Revelation 2:12-17

Today's Passage: Revelation 2:!2-17

A striking verse to me is: "I know where you dwell, where Satan’s throne is.” What does this mean?

• John is writing to the church in Pergamum 
• Pergamum was closely related to Rome
• It had temples dedicated to “gods”; even one for the reigning emperor in Rome
• Pergamum loved the state (government)
• Being faithful to the state was one of the most important things you could do – they idolized it. This meant private faith was fine, but public not as much

Jesus compares Pregamum to the place Satan has a throne. Yet, we see in this passage a few things:

1. Jesus commends them for their faith (v. 13)

• The church was facing persecution – we see this by the death of Antipas 
• And the church was holding fast to the name of Jesus 

2. Jesus rebukes them for listening to false teaching (v. 14-15)

• The church had compromised on their values
  • They allowed idolatry and sexual immorality within the church 
• They also had some listening to the teachings of Nicolaitans. The church of Ephesus in Revelation 2:6 had hated these teachings, but Pergamum embraced them. 

3. Jesus calls for repentance (v. 16-17)

• Jesus gives them a chance to repent of their sins before consequences were about to come from Jesus Himself.

For Pergamum, there needed to be a recentering of Jesus for the church. They had let state worship and false teaching infiltrate the church.

As for us, we are in an election year. This is an easy time to idolize the state. We should care about what is happening and desire to elect leaders who will honor God (even if they don’t intend to). But let us be reminded our trust is not in earthly government. We can trust in the King of King and Lord of Lords. His plan will come to pass.

Written By: Brice Stockton