message to Pergamum

Pergamum...kind of an amusing name, eh? Anywho, the higher part of this city crowned a steep hill, atop which was placed an immense altar to the Greek god of gods, Zeus. Perhaps this is what is meant by "Satan's throne" in verse 13?

Once again, the message begins by describing the One from whom the message is sent. "The One who has the sharp two-edged sword says this:" (Remember Rev 1:16, the description of the risen Jesus?)

There is a praise, "I know where you dwell, where Satan's throne is; and you hold fast My name, and did not deny My faith, even in the days of Antipas, My witness, My faithful one, who was killed among you , where Satan dwells." Don't ever think God doesn't notice the faithfulness in the background...He does notice, He will remember, and He will reward such steadfastness.

Notice the praise comes first and THEN the condemnation. "I have a few things against you, because you have there some who hold the teaching of Balaam, who kept teaching Balak to put a stumbling block before the sons of Israel, to eat things sacrificed to idols, and to commit acts of immorality. Thus you also have some who in the same way hold the teaching o f the Nicolaitans." Numbers 25 records the account of the Israelites after Balaam blesses them instead of cursing them. Balaam told the king Balak to slip in the back door in a way and accustom them to the immoral culture to the point when they joined it. Unfortunately, the ploy worked and the Lord punished them by slaying some 24,000. This is the degree of seriousness to which He views these sins, eating things sacrificed to idols and committing acts of immorality. The Nicolaitans were a sect of people who reportedly shared their wives and enjoyed themselves in any and all manner of ways, as if there was no tomorrow.

His exhortation is to "Repent therefore; or else I am coming to you quickly, and I will make war against them with the sword of my mouth." Sin will reap justice, make no mistake about it. Revelation is the account of when all sin will reap justice.

"He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches."

"To him who overcomes, to him I will give some of the hidden manna, and I will give him a white stone, and a new name written on the stone which no one knows but he who receives it."

This message makes obvious that faithfulness will be remembered and rewarded, while disobedience and immorality, etc, will receive justice.