“These are the words of the one whose words pierce the hearts of men.”

 This particular letter starts out going straight to the messenger of the church. The leader! As head of the congregation, he’s the one being addressed. At a time that good leadership is under attack, this letter drives home a message of accountability. We would all benefit from noting the seriousness of the way this letter starts off. The tone strikes a measure of reverence to the reader who knows the gravity of being one who leads people.

Jesus begins this letter with a powerful statement. This letter is written by the one whose words pierce the hearts of men. The bible makes it clear that His words are sharper than any two-edge sword and comes both to correct and to bless. The double-edge sword stands as the emblem of the word of God. The sharp sword was never meant to destroy his beloved church; only to pierce and circumcise hearts, cut away dead desires, habits, and wayward living. He wields His sword like a surgeon’s scalpel for delicate removals and builds upon that which remains.

The children of Israel experienced a “second” circumcision because some had not been circumcised along the journey. Telling about God’s nature! He doesn’t allow us to skip chapters in life! With time on his side, He’s not driven to rush to the finish line. We have a human propensity to be moved by the encroaching fleeting of time. Our mortality and impatience push us to rush through seasons and experiences, trials and tests. James 1:4-8 calls upon us to “let patience have it’s perfect work in us.” In other words, be still, endure, slow down. God directs us back to the place of cutting once again. What you’ve missed must be revisited. God is concerned with the perfecting work in our lives. I’ve said it before, God is concerned about who you become, your nature, and character leading to a holy and righteous lifestyle! 

The Omniscient one notifies the messenger; I know where you live! These particular words make me want to preach. I know where you live! Are you rejoicing right now over the fact that God knows where you live? He knows your place of struggle, the bitterness you harbor, and your places of hardship. He also knows your place of faith, hope, and belief. God knows your address! Men may overlook you, but God will always find you! In the dark, happy, or low places. There’s no place you can go that he can’t find you.

“I know where you live.” You, sir, live in a place where Satan sits enthroned. YET YOU STILL CLING FAITHFULLY TO MY NAME! Glory!!!

This church was in the center of Roman emperor worship. Absolute allegiance to the god -like emperor was demanded. A throne-like alter erected to the Greek god Zeus was located on a cliff overlooking the city. This was a place of deep pagan worship. It was known as the “place of Satan’s throne.”

I know some of you think you’re living with Satan, but it’s fair to say this was a rough environment. Which now clarifies the significance of Jesus opening His letter to the leader /messenger and letting him know right away, “I know where you live.” You live where Satan sits enthroned. Satan had established his rule in that region. His evil nature was embedded in the community and leadership. It permeated through the culture and governmental systems, rules, and values. Meanwhile, the messenger of the church lives clinging faithfully to the power of Jesus’ name!

What greater banner to be branded with than the banner of faithfully clinging to the power of Jesus’ name in the center of a nation bent on idol worship? “Yet you never denied your faith in me.” A proud papa moment! My messenger in the face of idolatry never gave up on my name, nor did he deny his faith in me! “Even in the days of my faithful martyr Antipas, who was executed in your city.”

Satan will go to great lengths to get you to deny the power in Jesus’ name. He wants you, the church, to magnify his power to kill, steal, and destroy over God’s power to make alive, bless, and heal!

Ancient church history supports claims that Antipas was a disciple of John who was ordained by John as bishop of Pergamum during the reign of Emperor Domitian. Around 92 AD, Antipas was dragged to the temple of Diana and placed onto a bronze, bull-like alter and roasted alive. He refused to deny his faith and make a sacrifice to the gods. The plot thickens! What would you do if you saw that the price of your faithfulness to God was being roasted alive?

I’m afraid that the modern-day church of Jesus Christ has lost its understanding of faithfulness. From pastors to pews, men, and women—we have folded under the pressures of cultural peer pressure. We’ve succumbed to the social call to conform and recite popular rhetoric. We vote and pledge allegiance to what is expected of us by evil, idol-worshiping leaders who have bowed their knees to Satan. It’s not a new agenda!

In those days, a prophet named Balaam was hired by Balak (the king) to curse the Israelites. Later, Balaam taught the people to turn to idol worship and commit sexual immorality. Sound familiar? Congregations and our society at large have been infiltrated with idolatry, immorality and conformity under the same spirit of Balaam! God help us!

Are we ready to see Christians martyred for their faith? Are we ready to see leaders and moms stand firm on their convictions on morality and holiness, then be murdered? Still not denying Jesus’ name and faithfully clinging to his messages? I shudder to think we may be heading towards a nation where Satan is being enthroned and many may find themselves faithless! 

Jesus says, “there are some among you who hold to the teachings of Balaam who taught Balak to entice the Israelites to eat the things that were scarified to idols and to commit sexual immorality. Furthermore, you have some who hold to the teachings of Nicolaitan’s Quiz moment: Do you remember what those teachings were, and which church fell into that doctrine? The congregation was cluttered with a myriad of doctrines other than the doctrine of Jesus Christ. Messages that weaken the strength of the congregation and diminish the light designated to shine to a lost and dying world.

Jesus took this so seriously! It is the institution he established, after all. The church is His beloved. “Repent then, or I will come quickly to war against them with the sword in my mouth.” If you missed it in the beginning, Jesus is not playing, y’all. He has a tone of a dad on his way home who calls ahead to say, “get it together or I will come quickly with the belt.” Jesus declares he will come quickly to clean up the doctrinal clutter, idolatry, sexual immorality, and all such mess. His beloved are called to represent the bridegroom, not Satan!

