To the church at Pergamum, Jesus speaks about the importance of right theology. But, who needs theology? Doesn't doctrine divide? Hasn't doctrine been the cause of great divisions in the church throughout the centuries? Clearly Jesus thought teaching and theology matters, and it will do us well to listen and obey His words in Revelation.
(A) Reality check: your dwelling affects your relationship with God (Rev 2:13-15)
In his address to the church of Pergamum, Jesus describes their dwelling by talking about the culture and environment of Pergamum (geography) as well as the times (history). Specifically, He refers to it as "where Satan's throne is", "where Satan dwells" and "where you dwell" (Rev 2:13). Here, dwelling (or "tabernacled") refers to more than just where they stay and are physically located, but carries with it the sense of where they've established their space.
What's this about "Satan's throne"? Satan's throne and rule can refer to a cult that has established in Pergamum. Look also at how the times was described. We know that there was also strong persecution, and Jesus also singles out a particular leader and gives him a title -- "Antipas my faithful witness" (Rev 2:13). This gives us a sense of the environment of this church. At the same time, this also shows us how the horizontal experience of persecution and martyrdom is also associated with a vertical spiritual dimension, the dwelling of Satan. Are we able to see the spiritual realities of our human experience? The Bible makes it clear that human situations are also related to spiritual realities. Have you taken a look at the culture around you and determined if it is for or against Jesus? Does the art, music, movies, books etc that we consume preach Christ and His glories, or does it numb us instead to His beauty? There is no neutral ground. It's either Jesus reigning, or His enemies reigning.
Jesus has both positive and negative things to say about how this church responded to their environment. They were commended for holding fast to Jesus' name and "did not deny [his] faith even in the days of Antipas" who was also called a "faithful witness" and eventually died for the faith (Rev 2:13). Like in the previous 2 letters, it serves as a great comfort that Jesus knows of the faithfulness of His people, even as they face persecution and suffering.
However in Rev 2:14, Jesus has some of the strongest and scariest words for them too -- "But I have a few things against you". Jesus is extremely insightful. He knows the variants of theology in the church for some of them held the teachings of Balaam while some held the teachings of the Nicolaitans (Rev 2:14-15). We've read of the Nicolaitans previously in Rev 2:6, and know that these were a group of false teachers. With regard to the teachings of Balaam, we need to go to the account of Balaam the prophet of Israel in Num 22-23. This reference shows us that it is important for us to know the Old Testament in order to understand Revelation. Balaam is a prophet of the LORD, and here, a reference is made to the covenantal name of God (Num 22:8). Thus, Balaam is not just a servant of any other divine being, but specifically the God who has given His personal name to His people. Yet, this man twists blessing into curse and takes the curse and changes it to blessing, for a small fee. This account is also referenced in 2 Pet 2:15-16 and Jude 10-13 (which also mentioned Cain c.f. Gen 4:5-8 and Korah c.f. Num 16:1-3).
What can we learn from here? These examples are not of people that are "liberal" ; but these were people that can be considered orthodox! What is the teaching of Balaam? It can exist inside orthodoxy, when you reverse the truth for falsehood for the sake of personal gain. What will this look like in our day and age? Personal gain can take the form of justifying our own sinful lifestyle, wanting people to like us, appearing cool, appearing holier than we are etc.
In His letter to the church at Pergamum, we are shown how theology matters to Jesus, and it should matter to us. Jesus points to these false teachers and say that these things matter! False teachings arise from the surrounding culture and our dwelling. So, what has arisen from our culture and crept into our churches to advantage ourselves? We don't have to look to far to some strange cult sometimes. Perhaps our churches subtly preach grace without repentance, a kind of cheap grace, or the prosperity gospel? Perhaps some of us have bought into a middle class gospel of blessing, where Christianity has been reduced to a generic sense of following God, reading our Bibles and being a good person, without a repentance from hypocrisy, pride, greed, self-centredness and all the other things Jesus would call sin. In this letter, we are reminded that theology matters, because it affects our view of God and our relationship with Him.
