Church of Pergamos – The Compromising Church
(Pergamum, or Pergamos, either is correct)
(Pergamum, or Pergamos, either is correct)
Ruins of the Church of Pergamos
History and background of Pergamos
Pergamos was situated 40 miles past Smyrna along the ancient Roman postal road.
Pergamos inherited the ancient system of sun worship from Babylon. According to
Revelation 2:13, Pergamos was Satan's seat. It was a center of ancient sun worship,
and the place where the famous altar of Zeus (The god of sky and thunder in Greek
mythology) stood on a terrace on the slopes of the mount.
Today, the city of Bergama lies at the base of the mountain on which Pergamos
once sat. Excavations nearby have uncovered a vast complex which included two Model of the Great Altar of Zeus
temples, a theater, and a medical library. Some of the most famous physicians
practiced here. It was one of the oldest cities of Asia, and today it is known as Bergamah, or Bergama. Many of its ancient ruins can still be seen today, including one known as the Hospital.
A. Pergamum was known for many interesting things:
1. It was the birth place of Galen, who next to Hippocrates, according to Trench, was the most illustrious physician of the
ancient world.
2. It was the home of the second largest library in the world. Alexandria, Egypt had the largest library. Anthony gave this
library to Cleopatra, who added the 200,000 volumes to the library at Alexandria.
3. The writing material called parchment was invented at Pergamum. This city gave the name parchment to this new writing
material. It was invented when Egypt refused to supply papyrus for book making.
4. It was called the royal city of Asia. It also served as the political capital of the province for more than two centuries.
It later willed itself to Rome in 133 BC.
B. Pergamum was known for its religious centers.
1.There were three distinct types of pagan religions in this city:
a. Popular Asiatic (variety of different religions such as Judaism and Islam)
b. Cultured Greek
c. Official Roman or emperor worship. This was more political than religious.
2. Asclepius was one of the more important gods whose temple was located at Pergamum. This was the god of medicine
and cures. Asclepius’ symbol was that of a snake curled around a staff. Our medical symbol was fashioned after that of
Asclepius. He was also called “saviour.”
3. There were temples to the goddess Roma, and another to Augusts Caesar by the year 29 BC. Others would come later.
Pergamum was the first place outside of Rome to worship Caesar as a god. His official temple was located in this city.
4. The religious practices of the various temples were filled with riotous activities and every known vice.
Problems at Pergamos
The Christians at that time lived in a city that functioned around pagan worship. To not be part of the rituals, ceremonies, celebrations and worship of numerous gods was counter-cultural to say the least, and they actually risked serious punishment including death at the whim of the authorities if they refused to go along with those practises.
While the church in Pergamum was assaulted from the outside, it also faced serious internal religious deception. This is described as the teaching of Balaam and the Nicolaitans (2:14-15). Balaam’s story is found in Numbers 22-24. He was a prophet who manipulated Israel into falling under God’s curse. Balaam’s motive was personal gain (2 Peter 2:15; Jude 6). He had been offered riches and power by Balak, a gentile king, to destroy God’s people, Israel.
The prophet found a way to accomplish the king’s desire. Balaam devised a plan whereby he caused the men of Israel to commit sexual immorality with Moabite women and to sacrifice to their gods in a community meal during a festival (Numbers 25:1-2). Thus he led Israel into sin by causing the nation to accommodate itself to idolatrous pagan religion and its immortality. Balaam came to stand for an evil individual who seduces God’s people into sin. (See 1st Corinthians 8 concerning the eating of things offered to idols).
Following the teaching of the Balaamites and Nicolaitans, some church members in Pergamum had violated the freedom and grace they enjoyed in Christ. They had lapsed into a sinful accommodation with idolatry and immorality. The seriousness of the poor spiritual condition of some at Pergamum was underscored by Christ’s warning. He would fight against those who practice false doctrine with the sword of his mouth (2:16).
