Our little church congregation is embarking on a bible study
of that book at the end of the Bible that everyone talks about but no one
actually reads - The Revelation. I'll
try to publish here in this blog some of my notes as we go along.
Revelation 2: 12 – 17 Pergamum
Built on a 1,300 foot
hill overlooking a deep valley 45 miles north-east of Smyrna, Pergamum was the
Roman capital of Asia Minor. It was a sophisticated city of high culture
boasting a library of 200,000 books. It was called “the most illustrious city
of Asia,” by the historian Pliny. Another historian called it, “the royal city,
the city of authority.” The city was filled with temples and shrines to various
gods and goddesses, including: Zeus, Athena, Dionysus, and Asclepius, as well
as being the center of the Imperial cult of Asia. It had a temple specifically
devoted to the worship of Caesar Augustus.
The mountain city of
Pergamum, covered with temples and shrines to false gods is described as the
“throne of Satan,” and “the place where Satan dwells.” Robert H. Mounce notes
several suggestions as to the meaning of this expression (none of which would
necessarily exclude the others):
Frequent mention is
made of the great throne-like altar to Zeus erected on a huge platform eight
hundred feet above the city (Rist, 385) Others take the phrase in reference to
the cult of Asclepius, who was designated Savior and whose symbol was a serpent
(this would obviously remind Christians of Satan)… As the traveler approached
Pergamum by the ancient road from the south, the actual shape of the city-hill
would appear as a giant throne towering above the plain. (Mounce, 96)
To this city of Roman
authority Christ presented himself as the “one holding the sharp two-edged
sword,” the rhomphaia. This is the
same kind of sword held by the cherubim in the LXX version of Genesis; the
Cherubim stood guard at the entrance to the Garden of Eden with this kind of
sword. It is the flaming sword of God. It is used 7 times in the New Testament,
6 of which are in Revelation, the 7th is the sword that Simeon prophesied would
pierce Mary’s soul. Christ is the one who holds the sharp sword of authority
and government. Though on earth human governments may hold the sword (Romans
13:4) it is ultimately Christ who is in control. All authority in heaven and on
earth belongs to him (Matthew 28:18). He is the ruler of the kings of the earth
(Revelation 1:5).
The Christians of
Pergamum had held faithfully to the name of Jesus in spite of trials and
tribulation, and in spite of the fact that they were in the place where Satan,
the adversary, made his dwelling. They held firm to the faith even during the
most intense period of persecution when the faithful witness, Antipas, was
murdered. Antipas is named a “faithful witness” (which is Jesus’ name, Revelation
1:5) for being true to the name of Christ.
Antipas, the word
itself, means “against all” Though we don’t know who the historical person
Antipas was, he represents the faithful community of Christians in Pergamum who
had remained faithful “against all” who came against them.
But here too, there
were some who followed, who “clung tenaciously (Massyngberde)” to the teaching
of Balaam; who were committing adultery by eating foods offered to idols. These
were the very things Gentile converts to the faith were instructed to avoid:
"For it seemed
good the Holy Spirit and to us to lay upon you no greater burden than these
essentials: that you abstain from things sacrificed to idols and from blood and
things strangled and from fornication; if you keep yourselves free from such
things, you will do well. (Acts 15:28 –9)”
But even further, this
sin is described as “adultery” or “fornication” because in the language of the
prophets, worship of any god other than the One True God by God’s covenant
people was adultery. The people of God were chosen as his “bride”(Jeremiah 2:
2, Ezekiel 16: 8-9) To worship another god was to break the bonds of that
covenant marriage (Jeremiah 2: 20, 24; 3:1, 20; Ezekiel 16: 15 – 63; 23: 1 –
49; Hosea 2: 4 – 5).
The rulers of the church
are told to repent for allowing this “adultery” to continue within the
community. If they would not repent, then Christ warned that he would come
quickly against them, to make war against them with the sword of his mouth in
the same way that the angel of the Lord came against Balaam with a sword (Numbers
22: 23 – 35).
Those who proved
victorious would be given a three-fold reward: a portion of the hidden manna, a
white stone, and a new name known only to recipient.
Manna was the daily
bread given by God to the Israelites during their 40 years of wilderness
wandering. It fell from the sky and was called “manna” because the people
asked, “What is it?” or manna. It was described as a fine white flake-like
frost which tasted like coriander seed, or like a wafer made with honey.
(Exodus 16:14, 31; Numbers 11:8). Moses commanded Aaron, the high priest, to
gather up a measure of manna and to place it within the Ark of the Covenant so
that future generations could be reminded of God’s goodness and provisions for
his people. The Apostle Paul called it “spiritual” food (1 Corinthians 10:3).
The Psalms refer to it as “angel’s food” (Psalm 78:24). The supply of manna
ceased when the Israelites entered the Promised Land (Joshua 5:12)
According to Jewish
legends the “hidden manna” was to be revealed when the Messiah came (Ford,
400). The hidden manna, the spiritual food of the Mighty (Psalm 78:24) is the
“bread of life,” Jesus Christ. Those who are faithful will have Christ and the
life that he gives as their eternal reward.
In all truth I tell you,
it was not Moses who gave you the bread from heaven,
it was my Father who give you the bread from heaven,
the true bread;
for the bread of God
is the bread which comes down from heaven
and gives life to the world…
I am the bread of life.
No one who comes to me will ever hunger.
(John 6: 22 – 66)
The white stone was
used in the ancient world as a sort of admission ticket to public function or
as a voting ballot. White stones were sometimes engraved with the name of victorious
gladiators. They were also used in the courts to indicate a “not guilty”
verdict, black to indicate “guilty” (Ford 400, Robertson, 307). The faithful
follower of Christ will be declared forever NOT GUILTY before God.
On the white stone
would be engraved a secret new name. In ancient cultures a name was not just a
handle for a person as it is in our culture today. To the ancient world a
person’s name was a reflection of his or her character and personality, and as
an extension of their authority. A new name was often given after recovery from
a serious illness or after a life-changing event (as in the case of Jacob /
Israel and Saul / Paul).
The nations will then see your saving justice,
And all kings your glory,
And you will be called a new name
Which Yahweh’s mouth will reveal.
Isaiah 62:2
Ford, J. Massyngberde, Revelation:
Anchor Bible Vol. 38, Doubleday,Garden City NY, 1975.
Mounce, Robert H., The
Book of Revelation, Eerdmans, Grand Rapids MI, 1977.
Robertson, A. T., Word
Pictures in the New Testament vol. 6 Broadman Press,Nashville TN, 1933
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