Messages To Pargamum And Thyatira

by George Prasher, Manchester, England | Category: The Lord Among The Lampstands | Apr 1995

The Lord's messages to the Churches in Pergamum and Thyatira contained something to praise and something to criticize, and from it all we can ourselves benefit by way of imitation or warning.

The message to Pergamum begins:

These things saith He that hath the sharp two-edged sword: I know where thou dwellest, even where Satan's throne is: and thou holdest fast My Name, and didst not deny My faith, even in the days of Antipas My witness, My ~ one, who was killed among you, where Satan dwelleth (Rev. 2:12,13).

So Pergamum is described as the place of Satan's throne and dwelling. Some suggest this may have been expressed in the worship of the Roman Emperor, because a temple had been built in Pergamum in his honour. In many parts of the Roman Empire Christians forfeited their lives rather than give divine honours to the Emperor. Perhaps Antipas, described as the Lord's faithful witness, had been put to death for this reason: typical of many devoted Christians who showed great strength of conviction in following the steps of the Master. Had He not said, 'Whosoever would save his life shall lose it; and whosoever shall lose his life for My sake and the gospel's shall save it'? (Mark 8:35). Living as we do, under less demanding conditions of discipleship, the example of such sacrifice should still challenge our hearts.

They met the tyrant's brandished steel,

The lion's gory mane,

They bowed their necks the death to feel;

Who follows in their train?

Despite such devotion, the Lord had a few things against the Church in Pergamum. Satan had failed to overcome the disciples by violent persecution, so he tried to undermine the Church by subtle corruption through false teaching. 'I have a few things against thee', the Lord said, 'because thou hast there some that hold the teaching of Balam' (2:14). As we learn from the book of Numbers, the teaching of Balaam seduced some of the Israelites to idolatry and its accompanying immorality. If the disciples in Pergamum who had been influenced by this evil failed to repent, the Lord gave warning of prompt action against them: 'I will make war against them with the sword of My mouth' (2:16). This we understand to be the Word of God. We are told in Hebrews that God's Word:

is living and active, and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing even to the dividing of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and quick to discern the thoughts and intents of the heart (4:12).

When the Lord's message was publicly read to the Church in Pergamum, those who had been secretly sinning would feel its power, recognizing indeed that there is no 'creature that is not manifest in His sight: but all things are naked and laid open before the eyes of Him with whom we have to do'.

Again the Lord offers eternal reward to the overcomer: in this case:

To him... will I give of the hidden manna, and I will give him a white stone, and upon the stone a new name written, which no one knoweth but he that receiveth it (2:17).

Doubtless the 'hidden manna' refers back to that placed in a golden pot within the ark of the covenant. In type it speaks of Christ, implying that the overcomer will be granted a special enjoyment of Christ as his portion. A white stone was sometimes given to a victor in the games, so may here speak of the Lord's approval and recognition to a place of authority.

Coming now to the Lord's message to the Church in Thyatira:

These things saith the Son of God, who hath His eyes like a flame of fire and His fret are like unto burnished brass: I know thy works, and thy love and faith and ministry and patience, and that thy last works are more than the first. But I have this against thee, that thou sufferest the woman Jezebel, which calleth herself a prophetess; and she teacheth and seduceth My servants to commit fornication, and to eat things sacrificed to idols.

What a striking contrast the Lord presents between those in Thyatira who earned such a high commendation and others who had yielded to immoral seduction! The Lord evidently held the faithful disciples responsible to take action in purging the Church of this corruption. It was not enough that they kept their own lives pure; moral evil must not be tolerated in others. Paul had to write to the Corinthians about a similar situation. Moral evil had touched the lives of some in the Corinthian Church, but there had been no disciplinary action against them. The apostle commanded that the wicked man should be put away 'from the Church. In the nature of things, because of our human weaknesses, various evils may creep into the lives of disciples in churches of God. But there is the spiritual authority in those churches to deal with the evil, whether moral or doctrinal. The Lord warned that those in Thyatira who had sinned would be severely punished by Him:

and all the churches shall know that I am He which searcheth the reins and hearts: and I will give unto each one of you according to your works (2:23).

Most solemn words! The Psalmist said that holiness becomes God's house for evermore, and in every church of God His standard of holiness must be maintained. 'Have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness', Paul urged the Ephesians, 'but rather even reprove them' (5:11).

Graciously, the Lord acknowledged those in Thyatira who did not hold to corrupt teaching or practice. They had not learned the called 'deep things of Satan'. To the Romans Paul wrote: 'I would have you wise unto that which is good, and simple unto that which is evil' (16:19). Far better to remain ignorant of the deep secrets of evil that have the mind stained with things of which it is a shame even to speak. The Lord would lay no greater burden on the faithful in Thyatira. 'Howbeit', He said, 'that which ye have, hold fast till I come' (2:25). A word which we also should take to heart. Our Master will not overburden us. His yoke is easy, His burden light. Only let us be faithful to what we have, the truth entrusted to us, the service within our ability. For it is only until He comes:

A little while, 'twill soon he past!

Why should we shun he shame and Cross?

Oh, let us in His footsteps haste,

And count for Rim all else but loss;

Oh, how will recompense His smile

The sufferings of this little while!

Finally, the Lord encouraged the overcomers in Thyatira:

He that overcometh, and he that keepeth My works unto the end, to him will I give authority over the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron, as the vessels of the potter are broken to shivers; as I also have received of My Father; and I will give him the morning star (2:26-28).

A promise in line with the great principle that if we suffer with Him we shall also reign with Him. 'Know ye not that the saints shall judge the world?' Paul asked in 1 Corinthians 6 verse 2. There is also the added distinction of receiving from our glorious Lord what is described as 'the morning star' - a special reward at His coming.

George Prasher, Manchester, England | Apr 1995
The Lord Among The Lampstands