Revelation 2:12-17
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. 14 But 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) 15 You also have some who in the same way are holding to the teaching of the [f]Nicolaitans. 16 Therefore repent [change your inner self—your old way of thinking, your sinful behavior—seek God’s will]; or else I am coming to you quickly, and I will make war and fight against them with the sword of My mouth [in judgment]. 17 He who has an ear, let him hear and heed what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes [the world through believing that Jesus is the Son of God], to him I will give [the privilege of eating] some of the [g]hidden manna, and I will give him a [h]white stone with a new name engraved on the stone which no one knows except the one who receives it.’(B)
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- 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.”
- Revelation 2:15 See note v 6.
- Revelation 2:17 This probably refers to the pot of manna placed in the Ark of the Covenant by Moses (Ex 16:33; Heb 9:4). Manna was a food supernaturally provided to Israel by God during their wanderings in the wilderness after the exodus from Egypt.
- Revelation 2:17 White stones were sometimes used as tickets of admission to public assemblies. Here the white stone may symbolize admission to the Messiah’s banquet.
Revelation 2:12-17
New American Standard Bible
Message to Pergamum
12 “And to the angel of the church in (A)Pergamum write:
The One who has (B)the sharp two-edged sword says this:
13 ‘I know where you dwell, where (C)Satan’s throne is; and you hold firmly to My name, and did not deny (D)My faith even in the days of Antipas, My (E)witness, My (F)faithful one, who was killed among you, (G)where Satan dwells. 14 But (H)I have a few things against you, because you have some there who hold the (I)teaching of Balaam, who kept teaching Balak to put a [a]stumbling block before the sons of Israel, (J)to eat things sacrificed to idols and to commit sexual immorality. 15 So you too, have some who in the same way hold to the teaching of the (K)Nicolaitans. 16 Therefore (L)repent; or else (M)I am coming to you quickly, and I will wage war against them with (N)the sword of My mouth. 17 (O)The one who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. (P)To the one who overcomes, I will give some of the hidden (Q)manna, and I will give him a white stone, and a (R)new name written on the stone (S)which no one knows except the one who receives it.’
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- Revelation 2:14 I.e., a temptation to sin
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