REVELATION 2: PART 3 • THE DOCTRINE OF BALAAM: THE CHURCH IN PERGAMOS

Time: 313–538. From Constantine’s nominal conversion to the setting up of the papacy.

Pergamos—“height or elevation”

Revelation 2:12

And to the angel of the church in Pergamos write; These things saith he which hath the sharp sword with two edges.

“He which hath the sharp sword with two edges”

For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. (Hebrews 4:12)

And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations. (Revelation 19:15)

Christ is here depicted as having a sharp, two-edged sword. This sword is the Word of God. It is through His Word that Christ purifies His people. And through His Word, or by His authority, Christ shall eventually triumph over His enemies.

During this time many in the church were conforming to the world and compromising the faith. Only the two-edged sword was able to fight this insidious attack, and only those who yielded their hearts and lives to the “sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God,” would stand faithful and true. This was a period in which the true servants of God had to struggle against a spirit of worldly policy, pride, and popularity among the professed followers of Christ, and against the workings of the mystery of iniquity.

“For my mouth shall speak truth; and wickedness is an abomination to my lips. All the words of my mouth are in righteousness; there is nothing froward or perverse in them. They are all plain to him that understandeth, and right to them that find knowledge” (Proverbs 8:7–9).

Only those believers in Pergamos and in the Pergamos era who gave heed to the words of God would continue to have spiritual understanding, walking in the light of the Lord. All others were swept into worldly and compromised Christianity. The same lesson is applicable to us as well.

Revelation 2:13

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.

“Satan’s seat”

Pergamos made a name for itself in 29 B.C. by becoming the first center of cultic worship of a living Roman emperor. In Pergamos a temple was built dedicated to the joint worship of the goddess Roma (a personification and deification of the spirit of the empire) and to the emperor Augustus. At the time John was penning the book of Revelation, Christians were suffering persecution for refusing to worship the emperor Domitian (81–96), who thought he should be worshipped as “lord and god.”

Pergamos was the religious capital of Asia Minor. It was a center of Hellenistic thought and emperor worship. Consequently, there were many temples dedicated to pagan worship. Much of this false worship dates back to the Babylonian mysteries. Jesus identified it as the place “where Satan’s seat is,” as it was a center for the propagation of falsehood. The designation was appropriate to the time John wrote this, and also as a symbol of an age when the church sought worldly acceptance through incorporating pagan practices.

Christ recognizes the unfavorable position of His people during this period. This message does not intend to identify the physical location of Satan. But there are times when he works with special power, and the period covered by the church of Pergamos was one of those times. During this period, the doctrine of Christ was being corrupted, and the great falling away spoken of by Paul in 2 Thessalonians 2:7–12 was taking place.

“Holdest fast”

But Christ as a son over his own house; whose house are we, if we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm unto the end. (Hebrews 3:6)

Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession. (Hebrews 4:14)

Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear. (Hebrews 12:28)

“Hast not denied my faith”

Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. (Matthew 16:24)

This church was commended for its steadfast endurance, holding firm to the Word of God and the faith of Jesus, not denying Christ and His truth even in the face of difficulty, apostasy and compromise. The faithful in Pergamos not only had a steadfast faith in Jesus, they also had Jesus’ faith. This is a hope and confidence in Jesus as our sacrifice and Savior, a faith that receives from Jesus His enabling strength. During the Pergamos era not all in the church were faithful. Christ is here commending the faithful remnant, not the apostate majority.

“Antipas was my faithful martyr”

Antipas may have been a man, known to John when he wrote the Revelation, who was martyred for his faith, no doubt for refusing to worship Roman gods or the Roman emperor. However, as it relates to Pergamos as a period of church history, Antipas is understood to be not an individual, but a class of men who opposed the rising power of the bishops, who were gaining dominance over the believers.

The name Antipas means “Anti” (opposed or in place of) and “papas” (father). Some suffered martyrdom at that time in Constantinople and Rome, where the bishops had begun to exercise the power that was soon to bring into its subjection the kingdoms of the old Roman Empire, and trample on the rights of the true church of Christ.

Revelation 2:14

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 stumbling block before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed unto idols, and to commit fornication.

“The doctrine of Balaam”

Having eyes full of adultery, and that cannot cease from sin; beguiling unstable souls: an heart they have exercised with covetous practices; cursed children: which have forsaken the right way, and are gone astray, following the way of Balaam the son of Bosor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness. (2 Peter 2:14–15)

Woe unto them! for they have gone in the way of Cain, and ran greedily after the error of Balaam for reward, and perished in the gainsaying of Core. These are spots in your feasts of charity, when they feast with you, feeding themselves without fear: clouds they are without water, carried about of winds; trees whose fruit withereth, without fruit, twice dead, plucked up by the roots. (Jude 1:11–12)

And Israel abode in Shittim, and the people began to commit whoredom with the daughters of Moab. And they called the people unto the sacrifices of their gods: and the people did eat, and bowed down to their gods. And Israel joined himself unto Baalpeor: and the anger of the Lord was kindled against Israel. Behold, these caused the children of Israel, through the counsel of Balaam, to commit trespass against the Lord in the matter of Peor, and there was a plague among the congregation of the Lord. (Numbers 25:1–3; 31:16)

Balaam loved the wages of unrighteousness and coveted the things of this world and the praise of men more than he loved God.

