There is no book in the Bible which more clearly discloses the invisible, eternal realm to us than the book of Revelation. As we open its pages we learn not only what will someday happen upon the earth, but we learn about what is happening now – and why. We learn the invisible, eternal counsel of God about how we are to live out our lives in the world and in the church.

Christ’s letter to Smyrna warned about approaching persecution (v. 10), but in the letter to Pergamum, Jesus writes to Christians who have already witnessed martyrdom for the faith. Jesus praises them: “You did not deny my faith even in the days of Antipas my faithful witness, who was killed among you” (v. 13). The word for witness is martus, a form of the word that gives us martyr, a believer who gives his or her life in faithfulness to Christ. It’s not surprising that martyrdom had already come to Pergamum, since Jesus says that it is “where Satan’s throne is” and “where Satan dwells” (v. 13).

In contrast to Smyrna, where the persecution arose from Jewish betrayals, in Pergamum the Christians faced the hostility of pagans who demanded conformity to their idolatrous cultural norms. It is probably for resisting pagan practices and refusing to worship Caesar that Antipas lost his life in service to Christ. We know from a letter from the Roman Governor Pliny the Younger to the Emperor Trajan, dated around A.D. 111 that accused Christians could avoid death only by cursing the name Jesus Christ. It is noteworthy then, how Jesus praises the church in Pergamum: “Yet you hold fast my name” (v. 13). This means that the Christians would not renounce Jesus or despise His name, even on pain or death.

Persecution is not the only serious threat facing Christians and churches, however. A second threat is false teaching from within, and in this respect Jesus expresses serious concern for Pergamum: “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. So also you have some who hold the teaching of the Nicolaitans” (vv. 14-15).

In referring to the example of Balaam and also the false teachers known as the Nicolaitans, it is likely that Jesus was speaking of the same persons. Nicolaitans and Balaam have the same meaning, the first a Greek word and the second a Hebrew word meaning “conqueror of the people.” Jesus equates the two, saying, “So also you have some who hold the teaching of the Nicolaitans (v. 15). In considering Jesus’ description of false teachers under the name of Balaam, we should note that Balaam wreaked his havoc by means of false teaching: he “taught Balak to put a stumbling block before the sons of Israel.” In Pergamum, similar teaching encouraged Christians to “eat food sacrificed to idols and practice sexual immorality” (v. 14).

It seems therefore, that the Nicolaitans encouraged cultural accommodation and secular living. They sought to persuade Christians that there was nothing wrong with a prudent conformity to the world’s standards. Today, Nicolaitans would be foremost among those urging the ordination of homosexuals as ministers, since this compromise is demanded by the secular culture. The Nicolaitan spirit tells us not to be rigorous in teaching or preaching God’s Word. By refusing to practice biblical gender order in the church, and by refusing to teach on unpopular topics such as sin, divine wrath, and eternal judgment, Evangelicals are propagating the very false approach to the Bible that has produced such radical results in other churches more advanced along the same trajectory of worldly accommodation and spiritual decline. Jesus’ warning to Pergamum teaches us that Christians and churches must be vigilant against false teaching.

How then, should a church deal with such threats as the error of Balaam or the teaching of the Nicolaitans, whether in the present day or in the day of John the apostle? Jesus’ reply was, in effect, you deal with error with a sharp, two-edged sword! “Repent,” He said. “Otherwise, I will soon come to you and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth.” The Word of God exposes both the error of immorality and the error of spiritual pride and priestly superiority. That is the reason why many churches in our time ignore the clear exposition of Scripture.

At the close of His letter to the church at Pergamum, the Lord gives a special promise to the believers of that far-off place and time – but also to believers of our own time in verse 17. This promise is addressed to all those who heed the warnings of this letter, who are vigilant and faithful in the areas of sexual immorality, spiritual superiority, and spiritual pride. If you and I stand fast against the lure of corruption and the lust of power over others, Jesus promises that we will be given several things – secret things with a special significance. First, He says He will give us “hidden manna.” Second, He will give us a white stone. Third, upon that stone will be written a new name, known only to ourselves. Here is a beautiful symbolic picture special intimacy with God.

Manna was the food from heaven with which Moses fed the people of Israel in the wilderness. Jesus Himself is the food from heaven on which you and I may feed. In John 6, Jesus says, “I am the bread that came down from heaven.” He is the “hidden manna.” He is the food for the inner spirit – a food that others do not know about. We find inner nourishing and strength when we experience true intimacy with God as we resist the lure of moral impurity and spiritual conceit.

Jesus also promises a white stone with our new name – a secret name – written upon it. The symbol of the white stone is significant because the Romans of John’s time used it as a mark of special favor. The secret name written upon the white stone was, of course, another symbol of intimacy, of a special, intimate relationship with God. If we know the Lord Jesus and if we keep our hearts pure from the corrupting influences of the world around us, He has promised to give us a new name, a secret name, a special mark of intimacy with Him. That name signifies not merely a change in what we are called, but a change in what we become: We are new creatures, with a new nature, heirs to a new and exciting destination in eternity – a rich, warm, intimate relationship with Jesus Christ that goes on and on forever.

Revelation 2:12-17 Study Questions:

How does the Lord refer to the city of Pergamum in this letter?

Why might it have been particularly difficult to be a Christian in this kind of place?

The problem in Pergamum is that much of the church has lost its cutting edge, its ability to say no to the surrounding culture. For these people, Jesus has stern words. How do we take this warning seriously and not succumb to societal pressures that lead us away from following Jesus purely and faithfully?