Pergamos, Its Believers' Characteristics
The Compromising Church
Pergamos was built on a hill 1000 feet above the surrounding countryside, creating a natural fortress. It was a sophisticated city; a center of Greek culture and education, with a 200,000 volume library. But, it was also the city of four cults, and it rivaled Ephesus in its worship of idols. The city's chief god was Asclepius, whose symbol was a serpent and who was considered the god of healing. People came to Pergamos from all over the world at that time to seek healing from this god. John, the Lord Jesus' representative, spoke these words to Pergamos: “And to the angel of the church in Pergamos write,
‘These things says He who has the sharp two-edged sword: “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. 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. Thus you also have those who hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitans, which thing I hate. Repent, or else I will come to you quickly and will fight against them with the sword of My mouth.
“He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes I will give some of the hidden manna to eat. And I will give him a white stone, and on the stone a new name written which no one knows except him who receives it.”’
Just as the Romans used their swords for authority and judgment, the Lord Jesus' two-edged sword represents the Lord God's ultimate authority and judgment.
As the center of four idolatrous cults (Zeus, Dionysius, Asclepius and Athena). Pergamos was called the city "where Satan's throne is". Surrounded by worshipers of Satan and the Roman emperor looked at as god, the believers (or church) at Pergamos refused to renounce their faith in the Lord Jesus, even when Satan's worshipers martyred one of their members, they stood firm against the strong pressures and temptations of that society. It is never easy, but the alternative is deadly. Remember, “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. He who overcomes shall not be hurt by the second death.”
It wasn't easy to be a believer in Pergamos. Believers experienced great pressure to compromise the Lord God's principles and laws. Remember, they are the Lord God's laws and principles that we are to obey and live by. I have to share this, nothing is known of Antipas except that he never compromised principles and laws. He was faithful to the Lord Jesus, even though he lived where "Satan lived". Apparently however, some in the church were tolerating those who taught and practiced what the Lord Jesus opposed. To compromise can be defined as a blending of the qualities of two different things or a concession of principles; to cooperate with people as much as you can but avoid any alliance, partnership or participation that can lead to immoral practices. They tolerated sin, compromising their beliefs. There is room for differences of opinion among believers in some areas, but there is no room for heresy and moral impurity. Your city, community and family might not participate in idol feasts as you know it, but it probably has pornography, sexual immorality, cheating, gossiping and lying. Do not tolerate disobedience to the Word of God by bowing to the pressure to be open-minded.
Revelation 2:12-17; 2:11
~~W.R. Luchie
continue to part 2
Pergamos was built on a hill 1000 feet above the surrounding countryside, creating a natural fortress. It was a sophisticated city; a center of Greek culture and education, with a 200,000 volume library. But, it was also the city of four cults, and it rivaled Ephesus in its worship of idols. The city's chief god was Asclepius, whose symbol was a serpent and who was considered the god of healing. People came to Pergamos from all over the world at that time to seek healing from this god. John, the Lord Jesus' representative, spoke these words to Pergamos: “And to the angel of the church in Pergamos write,
‘These things says He who has the sharp two-edged sword: “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. 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. Thus you also have those who hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitans, which thing I hate. Repent, or else I will come to you quickly and will fight against them with the sword of My mouth.
“He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes I will give some of the hidden manna to eat. And I will give him a white stone, and on the stone a new name written which no one knows except him who receives it.”’
Just as the Romans used their swords for authority and judgment, the Lord Jesus' two-edged sword represents the Lord God's ultimate authority and judgment.
As the center of four idolatrous cults (Zeus, Dionysius, Asclepius and Athena). Pergamos was called the city "where Satan's throne is". Surrounded by worshipers of Satan and the Roman emperor looked at as god, the believers (or church) at Pergamos refused to renounce their faith in the Lord Jesus, even when Satan's worshipers martyred one of their members, they stood firm against the strong pressures and temptations of that society. It is never easy, but the alternative is deadly. Remember, “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. He who overcomes shall not be hurt by the second death.”
It wasn't easy to be a believer in Pergamos. Believers experienced great pressure to compromise the Lord God's principles and laws. Remember, they are the Lord God's laws and principles that we are to obey and live by. I have to share this, nothing is known of Antipas except that he never compromised principles and laws. He was faithful to the Lord Jesus, even though he lived where "Satan lived". Apparently however, some in the church were tolerating those who taught and practiced what the Lord Jesus opposed. To compromise can be defined as a blending of the qualities of two different things or a concession of principles; to cooperate with people as much as you can but avoid any alliance, partnership or participation that can lead to immoral practices. They tolerated sin, compromising their beliefs. There is room for differences of opinion among believers in some areas, but there is no room for heresy and moral impurity. Your city, community and family might not participate in idol feasts as you know it, but it probably has pornography, sexual immorality, cheating, gossiping and lying. Do not tolerate disobedience to the Word of God by bowing to the pressure to be open-minded.
Revelation 2:12-17; 2:11
~~W.R. Luchie
continue to part 2
