We are now moving further north. As we travel about one hundred miles from Ephesus and approximately sixty miles or so from Smyrna, we will come to the city of Pergamos.

Pergamos was situated about 20 miles inland. It was a wealthy city and it had many temples devoted to idol worship. It was full of statues, altars and so called sacred groves. Gods like Athena, Dionysus, Zeus and Asclepious [god of healing] all featured in Pergamos’s idolatry.

Pergamos could also boast a university and a library with some two hundred thousand hand written volumes. Priests, princes and academics dwelt within this city. Someone called it a court, a university town and a royal residence. Until the end of the first century it was the capital of the Roman province of Asia.

Pliny said it was by far the most distinguished city in Asia.

Pergamos was fanatical about Emperor worship. It was the first city to build a temple to the Roman Emperor Caesar Augustus. We have mentioned during our studies that in some of the cities of Asia Minor they had to offer sacrifices to the Emperor once per year, however, in Pergamos it was a daily requirement.

This city, as a small village, still survives today. It is known as Bergamma and is in Turkey.

As I have mentioned before there are many ways of looking at these seven letters. We have considered them prophetically during our previous studies.

Remember Ephesus, the church that left its first love. We looked at how this relates to the early church, who after Pentecost, were on fire for Jesus Christ, but the flames dwindled as time passed by.

Remember Symrna and how it relates to the church under severe persecution. During those ten periods of awful Roman rule. It was during those times, there were many that died for their faith. Polycarp, an early church martyr, was from Syrmna.

As we continue our studies we have come to Pergamus. Prophetically we don’t find a church persecuted but rather we find a church patronised by the world. The word ‘pergamos’ actually means ‘mixed marriage.’ It depicts a time when the church would be married to the state.

Interestingly in AD 313 the edict of Milan give Christians freedom to worship. Under Constantine who professed Christianity and I deliberately say "professed, " heathen priests became Christian ministers, heathen temples became churches and heathen festivals became part of the Christian calendar.

We have many reminders of this with us even to this day. In AD 324 Constantine made Christianity the official and accepted religion, indeed it was forced upon many. Christians who were once banished from the royal court were now given positions of power. Instead of plain and unpretending meeting rooms and halls, grand buildings were the order of the day.

Walter Scott said about this period of church history, "Christianity walked in golden slippers." Pagan rites and ceremonies were adapted into the churches and even the pagan vestments.

By the time you reach AD 606 Boniface, Bishop of Rome was the universal bishop and the first pope. So we can see how far the church would slide into error.

The union of state and church was a disaster that is the age prophetically speaking, represented by the Pergamos church. What the devil couldn’t do through persecution he was able to achieve thorough amalgamation, he joined the church.

Let us consider the letter to this literal church at Pergamos. The first thing we notice is the need to listen attentively, look at verse twelve.

Notice how the Lord signs his name, "He that hath the sharp sword with two edges."

We know from Hebrews that the two edged sword is the word of God.

The word used for ‘sword’ in Revelation speaks of a long spear. As we consider the following verses we can see from its use in Revelation that judgement is in view.

Rev. 19:21 And the remnant were slain with the sword of him that sat upon the horse, which sword proceeded out of his mouth: and all the fowls were filled with their flesh.

We all need to sit up and take note, Jesus Christ is about to speak and he is speaking about worldliness in the church. Worldly believers are the objects of his attack, all of us need to listen to the Lord.

We live in an age when, "Thou shalt not disagree," is a new commandment. When the motto of so many is, "Blessed are they that tolerate everything for they shall not be made accountable for anything." [A W Tozer.]

The term ‘worldliness’ is now frowned upon. It is viewed as being for some ‘old fuddy duddies." We live in an age of user friendly churches with user friendly messages. Some times the churches are market driven asking questions like, "How do we get the punters in?"

We are commanded, "Don’t preach anything that would cause believers or unbelievers to feel uncomfortable."

Some would want a sword with no edges. Praise God this book has no blunt edges rather it has two sharp edges. Sharp so it can pinpoint that, which no one else knows, sharp to enable it to get to the point. May we be willing to let God’s word cut into our stubborn hearts.

Worldliness may seem outdated to many but here is a good definition. "Worldliness is any pre occupation with, or interest in the temporal system of life that places anything perishable before that which is eternal."

The following verses contain no ambiguities in the matter of worldliness.

As I said there is no ambiguity in the word of God.

This two-edged sword will cut away all the modern nonsense, this two-edged sword will cut away all our pretence and excuses. Are we willing to listen to the one who wields the sword? Here in this letter, it is the lord Jesus Christ.

All of us need to listen attentively, there is a judge with his sword drawn and maybe it’s pointing at you?

