Revelation 2:12-14

Amplified Bible

Message to Pergamum

¹²“And to the angel (divine messenger) of the church in ^[a]Pergamum write:

“These are the words of Him who has and wields the sharp two-edged sword [in judgment]:

¹³‘I know where you dwell, [a place] where Satan sits enthroned. Yet you are holding fast to My name, and you did not deny ^[b]My faith even in the days of ^[c]Antipas, My witness, My faithful one, who was killed (martyred) among you, where Satan dwells. ¹⁴But I have a few things against you, because you have there some [among you] who are holding to the [corrupt] teaching of Balaam, who taught ^[d]Balak to put a stumbling block before the sons of Israel, [enticing them] to eat things that had been sacrificed to idols and to commit [acts of sexual] ^[e]immorality.^(A)

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Footnotes

Revelation 2:12 Pergamum (modern Bergama, Turkey) was built on a promontory about sixteen miles from the Aegean Sea. It was famous as a worship center for many pagan gods including Zeus (Jupiter, king of gods), Dionysus (Bacchus, god of wine and intoxication), and Asklepios (god of healing). The enormous altar dedicated to Zeus is on display in the Pergamon Museum in Berlin. Pergamum also had an important temple dedicated to the worship of Caesar. Refusal to take part in the imperial cult was considered treason. A culturally sophisticated city as well as a center for pagan worship, Pergamum’s library, believed to contain over 200,000 volumes, was second only to the Library of Alexandria.
Revelation 2:13 I.e. your faith in Me.
Revelation 2:13 Antipas was a pastor or leader of the church at Pergamum.
Revelation 2:14 The king of Moab in the time of the exodus, who hired Balaam to curse Israel.
Revelation 2:14 Pagan worship often included the use of temple prostitutes who served as “priestesses.”