Revelation 2:13
"I know thy works, and where thou dwellest, even where Satan's seat is:
and thou holdest fast my name, and hast not denied my faith, even in
those days wherein Antipas was my faithful martyr, who was
slain among you, where Satan dwelleth."
Pergamos had a place all its own in Asia. It was not on any of the great roads, as Ephesus and Smyrna were, but historically it was the greatest city in Asia. The city of Pergamos was fifteen miles from the Aegean Coast and seventy miles north of Smyrna. An immense alter to Zeus, the chief of the Greek mythological Gods, stood on the higher part of the city, one thousand feet above the plain. This may be what is being referred to as Satan's seat in (v-13). The church in Pergamos represents the age of the state church, which began with Constantine and continued until the first pope was recognized to have authority over the catholic church (A.D. 313-590).
And here is the explanation of the beginning of the letter to Pergamos. Christ is called, he who has the sharp two edged sword. Roman governors were divided into two classes those who had the right of the sword, and those who did not. Those who had the right of the sword had the power of life and death; on their word a man could be executed on the spot. Humanly speaking the person, who had his headquarters at Pergamos, had the right of the sword, and at any moment he might use it against any Christian; but the letter bids the Christian not to forget that the last word is still with Christ, who has the sharp two edged sword. The power of Rome might be satanically powerful; However the power of the Risen Lord is greater yet. Amen! Here is something very important. The principle of the Christian life is not escape, but conquest. We may feel it would be very much easier to be a Christian in some other place and in some other circumstances but the duty of the Christian is to witness for Christ where life has set him.
In spite of the fidelity of the Church at Pergamos there is error. There are those who hold the teaching of Balaam and the doctrine of the Nicolaitans. We have already discussed these people in connection with Ephesus and we meet them again when we come to study the letter of Thyatira. They sought to persuade Christians that there was nothing wrong with a prudent conformity to the world's standards. It is the word of Christ that he will make war with them. We must note that he did not say: "I will go to war with you;" he said: "I will go to war with them." His wrath was not directed against the whole Church but against those who were seducing her; for those who were led astray, he had nothing but pity.
For those who would "Repent" He would give them hidden manna and a white stone with a new name written on it. There may be a wider and more general meaning. Of the manna it is said: "This is the bread which the Lord has given you to eat" (Ex. 16:15). The manna is called "grain of heaven" (Ps. 78:24); and it is said to be the "bread of the angels," (Ps. 78:25). Here the manna may mean heavenly food. In that case John would be saying: "In this world you cannot share with the heathen in their feasts because you cannot sit down to eat which is part of a sacrifice that has been offered to an idol. You may think that you are being called upon to give up much but the day will come when you will feast in heaven upon heavenly food." If that is so, the Risen Christ is saying that a man must abstain from the seductions of earth if he wishes to enjoy the blessings of heaven.
For those who would "Repent" He would give them hidden manna and a white stone with a new name written on it. There may be a wider and more general meaning. Of the manna it is said: "This is the bread which the Lord has given you to eat" (Ex. 16:15). The manna is called "grain of heaven" (Ps. 78:24); and it is said to be the "bread of the angels," (Ps. 78:25). Here the manna may mean heavenly food. In that case John would be saying: "In this world you cannot share with the heathen in their feasts because you cannot sit down to eat which is part of a sacrifice that has been offered to an idol. You may think that you are being called upon to give up much but the day will come when you will feast in heaven upon heavenly food." If that is so, the Risen Christ is saying that a man must abstain from the seductions of earth if he wishes to enjoy the blessings of heaven.
The final promise of Christ to the faithful in Pergamos is that he will give them the white stone with the new name on it. This is a passage of which there are almost endless interpretations. In the ancient law courts white and black stones were used for registering the verdict of juries, black for condemnation, white for acquittal. This would mean that the Christian is acquitted in the sight of God because of the work of Jesus Christ. It has been suggested that the white stone is the man himself; that the Risen Christ is promising his faithful ones a new self, cleansed of all earthly stains and glistening with the purity of heaven. So Abram becomes Abraham when the great promise is made that he will be the Father of many nations and when he, as it were, acquires a new status in the plan of God for men (Gen. 17:5).
Christ promises a new status to those who are faithful to him. It suggests that the white stone means that Jesus Christ gives to the man who is true to him a new self and that the new name means the new status of glory into which the man who has been true to Christ will enter when this life ends and when the next begins.
Christ promises a new status to those who are faithful to him. It suggests that the white stone means that Jesus Christ gives to the man who is true to him a new self and that the new name means the new status of glory into which the man who has been true to Christ will enter when this life ends and when the next begins.
Amen!!
Reading: (Rev. 2:12-17)
Ref: (BSB)
May God Bless You
And Your Family
Minister Robert A. Lail Sr.
The Cross Life Ministry
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