Lark Murry

Theme: My Name has written on White Stone

Revelation 2:12-17

Church in Pergamum

12 “And to the angel of the church in Pergamum write: „The words of him who has the

sharp two-edged sword. 13 I know where you dwell, where Satan's throne is. Yet you hold
fast my name, and you did not deny my faith even in the days of Antipas my faithful
witness, who was killed among you, where Satan dwells. 14 But I have a few things against
you: you have some there who hold the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to put a
stumbling block before the sons of Israel, so that they might eat food sacrificed to idols and
practice sexual immorality. 15 So also you have some who hold the teaching of the
Nicolaitans. 16 Therefore repent. If not, I will come to you soon and war against them with
the sword of my mouth. 17 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the
churches. To the one who conquers I will give some of the hidden manna, and I will give
as
him a white stone, with a new name written on the stone that no one knows except the one
who receives it.‟

Brief Background

The city of Pergamum (Pergamos) was located

on the west coast of Asia Minor (Rev 1:4,11). It
was the biggest city in Asia Minor during that
era. We don‟t see any record in the Bible about
the genesis of the church, however probably
during towards the end of the first century. The
difficulties in the city were mainly connected
with the religious system known as Emperor
worship, and Pergamum was the headquarters in
Asia (cf. Rev 2:13). People in the city started cults worshiped Anthena, Asclepius, Dionysus,
and Zeus. On the whole the Christians in Pergamum stood firm and refused to join in the
Emperor worship. At least one of their number was martyred (Rev 2:12-13). Nevertheless,
some who taught and practised Nicolaitan teaching, which encouraged Christians to join in
idolatrous feasts and to practise immorality. Therefore, Jesus declared he would judge those
who denied him in this way, and reward those who refused to compromise with the State
religion (Rev 2:14-17).

V. 12 - And to the angel of the church in Pergamum write: ‘The words of him who has the
sharp two-edged sword.

Jesus Christ had different message towards Pergamum church and told Apostle John to write
about them. In the headline of the message Jesus wanted the church to know who He was
and is “The words of him who has the sharp two-edged sword”. Here „the word of Him‟ is
referring Jesus Himself. He is the word. He is the word of life and everything began in Him
(John 1:1-3). The word of God is fire, hammer, living, active, sharper than two edged sward
(Jeremiah 23:29, Hebrews 4:12) „Two edged sword’

i. The word of God gives life – when God said a word to exist the world it came into
existence (Gen 1:1), everything starts from the word of God. Life is spring up in
and from Jesus Christ. Christ is the giver or creator (Colossians 1:15-). The word
of Christ gives life even to the death (John 11:25-43).
ii. The word of God takes life – Nothing can stop of what the word of God has
spoken to do! As there is power to give life so do there is a power to take away (2
Kings 1:9-15; Acts 5:4-5, 8-9)
iii. The word of God corrects – there is a power to change a person‟s life when the
word speaks to them. It gives right and judges when people do evil or where there
is dominate. The word of God has a power even to reproof, equip for every good
word (2 Timothy 3:16).

V. 13 - I know where you dwell, where Satan's throne is. Yet you hold fast my name, and
you did not deny my faith even in the days of Antipas my faithful witness, who was killed
among you, where Satan dwells.

God is the creator and He sees every corner. God was watching the church in Pergamum of
how and where they were dwelling. The church was surrounded by arrogant and rebellious
people who do all kinds of evil. They were so active in cultic, people who love to against
what the word of God refuse. They were so cruel that they even denied and rebelled against
to listen the word of God. The recalcitrant people were fully cultic and influenced with
evildoers.

In the midst of those people the church was so faithful, people tried lot to take away their
faith but they hold fast the name of Christ. The church was not shaken of what Satan tried to
do in them, they didn‟t deny Christ in spite of those condition. The church hold on what they
have believed even in the dead of Antipas, who was killed among them by the rebellious
people. The church was faithful and continued to witness of Christ Jesus even in spite of all
their sufferings. And Jesus Christ was happed with them for what they were doing, but still
they need to be corrected in few areas. God wants purity or holiness in following Him
because He is Holy.

V. 14 – 15 - But I have a few things against you: you have some there who hold the teaching
of Balaam, who taught Balak to put a stumbling block before the sons of Israel, so that they
might eat food sacrificed to idols and practice sexual immorality. 15 - So also you have some
who hold the teaching of the Nicolaitans.

