In this study, the following are to be considered.
The significance of the name p.1
The importance of the historical and geographical status of the city p.1
Antipas p.2
HaSatan’s throne p.3
Stumbling block p.3
The white stone p.6
References and credits p.7
Pergamos – The Immoral Assembly
Rev. 2: 12-17
It is generally considered that the message to each assembly has a typical prophetic word for the time of writing and a future fulfilment. In these letters to the assemblies, Yochanan addresses the immediate situation but also the assemblies are characteristic of each type of assembly throughout the Church Age.
Each future assembly would have a particular problem highlighted in the letters, but there are all aspects of the letters apparent in varying degrees at all Church Periods.
This assembly was typical of assemblies from Constantine in 312 C.E. to Pope Boniface III in 606 C.E. This was the time of the establishment of Roman Catholicism and the Pope declaring himself the ‘Universal Bishop’. This is the era when the ‘Church’ finally separated from its historic teachings after the Council of Nicea in 325 C.E. and established the man-made primacy of Roman Catholicism.
Rev. 2:12- The Greeting
“To the messenger of the Assembly in Pergamos write: ‘He who has the sharp two-edged sword says these things:”
The city
Name: Pergamos comes from the meaning of a citadel or having first-class courage (abrim-publications.com).
Pergamos was badly damaged by an earthquake in 262 C.E. and finally sacked by the Goths (Galatians).
Geographical status: It was built on a hill above the Caicus River.
Although it was not on any of the major trade routes, Pergamos was considered the greatest city in the Roman province of Asia (Minor).
Political status: It was the capital of the Seleucid Kingdom from 282 B.C.E. and remained so even after it became a Roman province ((1)Barclay p.106). King Philometer bequeathed the kingship to the Roman people upon his death in 133 B.C.E. The entire kingdom of Attalus
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thus became the Roman province of Asia (Thomas Vol. I p. 266). As capital, it was the seat of the Roman Proconsul. The Proconsul had the ins gladii that was a two-edged sword. This was symbolic of the ultimate power of life and death without any recourse to judicial procedure. As powerful as Rome was, the Messiah was all-powerful.
Commercial status: It was here that vellum parchment was first made but otherwise of no other commercial significance. Pergamos was a centre of culture, housing the ancient world’s second largest library after Alexandria.
Religious status: The Nicephorium was a magnificent grove of trees within which was built shrines to Zeus, Athene. Apollo, Ascelpios, Dionysus, and Aphrodite ((2) Fairbairn p192).
Rev. 2:13 – The Persecution
“I know your works and where you dwell, where haSatan’s throne is. You hold firmly to my name. and did not deny my faith in the days of Antipas my witness, my faithful one, who was killed among you, where haSatan dwells.”
κατοικέω ka-toy-kay-oh #G2730 – to permanently dwell. This is opposed to the term used by Shimon Keefa when describing those of the Diaspora as sojourners, “Keefa, an apostle of Yahshua the Messiah, to the chosen ones who are living as strangers in the Diaspora in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia,” (1Peter 1:1) (παρεπίδημος pa-re-pee-de-mos – sojourners). The Messiah was saying to the Assembly that after they had fled from persecution, they had to make a permanent stand for the Messiah.
“Now faith is assurance of things being hoped or, proof of things not being seen,” (Heb. 11:1). English translations of this verse usual do so with the verbs hope and see in the past tense, an action once carried out but is now complete. This is not so. Faith must be an active, ongoing way of life. Those promises that the Believer has faith in (the Messiah’s life, death, resurrection and His imminent return to establish His Kingdom) are to be kept foremost in the memory and so become the driving force behind every Believer’s actions. This is the ongoing faith that the Messiah will be looking for when He returns. “Will not Yahuah avenge His elect, who are crying out to Him day and night, and yet He exercises patience with them? I tell you that He will avenge them quickly. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will He find faith on the earth?” (Luke 18:7, 8).
Antipas
There is no general consensus as to whom Antipas refers. In fact, Aramaic Peshitta translations do not refer to Antipas (AENT p. 670; MATIS p. 1034). However, it is possible that Antipas does not refer to an actual person, but to a group of Believers.
i) ἀντί #G473 an-tee in place of, for the sake of (Bromiley p. 62).
