Devotions with Dre Episode 20: Book of Revelation Part 5: Pergamum
In this episode:
1. Read letter / historical context
2. Who are the nicolaitans and who’s the balaam crowd?
3. Blessings promised to believers
Here we go:
1. The Letter
MSG: 2:12 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."
NIV: 12 “To the angel of the church in Pergamum write: These are the words of him who has the sharp, double-edged sword.
13 I know where you live—where Satan has his throne. Yet you remain true to my name. You did not renounce your faith in me, not even in the days of Antipas, my faithful witness, who was put to death in your city—where Satan lives.
14 Nevertheless, I have a few things against you: There are some among you who hold to the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to entice the Israelites to sin so that they ate food sacrificed to idols and committed sexual immorality.
15 Likewise, you also have those who hold to the teaching of the Nicolaitans.
16 Repent therefore! Otherwise, I will soon come to you and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth.
17 Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who is victorious, I will give some of the hidden manna. I will also give that person a white stone with a new name written on it, known only to the one who receives it.
1. Pergamum/ Pergamus/Pergama was a beautiful art-filled city located along 2 tributaries of the “Caicus River.” Lots of idol worship to Zeus and other pagan gods. The church there is commended for the way they’re holding tight to Jesus while living among evil.
The individual named Antipas is thought to have been a physician in the city of Pergamum who was spreading Christianity, and the medical guild of the city “The Aesculapians” reported him for disloyalty to Ceasar, and they executed him.
We see a sword metaphor used in this letter, and it’s used throughout scripture, for the word of God. Many scholars say the image of Jesus with a drawn sword is implying He’s ready to bring righteous judgement.
In this letter we also see a reference to the Throne of Satan - unlike the last letter John isn’t talking about any synagogue or group of Jewish persecutors, it seems like he might be talking about a specific spot in the city and has to do with the pagan stronghold that exists in the city, and the heavy persecution against believers. [btw throughout the bk of Rev Satan is described as - or at least strongly associated with - a dragon, which is also linked to a monster of the Sea - which we know from Hebrew scriptures is the imagery for Chaos. and all this John ties in with allusions to former empire Babylon, which can be understood as: the political power of the day in general. in other words, the imperial Cult of Rome that stood in opposition to the rule of the true and always GOD, YHWH]. According to Aune’s Commentary on Rev, if the Throne of Satan is probably an exact spot in Perg; it’s either the temple of Agustus, the Altar of Zeus, the Roman judge’s bench in the proconsul, the temple of Asclepios, or the city itself, since it was a major center for the imperial cult, major spot for persecution, and major hub of idol worship.
You may notice a lot of these church letters have this pattern: address the guardian angel, reference part of the vision from ch 1 of Jesus in a glorified state, then most include an encouragement, most then include a rebuke/call for change, then there are promises made to conqueror believers (fun fact all these promises are brought back up in Ch 21-22), letters end with a statement about listening to the Spirit of God.
Pergamum’s Christians met in house churches, probably like 35 people or something. Most of the citizens in the city worshipped the emperor, Domitian. This was the Roman imperial CULT. There were altars to him, he had a presthood, temples… pergama was 1st city in Asia Minor to be labeled “temple warden” for Domitian. The highest hill in the city had this temple and right beside it a temple dedicated to Zeus.
2. Who are the nicolaitans and who’s the balaam crowd?
Allusion to Hebrew scriptures - Balaam tempted God’s people to compromise and participate in demonic rituals (Numbers 22-25). Several letters have this allusion, and it’s often linked with the phrase “the teaching of the Nicolaitans” - it’s a way of describing moral compromise. Whether it’s this letter’s ref to Balaam, or the next letter’s ref to the OT character Jezebel, John is pointing out famous evil examples of corruption through idolatry. And “Nicolaitans” aren't a specific known people-group from the era. Rather, it’s probably a pejorative term.
Have you ever met a follower of Christ who is sold out, loyal, faithful, all in?? These qualities are so admirable! But I’ve noticed they can sometimes exist in persons that have certain areas of troublesome doctrinal beliefs/theology. Genuine followers, inspiring even! they just need to get their theology right and quit listening to off-base teachers. That might be what’s going on with some of the believers in Pergamum, to extend them more generous assumptions.
The phrase “Balaam’s teaching” means religious and moral compromise. Eating food sacrificed to idols, and potentially participating in those messed up rituals that took place doing so, and potentially sinning sexually in connection to these sacrifice rituals.
Jesus is calling us to live differently than the culture around us! aka repent! Rev has a theme of not compromising. why do we put up with holy influences in our lives? bc we’re used to them.
Who balaam was:
Balaam was a professional prophet and diviner (practicing the occult to get answers for people much like today we have psychics, taro readers etc).
