Revelation 2:12-17

Letter to Pergamum (2:12-17)

The difficulties of the church in Pergamum were mainly connected with the religious system known as Emperor worship, which in the province of Asia had its headquarters in Pergamum. Christians on the whole had stood firm and refused to join in the Emperor worship. At least one, Antipas, had been martyred (12-13).

But as at Ephesus, there were some who taught and practised Nicolaitan teachings. Like Balaam, they caused God’s people to sin by joining in idolatrous feasts and practising immorality (14-15; cf. Numbers 22:1-40; Numbers 25:1-9; Numbers 31:16). The divine judge (see v. 12; cf. 1:16) is about to act against them with swift punishment. But those who refuse to join in the idolatrous feasts will be invited to join in God’s heavenly feast. He will give each a special blessing known only to the giver and the receiver. This blessing is likened to the engraved white stone which, according to a custom of those days, was given to people invited to an important feast as evidence of their right of entry (16-17).