πατήρ #G3962 pa-tay-a father (Bromiley p. 805 and is commonly used by Yochanan throughout his Good News account, his epistles and Revelation ibid. p.812). Antipas was, therefore, anyone who was persecuted for their testimony of Yahuah and His Messiah.
Ἀντίπας #G493 An-tee-pas is a constriction of ἀντί and πατήρ.
ii) ἀντί #G473 an-tee against (Thomas Vol.I p. 287).
πᾶς #G3956 pas all (Bromiley p. 795 and is used extensively in LXX to refer to the total claim of God and his word and everything relating to the Messiah p.796). Thomas refers to antipas
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as being those Believers who, through their ongoing faith, stand resolute against the enemies of Yahuah and His Messiah, even to their death.
πιστός μάρτυς pi-stos mar-toos #G4103 & #G3144– faithful witness
HaSatan’s throne
The Throne of haSatan would most likely be a reference to this centre of Caesar worship where Jews and Believers were forced to deny Yahuah as the one true `Elohiym. The refusal to make the oath would incur retribution and persecution.
When the Persians conquered Mesopotamia in 539 B.C.E. under Cyrus the Great (famousdaily.com), there was a distribution of captives from that area to other parts of the Persian Empire (cf Ezra 1:1-11) including Asia Minor. From Bavel via Pergamos and Asia Minor, the religious cults of sun, Saturn and haSatan worship expanded into Rome by 133 B.C.E. (kotipetripaavola.com).
Dea Roma the goddess of Rome. As the administrative centre of the region, where the oath of ‘Caesar is lord’ overseen. This was more a politico/religious oath meant to unify all the citizens and the different nations and tribes of the Roman Empire. Caesar worship was never meant to be the exclusive religion and religious tolerance was promoted throughout the Empire.
To Zeus Philios. It can also refer to the altar of Zeus, which was transferred from Pergamos to Berlin in 1901 (https://grandmageri422.me). The altar was set up on a prominent in front of the Temple of Athene and was most likely the subject of the description of the Throne of haSatan.
To Asclepios. This was considered the Pergamene god and pilgrims from throughout the world flocked there for healing by the priest/doctors. Asclepios known as Asclepios Soter (Saviour). Asclepios emblem was an entwined serpent. Although this may have been considered by Jews as a symbol of the Fall (Gen. 3:1-24), it would also be a reminder of healing in the Wilderness, “Moshe made a serpent of bronze, and set it on the standard: and it happened, that if a serpent had bitten any man, when he looked to the serpent of bronze, he lived.” (Num. 21:9).
Rev. 2:14, 15 – The Condemnation
“But I have a few things against you, because you have there some who hold to the teaching of Bil`am, who taught Balak to throw a stumbling block before the children of Yisra`el, to eat things sacrificed to idols, and to commit sexual immorality, So you also have some who hold to the teaching of the Nicolaitans likewise.”
Stumbling block
“You shall not curse the deaf, nor put a stumbling block before the blind; but you shall fear your `Elohiym. I am Yahuah.” (Lev. 19:14). The Torah is clear upon the removal of all malice in our actions, in order that people shall come to know Yahuah and be obedient to His commands.
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But He turned, and said to Keefa, ‘Get behind me haSatan! You are a stumblimg block to me, for you are not setting your mind on the things of Yahuah, but on the things of men.’” (Matt. 16:23).
“Now I beg you, brothers, look out for those who are causing the divisions and occasions of stumbling, contrary to the doctrine which you have learned, and turn away from them.” (Rom. 16:17).
“But be careful that by no means does this liberty of yours become a stumbling block to the weak.” (1 Cor. 8:9).
“But we preach the Messiah crucified; a stumbling block to Yehudim and foolishness to the Greek.” (1 Cor. 1:23).
“For it seemed good to the Ruach HaQodesh, and to us, to lay no greater burden on you than these necessary things: that you abstain from things sacrificed to idols, from blood, from things strangled, and from sexual immorality, from which you keep yourselves, it will be well with you. Farewell.” (Acts 15:28, 29). These were not meant to be a stumbling block to non-Believers in order to make it difficult to receive Yahuah’s salvation. These instructions were given so that non-Believers were under no illusion as to what was required of them.
