Seven Churches of Asia Minor

Letter to Pergamos (Rev. 2:12-17)
   Information about the church in Pergamos.  Pergamos (or Pergamum) means high tower or thoroughly married.  The Asian headquarters for the cult emperor worship was located in Pergamos and was called the place of Satan's throne.  Antipas was the first known Asian to die because he refused to worship the emperor.  But still with all the evil paganism that surrounded them the church had remained loyal to Christ.

  m  (V12) "And to the angel of the church in Pergamos write; These things saith He which hath the sharp sword with two edges."
   (V12) In this verse Christ presents Himself as the One who has a double-edged sword.

   (V13) "I know thy works, and where thou dwellest, even where Satan's seat is: and thou holdest fast my name, and has not denied my faith, even in those days wherein Antipas was my faithful martyr, who was slain among you, where Satan dwelleth."
   (V13)  We find that He knew their works, where they lived, and their ability to hold fast to the faith.  Again, we find a church that should cause some of our churches to sit up and take notice, although what they were doing good did not furnish a covering for the bad.
  
   (V14)  "But I have a few things against thee, because thou hast there them that hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balac to cast a stumbling block before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed unto idols, and to commit fornication.
   (V14)  We find that nothing escapes the all seeing eye of God when He examines their record.  He graciously tells them that He has a few things against them.  Among their charges were eating things sacrificed to idols and fornication which was the Balaam doctrine.

   (V15) "So hast thou also them that hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitanes, which thing I hate."
   (V15) I think all churches should use this not only as loving instructions to a troubled church, but as a stern warning to clean up their act and start preaching Jesus Christ, not only as our precious Savior, but the way, the truth, and the life: the only way to the Father!
  
   (V16) "Repent; or else I will come unto you quickly, and I will fight against thee with the sword of my mouth."
   (V16) He quickly turns from commending the church in Pergamos to warning them to repent or else He would come unto them quickly and would fight against them.  There is no way I could fathom God fighting against me.  If he were my enemy I would soon be falling in the loser's corner.

   (V17) "He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth it."
   (V17)  In this last verse to the Pergamos church the Holy Spirit is calling out to all the seven churches to hear what he is saying.  The overcomer would be given hidden manna and a white stone.  According to some bible scholars manna is a type of Christ Himself.  It may speak of heavenly food in contrast to food offered to idols.  According to William MacDonald, in the Believer's Bible Commentary Hidden manna may be "some sweet, secret communion with Himself, known in the glory as the One who suffered here."  The white stone has been explained in several ways.  It was a token of acquittal in a legal case.  It was a symbol of victory in an athletic contest.  It was an expression of a welcome given by a host to his guest.  It seems clear that it is a reward given by the Lord to the overcomer and expressing individual approval by Him.  Alford says, "That the new name indicates acceptance by God and title to glory."  Historically, the church probably represents the time soon after Constantine, when the church was thoroughtly married to the state.  Thousands became nominal christians, and the church tolerated pagan practices in the midst.  The overcomer in Pergamos may be a child of God who refuses to tolerate false teaching in the local church.  This should be a great inspiration to the individual member of any church today.  By refusing to tolerate false teaching, he or she alone can be instrumental in waking up the sleeping giants and inspiring our wayward nation to turn back to the ONE TRUE GOD!

Are YOU Rapture ready??