Promise to Pergamos
Those who conquered in the Pergamum church – who didn’t fall prey to this heresy – were promised salvation under the metaphor of the “hidden manna” and “white stone with a new name” (2:17). Manna is another Old Testament symbol. It was the food God supernaturally supplied to the Israelites during their 40-years in the wilderness (Exodus 16:11-15). In Revelation the manna would refer to the spiritual food by which God gives life to his people. It is, like the fruit of the tree of life, a symbol of salvation and eternal life.
The meaning of the white stone is less clear. Several interpretations are possible. That’s because stones were used in a variety of situations in ancient times. A white stone given to a person at the close of a trial meant he was acquitted of his crime. This symbolic meaning for the Christian is clear. Children of God have been exonerated of their sins through Christ’s cleansing sacrifice. It is through Jesus’ atoning blood that we freely receive our acquittal. The ideal of judicial judgment would also link the white stone to the “great white throne judgment” (20:11). This is a symbol of God’s final, just and merciful judgment on humanity.
Stones also served as admission tickets to public festivals and assemblies. Metaphorically, this would mean the Christian had been granted admittance to the messianic feast at the Savior’s return (19:18-19). A white stone may also have represented a happy and momentous day for the Christian – the receiving of the ultimate reward of salvation.
The color white is characteristic of Revelation. It speaks of white garments (3:5), white robes (7:9), white linen (19:8, 14), and the great white throne judgment (20:11). White, in these cases, represents a kind of spiritual purity.
The meaning of the “new name” written on the white stone appears to have Old Testament roots (2:17). When speaking of Zion – a type of the church perfected – Isaiah repeated the promise of God to his people: “You will be called by a new name that the mouth of the Lord will bestow” (Isaiah 62:2).
The new name represents a new status given to the individual by God. We see the custom in the Old Testament. Jacob becomes Israel (Genesis 32:28); Abram becomes Abraham (Genesis 17:5); Sarai becomes Sarah (Genesis 17:15). In the New Testament, Saul becomes Paul (Acts 13:9). The custom of giving a person a new name to go along with a new status was also found in the Roman world. Octavius became Augustus when he was crowned Roman emperor.
For the Christian, the “new name” would have great spiritual significance. Christ will give the member a new status. He will be resurrected into the kingdom of God – with a new existence and unparalleled glory (Romans 8:18-21). The idea of newness in the “new name” is another theme in Revelation. We have a new Jerusalem (3:12; 21:2); a new heaven and earth (21:1); a new song (5:9; 14:3). And God says at the book’s end, “I am making everything new!” (21:5).
The Church today
In many ways, some of the churches today are like the church in Pergamum. They are trying to live the Christian life and remain faithful to Jesus Christ in the midst of a pagan culture. There are numerous pressures to adopt the values of society and be conformed to the image of this world. As a nation, we don’t bow before statues of Zeus and Athena, but we do erect altars of arrogance, podiums of pleasure, and shrines of selfishness. American culture worships the gods of power, money, materialism, success, celebrities, and entertainment!
Satan will use the same strategy with the our churches today as he did with the church in Pergamum two-thousand years ago. He doesn’t openly attack the church through external persecution; he attacks it by trying to get us to compromise our biblical values and to conform to the culture around us.
History and background of Pergamos
Pergamos was situated 40 miles past Smyrna along the ancient Roman postal road.
Pergamos inherited the ancient system of sun worship from Babylon. According to
Revelation 2:13, Pergamos was Satan's seat. It was a center of ancient sun worship,
and the place where the famous altar of Zeus (The god of sky and thunder in Greek
mythology) stood on a terrace on the slopes of the mount.
Today, the city of Bergama lies at the base of the mountain on which Pergamos
once sat. Excavations nearby have uncovered a vast complex which included two Model of the Great Altar of Zeus
temples, a theater, and a medical library. Some of the most famous physicians
practiced here. It was one of the oldest cities of Asia, and today it is known as Bergamah, or Bergama. Many of its ancient ruins can still be seen today, including one known as the Hospital.