Rev. 2:16 – The Warning
“Repent therefore, or else I am coming to you quickly, and will make war against them with the sword of my mouth.”
ταχύ #G5035 tah-khoo quickly, imminent without delay denotes the suddenness of the Messiah’s coming; it will be swift and without any further notice.
The Messiah says that He will make ‘war against them’. It is those who are following the teachings of the Nicolaitans and Bil`am that He will come against. Therefore, the Assembly must clearly separate themselves so as not to be numbered with them and suffer as a consequence (cf Psa. 1:1-6; Rev. 18:4).
The sword is a symbol of the Word of Yahuah. “For the word of Yahuah 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 is able to discern the thoughts and intentions of the heart.” (Heb. 4:12).
The Messiah’s word was one of:
A conviction of sin;
An invitation to repent;
An assurance of salvation ((1)Barclay p.116).
Rev. 2:17 – The Promise
“He who has an ear, let him hear what the Ruach says to the Assemblies. To him who overcomes, to him I will give of the hidden man(na), and I will give him a white stone, and on the stone a new name written, which no one knows but he who receives it.”
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Ears
ἀκούω a-koo-oh #G191– means not only to hear but to consider, understand and to act upon what has been said and is the Greek equivalent of the Hebrew שָׁמַע shar –mer #H8085.
Him: this personalises all the letters. The Messiah addresses the warnings and promises of this and all the other letters to each and every Believer throughout the ages;
Assemblies: this generalises all the letters. The Messiah addresses the warnings and promises to each and every Assembly throughout the ages.
The promise is given to those who endure to the bitter end.
There will be a more severe judgement against those who have heard the Word of Yahuah and reject it than to those who have not heard. “That servant, who knew his master’s will, and did not prepare, nor do what he wanted, will be beaten with many stripes, but he who did not know, and did things worthy of stripes, will be beaten with few stripes. To whoever much is given, of him will much be required; and to whom much was entrusted, of him more will be asked.” (Luke 12:47, 48).
The man(na) is:
(i) A Jewish symbol of the blessings of the Messianic Reign;
(ii) Yahuah-given to those who are obedient (Exod. 16:15; Psa. 78:25);
(iii) A symbol of the Broken Body of the Master (John 6:31-35) and the Messiah would thus be giving to them as the Bread of Life ((1)Barclay p. 119).
(iv) A type of the Messiah who would descend from Heaven and gives life to all who ‘eat thereof’ (Thomas Vol.I p. 310).
κρύπτω #G2928 kroo-pto hidden, secret, concealed. Unlike Gnosticism where only the exclusive initiated are privy to the secret things, when the Messiah returns, all things will be fully revealed.
“He is the head of the body, the assembly, who is the beginning, the Firstborn from the dead; that in all things He might have the pre-eminence… and through Him to reconcile all things to Himself, having made shalom through the blood of His cross… You, being in past times alienated and enemies in your mind in your evil works… yet now He has reconciled in the body of His flesh through death, to present you set apart and without blemish and blameless before Him… if it is so that you continue in the faith, grounded and steadfast, and not moved away from the hope of the Good News which you heard… the mystery which has been hidden for ages and generations. But now it has been revealed to His set apart ones… to whom Yahuah was pleased to make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles, which is the Messiah in you, the hope of glory.” (Col. 1:18-27).
“For this cause a man will leave his father and mother, and will be joined to his wife. The two will become one flesh.” This mystery is great, but I speak concerning Messiah and of the assembly.” (Eph. 5:31, 32). When the Messiah returnsit will be to take all Believers as His Bride. This encourages Believers in their relationship to the Messiah and their struggles.
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“For if you were cut out of that which is by nature a wild olive tree, and were grafted contrary to nature into a good olive tree, how much more will these, which are the natural branches, be grafted into their own olive tree? For I do not desire, brothers, to have you ignorant of this mystery, so that you will not be wise in your own conceits, that a partial hardening has happened to Yisra’el, until the fullness of the Goyim has come in.” (Rom. 11:24, 25). The Gentile Believers in the Assembly must not be conceited by their acceptance by the Messiah over and in place of the Jewish Believers. To the Jewish Believers, although the Gentiles have been grafted into the commonwealth of Yisra`el, their rejection is only temporary in order that Gentiles may partake of the blessings of Yahuah.
