To the Church at Pergamos
History
Continuing on our trek the next church was Pergamos, which was located 40 miles NE of Smyrna. The first part of the name Pergamos or “per” means improper, and “gamos” means marriage so “Pergamos” literally means “Improper Marriage”. Pergamos was located in the Roman province of Asia called Mysia in Caicus valley. The city was located three miles from the river, and one of the tributaries known as the Selinus flowed through the city and the other tributary called the Kteios ran along the walls of Pergamos. The early city was build on a cone shaped acropolis that was a thousand feet tall with steep perpendicular sides, which made the city an easily defensible fortress. After Alexander the Great died in 323 BC, Lysimachus left Philetaerus in charge and left him with 9,000 talents of God but Philetaerus decided to keep the money and make himself the ruler of Pergamum. Many evil kings ruled over the next few years in Pergamos, and they were worshipped as gods. However, Eumenes II was the most memorable king and during his reign the city reached its greatest height. During this time art and literature were encouraged, and the city library had 200,000 volumes which Antony would eventually give to Cleopatra. One of the biggest and most renown buildings in the town was the alter of Zeus, which was also one of the wonders of the ancient world. In 133 BC when Attalus III who would be the last Greek ruler died, he gave his entire kingdom over to the Roman government. His son Aristonicus try to retake it, but in 129 BC he was defeated and the Roman province known as Asia was formed and Pergamos was made its capital city. However, the term they used “Asia” was not the continent of Asia nor was it part of Asia Minor but it was simply the part of Asia Minor that the Romans controlled.
In Pergamos they worshipped four gods, which included Zeus, Dionysus, Athena and Asklepios. During this period the priests and physicians of Asklepios had a scam going on to make money. Invalids from all over Asia would come there and sleep in the court, and the “gods” would reveal to the priests and physicians in dreams the remedies needed to heal their diseases which gave many opportunities for the priests to deceive them. The priests used shills to make the people believe that people were getting healed, and this is how they made money. Pergamos was also called "Thrice Neokoros" meaning that in the city there were three temples built for three Roman emperors, and as we stated earlier they worshipped as gods. Pergamos was the main religious center of the region, but gradually as it grew it also became the political center. Eventually even the Jews that lived there assimilated into the Greek culture and even began using Greek names. Christianity came to Pergamos in the early days of the Church, and Antipas was the first Christian killed by the Romans and it was in Pergamos where he died. According to Revelation Pergamos is also known to be “where Satan’s throne is”, which could refer to the temples of the Roman emperors whom people worshipped in Pergamos.
During this period Satan was not winning his battle by persecuting and killing Christians, so he changed his tactics and decided to corrupt them from within (which was the same tactic used against Israel by Balaam). Constantine the Great, who ruled from 306 to 337 A.D. was the first Roman ruler to convert to Christianity. In the year 313 A.D. he issued a degree that gave religious tolerance to Christians. Even though Christianity soon became the state religion (which some believers liked), it also allowed for Roman pagan rituals and doctrines to influence Church doctrine (the way of Balaam) (2 Corinthians 6:14). The Church was never meant to have political
power on this earth but spiritual power, and to mixing the Church with politics was a dangerous game…
To the Church at Pergamos Write:
12) And to the angel of the church in Pergamos write; These things saith he which hath the sharp sword with two edges;
13) I know thy works, and where thou dwellest, even where Satan's seat is: and thou holdest fast my name, and hast not denied my faith, even in those days wherein Antipas was my faithful martyr, who was slain among you, where Satan dwelleth.
14) But I have a few things against thee, because thou hast there them that hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balac to cast a stumblingblock before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed unto idols, and to commit fornication.
15) So hast thou also them that hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitans, which thing I hate.
16) Repent; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth.
17) He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth it.
Chapter 2 Verse 12
Jesus is described in verse 12 as “he which hath the sharp sword with two edges”. Revelation 11:15 also says