The word Pergamum means “married” or “elevation.” A fitting name for a congregation whose leader led them into a posture of elevation and to come up to a higher standard of living. The other “married” meaning is also extremely fitting, as this is the tone of the promise that Jesus speaks to this congregation.

As with both churches, we see Jesus end his letters with a similar way of saying, “Let the ones who will lean in, listen and willing to respond; let them listen.” His promise always seems to be the same, yet distinctive. The specifics of the promises are unique. I love this because it shows again how strong his desire for intimacy is with his bride. The whole is loved, special, and covered. The individuals within the whole are His beloved! Institutions are created for individuals, not individuals for institutions.

His beloved have different problems in need of individual blessings bestowed on them. He is the God who desires communion with the saints.

To the “Married” church, this is his promise: “To everyone who is victorious I will let him feast on the hidden manna and give him a shining white stone and written upon the white stone is inscribed his new name, known only to the one who receives it.” Listen to the beautiful tambour in his voice. He is speaking intimately to his beloved. Let’s break it down:

The idol-worshippers sacrificed food to idols. They worshiped pagan gods, statues, and emperors. Christ’s offering is, “feast on the hidden manna.”

Manna originally fell from Heaven for the Israelites supernaturally as their food source. Escaping slavery under Pharaoh’s regime, they complained over the lack of food in freedom, and began longing for the scarce amounts of food provided in captivity. But Jehovah provided manna from Heaven! Jewish tradition holds that precious stones also fell from Heaven. Manna, such a part of the tapestry of God’s provision, was also hidden on the ark. Jesus states that this hidden manna will be shared with the beloved bride of Christ. Jehovah is still providing!

He goes on to say that he will give her a shining white stone. If indeed precious stones did fall from Heaven along with the manna, this would be yet another correlation to the luxurious care given to the Israelites. The Greek word “leukos” can be translated as either “shining” or “bright.” or “white,” which may draw a parallel to the fact that the reference “hidden manna” is the shining or bright light that shines from within when consumed. It reminds us of the stones on the ephod (a sleeveless garment worn by Jewish priests). breastplate of the high priest. (Ex 28:9-12) Some scholars see this white shining stone as a reference to a vote of acquittal in a court case. (Acts 26: 10) Some see it as burning coal on the alter that purged Isaiah’s lips. (Isaiah 6: 1-7) Whatever conclusion you draw about this mystery—this hidden manna is to be treasured as the reward of the victor! Both to the church who stubbornly stood with radical faith in the face of death and martyrdom, pagan worship and a strong satanic presence, and to the present church of Jesus Christ. Hidden truths from the lover of our soul given to us! Reminiscent of Jesus’ words while preaching to the masses. He reserves mysteries for his own. “To you it has been given” (Math 13:11 Mark 4:11 Luke 8:10)

He also promises a shining white stone as customary for a husband to give a diamond to his bride. He promises a “precious stone,” declaring he will “inscribe his new name known only to the one who receives it.” This compels a lean in! He promises shared secrets unique only to the ones who receive this ring. Like a husband would share terms of endearment exclusively between the two, Jesus promises elevated intimacy. The victorious ones will know secret names! Depending on where you are in your relationship with God, this may trigger you to question; do I share that level of intimacy with my bridegroom?

While that remains the challenge for you to examine, the church with the “Married” church was offered the reward of even more connectedness, if that’s possible. Married and Elevation!

I’m so intrigued by the correlations with the names of churches and how they play a role in who they are and how they exist. Makes me think of the age-old question, “What comes first, the chicken or the egg?” I wonder the name or the identity? Certainly, we know that if we are yielded to the voice of God, we will call ourselves what He calls us and He calls us according to his good pleasure for our lives.

What a savior we have!

Let’s sum up the letter:

• Leaders are held to a high standard-We are all leaders in some capacity.
• The word is designed to pierce the hearts of men-Be ever moved by his words!
• In a perverse world of idol worship and sexual immorality-Stay faithful.
• Cling faithfully at all times to the power of our Lord Jesus Christ!
• Live an elevated life.
• Check your heart regularly-See that you are not eating food scarified to idols (stay far away from pagan rituals and any manner of idolatry).
• Keep your doctrine sound-There is no other message but the message of Jesus Christ, no other name by which man can be saved, but the name of Jesus.

Be his beloved-Don’t settle for distant lovers. He promised that if you draw close to him, he will draw close to you!

Questions to ponder:

Have you questioned your convictions or resolve through this reading?

What’d it make you think about when you read about Antipas being killed for his refusal to sacrifice to idols?

Can you draw a parallel to the historic plight and modern-day idol worship and perverseness?

How about modern-day coercion to conform?

Are you content with your current level of intimacy with the Lord?

What do you think about the names of the churches?

Have you missed or rushed through some (seasons, stages, or life lessons) that you recognize God calling you back to reexamine and address?

Father, I humbly bow my knee and heart to you and only you! I ask for forgiveness in the areas I partook of idolatry and conformity. Consecrate my heart and prepare within me a sanctuary for your Holy Spirit. Give me strength to trust what you say in all areas. Help me lead better myself, my children, my spouse (where applicable), and in my community. In the face of evil, I choose to stand clinging faithfully to your holy name. It is in that name we pray,

Amen 

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