For the last several weeks, I have been taking you to the places we visited on our recent Holy Land Tour. Today, I take you to the ancient city of Pergamum – modern Bergama. Unlike Ephesus and Smyrna, Pergamum is not a port city.2009 Holy Land Tour – Turkey
Part 10 - Pergamum
Click photos, charts and maps for larger version
For the last several weeks, I have been taking you to the places we visited on our recent Holy Land Tour. Today, I take you to the ancient city of Pergamum – modern Bergama. Unlike Ephesus and Smyrna, Pergamum is not a port city.
Let me show you a few pictures of the Acropolis at Pergamum. This is an aerial photo which I did not take. It shows a large portion of the Pergamum acropolis. Using this photo, let me point out a few of the ancient ruins. In the center of the photo is the temple of Emperor Trajan. Although Trajan was alive when both apostles Paul and John were in this area, he didn’t become emperor until AD 98 to AD 117. So this temple would not have been here during the apostles' lifetime.
Next is where the Temple of Dionysus was located. And the large theater, able to seat 15 to 20 thousand. And above the theater is where the Temple to Athena was located.
There is one more place I want to mentioned that is not in this aerial photo. In this photo, the round green trees at the bottom of this view is where there once stood the Temple of Zeus. Could this be what Christ was referring to when He had John write to this church, “I know where you live – where Satan has his throne.” (Revelation 2:13) Here is one more photo of what the acropolis might have looked like back in its hey-day.
Now, let’s turn our attention to Revelation 2 and begin exploring what Christ said to the church in Pergamum. As I read the verses 12 through 17, I will fill in the 8 parts of the pattern I mentioned last week. This pattern is followed in all seven letters to these churches.
Revelation 2:12-17 NIV
12 To the angel of the church in Pergamum write: These are the words of him who has the sharp, double-edged sword.
13 I know your work and where you live — where Satan has his throne. Yet you remain true to my name. You did not renounce your faith in me, even in the days of Antipas, my faithful witness, who was put to death in your city — where Satan lives.
14 Nevertheless, I have a few things against you: You have people there who hold to the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to entice the Israelites to sin by eating food sacrificed to idols and by committing sexual immorality.
15 Likewise you also have those who hold to the teaching of the Nicolaitans.
16 Repent therefore! Otherwise, I will soon come to you and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth.
17 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes, I will give some of the hidden manna. I will also give him a white stone with a new name written on it, known only to him who receives it.
Today, we are going to look at part of verse 12.
Revelation 2:12 NKJV
12 And to the angel of the church in Pergamum write, “These things says He who has the sharp two-edged sword:”
Let’s look at the last phrase. Christ describes Himself to this church. The way Christ introduces Himself to each church is significant. Jesus gives a different description of Himself to each of the 7 churches. Undoubtedly, Christ revealed Himself in a particular way to each particular church for a particular reason. We also noted that every description Christ gives of Himself in chapters 2 & 3 are also found in Chapter One.
Look at chapter 1.
Revelation 1:16 NKJV
16 He had in His right hand seven stars, out of His mouth went a sharp two-edged sword, and His countenance was like the sun shining in its strength.
In Revelation, Chapter One, the two-edged sword is coming out of the mouth of Christ. It can probably be understood that this description is applicable in His message to Pergamum. You can see that later in the letter to this church – in verse 16.
Revelation 2:16 NKJV
16 Repent, or else I will come to you quickly and will fight against them with the sword of My mouth.
In this verse, it is not identified as a two-edged sword, but most assuredly it is a reference back to the two-edged sword mentioned in verse 12.
WHY WOULD THIS DESCRIPTION OF CHRIST BE SIGNIFICANT TO THE CHURCH IN PERGAMUM?
Historical Background
Pergamum had a place all its own in Asia. It was not on any of the great roads – as Ephesus and Smyrna were, but historically, some would call it the greatest city in Asia. There were times when the Pergamene empire included most all of what today is Turkey. At other times, it was the capital of this area of the Grecian empire, beginning with Alexander the Great. Back in 282 BC, it was made the capital of the Seleucid kingdom. This was one of four kingdoms that came out of the Grecian kingdom of Alexander the Great.
