9:4). Instead of eating things sacrificed to idols, the believers in Pergamum needed to feast on God’s holy food, the bread of life found in Jesus Christ through the Word of God ( Mark 4:4). The ark of the covenant was the throne of God in contrast to Satan’s throne which only held authority in Pergamum.
As far as the white stone, here’s what Wiersbe had to say about it. The white stone was put into a vessel by a judge to vote acquittal on trial. It was also used like a ticket to gain admission to a feast. Both would certainly apply to the believer in a spiritual sense- he has been declared righteous through faith in Christ and he feasts with Christ today.
Homiletic commentary
“Eat of the hidden manna” to satisfy feast-feeling. The figure may be based on the legend that Jeremiah hid the temple pot of manna. Manna is divinely provided food- spiritual food. The addition of hidden makes it clear that it was not such manna as was provided for Israel, meaning not something to merely satisfy bodily appetite. The point is this: overcome, and hold in wise restraint bodily appetite, and Christ’s reward will be the culture of spiritual appetite, with abundant supply of spiritual food.
“White stone and new name”, to satisfy the love of human relations. When houses of public entertainment were less common, private hospitality was the more necessary. When one person was received kindly by another, or a contract of friendship was entered into, the tessera hospitalis was given. It was so named from its shape, being four sided: it was sometimes of wood , sometimes of stone. It was divided into two by the contracting parties; each wrote his own name on half the tessera. Then they echanged pieces, and therefore the name or device on the piece of the tessera which each received was the name of the other person had written on it, and which no one else knew but him who received it. It was carefully prized, and entitled the bearer to protection and hospitality. The idea is, that human friendships and relations should become wholly pure, freed from carnal strain, sanctified, heavenly, the friendship of purified souls.
My observations:
Verse 16 reminds me of Jesus’ time in the wilderness when He was tempted by Satan. The first temptation targeted His physical need – hunger. However, Jesus retorted by saying that man does not live by bread alone but by every word that comes from God’s mouth.
In a similar vein, the believers in Pergamum were urged to resist the temptation of physical needs, such as hunger, by focusing on God. It was God who would provide them with true sustenance, the heavenly manna, which truly satisfies the soul.
Naturally, this wouldn’t be an easy task. Hunger is a powerful force, but they were reassured that the Spirit of God would strengthen and assist them in overcoming this challenge. As for the interpretation of the new name on the stone, I appreciate both perspectives and don’t feel the need to delve any deeper than what has already been shared.
PS: I started Tayibs.com for the sole purpose of exploring difficult questions about the Christian faith that most of us shy away from. All the content generated on this website is thoroughly analyzed prior to being shared. And the site is run solely by myself, your generous support is very much appreciated
My name is Tayib Salami and I started Tayibs.com for the sole purpose of exploring difficult questions about the Christian faith that most of us shy away from. In 2017, I entered a very dark time in my life and it’s only by the grace of the Living God that I’m still alive today. It led me to really go deeper in my faith and consider a myriad of questions that I never thought about asking myself or others before. Welcome and enjoy the ride with me.