The Seven Churches

Pergamos lay north of Smyrna and was considered to be one of the finest cities of Asia. This city was not know for commerce, in fact, there was little or no commerce. However, it abounded in refinement, science, learning and medicine. There was a renowed temple (Aesculapius) in which the most prominent object was the wreathed serpent. Also, the their early science of medicine was connected to and indentified with the worship of Satan who usurped the place and dignity of Christ.  Aesculapius was called the Preserver and Savior.

Pergamos has two meanings.  It means 'marriage', but it was the church of worldly alliance and 'elevation'.  These meanings can be applied to the time when the church was elevated to a place of power, but was married to the world. The Church at Pergamos was surrounded by a city that was predominately pagan and a large majority of the inhabitants were devoted to idol worship. Some of the prominant cults of that time were Athena, Dionysus, Zeus and Asclepius. This church, even though it was surrounded by unfavorable conditions, was still required to contend for theTruth and be witnesses to the heathens. Unfortunately, as we will see, they fell short of their call. Today, only a small village called Bergama, is found on the site of this ancient city.

And to the angel of the church in Pergamos write: These things says He, which has the sharp sword with two edges;  I know (appreciate) your works, and where you dwell, even where Satan's seat is: and you hold fast (are faithful to) My name, and have not denied My faith, even in those days wherein Antipas was my faithful martyr, who was slain among you, where Satan dwells." (Rev. 2: 12-13)

Here Jesus portrays Himself as the One with the sharp two-edged sword.  This sword speaks of judgement, and indeed this church had sins that needed to be judged. Satan's seat means Satan's throne. And this church sat on the Emperor's throne in Rome.  Constantine and Maxentius contended for the throne after the death of Diocletian and Galerius.  Constantine had a vision of a cross on fire and supposedly heard a voice saying: "In this sign, conquer." He questioned what this vision meant, and was told that the cross was the sign of the Christian religion, and that it must mean that God was calling him to be the champion of the Christian religion.  He called the Christian bishops to explain their doctrines to him. He then accepted the new doctrine and declared himself to be its God appointed patron and protector.

Only Constantine and God, knows if he was really born again, regardless of the many accounts of his conversion. Constantine did however become the Emperor of Rome, and afterward bestowed honors on the Christian bishops, going so far as to allow them to set on thrones with the nobles of the empire. The sad part about this is that these bishops, who before were expecting the Second Coming of Christ, gave up their hope and expectation once their change of circumstances ocurred. This is what they said:  "We have been looking for Christ's reign, but we have been wrong. Constantine's empire is Christ's Kingdom!" This misconception continued until the days of the Reformation, when light began to dawn again.

Amid all this, Jesus still commended the church at Pergamos, for not denying His faith and being faithful to His Name. This might seem to be an odd statement and make you wonder, if God was condoning the actions of the bishops who sat on the throne of Satan. But of course that is not the case. These Christians kept the faith and did not blaspheme His name, unlike the bishops.  

The Airian controversy was being fought in this time period.  Arian denied the eternity of the Word, and declared that the Word (SON) of God was the greatest of all beings that ever emanated from God. His opponents insisted that the Word was one with the Father, in one eternal Trinity (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit); one God in three persons.  For over a century, this burning question provoked heated controversy everywhere. And in my opinion, the fight still rages!

Finally at wits end, Constantine decided to take matters into his own hands. A church council was convened in Nicea, and the question was debated. Was Jesus truly God, or was He only the greatest being that God had ever brought into existence? (There are still many, who do not know the answer,  and others who have the wrong answer. Now you understand why this study of the seven churches is so pertinent to our time).  

Over 300 hundred bishops and Constantine were present.  Constantine sat on a golden throne and presided as the head of the Christian Church. The irony here, I might add, is that at the very time he still bore the title Pontifex Maximus, or High Priest of the Heathen. Oddly enough, when the empire became completely Christian, the emperors dropped the title, and it was picked up by the Popes. Pontifex was the highest priest of Roman religion, and this latin word Pontifex is still in use. The final result saw the council of Nicea put itself on record as confessing the true deity of our Lord Jesus Christ, "Very God of Very God", "Light of Lights", "perfection of perfection", -- God and man in one blessed Person, never more to be separated.

"But I have a few things against you, because you have there them that hold the doctrine of Ba-lam, who taught Balak to cast (put) a stumbling block before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed to idols, and to commit fornication. So have you also them that hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitans, which thing I hate." (Rev. 2: 14-15)

Balam taught Balak to cast a stumbling block before the sons of Israel by leading them to make unholy alliances with the Midianitish women, as recorded in Numbers 25: 1-9.  These false principles were leading this church down the wrong road.  But not all in the church were defecting and holding to the false doctrines and the open sin. But apparently the ones who weren't practicing these things were guilty of being complacent and weak, thus not standing up to those who were clearly living with one foot in the church and the other in the world. We also see the doctrine of Nicolaitans, just as it was present in the church of Ephesus.

"Repent; or else I will come to you quickly (without warning), and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth." (Rev. 2:16)

The sword referred to was a long sword much like a spear, but with two edges.  Jesus did not need an actual sword, had His intention been to physically wound, He could have called angels to combat.  Here, He is comparing the sword in conjuction with the double-edged character of the Word of God.  This sword is the Word of God, and it is a double-edged sword; it has penetrating and disciplinary character. On the one hand, the Word can penetrate our soul and spirit and offer promises of grace, love and salvation to those who trust Christ. On the other hand, the Word promises condemnation to the unbeliever.  When worldliness creeps into a church, it does not take long for the world's values to replace the once dedicated, unmovable values that made the church a shining light in a dark world. This seems to be what happened to the Church at Pergamos. When you set on Satan's throne,  you are a target for failure. The bishops  mentioned earlier were so taken in by pride and arrogance, that they abandoned their teaching about the second coming.  They placed Jesus on an earthly throne (in the guise of Constantine) in an earthly kingdom. Let us be ever mindful of changing His doctrines, to suit our purposes. The consequences could be severe.

"He that has an ear; let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches; To him that overcomes (by faith) 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 knows (recognizes) except he that receives it." (Rev. 2: 17)

There are many rewards in Heaven available to us, this hidden manna and the white stone are two of them.  But keep in mind, that rewards are dependent upon obedience, not disobedience.

Tara Hart © 2004