Something else we should mention in passing as I have said this city was the capital of Asia. As such it was the centre of administration for the whole area. Interestingly the symbol of rule was a sword, one could read in Pergamus, ‘ius gladdi’ which means, ‘the right of the sword.’ The death penalty could be pronounced without recourse to any higher authority in Pergamus.

The sword in the hands of the Saviour would remind believers in Pergamus that we bow to the highest authority of all. And for Christians to marry with the world, in order to keep the Roman sword away from them, would incur the wrath of the sword of the Lord. They would surely be encouraged to adopt the attitude that Peter and the other apostles had in Acts five.

Acts 5:29 Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men.

Some people called Pergamus the city of the sword. We need to listen attentively and we want to look admirably. Before the Lord condemns he says something good about these believers. Should we not follow the Lord’s example? Must we always be looking for faults and by pass someone’s better qualities? Would that you and I would be Christ like. Consider next verse thirteen.

Notice the Lord admires their service.

"I know thy works," isn’t it good again to know that Jesus knows? The Lord doesn’t over look their labours, praise God he notices. Look again at verse thirteen.

"And where thou dwellest," Jesus Christ also knew where they were situated.

"I know thy works, and where thou dwellest, even where Satan's seat is:" Satan’s seat is Satan’s throne, it is the same word as dwell at the end of the verse.

"Where Satan dwelleth," that would indicate that Satan had his dwelling place at this time in Pergamos, this was his throne. These believers had the devil for a neighbour. Do you know what it’s like to have Satan constantly at your heels?

Do you know what it’s like for the ‘roaring lion’ to continually seek to devour you?

The Lord Jesus says, "I know, I know the trouble Satan causes, I know what Satan is trying to do in your life." Praise God Jesus knows what the devil is up to.

Why did the Lord say that Satan dwelt here in Pergamos?

Here are some of the suggestions made by various commentators, I mentioned earlier the temple of Asclepius [god of healing] the symbol associated with this temple was an entwined serpent on a pole. The link between the serpent and Satan is well known. In fact Pergamos was called the city of the serpent.

Another suggestion is that it could be the great altar to Zeus, which stood above every thing else in the city.

But many gods were worshiped in this city and there were many altars present.

Perhaps the reason why the Lord said Satan dwelt here is to be found in the city’s allegiance to Emperor worship. This was slowly becoming the unifier of all the gods, if Emperor worship did not displace it often superseded other deities. Pergamus was the first city to build a temple to Emperor Augustus; it was the spearhead of Emperor worship in Asia. This movement would be very much akin to the modern ecumenical movement, which seeks to unite all religions. The challenge facing believers in Pergamus was clear Caesar or Christ?

Could this be why Satan had his throne in Pergamos?

Remember the university was here and Satan likes to infiltrate the mind.

Pergamus was a centre of medicine and Satan likes to harm the body.

It was the capital of paganism and of course Satan likes to ruin the soul.

This was Satan’s throne and these dear believers had the devil as a neighbour.

And yet in spite of their surroundings we can look at them admirably, look again at verse thirteen.

Notice what they loved, "thou holdest fast my name," they loved the name of Jesus. They didn’t bow to the Emperors and they didn’t budge under persecution, they really loved the Lord.

Paul reminds us in Philippians of the glorious name of Jesus.

Satan himself one day will have to bow and acknowledge Jesus Christ as Lord. This name, that they held so dear, means Satan is defeated. This lovely name reminds Satan that he is damned and doomed. How the Devil hates that sweet name, but the believers in Pergamus loved his name.

Jesus said, "You hold fast my name." May we never do anything to disgrace his beautiful name. Remember what the Lord said to Paul in Acts.

May we bear his name with the holiness it deserves. Look again at verse thirteen as we look admirably at the believers in Pergamus.

Do you see what they had learned? "And hast not denied my faith."

These believers in Pergamus who were living next door to the devil had loved the name of Jesus and they had learned much from the word of God. We could say that they were fundamentalists.

Their Church constitution would have read something like this:

We believe in the virgin birth, his miraculous life, his atoning death, his bodily resurrection, his ascension to glory and his coming again. We believe in heaven for the redeemed and hell for the lost.

They were sound and had learned much from the word of God.

Let us continue to look admirable at these believers:

We have considered whom they loved, my name. We have looked at what they had learned, my faith. Let us now think of what they had lost, again looking at verse thirteen.

We can see a man who is mentioned called Antipas. Nothing is known of Antipas historically. He is unknown in the annals of history but in God’s word his name is forever recorded as a faithful martyr.

"Faithful martyr," is the same as faithful witness, look back to chapter one and verse five.

