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| Image sources: https://drivethruhistoryadventures.com/pergamum/ & https://bibleatlas.org/full/pergamum.htm |
The Message to Pergamos
12 Write this to Pergamum, to the Angel of the church. The One with the sharp-biting sword draws from the sheath of his mouth - out come the sword words:
13 "I see where you live, right under the shadow of Satan's throne. But you continue boldly in my Name; you never once denied my Name, even when the pressure was worst, when they martyred Antipas, my witness who stayed faithful to me on Satan's turf.
14 "But why do you indulge that Balaam crowd? Don't you remember that Balaam was an enemy agent, seducing Balak and sabotaging Israel's holy pilgrimage by throwing unholy parties?
15 And why do you put up with the Nicolaitans, who do the same thing?
16 "Enough! Don't give in to them; I'll be with you soon. I'm fed up and about to cut them to pieces with my sword-sharp words.
17 "Are your ears awake? Listen. Listen to the Wind Words, the Spirit blowing through the churches. I'll give the sacred manna to every conqueror; I'll also give a clear, smooth stone inscribed with your new name, your secret new name." The Message
(the following is from www.easyenglish.bible)
"Verse 12 The road north from Smyrna follows the coast for about 40 miles. Then it turns away from the sea up a river valley. Ten miles from the sea is the capital city, called Pergamum. Here they had a large and famous library.
The city was on a hill. At the top, there was a special place for the worship of Zeus. Zeus was their chief god. The people in Pergamum had four main gods that they served. These were Zeus, Athene (a special female god), Dionysos and Asklepios. There was also a temple in Pergamum for the worship of the king of Rome.
The local rulers had the power of life and death. They could arrest and kill any person. But Jesus has the sharp sword. His sword cuts with both edges (1:16). The power of life and death belongs to Jesus and not to the rulers. They can only kill the body. But Jesus has the power of life and death of the whole person.
Verse 13 Jesus spoke to them. ‘I know where you live.’ He called Pergamum the place where Satan rules. There were so many false gods. People did so many evil things in that town. It was very hard to be a Christian there. The Christians lived in constant danger. However, the church there remained true to Jesus. They refused to worship the king or the gods of the people.
Antipas had been loyal to the Lord. He had refused to worship the king or the false gods. But he had spoken to the people about the Lord. They killed Antipas because he trusted in Jesus. Even then, the church did not deny Jesus. They were brave. They were even willing to die for Jesus.
Verses 14-15 This was a very good church. The Lord was happy with them. But there was something wrong in the church. Some members did not live as they should.
Some people there did what Balaam taught Balak. The story of Balaam and Balak is in Numbers chapters 22 to 24. To make the Israelites weak, Balaam told Balak to tempt them with women (Numbers 31:16). The women would attract the men of Israel to worship their own false gods. This is how Balak tried to tempt the people of Israel.
These members did not want to be different from the other people in Pergamum. They were happy to eat the food of false gods. Perhaps they went to the temples of the false gods to eat. They did the same things as other people. They even had sex with those who did not trust in Jesus. They may have had sex with more than one partner. This is against what Jesus taught. It is sin.
Some also followed what the Nicolaitans taught. Perhaps they belonged to the same group because they did the same things.
Christians ought to be different from those who do not trust in Jesus. They should live for the Lord. They should do what he taught. They should not live to the standards of the world.
Verse 16 The whole church should repent. They ought not to have members like these. The church should take action to change the situation. If they do not then Jesus will come. He will fight against those who do not repent.
Verse 17 What other people do tempts us. We may want to live as they do. But God calls us to live for him. Jesus taught us how we should live. So, the Lord tells us to listen to the Spirit. We all need to hear what he says to the churches.
The Lord will give some secret manna to those who overcome. Manna was that bread which God gave to the Israelites. They were in the desert and he gave them this for food (Exodus chapter 16). So, manna is food from heaven. Those who overcome will have the food of heaven to eat. This may mean food for the spirit while on earth. It may be a promise of heaven. There they will dine with the Lord in heaven.
The Lord also promises them a white stone. On that stone, there is a name. It is a new name and nobody else knows it.
In the law courts, a white stone meant a ‘not guilty’ decision. Jesus died for all people. He forgives all those who trust him. God is the judge and he will declare them ‘not guilty’.
In the races at Pergamum, those who win receive a white stone. Those who overcome have won the race of life. They have the white stone of success from the Lord.
The new name on the stone may be the name of the person who overcomes. The Lord gives that person a new name. That new name is a prize and an honor. This will be the name of that person in the new age.
It may be that the new name is a name of the Lord Jesus. In chapter 19:12, Jesus has a name on him, but nobody except Jesus himself knows it. He gives his name to his own people. Those who know the name will be close friends of Jesus."
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