A. Pergamum was known for many interesting things:
1. It was the birth place of Galen, who next to Hippocrates, according to Trench, was the most illustrious physician of the
ancient world.
2. It was the home of the second largest library in the world. Alexandria, Egypt had the largest library. Anthony gave this
library to Cleopatra, who added the 200,000 volumes to the library at Alexandria.
3. The writing material called parchment was invented at Pergamum. This city gave the name parchment to this new writing
material. It was invented when Egypt refused to supply papyrus for book making.
4. It was called the royal city of Asia. It also served as the political capital of the province for more than two centuries.
It later willed itself to Rome in 133 BC.
B. Pergamum was known for its religious centers.
1.There were three distinct types of pagan religions in this city:
a. Popular Asiatic (variety of different religions such as Judaism and Islam)
b. Cultured Greek
c. Official Roman or emperor worship. This was more political than religious.
2. Asclepius was one of the more important gods whose temple was located at Pergamum. This was the god of medicine
and cures. Asclepius’ symbol was that of a snake curled around a staff. Our medical symbol was fashioned after that of
Asclepius. He was also called “saviour.”
3. There were temples to the goddess Roma, and another to Augusts Caesar by the year 29 BC. Others would come later.
Pergamum was the first place outside of Rome to worship Caesar as a god. His official temple was located in this city.
4. The religious practices of the various temples were filled with riotous activities and every known vice.
Problems at Pergamos
The Christians at that time lived in a city that functioned around pagan worship. To not be part of the rituals, ceremonies, celebrations and worship of numerous gods was counter-cultural to say the least, and they actually risked serious punishment including death at the whim of the authorities if they refused to go along with those practises.
While the church in Pergamum was assaulted from the outside, it also faced serious internal religious deception. This is described as the teaching of Balaam and the Nicolaitans (2:14-15). Balaam’s story is found in Numbers 22-24. He was a prophet who manipulated Israel into falling under God’s curse. Balaam’s motive was personal gain (2 Peter 2:15; Jude 6). He had been offered riches and power by Balak, a gentile king, to destroy God’s people, Israel.
The prophet found a way to accomplish the king’s desire. Balaam devised a plan whereby he caused the men of Israel to commit sexual immorality with Moabite women and to sacrifice to their gods in a community meal during a festival (Numbers 25:1-2). Thus he led Israel into sin by causing the nation to accommodate itself to idolatrous pagan religion and its immortality. Balaam came to stand for an evil individual who seduces God’s people into sin. (See 1st Corinthians 8 concerning the eating of things offered to idols).
Following the teaching of the Balaamites and Nicolaitans, some church members in Pergamum had violated the freedom and grace they enjoyed in Christ. They had lapsed into a sinful accommodation with idolatry and immorality. The seriousness of the poor spiritual condition of some at Pergamum was underscored by Christ’s warning. He would fight against those who practice false doctrine with the sword of his mouth (2:16).
Promise to Pergamos
Those who conquered in the Pergamum church – who didn’t fall prey to this heresy – were promised salvation under the metaphor of the “hidden manna” and “white stone with a new name” (2:17). Manna is another Old Testament symbol. It was the food God supernaturally supplied to the Israelites during their 40-years in the wilderness (Exodus 16:11-15). In Revelation the manna would refer to the spiritual food by which God gives life to his people. It is, like the fruit of the tree of life, a symbol of salvation and eternal life.
The meaning of the white stone is less clear. Several interpretations are possible. That’s because stones were used in a variety of situations in ancient times. A white stone given to a person at the close of a trial meant he was acquitted of his crime. This symbolic meaning for the Christian is clear. Children of God have been exonerated of their sins through Christ’s cleansing sacrifice. It is through Jesus’ atoning blood that we freely receive our acquittal. The ideal of judicial judgment would also link the white stone to the “great white throne judgment” (20:11). This is a symbol of God’s final, just and merciful judgment on humanity.