Christ is called a "Faithful witness," so in other words Antipas had a Christ like character. Interestingly his name means, "against all." History tells of a believer, who was challenged about his faith, he was told, "The whole world is against you," to which he replied, "Then I am against the whole world."

The Church in Pergamos had lost one of their number as a faithful martyr and even this fact didn’t deter them. The Lord commended them for these things.

The amazing thing is this as we consider this church at Pergamos, you could love the Lord, and you could be fundamental and like the Pergamites still have the world in your heart, remember this was a worldly church. There are sincere believers who are being sucked in by the world.

We mentioned the need to ‘listen attentively’ and then we wanted to ‘look admirably’ now let us see what the Lord is against. Look at verse fourteen.

"But I have a few things against thee," We need to be men and take it on the chin. God has something against this church in Pergamos. Now if they love his name then they should listen to his admonition here, will you and I?

‘Few,’ doesn’t suggest that this is a minor matter but that there are a few things he has against them. Read on in verse fourteen.

"Because thou hast there, them that hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balac to cast a stumblingblock before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed unto idols, and to commit fornication."

Here we discover the problem, "Thou hast them there that hold the doctrine of Balaam."

The Lord had said, "You hold fast my name," but then you also tolerate those "who hold fast the doctrine of Balaam" They had a foot in both camps.

The Lord will not tolerate error. Some Christians look upon doctrine as minor but the Lord sees it as major and fundamental. In Pergamus false teachers were being tolerated and their teaching was being evidenced in the lives of God’s people. As a result worldliness had crept into the church.

Let’s look at this character called Balaam, turn over to the book of Numbers.

Balak was scared when he saw the success of Israel, so he decided to hire a prophet to curse Israel. He hired this man called Balaam.

However try as he may, God wouldn’t curse Israel, in fact he would only bless them. In fact Balaam’s ass had more sense when he saw the Lord standing in the way.

Numbers 22:35 And the angel of the Lord said unto Balaam, Go with the men: but only the word that I shall speak unto thee, that thou shalt speak. So Balaam went with the princes of Balak.

Look at the subtlety of the devil, Balac reminds Balaam that he will loose out if he cannot deliver. Satan often warns us that we will loose out if we don’t go the way of the world. Look at verse eight.

Baalam couldn’t curse Israel no matter how many times he tried. Look now at second Peter, Peter talks about the way of Balaam.

Baalam had sold his gift to the highest bidder, he had made merchandise of Christianity. Now notice also what Jude says about this character.

Jude talks about the error of Balaam, he imagined that God would change his mind and curse Israel. Some foolishly think that God has changed his mind today and they no longer call sin, sin.

Now in Revelation we read about the ‘doctrine of Balaam,’ what is it? Look at Numbers twenty five.

Here we find the mixed marriages, idolatry and immorality. Balaam couldn’t curse Israel but he was able to corrupt them. Look at the next few verses.

If it had not been for Phinehas more than twenty four thousand would have died as a result of their sin. Look at Numbers chapter thirty-one to find out who the culprit was.

It was Balaam’s idea to corrupt Israel. He used attractive women to corrupt the men of Israel and it worked. They fell and God plagued them. Can you see the scheme of the wicked one? What perfection couldn’t do, patronising was able to do.

Look again at verse fourteen.

The word ‘stumblingblock’ means a trap with bait attached. The lovely women of Moab were the bait. Just a note in passing, it could be that there were worldly women in this church.

Note what else is said in verse fourteen, "eat things sacrificed to idols," that practice was forbidden for believers. Look at Acts.

Notice what is recorded at the end of verse fourteen in Revelation two, "they commit fornication."

What was the teaching of Balaam as far as Pergamos was concerned?

The believers had remained separated from the world and yet the social and commercial life of Pergamos centred on social gatherings where food offered to idols was eaten. These feasts sometimes ended in orgies. Those who were perpertrating this doctrine said, "You could love Jesus, be fundamental, and still mix it with the world."

Do we not hear Balaam’s teaching coming loud and clear today?

"Have the social drink, go to the disco, revel in the world’s activities and you can still love Jesus."

Jesus said, "I have it against you," You cannot have the world and Jesus you must say, "Take the world but give me Jesus."

Lest we have any doubts consider the following scriptures.

1 Thes. 4:3 For this is the will of God, even your sanctification, that ye should abstain from fornication:

The ‘roaring lion’ couldn’t get this church destroyed but now these ‘angels of light’ were being successful.

Obviously church discipline was not being exercised and false teaching was being tolerated.

John Philips says regarding this church’s attitude, "Let’s be more relaxed in our loyalties and let’s be more restricted in our leadership."

We can see a further problem the Lord had with this church in verse fifteen.

