The Compromising Church

Revelation 2:12-17
The Compromising Church
12 “And to the angel of the church in Pergamos write,
‘These things says He who has the sharp two-edged sword:
13 “I know your works, and where you dwell, where Satan’s throne is. And you hold fast to My name, and did not deny My faith even in the days in which Antipas was My faithful martyr, who was killed among you, where Satan dwells.
14 But I have a few things against you, because you have there those who hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balak to put a stumbling block before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed to idols, and to commit sexual immorality.
15 Thus you also have those who hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitans, which thing I hate.
16 Repent, or else I will come to you quickly and will fight against them with the sword of My mouth.
17 “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes I will give some of the hidden manna to eat. And I will give him a white stone, and on the stone a new name written which no one knows except him who receives it.” ’

The church at Pergamos was the compromising church.

Pergamos was situated on a peninsula, about 15 miles inland from the Aegean Sea. It was founded around 1150 BC by the Aeolian Greeks. The rich and powerful city was known for its wealth and magnificence. It was the capital of the Attalid dynasty until it was bestowed to the Romans in 133 BC.

Pergamos was a major centre of learning and culture. It was also a religious hub with temples dedicated to gods like Zeus, Athena and Dionysus. The city was also famous for its temple of Aesculapius, where people sought and pursued supernatural healings.

The temptations and lusts of the world were very widespread and pervasive. As the church was situated in this city, she often compromised her faith by tolerating false teachings and accepting worldly practices.

Jesus knew where they lived. They lived where Satan had his throne. And they had been true to Him. They did not deny their faith during the time of martyrdom of Antipas. Antipas was a faithful witness who was killed in the city. And the city was where Satan lived.

While the believers in Pergamos continued to called themselves Christians, they also held to the teachings of Balaam and the Nicolaitans. The church allowed their members to compromise by doing pagan practices like eating food sacrificed to idols and engaging in sexual immorality, which were a part of the pagan festivals in Pergamos.

The doctrine of the Nicolaitans was basically saying that it was okay to have one foot in the world, and one foot in the church. And believers did not need to be holy by separating themselves from the world to become true Christians. They believed that God would understand them by ignoring and bypassing their sins!

Their compromise was spiritual adultery in the sight of God. The church was neglecting her primary devotion to God. She had loved the things of the world more than God!

1 John 2:15-17
Do Not Love the World
15 Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.
16 For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father but is of the world.
17 And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever.

The church in Pergamos had compromised her faith by tolerating worldly influences and endorsing false teachings within the community of believers.

Therefore, Jesus warned the church at Pergamos that He would come quickly and fight against them with the two-edged sword in His mouth if they did not repent.

Everyone who has ears should listen to what the Spirit is saying to the churches!

The Lord will give the hidden manna to everyone who wins the victory. The Lord will also give each of them a white stone with a new name written on it. No one knows this new name except the one who receives it.

We need to be true to God wherever we are. And we cannot afford to compromise in trying to win the whole world but eventually losing our own souls!

Written on 27 April 2025