The next church addressed is the church in Pergamum. The city was located about 16 miles from the Aegean Sea, north of the river Caicus which is modern-day Bakircay, Turkey. It sat on a promontory which is a mass of land overlooking a lower plain of land or body of water. God addresses this church using the characteristic of Himself as the one holding the two-edged sword (1:16; 2:12). References to the sword often refer to judgment or discipline of some kind (Gen. 34:25-26; Ex. 5:3; 22:24; Lev. 26:25). This isn’t always the case however, because the sword was also referred to as a symbol of protection (Deut. 33:29). This is not the case unfortunately for this church. God is ready to start cutting. In other words, this church was faced by the sword. But with Him being a loving and encouraging God, He recognizes some good that they are doing as part of His blueprint in these addresses to the churches (see Overview from beginning of series). The church is praised for having kept their faith (2:13). However, God has something against them. He claims that their church is where Satan’s throne is (2:13). The great altar of Pergamum is located currently in Pergamon Museum in Berlin, Germany. This altar was said to have been dedicated to Zeus which could be why John refers to it as Satan’s throne because of the overriding pagan influence within the church. Other issues which were going on within the church were their acceptance of false doctrine. Many were carried into the teachings of Balaam and Nicolatians (2:15). Balaam is an Old Testament pagan prophet or a “prophet for profit” as some call him who counseled King Balak of Moab to have Israel commit sexual immorality with the Moabite women (2:14; Num. 25:1-9; 31:16; Jude 11). They also adopted the teachings of the Nicolatians (see Church @ Ephesus). This church was charged to repent or turn from the false doctrine they accepted or God would attack them with the sword (2:16). Notice how Pergamum’s issue was false doctrine breeding in the church and how God responds with the sword. In the New Testament, the sword is used often to symbolize truth or sound doctrine (Eph. 6:17; Heb. 4:12) which at times could produce necessary conflict (Matt. 10:34). This is another blueprint example from the overview of how God’s characteristic from chapter 1 has a direct relevance to the church being addressed (1:16; 2:12, 16). The hidden manna for the one that conquers may refer to God’s ability to sustain His children as He had done in history with Israel in the wilderness (Numbers). We as Christians feed on Jesus Christ spiritually as the bread of life (John 6:48-51). The white stone represented a vote of acquittal which was given to the overcomers (2:17). Is sound doctrine an issue with your local church? Is it an issue with you? We really need to be careful of the kind of teaching we receive and if it is contrary to what God’s word teaches. We live in a world today where sound doctrine is the new heresy. The idea of biblical truth is secondary to teachings that have nothing to do with the Scriptures. The lack of accountability and integrity with the Scriptures puts American churches in the same category as Pergamum who allowed these things in the church. So I encourage you to be on the right side of the sword. Amen
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