We met these people in Ephesus, remember there, it was their deeds. Here in Pergamos it is their doctrine. What had been a deed was now a doctrine. This ecclesiastical hierarchy system of clergy and laity had come into Pergamos. I think it is wise to state that we don’t support a one-man ministry nor do we support an any man ministry rather we support a gifted ministry. Remember how Peter warned the elders.

God forbid that anyone would be guilty of lording over the people of God. Do you remember what John said of Diotrephes?

This church at Pergamus was tolerating things, which Christ hated and it was time for action.

Israel back in the days of Baalam were living on the edge close to Moab, this is a picture of Christians living, spiritually speaking, too close to the world. We can see the result of being near the edge of worldly activities. Look at Numbers twenty five.

What a dangerous position and that’s where we find this church. Is that where we find you, too close to the world?

We mentioned the need to listen attentively and then we wanted to look admirably and we have seen what the Lord is against. Now look at verse sixteen for a lethal admonition.

Rev. 2:16 "Repent;" In other words, have a change of mind that leads to a change of behaviour. Stop tolerating worldly influence in the church, don’t tolerate this ecclesiastical popery, and repent.

Dear believer is the Lord speaking to you? It’s time to repent, there is no other word for it and no other advice needed. The Lord’s admonition was sharp and to the point.

It was repent or reap, look at verse sixteen again.

"Or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth."

The Lord says, "or else I will come in judgment," and he will judge us according to the Bible, we cannot by pass or fool the Lord.

The Lord moved in judgement against Annanias and Sapphira, he came to the Corinthian believers in 1 Cor. eleven. If we don’t repent he will deal with us.

Nothing will be allowed to hinder the work of his Church. The Lord wants our behaviour, our attitudes and our values to be different than that of this world system.

Repent or reap the consequences, isn’t it time to listen?

We mentioned the need to listen attentively and then we wanted to look admirably and we have seen what the Lord is against. We have just looked at a lethal admonition. Let’s look at verse seventeen and see a lasting achievement.

The Lord was asking the believers to reject the world and all it had to offer, remember the Lord is no mans debtor.

Let’s always look for the personal application in these letters. See who is addressed here "to him that overcometh." As I have said previously this refers to genuine believers. Three things are mentioned in verse seventeen.

"Will I give to eat of the hidden manna," Look at Exodus sixteen.

Notice also John six.

Manna was that food that sustained them in the wilderness. It was that which replaced the Egyptian food. Remember Egypt speaks of the world in scripture.

Manna speaks of Christ; it was white, which speaks of his purity. It was small which speaks of his humility. It was plentiful which speaks of his availability. But I see something special here; I believe Jesus is saying to this church and to all of his people.

"Don’t feast with the world and you will be able to feast with Christ in a much more fulfilling way,"

Enjoy the blessing of Christ and feast upon him. Look what else is given in verse seventeen.

"And will give him a white stone," there are many suggestions as to what this stone speaks off, here are just a few of them.

• Urim and Thummin, the two stones connected with knowing the will of God.

• As a precious stone it depicts the precious gift of eternal life.

• White stones were awarded to victors, they were given a ticket to a special awards banquet, and these stones represent our ticket to heaven.

• Wealthy families would send a white stone to close friends showing that they would receive a warm welcome. It reminds us of the warm welcome that awaits us.

There are many suggestions given, this one I think this is the most appropriate.

There was a judicial system where if one was up for election, a white stone showed acceptance and a black one was for rejection. The Lord knew they would be rejected at many events and functions, but remember you are accepted in the beloved. Remember the great wedding feast that you already have your invitation for.

We can see the pattern here in verse seventeen; avoid the world’s feasts and feast on Christ. You may be rejected by the world but Christ accepts you.

Notice what else is promised in verse seventeen.

"And in the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth it."

When God gives a new name to someone it means they moved into a closer relationship with him. Look at the following verses.

A special relationship with him

Barnhouse says, "I am called Doctor by those who know me least, Pastor by those who know me more closely, my name is reserved for close friends, I am Daddy to my children, but the most intimate is my bride." That is the special name that Jesus speaks of here, we have a special closeness with the Lord.

Let’s recap:

Give up the world’s feasts and do not be yoked with unbelievers, rather feast upon the Lord. Become unacceptable to the world but remember you are accepted in the beloved. Sever relationships with the world and have a closer relationship with Christ. It will be a lasting achievement, which will carry on for all eternity.

Perhaps the verse of this hymn best sums up the advice given by the Lord to the church at Pergamus, advice all of God’s people need to hear.

Take the world but give me Jesus,

All its joys are but a name.

But his love abideth ever,

Through eternal years the same.