Hello and welcome to Van Life Devotions. Thank you for joining us as we make our way around the seven churches mentioned in the Book of Revelation. Today we are in Pergamum – a city that was considered in its heyday as “the greatest city in Asia Minor” and it remained an important city for the Romans, Byzantines, and Ottoman Turks until its abandonment around the 12th century. Pergamum was a major centre for science, art, literature, and education. Pergamum established a significant library that contained 200,000 scrolls—making it the second largest library in ancient history after Alexandria.
And yet, as great as this city was Jesus referred to it twice as where Satan lived and had his throne. These are huge statements by our Lord about this city and the reason why; Pergamum was a major religious centre worshipping many gods. There were several shrines such as the huge altar to Zeus which all day smoked with sacrifices offered to Zeus, known as the god of all gods. Was this Satan’s throne? Was it the Temple of Asclepios - god of healing? This was the major place of healing for people from all over the world. Often sick people would be put in a dark room at night in an induced trance and priests would release snakes to crawl all over their bodies in a ritual healing. Many of the coins of Pergamum have Asclepios' serpent as part of their design. It might well be that Christians regard a religion which took the snake as its emblem as a Satanic cult. This is where the modern medical symbol comes from. Maybe it was because Pergamum was the administrative centre of Asia which meant that it was the centre of Caesar worship for the province. It was the place where people were required to take the name of Lord and give it to Caesar instead of to Christ; and to a Christian there could be nothing more Satanic than that.
Even though Jesus saw it as where Satan lived and his throne was, the church that met here was praised by Jesus when He said in verse 13, “Yet you remain true to my name. You did not renounce your faith in me, not even in the days of Antipas, my faithful witness, who was put to death in your city—where Satan lives” (Revelation 2:13 NIV). We don’t know much about Antipas; there is a late legend written by Tertullian that he met his death by being slowly roasted to death within a brass brazen bull.
As faithful as the church was, there were those who needed rebuking: “Nevertheless, I have a few things against you: There are some among you who hold to the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to entice the Israelites to sin so that they ate food sacrificed to idols and committed sexual immorality. Likewise, you also have those who hold to the teaching of the Nicolaitans.” (Revelation 2:14-15 NIV). Some of the early Christians fell back into temple worship to fit into society, eating idols offerings as a sign of worship, sexual immorality with prostitutes as a sign of worship. Jesus compared them to the Jews who worship Baal and the Israelites married Moabite women and worshipped their god. He told them in verse 16 to “repent”.
Finally, Jesus declared this promise, “to the one who is victorious, I will give some of the hidden manna”(Revelation 2:17 NIV). God will provide what they need. But Jesus adds: “I will also give that person a white stone with a new name written on it, known only to the one who receives it” (Revelation 2:17 NIV). There are a few possibilities for the white stone interpretation, it could be a reference to the Emperor who would give invitations to major festivities or special events with the name of the invitee engraved on white marble, used like a ticket for entry, or in an ancient law court white and black stones were used for registering verdicts – black for condemnation, white for acquittal. Another thought is that the white stone is mankind, that we have been cleansed of earthly stains and made pure white, fit for heaven. Either way, Jesus will ultimately invite His faithful followers to His feast, and thanks to Jesus paying the penalty of our sin, we are acquitted and blemish free, fit for Heaven.
What I find interesting is that Jesus told these young Christians not to flee from Pergamum and join a safer community. Instead, He called them to be a faithful witness remaining true to Him only. It is the same with us. Don’t flee but stay wherever God has planted you – in your jobs, community, friendship networks – and be a faithful witness without adopting the behaviours of the world.
Let’s pray.
Dear Lord Jesus, help us to be a faithful witness for you wherever you plant us and help let us hear and obey what the Spirit is saying to us. O God, preserve us who travel; surround us with your loving care; protect us from every danger; and bring us in safety to our journey’s end; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
David Moyes
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