In our culture, we sometimes use the expression the good, the bad and the ugly. This is the third time we have used this phrase to describe various congregations in the first century. We have looked at Ephesus and Smyrna, and this week we turn our attention to the church at Pergamum.
The church at Pergamum, a city devoted to paganism. We would likely not even know about this church or this city unless it had been included in the letter John wrote to the seven churches in Asia. It had many members who remained faithful in a city given over to pagan gods. We have no details of how it began, but likely Paul knew and may have preached there.
The city of Pergamum. Towering over the city was a mountain peak that was 800 feet above the city. On top of this was a 40-foot altar where sacrifices were made to Zeus day and night. In 29 A.D., the city built a temple where Augustus Caesar was worshipped. There were many other temples to various gods scattered throughout the city. Jesus described the city as the city “where Satan dwells.” All of this resulted in severe persecutions for the church.
The church at Pergamum and the good found in it. The Lord told this church that He knew what was happening and how that they had remained faithful in the midst of the trials they were facing. He mentions specifically the greater persecution that happened when Antipas, a member of the church, had been killed. We know nothing about his death, but the Lord described him as “My faithful martyr.” Three things we do know about him and that is all that matters. (1) He belonged to the Lord for he was My witness. (2) He was faithful. He was My faithful martyr. (3) He made the absolute greatest sacrifice of love. He was My faithful martyr.
The church at Pergamum and the bad in it. Read the letter from Patmos in Revelation chapter two and you will see areas where it could have done better. There were those who taught sexual acts in worshiping the gods, like Balak and Balaam in the Old Testament, and the Christians were tempted by this. It was part of a doctrine taught by the Nicolaitans, a doctrine hated by Jesus.
The church at Pergamum and the ugly. We use this word ugly to describe what lay in the future of the church there if it did not repent. Jesus would come quickly and fight against this doctrine with words from His mouth. On the other hand, the future was far from ugly for those who remained faithful. We may not fully understand all that is meant by “hidden manna” and a “white stone,” but this figurative language was immediately understood by them and was a powerful motivation to faithfulness!