(B) Theology check: your teaching affects your life before God (Rev 2:12, 16)
For the past few studies, we've noted that the way Jesus describes and presents Himself to the church is significant. To the church at Pergamum, Jesus comes with a sharp, two-edged sword (Rev 2:12) and He does not seem to be afraid to use this sword (Rev 2:16). Some of us may baulk and be uncomfortable at this image of Jesus. Jesus threatens? He comes with a sword, and not a staff? Yet some of the most aggressive pictures of Jesus are in Revelation. We may not like this picture, but it is there.
He introduces Himself in this way to a church that thinks that theology does not matter, and this idea shapes their lives in a certain way. Jesus comes to this church with his sharp two-edged sword. In Num 22:23, 31, we read of how an angel with a sword stands in the way of Balaam, and his donkey does not move. Balaam also perishes by sword in Num 31:8. Rev 19:13-15 gives us a sharper picture of Jesus and what He will come to do. He condemns with His words and when He speaks, He sears our conscience.
Jesus also issues a command -- "therefore, repent" (Rev 2:16). To a church that has strayed and now hold to false teaching, they are called to put that away, turn away from it and turn back to Him. The church at Pergamum was called to reject compromises that have been made to true teaching. Note that he is not pointing out immoral behavior here, as we might commonly associate with a call to repentance. What we see from this passage is that Jesus takes it extremely personally the kind of teaching they are holding. In fact, He contrasts those who hold on to his name (Rev 2:13) and those who hold out the teaching of Balaam or the Nicolaitans (Rev 2:14-15).
What can we learn from here? It might come as a surprise to some that there is wrong teaching to repent of. Knowing God rightly is important because it shapes what we feel about God and therefore what we do. Doctrine matters, for it is the last thing that Jesus commanded in His Great Commission in Matt 19:19-20. We often focus on the command to go to make disciples and forget that we are also told to teach them to obey all that Jesus has commanded. When we neglect doctrine, that's how false teaching enters the church, slowly but surely. Doctrine matters, and it is not just for nerds.
(C) Life check: your response affects your destiny before God (Rev 2:17)
In each of these letters, Jesus makes a connection between the “one who has an ear” and “the one who conquers” (Rev 2:17, c.f. Rev 2:7,11). What does it mean to conquer? It is to listen to the teaching and respond to what Jesus is saying. To repent of false teaching in spite of all that is going on around you is conquering.
Jesus also promises "hidden manna" and "a white stone, with a new name written n the stone, that no one knows except the one who receives it" (Rev 2:17). To the one who conquers, Jesus promises to provide for and give a new identity. Isa 62:2, 65:15 speaks of new names and a new identity. We may not always feel like our lives are new but 2 Cor 5:17 is true. Both these things also seem shrouded in a sense of mystery and only the person who receives it will know. What is the point of this? Revelation is full of secrets and mysteries, and only God knows and only the sufferers know. Almost certainly it speaks of the comfort that God gives to those who are undergoing persecution, whose only hope is in the Lord (c.f. Ps 131). To those who are suffering, Jesus not only says that He knows what they're going through, but also promises comfort. Think about who this Jesus is! The one who comes with a sword also brings gifts for those who conquer.
What does this passage mean for your relationship to where you dwell (Rev 2:13), or your teaching (Rev 2:14) or your Christian identity (Rev 2:17)? What are you consuming on a regular basis? False teaching doesn't always creep into our lives in obvious ways, but we can easily be influenced by our culture and allow other teachings to dictate how we think about life every day. Why do we fret about work performance or uncertainties about next phase of life? Perhaps we allow a belief in the sovereignty and control of God to be replaced by a less than sovereign view of Him. Do you know who you are in Christ and the security of His full atonement? Do you know the depths of His love that can remove insecurity and fear? What would your parents or closest friend say if you asked them to evaluate you based on this question, "Am I living my life as one who belongs to Jesus?"
Rev 2:12-17 seems heavy, with a warning for those within the church, even the most orthodox ones, to repent. Jesus speaks of judgment, but this warning is also evidence of His grace, for He does not leave us alone. The God of the Bible is one who wounds, but He also binds up the wounds and the hearts of the broken-hearted. What is He saying to you today?