Pergamum: The Compromising Church

Rev. 2:12-17 (ESV) 

      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 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.'

1.  Introduction

Pergamum was sort of the Washington DC of the Roman Empire.  It was the center cog for Rome’s operation.  It was the seat of Satan. 

Satan has often used two tactics to render the church powerless.  The first tactic is that he persecutes the church and the second is he seduces the church.

2. Christ’s Commission (2:12)

Christ highlights His Word as the weapon to overtake the enemy (Hebrews 4:12; Ephes. 6:17).

3. Christ’s Commendation (2:13)

To the Church in Pergamum Jesus declares I know where you live. This city was the center of satanic activity for Asia.  Pergamum had a center for Satan worship and was given a throne which emperor worship was practiced… where Satan's throne is. 

Even in all this the church was faithful in two areas.

      A. Held fast to the name of Christ.

B. Held fast to their faith in Christ.

It wasn’t the false gods they looked to for salvation.  They came to Christ on His terms…by grace through faith. They continued even in the worst of times.

4. Christ’s Condemnation (2:14-15)

Unfortunately, with this church, suffering had not perfected it but had caused it to give in, a little here and a little there.  Oh they still considered themselves Christian but they were not the pure church that the Lord wanted them to be. They had allowed compromise to remain within the church.

The church told the truth with its lips but lied with its life (1 John 2:4-6).

A. The Teaching of Balaam

In all likelihood there were those in the first century church who, like Balaam with Balak, told the Roman government how to beat God’s people.  Like Balaam who wanted the praise of men these leaders preached God’s Word sometimes and the other times wanted desperately to fit in with the popular vote.  They caused the Christians to sin, bringing God’s curse to the church.

      B. The Teaching of the Nicolaitans

They upheld the name of Christ but wanted to straddle the fence.  They wanted a little Christianity and a little of the world.  They taught that as a Christian you could pretty much do whatever you wanted because after all, God would forgive you.

5. Christ’s Confrontation (2:16)

Compromise had invaded the church.  In an effort to be pleasing to all, all were happy except for one person…the only one who really matters, Jesus Christ.  Jesus now launches His counter attack…Repent.

Unless there is repentance, Christ will declare war on these people. Just like Jesus cleansed the temple He will cleanse His church (Matthew 21:12-13).

6. Christ’s Challenge (2:17)

A. The Gift of Hidden Manna

God promised manna to His people in the wilderness.  God says He has hidden manna.  As the church, we must avoid this deadly error, the error of substituting false manna for the true manna (John 6:30-35).

The hidden manna is the eternal provision found in our Lord Jesus Christ.  The manna that came down from heaven is a foreshadowing of the true manna that came down from heaven and gives eternal sustenance to all who partake.

B. The Gift of a White Stone

Here, every true believer will be given a new name, a new character, a new righteousness that will last forever (2 Cor. 5:17).

7. Bigelow’s Challenge

Christ knows our situation every bit as well as He knew the Church of Pergamum’s.  He knows the things we are doing right and He knows the things we are doing wrong.  He expects the church, and especially the leaders, to be on the offensive when it comes to the things He would condemn. He will also show us mercy, patience and grace.  If we seek to be obedient to His Word as a church Christ will also grant us repentance. Let’s never settle for meat sacrificed to idols, which is an unholy substitute, when we can feast on the true manna from heaven… Jesus Christ.