Pergamos

Revelation 2:12-17 And to the angel of the church in Pergamos write; These things said he which has the sharp sword with two edges; I know thy works, and where thou dwell, even where Satan’s seat is: and thou hold fast my name, and have not denied my faith, even in those days wherein Antipas was my faithful martyr, who was slain among you, where Satan dwell. But I have a few things against thee, because thou have there them that hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balac to cast a stumbling block before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed unto idols, and to commit fornication. So have thou also them that hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitans, which thing I hate. Repent; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth. He that has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit said unto the churches; To him that overcome will I give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man know saving he that receive it. 

Pergamos was a town in Mysia on the river Caicus about 80, 5 kilometres north of Smyrna.

There are three things commended of Pergamos: their works, them holding fast to Christ’s name and not denying the faith.

‘Satan’s seat’ the literal place from where satan rules on earth (John 12:31; 14:30; 16:11; Eph. 2:2).

‘Not denied’ it is possible for Christians to deny the faith, but individuals of this congregation held fast to the faith.

‘Antipas was my faithful martyr’ an unknown Christian who became known by his martyrdom for Christ. There is a book called The Acts of Antipas, which makes him the bishop of Pergamos and states that he was put to death by being enclosed in a burning brass bull.

‘Few things against thee’ four things condemned in Pergamos: Holding the doctrine of Balaam; eating things sacrificed to idols; committing fornication and holding the doctrine of the Nicolaitans.

‘Doctrine of Balaam’ this was to teach Balak that if he would give his most beautiful women to the Israelite men and cause them to commit idolatry that God Himself would curse Israel (Num. 21:8, 16; 25:1-9).

‘Nicolaitans’ were followers of Nicolaus, a heretic. They are thought to have been a sect of Gnostics who practised and taught impure and immoral doctrines, such as the community of wives, that committing adultery and fornication was not sinful, and that eating meats offered to idols was lawful.

‘Repent; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth’ this is the 5th prophecy in Revelation that was fulfilled. Repentance is required of all backsliders (2:5, 16, 21, 22; 3:3, 19). That there is a possibility of backsliders not repenting is clear from the fact that if they did not repent, they would be judged.

‘To him that overcome will I give to eat of the hidden manna’ only those who overcome are promised heaven (2:7, 11, 17, 26; 3:5, 12, 21). The second part of the 5th prophecy but still unfulfilled.

‘Hidden manna’ the Greek word krupto translated as hide; kept secret and secretly.  John 6:33 explains: “For the bread of God is he which comes down from heaven, and gives life unto the world.” Manna was a typology of the bread [Christ = Word] to come. 1 Corinthians 13:12 teaches that we now see through a glass, darkly; thus not clearly; but in future, we will see face to face: that we now know in part; but then shall know even as we are also known. Whatever has not been revealed to us of Christ, we will know in full.

‘White stone’ these were known to the ancients as victory stones. Also in ancient times, they meant pardon and the evidence of it. Judges had white and black stones. If a black one was given the criminal he was condemned; if a white stone he would be pardoned. Conquerors in the public games were also given white stones with their names in them, which entitled them to be supported the rest of their lives at public expense. Perhaps all three things are meant by the white stone to the one that overcomes.

‘New name’ we will receive new names just as Israel’s name will be changed to Hephzibah, meaning delight; and their land will be called Beulah, meaning married (Isa. 62:2, 4; 65:15). Even Jesus Christ will have a new name (3:12).