Revelation 2:12-17

Pergamos the Seat of Satan

The Altar of Zeus

“And to the angel of the church in Pergamos write; These things saith he which hath the sharp sword with two edges;”(Revelation 2:12)

“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.” (Revelation 2:13)

I know where you dwell!

Pergamum – Satan’s seat

The true Christians at Pergamos had not denied the Lord’s name even being in the pagan city where the false god Zeus was worshipped.

Hecate fights against Klytios (left); Artemis against Otos (right)

The Pergamum Altar is a monumental construction built during the reign of King Eumenes II in the first half of the 2nd century BC on one of the terraces of the acropolis of the ancient city of Pergamos in Asia Minor.

Athena

Dionysus the Babylonian bull god.Sacrifice to Dionysus the Bull god

Antipas, Christ’s martyr tradition says was roasted alive in a brass bull.

Asklepios was the pagan Greek God of medicine and healing

The Rebuke

“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 stumblingblock before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed unto idols, and to commit fornication.” (Revelation 2:14)

Balaam was the son of Beor and a prophet of Pethor in Mesopotamia. The narrative relating to Balaam is found in Num. 22:24. According to this narrative, Balak, king of Moab, sent messengers to the soothsayer, requesting him to come and pronounce a curse against Israel, with whom the Moabites were at war, and of whom they stood in dread. Balak wanted the aid of the soothsayer's powerful curse to overcome his foe

What is the doctrine of the Balaamites?

- Telling the church it is OK to interpret the Bible according to the fallible methods of fallible men. This ultimately undermines the authority of the entire Word of God.

- This compromise the Bible’s teaching leading people away from simple faith in God’s Word, which brings the Lord’s condemnation.

- It is teaching that it is okay to compromises with sin.

- It destroying the foundations of the gospel message, as we have often demonstrated in this magazine.

- In essence, they are saying that God is unable to communicate to us clearly. We have to trust the fallible modern prophets, in popes, church leaders, religious scholars, and even scientists.

- The worse thing they do is water down God’s word. The cast a shadow over God’s word and whether it is reliable or not.

- They put man as the authority over God’s word.

“So hast thou also them that hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitans, which thing I hate.” (Revelation 2:15)

The word means, "Niko” to conquer and “Laos” the people. It means simply this: The Nicolaitan’s philosophy was that there was a difference between the "laity" who were the people in the pew, and the clergy who were the church’s religious leaders.

What was the result of the doctrine of the Nicolaitan’s?

Worshipping the Pope

At Lystra when the people of the city sought to worship Paul and Barnabas how did the respond?

“And saying, Sirs, why do ye these things? We also are men of like passions with you, and preach unto you that ye should turn from these vanities unto the living God, which made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and all things that are therein” (Acts 14:15)

Peter when he came to Cornelius’ house and the Roman centurion worshiped him…How did Peter respond?

“And as Peter was coming in, Cornelius met him, and fell down at his feet, and worshipped him. But Peter took him up, saying, Stand up; I myself also am a man.” (Acts 10:25-26)

Christ’s admonishment:

“Repent; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth.

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.” (Revelation 2:16-17)

Jesus says, “I will come quickly and will fight against them"; meaning the Balaamites and Nicolaitans, for their idolatry and uncleanness.

Church history has shown that these who have taught from doctrine and lead God’s people astray had suffered greatly.

Ultimately they will reap the judgment of God.

“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.” (Revelation 2:17)

1 Corinthians 2:14 explains the passage is to saved people,

“But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned."

“And when the dew that lay was gone up, behold, upon the face of the wilderness there lay a small round thing, as small as the hoar frost on the ground.

And when the children of Israel saw it, they said one to another, It is manna: for they wist not what it was. And Moses said unto them, This is the bread which the LORD hath given you to eat.

This is the thing which the LORD hath commanded, Gather of it every man according to his eating, an omer for every man, according to the number of your persons; take ye every man for them which are in his tents.” (Exodus 16:14-16)

“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.”(Revelation 2:17)

White stone represented acquittal.

The black stone representedbeing found guilty