It remained the capital until 133 BC. In that year Attalus III died, but before He died, he willed his dominions into the possession of Rome.
Attalus III was a shrewd king, and saw the beginning of the rise of the Roman Empire, and, seeing other cities and kingdoms being taken over and sometimes destroyed, he thought it better to give his kingdom to Rome rather than chance destruction. Out of the kingdom of Attalus, Rome formed the province of Asia, and Pergamum still remained its Roman capital.
The position granted by Rome to Pergamum made it different than every other city in Asia. When we studied Ephesus, I mentioned that Rome had granted them to be a “free city.” That meant they could elect their own governors and statesmen.
But Pergamum was granted an additional very significant privilege. Not only were they a “free city” with the ability to choose their own leaders, but they were also granted what in Greek is called “ius gladii” – the right of the sword.
The provincial governor in Pergamum could, on his own word, make the decisions of capital punishment. He had the power of life and death. On their word, a person could be executed on the spot.
In Roman estimation, the sword was the symbol of the highest order of official authority. At any moment, this “right of the sword” could be used against any Christian.
When Christ described Himself as the One who has the two-edged sword, the Christians at Pergamum knew exactly what that meant. Christ is telling them that it is He, and He alone, who has absolute authority. He has a greater power of life and death. His authority far surpasses the authority of any local or regional governor or king.
Matthew 10:28 (NKJV) tells us:
28 And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.
Christ is saying that even though they may face execution for being a Christian, the real power of life and death belongs to Him. He is reminding the Christians at Pergamum that the last word is still with Him. The power of Rome may be Satanically powerful, but the power of the Risen Lord is greater yet.
WHAT DOES THE TWO-EDGED SWORD REPRESENT?
I don’t think there is any doubt that this is a reference to the Word of God. The Bible, as God’s Word, is the written, divine expression or revelation of God to humanity. But we are also told in John 1:1 (and 1:14), that Jesus is the Word. Jesus completed this expression as the literal embodiment of God’s Word.
Now, back to the two-edged sword as being the Word of God.
Hebrews 4:12 NKJV
12 For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.
The Romans might think they have the ultimate authority, but the Word of God is the final authority in life and death.
Ephesians 6:17 tells us to take…. “the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God.” The cure for the local church – then and now – is the Word of God.
Listen to what Christ says about the Word as written by John in his gospel.
John 15:3 NKJV
3 You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you.
The Word of God has the ability to cleanse the church and its members. The apostle Paul said that Christ cleanses the church by the “washing of water by the Word” (Ephesians 6:20). Indeed, the Word of God is very powerful, and it is depicted here having two edges.
One edge of this two-edged sword separates a man from his sin. The other edge separates him from God for all eternity. One is salvation and one is judgment. As Christ writes to the church at Pergamum, He purposefully says, “I am the One with a sharp two-edged sword.”
The political leaders in Pergamum may have thought they sat in the seat of authority. But the One who is speaking to this church wears the symbol of absolute authority. And He is invested with the real power of life and death. This statement that Christ is He who has the sharp two-edged sword is an absolutely perfect statement to make to those in this church. They would have immediately understood His meaning.
In Matthew 28:18 (NIV) Jesus says: All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. There is no earthly power as great as that of our Lord. We earlier read Ephesians 6:17, which says the Sword of the Spirit is the Word of God. The sixth chapter of Ephesians gives us a list of the pieces of armor that the Christian must wear. The Sword of the Spirit – the Word of God – has been placed in our hands.
Christ has placed the authority of his two-edged sword in our hands, and has given us the authority to speak as his ambassador (Ephesians 6:20). We have been commissioned into the army of God, and He has entrusted to us the power of the Holy Spirit. But, since it is the Sword of the Spirit, the Holy Spirit, and He alone, can instruct us in the use of it.
Again, for us, we need to read and heed the Word of God. Remember what is stated in the 3rd verse of the Book of Revelation.