The Apostle John’s letter to the church at Pergamos may be outlined under six headings: Destination (2:12), The Lord (2:12), Commendation (2:13), Condemnation (2:14-15), Exhortation (2:16), Promise (2:17).
Destination (Revelation 2:12)
The city of Pergamos was located about seventy miles north of Smyrna. It was perhaps the most important city in Asia, noted for having a famous medical school, and a library of over 200,000 volumes, and was the place where parchment was first used. The church of Pergamos is representative of church history during the period from A.D. 315 until A.D. 500.
The Lord (Revelation 2:12)
Christ, the source as well as the focus of this letter, identified Himself as the One with the sharp, two-edged sword protruding from His mouth (Revelation 1:16; 2:16; 19:15, 21). The sword symbolizes judgment and separation. The Word of God cuts away impurities in His church and executes judgment on non-believers. The Word of God has the definite answer to man’s need and man’s sins, which in Pergamos was false religion.
Commendation (Revelation 2:13)
Christ was quite aware that these believers were serving Him under severe circumstances. It was suggested that Christ’s reference to Satan’s seat was in Pergamos because it was the most important center for emperor worship in Asia. Like its sister church in Smyrna, the church at Pergamos was standing firm for the faith even in the midst of satanic opposition. This church did not renounce their faith as they felt the heavy hand of persecution as those of the imperial cult who proclaimed that “Caesar is Lord;” however, these believers steadfastly affirmed that “Jesus is Lord.” Even though Antipas had been put to death for his faithfulness, that fact did not cause these believers to give up their faith!
Condemnation (Revelation 2:14-15)
The Lord had a few things against the Pergamos church in spite of its successes. The church was guilty of compromising with the teachings of Balaam and the Nicolaitans. Balaam had tried to fulfill King Balak’s request that he curse Israel (Numbers chapters 22-24), but God had not allowed him to do so. Balaam attempted to defeat Israel from within by counseling the Moabites to get Israel to sin through intermarriage with heathen women and through idol worship (Numbers 31:15-16). Christ also hated the fact that some of them held to the teaching of the Nicolaitans. Little is known for certain about this group (Nicolaitans); however, some advocated that this group encouraged self-indulgent conduct, especially in the area of morality. The church in Pergamos was not disciplining those who were compromising with pagan worship and immorality.
Exhortation (Revelation 2:16)
Christ’s instruction was simple: “Repent.” They needed to confront those who were corrupting the church. If they refused, Christ would come quickly and fight against them. Christ will judge them with the sword of His mouth. Compromise with the world and immorality in the body of Christ will be judged by God.
Promise (Revelation 2:17)
Jesus gave a promise for those who would listen and obey. They would be given the hidden manna (Divine food) and a white stone (Divine favor) with a name on it. The hidden manna Christ offers in verse 17 was all the spiritual food the church needed. The overcomer (believer) is also promised a white stone (Divine favor), for he or she is eternally secured, for John 5:24 states: “Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on Him that sent Me, hath ever-lasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.”
May God Bless!
Dr. Johnny Calvin Smith
