The Book of Revelation, Chapter 2:12-17
Vs 12 According to Ironside, Pergamos carries both meanings: marriage and elevation.
• He says, “It speaks of the time when the church was elevated to a place of power and
was married to the world.”
• It depicts the time when church and state were united under Constantine and his successors.
Constantine became the first
• In 324, he recognized Christianity as the State Religion, and issued an exhortation to his subjects
to embrace the Christian religion, though no one was forced to.
• Almost over night, Christianity went from being persecuted by the Roman Empire to being the
official religion of the Empire.
• Pergamos represents the period in church history when Christianity became the State Religion.
Vs 13 Seat means
• In the period of history that the church of Pergamos represents, you find the church of God
sitting upon the imperial throne.
• During this period in church history, the church stopped looking for the coming of Jesus Christ.
• In their minds the church was already reigning, so why would Christ need to return?
Vs 13 When Jesus said, “you held fast to my name,” what He was really saying is “you remained convinced of who I am.”
• During this time there was a big conflict over who Jesus was.
• This conflict is known as “the Arian Controversy.”
• The Arians were teaching that Jesus was a demigod.
• A demigod is an inferior diety; a minor god that is not on the same plane as God.
• If Arius’ heresy would have been allowed to continue, and spread through the church, we would
all be Jehovah Witnesses today, or something similar to them.
• When Jesus says, “you have not denied my faith,” He means they held true to correct doctrine.
Vs 12 During the persecution period of the church, martyr evolved to mean, “one who chooses to suffer death, rather than renounce their religious beliefs.”
Vs 14 Doctrine of Balaam:
• “Balaam taught Balak how to get the children of Israel to sin, by eating things sacrificed unto
idols, and to commit fornication.
• Balaam sold out for
• When Christianity became the official religion of the state, they finally had power and prestige.
• Money was flowing into the church, and many of the pastors and bishops were selling out.
Vs 15 The doctrine of the Nicolaitans:
• The Priests rule over the laity and they have control of the church.
• During this period in church history, pastors began being referred to as priest.
• The seeds of Catholicism that were being planted in the Apostolic Church began to take root in
this period of church history.
• Constantine sets himself up as the bishop of bishops and refers to himself as “Pontifix Maximus,
which is the title of the pope.
Vs 16 The sword is the
Vs 17 The hidden manna is bread from heaven.
• He will give them spiritual food in place of the false doctrine.
• The white stone symbolizes
• God will give us a new name that no one knows except us.
Rev. 2:12-17 Psalm 119:11