TEMPTED
Revelation 2:12-17
The Worldly Church – 312 AD to 600 AD
Other parts of this series can be found in The Bride folder
Compromise is but the sacrifice of one right or good in the hope of retaining another—too often ending in the loss of both. Tryon Edwards
Just 70 miles up the road from Smyrna, seated high up on a hill overlooking the River Caicus was the commercial and political center called the “greatest city in Asia,” the “illustrious city” and the “most famous city.” It never achieved the commercial success of Ephesus or Smyrna but it was the capital of Asia for 200 years and a center of culture that surpassed both of them.
The city boasted a library in the Temple of Trajan that rivaled the one in Alexandria, Egypt with over 200,000 scrolls. In fact Ptolemy Epiphanes, the king of Egypt, was so concerned that the library in Alexandria would be surpassed that he refused to export any papyrus, which forced the scholars in this royal city to develop material upon which to write. As a result they used animal skins and created parchment.
This city with all its culture was also a great religious center with altars to Zeus and Asclepios, the god of healing referred to as Asclepious Soter; Asclepious Savior. His emblem was the two-headed serpent on a staff; the caduceus, which is still used as the medical symbol today and an image that was imprinted on their coins. It was also the center of emperor worship for Asia where all men were required to take the name of the Lord and give it to Caesar.
It was a time when the last emperor of Rome was dead and things were changing for the church as Constantine in his 325AD “Edict of Toleration” established freedom of religion. He didn’t make Christianity the state religion — that came later under Theodosius in 378AD — he just made Christianity legal. Theodosius was the one who forced conversions that filled the churches with unregenerates, which effectively married the church and the pagan world.
It was from this city whose name means citadel or fortified tower that heathenism, idolatry and paganism radiated all over Asia. Of all the seven cities this was and by far the worst, the most evil with an atmosphere totally adverse to any effective Christian life and testimony… Pergamos, the seat of Satan.
Rev 2:12 And to the angel of the church in Pergamos write, ‘These things says He who has the sharp two-edged sword:
With his opening words Jesus immediately challenged not only the believers in Pergamos (per; mixed or objectionable + gamos; marriage) but all those who lived there and submitted themselves to Rome and its rule. For their submission Rome granted them the rare power of capital punishment; recognized by the sword.
Roman governors were divided into two classes, those with the sword and those without; those with the right to use it at anytime and those who could not. Jesus addressed that authority by reminding them that His sword was more powerful than all the others and that it was drawn and ready. His sword is not only a symbol of judgment but is symbolic of the Word of God’s twofold ability to separate believers from the world and condemn the world for its sin. It’s both the sword of salvation and the sword of death; no heart is so hard that it can’t be cut by the Word of God, dividing the soul and sinful habits.
Rev 2:13 I know your works, and where you dwell, where Satan’s throne is. And you hold fast to My name, and did not deny My faith even in the days in which Antipas was My faithful martyr, who was killed among you, where Satan dwells.
Jesus said that He knew (oida; sees and understands) their works and where they dwell (katoikeis; have one’s personal residence). This is contrasted with usual the word associated with Christians in the 1st century; paroiken – sojourner. The point here is that as far as the world is concerned they have made their “permanent” home in the city where Satan’s throne is (thronos; seat); represented by emperor worship. This was the very thing that made Pergamos truly the worst of the seven cities.
Even though the church was dwelling in such an evil city Jesus noted that they held fast (were steadfast) and did not run away during the past days of persecution. They were faithful to His name and were not ashamed of being Christians; they didn’t flinch in the face of martyrdom. Jesus emphasized that by using the name of Antipas (against all) who He said was His faithful martyr. The word He used was martus, which is translated as “witness.” However, during the persecution being a witness was just a precursor to being a martyr. But there is a deeper meaning here for the church. Rather than referring to his martyred death Jesus referred to him with the same name john used for Jesus in His opening words:
Rev 1:5 and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler over the kings of the earth.
While Antipas’ death did not escape Jesus it was His “witness” that made the deepest impression. It made a clear statement to the believers at Pergamos, which we will see in a moment when He called attention to their problem. That same point is valid for the church today. How many Christians demonstrate their Christianity in Christian circles but not out in the world where there is opposition? Sadly the percentage is far from the 100% it should be because Satan’s plan today is exactly the same as it was then; undermine a Christian’s loyalty to Jesus through persecution. The only thing that varies is the type of persecution he uses, and he is a master at using “just the right type” to get the job done on an individual basis.
Rev 2:14 But I have a few things against you, because you have there those who hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balak to put a stumbling block before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed to idols, and to commit sexual immorality.
I have read this verse many times and each time I glossed over three very key words; you have there. Jesus cut right to the heart of the matter; they were “there” (in their midst). And “they” were the ones that were holding (kratountas; using strength to seize or retain) to what had been taught by Balaam (conquer the people) in Numbers 31:16; if you can’t curse them, corrupt them. The Doctrine of Balaam was the marriage of the church and the world, his Way is covetousness and his Error was to give up eternal rewards for temporal gain. This is what Peter had to say about these false teachers:
2Peter 2:15 They have forsaken the right way and gone astray, following the way of Balaam the son of Beor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness;
What was happening in Pergamos was the church trying to be all things to all people and as such they were tolerating those who held those worldly views, allowing them to infiltrate the church and bring corruption into the body of Christ. Mixing the things of the world with the church was compromising the message and ministry of the church. Jesus condemned those that followed that doctrine and He also charged the church with tolerating them in its midst; compromising their purpose.
The filthiness of the spirit and the filthiness of the flesh often go together — corrupt doctrines and corrupt worship often lead to corrupt conversation. Matthew Henry
The most common word for Christians in the New Testament is the Greek word hatios, which means “different” or “separate.” But Christians cannot be separate if they are trying to fit into the world around them. If we compromise our values because of “tolerance” then we err as did the Christians in Pergamos. Today the word tolerance has lost its meaning, even in the church. Rather than “allowing” someone their belief when it is opposed to ours many feel that we must “accept” and “approve of” that belief or behavior. That is where Jesus found fault with Pergamos; they were accepting the teachings of Balaam by not standing up against them. Paul put this in perspective for us in his letter to the Corinthians:
1Cor 9:19-23 For though I am free from all men, I have made myself a servant to all, that I might win the more; 20 and to the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might win Jews; to those who are under the law, as under the law, that I might win those who are under the law; 21 to those who are without law, as without law (not being without law toward God, but under law toward Christ), that I might win those who are without law; 22 to the weak I became as weak, that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all men, that I might by all means save some. 23 Now this I do for the gospel’s sake, that I may be partaker of it with you.
Paul didn’t say he accepted their view, a view that opposed the gospel. He didn’t become a part of their world, rather he went into their world and met them where they were; a huge difference. He tolerated (allowed) their view because he wanted to be a witness to them but he did not accept it. He identified with them but did not become one of them. The Christians in Pergamos had gone too far as we shall see.
Rev 2:15 Thus you also have those who hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitans, which thing I hate.
Here we have the Nicolaitans that we met at Ephesus who espoused eating food sacrificed to idols and sexual immorality, but unlike the Christians in Ephesus who stood against them there were those in the church at Pergamos who engaged them; as in verse 14 you also have. They had them in their congregation and were accepting their views and teachings by not standing against them. Jesus made it clear a second time that He “hates” not the people but their deeds (Rev 2:6). Unfortunately His church at Pergamos did not and it brought about a stiff rebuke.
Next time we’ll look at the answer Jesus gave them to rectify their situation. It’s one that needs application by some of the bride in America today.