Pergamon (Ancient Greek: τὸ Πέργαμον or ἡ Πέργαμος), or Pergamum, was an ancient Greek city in modern-day Turkey, in Mysia, today located 16 miles (26 km) from the Aegean Sea on a promontory on the north side of the river Caicus (modern day Bakırçay), that became the capital of the Kingdom of Pergamon during the Hellenistic period, under the Attalid dynasty, 281–133 BC. Pergamon was cited in the book of Revelation as one of the seven churches of Asia. Today, the main sites of ancient Pergamon are to the north and west of the modern city of Bergama (in present-day Turkey). (Wikipedia)
URL Link: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pergamon*****************************************************************************
Revelation 2:12-17
Amplified Bible (AMP)
12 Then to the angel (messenger) of the assembly (church) in Pergamum write: These are the words of Him Who has and wields the sharp two-edged sword:
13 I know where you live—a place where Satan sits enthroned. [Yet] you are clinging to and holding fast My name, and you did not deny My faith, even in the days of Antipas, My witness, My faithful one, who was killed (martyred) in your midst—where Satan dwells.
14 Nevertheless, I have a few things against you: you have some people there who are clinging to the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to set a trap and a stumbling block before the sons of Israel, [to entice them] to eat food that had been sacrificed to idols and to practice lewdness [giving themselves up to sexual vice].(A)
15 You also have some who in a similar way are clinging to the teaching of the Nicolaitans [those corrupters of the people] which thing I hate.
16 Repent [then]! Or else I will come to you quickly and fight against them with the sword of My mouth.
17 He who is able to hear, let him listen to and heed what the Spirit says to the assemblies (churches). To him who overcomes (conquers), I will give to eat of the manna that is hidden, and I will give him a white stone with a new name engraved on the stone, which no one knows or understands except he who receives it.(B)
Cross references:
Revelation 2:14 : Num. 25:1, 2; 31:16.
Revelation 2:17 : Ps. 78:24; Isa. 62:2.
Amplified Bible (AMP)
Copyright © 1954, 1958, 1962, 1964, 1965, 1987 by The Lockman Foundation
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Jesus' message to the Church in Pergamum is delivered with a two-edged sword. Jesus recognizes the fact that the Church at Pergamum has been faithful to Jesus, even to the point of the threat of death. He mentions that Pergamum has been the seat of satan. Here is an interesting article concerning this: http://www.cbn.com/700club/features/ChurchHistory/Pergamon/EZ28_seat_of_satan_part_1.aspx. However, Jesus also takes account of two things He has against what the Church has done. Some within the Church had been clinging to certain unGodly teachings by balaam and the nicolaitans, which are very bad. Jesus says to repent or He will come quickly to fight against those involved. Then, Jesus again encourages the Church in saying something curious. He says that He who overcomes will be given hidden manna and a white stone with a name engraved which no one knows except whoever receives it. What does that mean? Here is an excerpt from the Matthew Henry commentary:
The hidden manna, the influences and comforts of the Spirit of Christ in communion with him, coming down from heaven into the soul, from time to time, for its support, to let it taste something how saints and angels live in heaven. This is hidden from the rest of the world—a stranger intermeddles not with this joy; and it is laid up in Christ, the ark of the covenant, in the holy of holies. 2. The white stone, with a new name engraven upon it. This white stone is absolution from the guilt of sin, alluding to the ancient custom of giving a white stone to those acquitted on trial and a black stone to those condemned. The new name is the name of adoption: adopted persons took the name of the family into which they were adopted. None can read the evidence of a man’s adoption but himself; he cannot always read it, but if he persevere he shall have both the evidence of sonship and the inheritance. (Copyright © 2012, Bible Study Tools. All rights reserved.)
URL Link: http://www.biblestudytools.com/commentaries/matthew-henry-complete/revelation/2.html?p=5
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