Balaam was a prophet of God who turned away from the truth. Through bringing in worldly elements, he caused the children of Israel to stumble and fall. The doctrine of Balaam is worldly policy, covetousness, and false doctrine designed by the prince of evil to draw souls away from Christ while professing to be Christians.

During the period of Pergamos, pagan practices were being brought into the church under false pretense. Idolatry came into the church under the guise of the veneration of Mary and the saints, whom the pagans worship under different names. Sunday sacredness, and other similar practices unknown to Jesus and His disciples and the early apostolic church, steadily came in. Like Balaam there were those who sought the ruin of the church by encouraging practices that were forbidden to Christians.
 
Applied to Christian history, this portrayal of the influence of Balaam is appropriate to the spirit developing in the church in the period following the legalization of Christianity by Constantine in A.D. 313 and his false and politically expedient conversion some ten or thirteen years later. Constantine brought in a policy of blending paganism and Christianity. He became the Pontifex Maximus and head of the church in a deliberate attempt to unite the diverse elements within the empire and thus strengthen it.

The favorable, even dominant position he gave the church after years of persecution brought to the church the temptations that always accompany prosperity and popularity. Sadly, the majority in the church lost their Christian world view and missionary zeal, and adopted a spirit of accommodation with the world. Under Constantine and his successors, the church developed into a political-ecclesiastical institution and lost much of its former spirituality.
 
God foresaw this development and sustained the faithful souls who upheld the truth, though they were less popular and well known than the developing ecclesiastical church-state structure. The faithful, sometimes within the ecclesiastical structure but more often outside its jurisdiction, were God’s special people throughout the centuries. Through them God kept alive His truth despite the influence of the spirit of Balaam.

The spirit of Balaam has always been opposed to the true way of God. Thus Christ’s warning is applicable to us still. Today, in our age of compromise, the admonition of Christ still sounds: “Hold fast and do not deny My name.”

“Cast a stumbling block”

Because my people hath forgotten me, they have burned incense to vanity, and they have caused them to stumble in their ways from the ancient paths, to walk in paths, in a way not cast up. (Jeremiah 18:15)

But ye are departed out of the way; ye have caused many to stumble at the law; ye have corrupted the covenant of Levi, saith the Lord of hosts. (Malachi 2:8)

These things have I spoken unto you, that ye should not be offended [scandalized or, made to stumble]. They shall put you out of the synagogues: yea, the time cometh, that whosoever killeth you will think that he doeth God service. And these things will they do unto you, because they have not known the Father, nor me. (John 16:1–3)

They stumble because they disobey and disbelieve [God’s] Word, as those [who reject Him] were destined (appointed) to do. (1 Peter 2:8 AMP)

But the path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day. The way of the wicked is as darkness: they know not at what they stumble. (Proverbs 4:18–19)

Those who profess the name of Christ but who, by their false doctrine and compromise with worldly principles, cause others to stumble, exhibit the spirit of Balaam. By word and deed they draw others away from the narrow “way which leadeth unto life” (Matthew 7:14) into the broad “way that leadeth to destruction” (Matthew 7:13). Sadly, the spirit and work of Balaam still exists in the Christian church today, and Jesus still hates it. He also commends those who resist the doctrine and spirit of Balaam.

Revelation 2:15

So hast thou also them that hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitans, which thing I hate.

“Doctrine of the Nicolaitans”

They have no real reverence for God, and they abuse His grace as an opportunity for immorality. They will not recognize the only master, Jesus Christ our Lord. (Jude 4 Phillips)

It appears that the Nicolaitans were professed Christians who believed that their faith in Jesus released them from obedience to God’s law. And further, that a profession of belief in Christ gave them license to continue living in the flesh, believing that this did not affect their spiritual lives or their salvation. The ideas and spirit of the Nicolaitans still hinders the church of Christ to our own day.

“Which thing I hate”

The fear of the Lord is to hate evil: pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way, and the froward [perverse] mouth, do I hate. (Proverbs 8:13)

Because of their wickedness which they have committed to provoke me to anger, in that they went to burn incense, and to serve other gods, whom they knew not, neither they, ye, nor your fathers. Howbeit I sent unto you all my servants the prophets, rising early and sending them, saying, Oh, do not this abominable thing that I hate. (Jeremiah 44:3–4)

I hate, I despise your feast days, and I will not smell in your solemn assemblies. [And why was this so?] For I know your manifold transgressions and your mighty sins: they afflict the just, they take a bribe, and they turn aside the poor in the gate from their right. (Amos 5:21, 12)

And let none of you imagine evil in your hearts against his neighbour; and love no false oath: for all these are things that I hate, saith the Lord. (Zechariah 8:17)

These six things doth the Lord hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him: A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, an heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief, a false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren. (Proverbs 6:16–19)

In the experience of every true believer, there should be a separation between the holy and high principles of God and the falsehood of error and sin. Even though God commended the ancient church at Pergamos and the believers living in that era, the rise of the compromised and worldly influences represented by Balaam and the Nicolaitans was gaining the ascendancy.

