Living as an Overcomer: Jesus’ Messages to the 7 Churches in RevelationSample

Day 3 – Embracing Uncompromising Commitment: The Church in Pergamum

Through the angel commissioned to communicate His Message, Jesus told the church, “I know where you dwell, where Satan’s throne is.” (Revelation 2:13) Pergamum was the capital of the Satanic. As you may recall, the church in Smyrna had similar surroundings, said to be dwelling in the synagogue of Satan (Revelation 2:9). But here, Jesus takes it a step further. He states that Pergamum is smack-dab in the center of Satan’s throne room. They’re in a dire predicament.

Then Jesus follows with a message about overcoming—about how to live above the culture, chaos, and the quagmire around them: “You hold fast My name, and did not deny My faith even in the days of Antipas, My witness, My faithful one, who was killed among you, where Satan dwells” (verse 13). Jesus explains the key to experiencing eternal victory amid a less-than-ideal earthly experience. In one word: commitment. Not just commitment but uncompromising commitment. He’s saying if the people of the church in Pergamum want to overcome, they must be uncompromising Christians. Compromise and commitment cannot coincide.

JESUS’S DESIGNATION—THE TWO-EDGED SWORD

Jesus presents this key to the church in Pergamum by first introducing Himself with “the One who has the sharp two-edged sword.” (2:12) This designation refers back to Revelation 1:16: “In His right hand He held seven stars, and out of His mouth came a sharp two-edged sword, and His face was like the sun shining in its strength.”

Why does Jesus introduce Himself this way? Because Pergamum is steep in the worship of the Roman State. Rome was the dominant influence of Asia Minor, where all seven churches were located under the Roman sword; a sword in biblical times indicated authority.

Jesus wanted the Christians in Pergamum to know His Word is the final word and the authoritative sword. He wanted to remind them of this truth before addressing the issue at hand:

"I have a few things against you because you have there some who hold the teaching of Balaam, who kept teaching Balak to put a stumbling block before the sons of Israel, to eat things sacrificed to idols, and to commit acts of immorality. So you also have some who in the same way hold the teaching of the Nicolaitans." (Revelation 2:14-15)

Jesus stated the problem clearly. While the church claimed Jesus, they compromised. While they said they were Christian, they tolerated the compromise of the Nicolaitans, a heretical Christian sect, who used grace as a license to sin and compromise with idolatry and immorality (Acts 15:28-29). They tolerated the compromise of others. The issue with this church was a lack of conviction. Conviction leads to commitment, but the lack of commitment leads to compromise.

The church in Pergamum had a lot going for them, but their sin of compromise and tolerance limited their experience of God’s divine provision and favor. We can learn from their example and take seriously the call to a higher level of commitment to obeying God’s rule in our lives and sharing the truth of God’s Word with those around us, so they don’t continue to compromise either.