Revelation 2:12

1. Destination and description of Christ 2:12

Pergamum (modern Bergama) lay about 55 miles north of Smyrna inland a few miles from the Aegean coast. The meaning of the name "Pergamum" is "citadel." The town was noteworthy for three reasons. It was a center for many pagan religious cults, and emperor worship was more intense there than in any other surrounding city. [Note: Barclay, Letters to . . ., p. 45.] Second, it boasted a university with a large library. Third, it was the leader and center of the production of parchment.

Jesus Christ described Himself as the One who judges with His Word (cf. Revelation 1:16; Revelation 19:15; Revelation 19:21). God’s Word separates believers from the world and sinners from God. This is perhaps its double-edged quality. Or perhaps life and death are in view. Roman officials who had the right to carry this sword (Gr. hromphaia, cf. Revelation 1:16; Revelation 2:16) had the power of life and death in cases of capital offenses.

"It is interesting that Pergamum was a city to which Rome had given the rare power of capital punishment (ius gladii), which was symbolized by the sword. The Christians in Pergamum were thus reminded that though they lived under the rule of an almost unlimited imperium, they were citizens of another kingdom-that of him who needs no other sword than that of his mouth . . ." [Note: Johnson, p. 440. Cf. G. B. Caird, The Revelation of St. John the Divine, p. 38.]