"To the angel of the church in Pergamum write:
Pergamum, or Pergamos, was located about 30 miles north of Smyrna; some 15 miles in from the sea on a high mountain over the Caicus River. It was the great city of Mysia, noted for its wealth and fashion. Like Ephesus and Smyrna, it too was a headquarters for emperor worship. In fact, it was the chief city of the province, and here was located the "concilia" which had in charge the matters of state religion and incense offering before the image of the emperor." The city had always been loyal to Rome, so it was only natural that they would be unrelenting in their persecution of the Christians. The city was also known for its many temples: Athena and Zeus amongst them. And most notedly, it was the worship center of Asclopius, god of healing (emblem--serpent).
Jesus calls the city of Pergamum "where Satan dwells", likely referring to stronghold of pagan worship and the seat of political Roman power for the entire region. He commends the church in Pergamum for holding fast to their faith in Jesus in spite of being surrounded by pagan Roman influence.
However Jesus reprimands the church for "having some who hold to teaching of Balaam". So... what was the "teaching of Balaam"?
The story of Balaam can be found in the Old Testament Book of Numbers chapters 22-31. Balaam was hired by Balak to curse Israel. Balaam tried to curse Israel for money. Every time he tried to curse Israel however, he ended up blessing them. So, instead of cursing them, he figured out a plan. He said, let the women of Balak's kingdom display themselves before the eyes of God's people. The Jewish men went after the foreign women, committed fornication with them, married them, and Israel was drawn into idolatry. The Jews did not keep themselves separated from the nations like God commanded.
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Important Note: Throughout Scriptures God talks of the sin of adultery and fornication both in a physical and spiritual sense. Spiritual adultery and fornication is when God's people, the Jews would abandon God to go after other gods and idols, or mix in pagan religious practices with their own. We as Christians, meaning followers of Jesus the Christ, are called the Bride of Jesus. Just as the Jews, when we mix the true Gospel and Scriptural doctrines with other faiths and practices, it is called spiritual adultery or fornication. |
Apparently some in the church of Pergamum had been introducing various aspects of other faiths and pagan practices. Not necessarily denying their Christian faith, but mixing pagan and Christian doctrine and practices together. Something God calls fornication and adultery.
God also reprimands the church for some who were "holding to the teachings of the Nicolaitans" (see the section on the letter to Ephesus for an understanding of the Nicolaitan doctrines).
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It is important to note here that God is reprimanding the entire church in Pergamum for what only "some" were doing. When some in the church accepts a doctrine which the Lord hates, the church is in great danger. Paul describes sin in the church as "Leven, or Yeast" needing to be removed (See 1 Cor. 5:6). Here is a reminder to us that we cannot overlook those who would teach false doctrine. Some would advocate teaching love and saying nothing about that which is false. But note the Lord does not over look false doctrine. |
The Dispensational View of
the Letter to Pergamum
(312 A.D. to 606 A.D.)
The reigning Roman emperor in power at the beginning of this time period was named Constantine, although for the first two decades of his rulership, he had to fight his rivals for the sole right to the throne. Prior to this time and even during the first part of Constantine's reign, it was Roman policy to persecute and kill Christians. History speaks of Constantine having a vision one night before a battle, of a cross in the sky and hearing a voice saying, "In this sign conquer". He took the vision as a message from God that if he would embrace Christianity, he would be able to conquer his enemies and win the throne. History documents that Constantine then "converted" from Roman paganism to Christianity. He issued an edict of toleration for the Church ending the 200+ years of persecution and he bestowed many favors upon the church and it's members, ie. placing many into positions of political authority, providing money to the church for its operation, etc. Many pagan temples were taken over by Christians for church buildings. To please the emperor, many church leaders accepted and adopted customs from the pagan practices and the pagan temples. Pagan statues of pagan gods were changed to statues of saints and other biblical figures.
The church over these next 300 years dressed itself in ritualism, mystery, clergy, vestments, worship of saints and angels, the introduction of the mass, making the sign of the cross, prayers for the dead, services conducted in Latin, prayers to Mary, and the introduction of purgatory, the idea of a rosary, celibacy of clergy, the introduction of nuns, pagan holidays merged into Christian celebrations, etc... The church was less Christian in its practice and a lot more Roman and pagan.
Constantine finally proclaimed Christianity (this new form of Christianity) as the Official State Religion, strongly encouraging all citizens to convert to it. Examining his overall life, even after his "conversion", history clearly shows that Constantine probably wasn't truly Born-Again, but rather used the church for his own political purposes, mixing paganism with Christianity. Further destroying the purity of the church was the "conversion" of the masses without a truly regenerated heart or true acceptance of the Holy Spirit into their lives. One cannot merely be "told" to become Christian and presto, be a Christian. One can only become a Christian when he sincerely in his heart recognizes his sin, truly repents of it, and genuinely accepts Jesus the Christ as Lord God and his own personal savior, then commits his life towards following and serving Jesus.
The Church became married to Roman authority, state acceptance, no persecution, a place of power, prominence and money. But it declined in spiritual blessing and power. What looked like a blessing from God turned out to be a literal curse for the Church. The Churches marriage to the world robbed it of its fire and its evangelistic fervor. The Church had become part of Satan's worldly establishment. What Satan could not do with 200 years of persecution, he now accomplished by indulging the Church. Satan learned from Smyrna that persecution only caused the Church to flourish and be in a constant state of revival and growth.
So, just as Satan, through Balaam, did to the Jews, tempting them away into spiritual fornication and adultery, Satan does again, this time through Constantine and the Roman Empire, tempting the Church away from the purity of Jesus and into an idolatrous affair with the world. Then, the Church implements "Church higharchy and authority" just as the Nicolaitans.
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Final Note: Ironically, Pergamos has the same root from where we get our words "bigamy" & "polygamy". |
Personal
Application
Even though we are in the world and are even told to remain in the world, we are never to be a part of the world. The world offers so many temptations and we, as Christians, are constantly bombarded with pressure to conform or accept world views. If we hold to the Scriptures and the Gospel in its purest form, we are called "Fundamentalists", "narrow minded", and "judgmental". We are told we must be tolerant of all other faiths, alternative life styles and embrace them as merely another perception of the Truth. The truth is, that the Lord tells us to accept the person, but not the sin, to use His Word to judge all behavior and doctrine as good or evil and to reject evil and accept good.
A Christian (a follower of Jesus the Christ, Jesus of Nazareth, Jesus of Mary and Joseph, etc...) must not allow worldly influences and mixtures of other religions and practices to infiltrate our own churches or our own lives.