He’s in Numbers 22. He wasn’t an Israelite, he was most likely an Ammonite, but when the Moabite king Balak (an enemy of the Israelites at this time) commissioned Balaam to curse Israel, Balaam couldn’t do it. First he had a dream where YHWH told Balaam not to go when Balak summoned him, then he finally got talked into going and God’s like ok but you’re only gonna end up saying what i tell you to. on the way, Balaam encounters a holy angel. The king brings Balaam to several different demonic high places, but it was like when he went into channelling mode He channeled YHWH (well, on purpose on YHWH’s end) and blessed the ancient Israelites instead of cursing them.
The last of the demonic high places that balaam did this was called Peor, and balaam doesnt consult YHWH again he just assumes what to say off of the prior two consultations.
Llater, in Numbers 25 we learn that Israel started sinning sexually with Moabites = “yoked itself with Baal of Peor”. and in numbers 31 we learn that it was Balaam who had at some point advised some moabites to entice israelites into unfaithfulness to YHWH at Peor. so a plague broke out and a bunch of horrible stuff happened and then Balaam ends up dying in a battle between israel and moab.
Enduring Word commentary online on Num 31: “Balaam, who had suggested the strategy to seduce Israel into sexual immorality and idolatry, and who did it all for money, was now dead. The vengeance of God judged him, and whatever money he gained was no longer of any benefit to him.
i. This was the error of Balaam for profit mentioned in Jude 1:11. Balaam was in error to do evil against God and His people for the sake of money. When the vengeance of God came against Midian, this error cost him his life.
ii. “Balaam’s name, amid the recital of the names of the Midianite kings, suggests that he was their advisor, their spiritual guru. Always after a shekel, Balaam had a new gig.” (Allen)
iii. In Numbers 23:10 Balaam spoke of this desire: Let me die the death of the righteous, and let my end be like his! But Balaam had no interest in living the life of the righteous, so he died the death of the wicked, in the company of those under God’s judgment.
Why I have always been interested in this fascinating character in history: he reminds me of a lot of creatives/artists- "tortured souls" - sometimes we’re gifted beyond where maturity level reaches. Maybe that gift is leadership or winning others over or being charismatic or spiritual discernment or music and worship or faith and belief.
We can get into trouble when our anointing runs way ahead of our character or we’re broken and using our gifts to try and fill our own needs and brokenness instead of serve others - exalt God, love and equip His Church…
So, it’s important to note that John in the book of Rev is choosing this character Balaam to warn the church. This person who used prophesy for profit, who had divided loyalty and never chose YHWH exclusively even after encountering Him multiple times. This guy who ended up destroying many of the people of God through compromise and idolatry.
It may be that John sees a similar possibility, a similar scheme of the enemy, lurking around these churches in Asia Minor - and of course the temptation to be spiritual and important but not exclusive to YHWH - the temptation to be willing to compromise!! - still lurks around many prophetic gifted people today.
What would it look like to live truly un-compromised, washed in the Word? “For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.” Heb 4:12
3. The three blessings / promises for believers
Victorious believers are promised sacred/hidden MANNA (like in the Ark of the Covenant), a white-looking or clear STONE with a new NAME on it. Manna, Stone, Name.
Michael Heiser says that the rewards in v17 can be understood as 3 metaphors for eternal life - a deep dive on his thoughts on this can be found by googling Naked Bible Podcast Transcript and scrolling to Rev 2.
MANNA: Notice in this letter the juxtaposition of food sacrificed to idols, and holy manna of God. This reference to manna reminds me of the story of the Temptation of Christ where Jesus says I don’t live on food alone but the Word of God, and the time Jesus told His disciples He has secret food they don’t know about in John 4. Manna was thought of as the food of the angels, and it will be at the Marriage Supper of the Lamb in the future, where the Leviathan is served for dinner - where Chaos is defeated. So the metaphor John’s using here means: you’re going to be at the table!
Beale’s New Intl Greek Text commentary on Rev says that the promise of hidden manna is a metaphorical portrayal of end-time fellowship and identification with Christ… that those refusing to participate in pagan feasts will be rewarded with that holy supper.
STONE: Pebble/gemstone/amulet… In the Roman empire, prisoners were shown or given stones - white meant life/acquittal, black meant a death sentence. But other scholars feel like this is more of a reference to stones that people used for entrance into temple events. Or even one of the stones from the high priests’ breastplates back in the day. Knowing John’s writing style, it could very well be all of the above!
NAME: there are varied interp’s - Is it God’s Name? The conquering Christian’s name? either way, overcomers get identified with Jesus. :) Chap 3:12 might be evidence for it being God’s Name given TO us - “I will write on them the Name of my God”
Maybe our ticket into the marriage supper of the lamb to eat the angel food is a white stone of acquittal with YHWH’s name on it. that feels possible to me.
In short, these promises mean: we will reign with Christ. we will reign with Christ. So let’s start living out of that identity now. We don’t really need to participate in the demonically inspired parts of our culture any more. We know who we really are and what we were really made for. We’re inextricably linked with our Savior, now and forever.