The White Stone
(i) Rabbinic tradition states that all precious stones were heavenly gifts and that the white stone represents righteousness (cf Rev. 3:5; 7:9; 19:8; 20:11);
(ii) Stones were a common means of keep a count or tally in business. This may be a reference to the Believers in the Assembly were to be acknowledged as being part of the faithful;
(iii) Black and white stones were a common method of passing judgement in a court:
black for guilty and white for acquittal;
(iv) White stones were used as tessera, means of identification whereon symbols or names may be painted:
(a) To denote a client who has the right of free gifts from a patron;
(b) To denote a victorious athlete giving free access to future games;
(c) To a gladiator who has been given the right to retire (rest from fighting) because of his past proven record of continual valour in the arena;
(d) Stones were commonly used as protective charms where a god’s name would be written on the stone ‘guaranteeing’ protection both in life and death ((1)Barclay p. 120).
ψῆφος #G5586 say-fos small, smooth pebble, a vote or accounting of.
“But you, why do you judge your brother? Or you again, why do you despise your brother? For we will all stand before the judgment seat of the Messiah. So then each one of us will give account of himself to Yahuah.” (Rom. 14:10, 12). “Everyone therefore who acknowledges me before men, him I will also acknowledge before my Father who is in heaven.” (Matt. 10:32). The pebble will be further acknowledgement of the Messiah of the Believer to the Father.
On the stone would be written a new name.
καινός ky-nos #G2537-new with regards to never having been before (cf Rev. 21:1 new heaven). This is in contradistinction to νέος nay-os #G3501 – new with regards to quantity (cf Col. 2:16 new moon). The name represents the character of a person. With a new name comes a change in character, “Neither will your name any more be called Abram, but your name will be Abraham; for the father of a multitude of nations have I made you.” (Gen. 17:5; cf 32:28). This reflects the new status in the Messiah.
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Yahuah bless you and keep you
Yahuah make His face to shine upon you and be gracious unto you,
Yahuah lift up His face toward you and give you peace.
All glory be to Yahuah,
Ameyn.
References and Credits
In using these references, it is in no way agreeing to or condoning the theological viewpoint of the authors.
(1)Barclay W. (1960) The Revelation of John, Vol I, Saint Andrew Press, Edinburgh.
Bromiley G.W. Theological Dictionary of the New Testament, ed. Kittel &
(1988) Friedrich, Pasternoster Press, Exeter, Devon, UK (Denoted by ¬).
(2)Fairbairn P. The Imperial Bible-Dictionary, Blackie & Son, London.
Larkin C. (1919) The Book of Revelation, Moyer & Lotter, Philadelphia, PA.
Sanford W.H. The Messianic Aleph Tav Interlinear Scripture, Vol.5, CCB Pub.,
(2018) British Columbia, Canada.
Strong J.(1994) Strong’s New Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible, World Bible
Publishers Inc., Madison. (Denoted by #H or #G).
Strong J.(1996) The New Strong’s Complete Dictionary of Bible Words, Thomas Nelson,
Nashville. (Denoted by #H or #G).
Thomas Dr. J. EUREKA, An Exposition of the Apocalypse in harmony with “the
(1861) things of the Kingdom of the Deity, and the name of Jesus Anointed.”,
Vol.I, Maran-atha Press, London.
http://www.famousdaily.com/history/cyrus-the-great-of-persia-conquers-babylon.html
http://www.kotipetripaavola.com/seatofsatan.html
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AENT “Scripture taken from the Aramaic English New Testament Copyright 2008. Used by permission of Netzari Press.”
HNV The Hebrew Names Version is based off the World English Bible, an update of the American Standard Version of 1901. This version of the Bible is in the public domain.
King James Version (KJV) Outside of the United Kingdom, the KJV is in the public domain. Within the United Kingdom, the rights to the KJV are vested in the Crown. This Bible is printed and published by Cambridge University Press, the Queen’s royal printer, under royal letters patent. The text commonly available now is actually that of the 1769 revision, not that of 1611. The text used by BLB is the current 1769 edition.
MATIS “Scripture (or Content) taken from the Messianic Aleph Tav Interlinear Scripture (MATIS) copyright 2018 and used with permission by William H. Sanford.”
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First Generation Assembly 