God hates sin, compromise, and the de-emphasizing of His truth. By excusing sin and compromise, the standards of society seem to have more influence on His professed people than His Spirit and His Word. When we uphold error we are fighting against God—thus the admonition to repent, an admonition reaching down the ages from John’s day to our own time.

Revelation 2:16

Repent; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth.

Repentance deep and true was the only remedy for this church. Christ’s coming that is spoken of here is not His second coming, but His coming in judgment, with the unsheathing of the sword of the Spirit—the Word of God. Thus a battle is depicted between the straight testimony of God’s Word, which calls to commitment and repentance, and the compromised faith of many in Pergamos, who had imbibed the spirit of Balaam and the Nicolaitans.

Revelation 2:17

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.

Stone—a pebble (as worn smooth by handling), i.e. by implication of use as a counter or ballot) a verdict (of acquittal) or ticket (of admission); a vote¹

Name—a name, literally or figuratively, authority, character²

“To him that overcometh”

The church of Pergamos was called to overcome the following:

• The pervasive influence of Satan

• The teachings and influence of Balaam

• The teachings and influence of the Nicolatians

• The mixing of paganism and the standards of society with the truth of God

The Overcomers’ Promise:

“To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna”

And Moses said unto Aaron, Take a pot, and put an omer full of manna therein, and lay it up before the Lord, to be kept for your generations. As the Lord commanded Moses, so Aaron laid it up before the Testimony, to be kept. (Exodus 16:33–34)

And [God] had rained down manna upon them to eat, and had given them of the corn of heaven. (Psalm 78:24)

Our fathers did eat manna in the desert; as it is written, He gave them bread from heaven to eat. As the living Father hath sent me, and I live by the Father: so he that eateth me, even he shall live by me. This is that bread which came down from heaven: not as your fathers did eat manna, and are dead: he that eateth of this bread shall live for ever. (John 6:31, 57–58)

Manna is a representation of Christ, the true bread of heaven. By feeding on Christ we become overcomers. That relationship which is now by faith will, to the overcomer, eventually become a relationship that is seen. “For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known” (1 Corinthians 13:12). At that time the food of the world of light will be our delight. And even greater will be the Bread of Life—the words and fellowship with our Savior, of whom the manna was a representation.

“Will give him a white stone”

Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool. (Isaiah 1:18)

Many shall be purified, and made white, and tried; but the wicked shall do wickedly: and none of the wicked shall understand; but the wise shall understand. (Daniel 12:10)

Thou hast a few names even in Sardis which have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with me in white: for they are worthy. (Revelation 3:4)

A gift is as a precious stone in the eyes of him that hath it: whithersoever it turneth, it prospereth. (Proverbs 17:8)

Therefore thus saith the Lord God, Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a tried stone, a precious corner stone, a sure foundation: he that believeth shall not make haste. (Isaiah 28:16)

To whom coming, as unto a living stone, disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of God, and precious, Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ. Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded. (1 Peter 2:4–6)

“In the stone a new name written”

And the Gentiles shall see thy righteousness, and all kings thy glory: and thou shalt be called by a new name, which the mouth of the Lord shall name. (Isaiah 62:2)

Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and I will write upon him my new name. (Revelation 3:12)

And I looked, and, lo, a Lamb stood on the mount Sion, and with him an hundred forty and four thousand, having his Father’s name written in their foreheads. (Revelation 14:1)

In ancient times, verdicts were rendered using a white or black stone. The white stone indicated a positive outcome. John may have been referring to this practice, which would have been understood by the churches at that time. All of the redeemed, along with the faithful in Pergamos, will have experienced the vindication obtained for them by Jesus, our great High Priest.

White is a symbol of purity. The white stone is a symbol of the kingdom of God, founded on Christ our Redeemer, and is indicative of the spiritual house to which all true believers belong. The promise of the white stone is a promise of vindication, as our characters are made white in the blood of the Lamb. The new name in the stone represents the experience each believer will have obtained on the road to the heavenly home.

Since a person’s name often indicates character, the new name will represent the unique experience and character each of us has gained in our faith walk with the Lord and in the battles fought for eternal life. Each person’s experience and character is best known to himself or herself; thus the expression “no man knoweth saving he that receiveth it.”

Friend, will you allow Jesus to vindicate you and free you from the condemnation of sin, and prepare your character for eternal life? It can only happen if you choose to surrender your heart to Him.


Endnotes

1.  James Strong, Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible, (Grand Rapids, Michigan: Baker Book House, 1987).

2.  Ibid.