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The Apocalypse

or

"The Day of the Lord"

The People on the Earth
(Chaps. 2 - 3)

3. THE THIRD EPISTLE
PERGAMOS
(2:12-17)

In the Epistle to the Assembly in Pergamos, the Old Testament illustrations are from a subsequent period of Israel's wilderness experiences. Balaam and Balak are used to illustrate the special circumstances of this Assembly; the counterpart of which will be found to exist in "the day of the Lord."

It is the last of the three Epistles in which the Old Testament reference is to Israel and the Wilderness period. In the first we had Israel's Espousals;   in the second we had Israel's Testing and Trial; now, here, in the third, we have Israel's Failure.

This failure is very marked in the Epistle to Pergamos.  The predominant tone of the Epistle is that of Crimination. Two solemn warnings are given, and a call to "Repent," with a threat of being fought against by the sword of His mouth.

This will be seen in the Epistle as we proceed; and it is clearly exhibited in the Structure:—

2:12. And unto the angel of the Assembly in Pergamos, write; These things saith he who hath the sharp two-edged sword]    This attribute of Christ is taken from 1:16.  It is used here and in the closing threat of the Epistle (2:16), because the judgment upon "the error of Balaam" was executed with the sword.  See Num. 31:8, "Balaam also, the son of Beor, they slew with the sword " (So Josh. 13:22).  Hence all the significant references to the "sword" in this epistle.  In 1:16 the sword proceeds out of Christ's mouth, teaching them how, by the word which cometh out of His mouth, He can chastise and destroy. Hearken therefore to Him.

13. I know* where thou dwellest, even where Satan's throne is]     Here we have a special reference to the scenes and circumstances of Rev. 13:2, where the Dragon gave the Beast "his power, and his throne, and great authority."  In Rev. 16:10, "the fifth angel poured out his vial upon the throne of the Beast," &c. So that at that time, in the Day of the Lord, there will be a special place where Satan's throne will be set up in this world; and when he and the Beast will receive that worship which it is and has ever been his aim, all through, to obtain from mankind. This throne is evidently to be in Pergamos. Whatever foreshadowings there may have been of this in past history or in the history of the Roman Emperors, it only shows us the possibility of that, in which all believe when we speak of   "history repeating itself."  Pergamos was the seat of the ancient mysteries. That which has been, may be again. Just as the deeds of Antiochus Epiphanes show us how another individual will yet do entirely, what he did partially.

* L.T.Tr.A. WH. & RV. omit the words "thy works, and."

and thou holdest fast my name]    in not receiving the mark of the Beast.   See Rev. 11:18 ("which fear thy name"); and compare 13:13-15; 2 Thes. 2:11, 12.

and didst not deny my faith, [even]* in the days** of Antipas, my witness, my faithful one, who was killed among you, where Satan dwelleth]     Here is another allusion to Satan's future special presence on the earth in the days here referred to. History knows nothing whatever about any such person named Antipas. Later tradition has a great deal to say, but its conflicting statements will not repay us for the time and trouble involved in their consideration. There will be many martyrs in those days; and here, one of them is mentioned by name. Compare and see Rev. 6:9, 10;  13:10; 20:4, when the fulfilment of the Lord's words will be understood.   Matt. 24:9.   Mark 13:9.  Luke 21:12.     John 15:20; 16:2.   These are the days specially referred to in this Epistle. It is no new thing for prophecy to name a person long before his personal manifestation (See 1 Kings 13:2. Isa 44:28; 45:1).  "The place where Satan dwelleth" (13:2; 16:10) must be the place where persecution will rage most fiercely.

* T. omits "even."  Tr. & A. put it in brackets as doubtful.

** Omit "in which."—L.T.Tr. WH. See RV. marg.

14. Nevertheless I have against thee a few things, that thou hast there those who hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balak to cast a stumbling-block before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed unto idols, and to commit fornication]     What "the error of Balaam" (Jude 11) was may be seen from Numbers 25:1, &c., and 31:16, &c.  The whole scene has to do with idolatry of the grossest kind, where fornication will be made religion! and when religion will be turned into fornication, as it was and is in all the great heathen systems of idolatry. This was the essence of idolatry of old; and this is what is again coming on the earth. Otherwise, what mean those significant words in chap. 9:20, 21? (See [Pergamos — The Wilderness Period])

15. So hast thou also those that hold fast the teaching of the Nicolaitanes (v. 6) in like manner*]

* All the critical Greek Texts and R.V. read (...) (homoios), in like manner, instead of (...) (ho miso), which I hate.

16. Repent therefore*; otherwise I will come unto thee speedily, and will fight against them with the sword (v. 12) of my mouth]    We have seen before, how foreign is such a warning and threat as addressed to the members of the Church of God to-day. On the other hand, we see the actual fulfilment of this threat in chap. 19:11-21.

* This word is added by G.L.Tr. (A). WH. and RV.

17. He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit is saying to the Assemblies: To him that overcometh will I give* of the hidden manna]     This promise follows in the order of Old Testament illustration.

1. To Ephesus it was the tree of life (Gen. 2.). 
2. To Smyrna it was not to be hurt of the second death (Gen. 3.). 
3. Now, to Pergamos, it is the manna of Exod. 16:32-34.

We have to remember how the false prophets and teachers were all fed at Jezebel's table (I Kings 18:19).  So all these false teachers will be supported by the State of which the Beast will be the head. The faithful remnant of the woman's seed will be again driven into the wilderness (12:13-17).  How beautiful therefore to be thus reminded, just here, that God can spread a table (not Jezebel's) for them in that wilderness, as He did of old (Ps. 78:19), when "man did eat angels' food, and He sent them meat to the full" (Ps. 78:24, 25). It is in this connection that the promise of the manna is given. In Ex. 16:34, 35 we are told that the manna was specially given "until they came to a land inhabited."  Until then, God has "hidden manna" with which to support His people.

and I will give unto him a white stone, and on the stone a new name written, which none knoweth save he that receiveth it.]    This new name for the new Israel is the subject of prophecy. Isa. 62:2 tells of the time when "Thou shalt be called by a new name, which the mouth of the Lord shall name" (see also Isa. 65:15).  Rev. 19:11-16 is the fulfilment of this promise. What that new name will be is not yet revealed, but its association with the "white stone" reminds us that as they will be "a kingdom of priests," so they will have the priestly signs as Aaron had (Ex. 28:36, &c.). On the front of his mitre was a plate of gold "holy to the Lord." Here, instead of a plate of gold, they are to have a white stone, on which will be an inscription equivalent to Aaron's, with their new name: thus distinguishing them in a most emphatic way from those who will worship the Beast and receive his mark in their forehead.

Those who will be on the earth in those days will thus be divided into two opposing parties: the party of the Beast, and that of the Lamb; each having its own distinctive mark or brand.

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