In the previous verse Jesus Christ knowledge the church, however since we are in the process
of perfection. The church needs correction in some areas so Christ is confronting where they
gone wrong and where they need to be improved. Christ knew about what few people are
doing within the church, some of them were listening and following the teaching of Balaam.
Balaam was a false prophet in the time where people of Israelite were in the wilderness,
battling with their foes to enter into the Promised Land. He taught Balak to invite the
Israelite during the offering of gods and bow down before them. (Number 25).

So in this cause some of the church members were doing what Balaam taught, participating
in idols sacrificed and eating food which was already offered to the idols. And up to some
extend some of the member were involving even sexual immorality which was fully
prohibited. So people who refused evildoers against people who love to do evildoers.
Therefore, Christ against who were holding and following Balaam‟s teaching and involving
in evildoers. They were not only holding Balaam‟s teaching but then they also hold the
teaching of Nicolaitans. He was also false teacher in their time (Revelation 2:6).
V. 16 - Therefore repent. If not, I will come to you soon and war against them with the sword
of my mouth.

Jesus Christ knew every individual in the church of what they were doing and what teaching
they were following, and by knowing every little thing that the church was doing Christ
asked the church to repent from following wrong teaching and their sexual immorality.
Christ didn‟t not remove them by once but rather He gave another chance to return to Him.
He loved every individual in the church and He doesn‟t want the church to destroy.
Therefore, in spite of their wrong doing Jesus Christ confronted them, and gave another
opportunity to change also warned them instead of removing them.

Repent! If you want to live turn always from your evil deeds, „if not I will come to you soon
and war against you with the sword of my mouth‟ (cf 2:12, 19:15).

V. 17 - He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who
conquers I will give some of the hidden manna, and I will give him a white stone, with a new
as
name written on the stone that no one knows except the one who receives it.‟

Jesus Christ used the same phrase to all the churches “He who has an era, let him hear what
the Spirit says to the churches” (2:7, 11, 17, 29; 3:6, 13, 22). He invited them with the same
tone. After confronting them He gave them to choose what is right. In Pergamum church He
concluded with a reward like the other churches “to give hidden manna and to a new name
to the one who conquers”. Christ has promised to give hidden manna which heavenly food
that will satisfy their souls. When the people of Israelite were in wilderness, God provided
manna to fill their empty stomach and they were satisfied (Exodus 16; Number 11:7-8;
Palms 78:24; John 6:31). Here, Christ promised to give greater than the manna in the
wilderness, but all will not get that hidden manna. Only the one who conquers will get it and
a new name will be given to them which will be recorded in a white stone.

Solicitation

In those days Christ was watching the church in Pergamum in every little thing they did. We
are in control of Christ Jesus and He is watching us even small thing we do. Throughout
Christian journey we might be thinking that we are doing right in everything we do. We go
to church every Sunday or we might be very zealous of prayer meetings, or we might be
taking the name of Jesus Christ all the time even in the midst of people who doesn‟t accept
Jesus Christ, or we don‟t deny Christ even in times of suffering or persecution (cf. 2:13).
We might be good as Pergamum to hold fast the name of the Jesus Christ, but Pergamum
church has few things that Christ against them. What would Christ against in us? Are we
lacking in anything or to be corrected.

Yes, we are not far from the church in Pergamum. Some of them hold and followed
deceitful teaching and insisted to eat foods which were already offered to idols. Are we not
like one among them? We might be calling ourselves a good Christian but how is our act
towards others. People of Pergamum were stumbling block for their own brothers, so do we
might be a great stumbling block for others. As some of them in the church were holding
false teaching, we might be holding false testimony towards our neighbours. As like some
of them in the Pergamum church were eating food that was offered to idols, do you still
involve in intoxicated things? Sexual Immorality is one that God really hate and in the
church some were practicing in impurity, are you also one among them? God hates.

Being a Christian and have tolerance in time of suffering or trials is not enough to receive
the hidden manna and new name which is written on a white stone (-17). The word of God
is calling us to repent from the things we still hold. Repent that you may receive a new
name and eat the hidden manna which Adam missed it.

May the Spirit of God help us to understand His word that we may receive a New Name.

Amen…