Stones also served as admission tickets to public festivals and assemblies. Metaphorically, this would mean the Christian had been granted admittance to the messianic feast at the Savior’s return (19:18-19). A white stone may also have represented a happy and momentous day for the Christian – the receiving of the ultimate reward of salvation.
The color white is characteristic of Revelation. It speaks of white garments (3:5), white robes (7:9), white linen (19:8, 14), and the great white throne judgment (20:11). White, in these cases, represents a kind of spiritual purity.
The meaning of the “new name” written on the white stone appears to have Old Testament roots (2:17). When speaking of Zion – a type of the church perfected – Isaiah repeated the promise of God to his people: “You will be called by a new name that the mouth of the Lord will bestow” (Isaiah 62:2).
The new name represents a new status given to the individual by God. We see the custom in the Old Testament. Jacob becomes Israel (Genesis 32:28); Abram becomes Abraham (Genesis 17:5); Sarai becomes Sarah (Genesis 17:15). In the New Testament, Saul becomes Paul (Acts 13:9). The custom of giving a person a new name to go along with a new status was also found in the Roman world. Octavius became Augustus when he was crowned Roman emperor.
For the Christian, the “new name” would have great spiritual significance. Christ will give the member a new status. He will be resurrected into the kingdom of God – with a new existence and unparalleled glory (Romans 8:18-21). The idea of newness in the “new name” is another theme in Revelation. We have a new Jerusalem (3:12; 21:2); a new heaven and earth (21:1); a new song (5:9; 14:3). And God says at the book’s end, “I am making everything new!” (21:5).
The Church today
In many ways, some of the churches today are like the church in Pergamum. They are trying to live the Christian life and remain faithful to Jesus Christ in the midst of a pagan culture. There are numerous pressures to adopt the values of society and be conformed to the image of this world. As a nation, we don’t bow before statues of Zeus and Athena, but we do erect altars of arrogance, podiums of pleasure, and shrines of selfishness. American culture worships the gods of power, money, materialism, success, celebrities, and entertainment!
Satan will use the same strategy with the our churches today as he did with the church in Pergamum two-thousand years ago. He doesn’t openly attack the church through external persecution; he attacks it by trying to get us to compromise our biblical values and to conform to the culture around us.
3. The Church of Pergamos - Rev 2:12 -17
Rev 2:12 "To the angel of the church in Pergamum write: These are the words of him who has the sharp, double-edged
sword.
Rev 2:13 I know where you live--where Satan has his throne. Yet you remain true to my name. You did not renounce your
faith in me, not even in the days of Antipas, my faithful witness, who was put to death in your city--where Satan
lives.
Rev 2:14 Nevertheless, I have a few things against you: There are some among you who hold to the teaching of Balaam,
who taught Balak to entice the Israelites to sin so that they ate food sacrificed to idols and committed sexual
immorality.
Rev 2:15 Likewise, you also have those who hold to the teaching of the Nicolaitans.
Rev 2:16 Repent therefore! Otherwise, I will soon come to you and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth.
Rev 2:17 Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who is victorious, I will give
some of the hidden manna. I will also give that person a white stone with a new name written on it, known only to
the one who receives it.
Rev 2:12 "To the angel of the church in Pergamum write: These are the words of him who has the sharp, double-edged
sword.
Rev 2:13 I know where you live--where Satan has his throne. Yet you remain true to my name. You did not renounce your
faith in me, not even in the days of Antipas, my faithful witness, who was put to death in your city--where Satan
lives.
Rev 2:14 Nevertheless, I have a few things against you: There are some among you who hold to the teaching of Balaam,
who taught Balak to entice the Israelites to sin so that they ate food sacrificed to idols and committed sexual
immorality.
Rev 2:15 Likewise, you also have those who hold to the teaching of the Nicolaitans.
Rev 2:16 Repent therefore! Otherwise, I will soon come to you and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth.
Rev 2:17 Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who is victorious, I will give
some of the hidden manna. I will also give that person a white stone with a new name written on it, known only to
the one who receives it.
