Pergamum was considered to be the jewel of the ancient world. It was capital of the province of Asia; its governor was one of the few who had the power of life and death.
Pergamum was also a city that maintained a large temple to Dionysus [or Bacchus], the god of wine. The ceremonies used wine to achieve a state wherein the worshiper was united with the god – in other words, they got drunk. The cult was so sexually immoral that it was banned in Rome, if you can imagine that.
The city of Pergamum also worshiped Asclepiads, the snake god, the god of healing. At the temple that conducted his worship, the priests turned away the mortally ill and pregnant women who were near term – too much risk to the reputation of the god. The temple was shaped like the Parthenon, and at the entrance, large white stones about 4 ft high and 3 ft square were erected. When a visitor was healed of something, his name was inscribed on the stone along with the disease or condition they were healed from.
There was also a temple to Demeter in Pergamum, where worshipers washed in bull’s blood, as well as a temple to Zeus, a temple to Caesar, one to Hera, and one to Heroclese, plus many others. Can you imagine trying to bring up children in such a place?
Pergamum was a city so dedicated to worship of false gods that it was a common everyday part of the believer’s lives. There was a literal spectrum of gods and goddesses to worship, with the added requirements of emperor worship, and if you refused, you could lose your life.
“Where Satan lives . . .” is the way Jesus chose to describe this ancient city. After reviewing the last two cities, how could this one be a worse place to try to be a Christian?
Jesus description of himself is: The one with the sharp two-edged sword, the Warrior Lord who holds the sword that cuts both directions, wounding the righteous and the unrighteous alike, since we all are guilty.
Jesus compliments them that even thought they live at the center of satan’s kingdom, they hold fast to his name and have not denied their faith, even when threatened with martyrdom, which some suffered.
And yet even in the face of this bravery, Jesus asks them to repent – there are some who teach as Balaam did – intermarry and compromise their beliefs. Further, they participate in the local feasts. Eze 14:4 says: “ 4Give them this message from the Sovereign LORD: I, the LORD, will punish the people of Israel who set up idols in their hearts so they fall into sin and then come to a prophet asking for help.” Idols in our hearts represent the things we want the most, our compromise with the antichrist system, our participation in the world’s ways, because it is expected to get along. Worse, some in Pergamos accept the teaching of the Nicolaitians – even worse than accepting their works, as the Ephesians did, these promulgate the error by teaching it.
The consequence of non-repentance is that the Lord will wage war against them with the sword of his mouth. This sword is a fearsome weapon, which the Lord will use at his second coming to demolish his enemies. If he allows it to be loosed against the people of his church, much pain will come to both righteous and unrighteous, so that it becomes the burden of all to correct the issues.
Overcomers promise: I shall give some of the hidden manna; I shall also give a white stone upon which is inscribed a new name, which no one knows except the one who receives it.
Jesus himself is the hidden manna, the bread of life. During the tribulation, famine will be widespread, yet he promises to provide the hidden manna. He also offers a stone of memorial to them, similar to the monuments set up by men in Pergamum, so that no honor should escape them – his promises are always better. And He will give them a new name, and when God changes a name, He adds the breath of life to it.
