Understanding the Second Coming: The Seven Churches, Part 2

Smyrna, Pergamos and Thyatira

Smyrna

“And unto the angel of the church in Smyrna write; These things

saith the first and the last, which was dead, and is alive; I know

thy works, and tribulation, and poverty, (but thou art rich) and I

know the blasphemy of them which say they are Jews, and are not, but are

the synagogue of Satan. Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer:

behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and

ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give

you a crown of life. He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith

unto the churches, He that overcomes will not be hurt of the second death”

(Revelation 2:8-11).

Smyrna represents the church from about A.D. 100 to 313. This was a

period of severe persecution for the people of God. Therefore, Smyrna has

been called the “persecuted church.” The word Smyrna means “sweet smelling.”

It is one of the two churches among the seven for which Jesus has no

words of reproof or correction. Christ was well-pleased with the faithfulness

of His people during this trying period.

Tribulation for Ten Days

It is not God’s will that His people suffer, but He is greatly honored if

they remain faithful during trial. Jesus warned that the church of

Smyrna would suffer imprisonment and even death. But He promised them a

crown of eternal life if they would maintain their loyalty to Him.

There would be one period of tribulation that would be especially severe and would last for ten days, or ten years, given a day for a year as is the

rule in prophecy (see Numbers 14:34 and Ezekiel 4:6). From A.D. 303 to

313 we find the fulfillment of this ten-year period of severe persecution. In 303

Diocletian and his assistant, Galerius, passed what has been called the “Edict of

Persecution.”

For ten years the edict was enforced. Many Christians suffered imprisonment

and death.

Poor Yet Rich

During this time the church was made up largely of those who were poor in

this world’s estimation. But Jesus reminds the church of Smyrna that they are

rich spiritually. Solomon struck a high note of wisdom when he said, “There is

that maketh himself rich, yet hath nothing: there is that maketh himself poor, yet

hath great riches” (Proverbs 13:7). The apostle Paul speaks of being “poor, yet

making many rich; as having nothing and yet possessing all things” (2 Corinthians

6:10).

Those who are rich in this earth’s goods are often self-confident to such an

extent that they feel no need of a Savior. On the other hand, poverty instills in the

human heart a great sense of need. The riches of this world will fade away and be

worth nothing someday. But there is another kind of wealth that is eternal:

“Hearken, my beloved brethren, Hath not God chosen the poor of this

world rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which He hath promised to them

that love Him?” (James 2:5).

It is the faith by which we receive eternal life that constitutes the true riches

that will endure forever.

The Second Death

Jesus promises His people that they will not be hurt of the second death.

According to Revelation 20:6, 14-15, and Revelation 21:8, the second death is

the final destruction of unrepentant sinners, as well as the devil. As believers in

Christ, we need not fear the second death. Jesus tasted “death for every man”

(Hebrews 2:9). When, upon the cross, Jesus cried out in despair, “My God, My

God, why hast thou forsaken Me?” (Matthew 27:46), He was enduring the full

penalty of sin on our behalf. He suffered the second death for us so that through

faith in Him we might escape its power over us.

Pergamos

“And to the angel of the church in Pergamos write; These things saith He

which hath the sharp sword with two edges; I know thy works and where thou

dwellest, even where Satan’s seat is: and thou holds fast My name, and hast

not denied My faith, even in those days wherein Antipas was my faithful martyr,

who was slain among you, where Satan dwelleth. But I have a few things

against thee, because thou hast there them that hold the doctrine of Balaam,

who taught Balak to cast a stumbling block before the children of Israel, to eat

things sacrificed unto idols, and to commit fornication. So hast thou also them

that hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitans, which thing I hate. Repent; or else I

will come unto thee quickly, and will fight against them with the sword of My

mouth. He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.

To him that overcomes will I give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give

him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knows

saving he that receives it” (Revelation 2:12-17).

The word Pergamos means “high” or “exalted.” The ancient city of Pergamos

was situated on a plateau that rose approximately 1,000 feet above its

surrounding valley. At the time John wrote Revelation, the city was a popular

cultural center, boasting various pagan temples and an illustrious library containing

some 200,000 scrolls.

The period of Christian history represented by Pergamos extended from

around A.D. 313 to 538. As Pergamos means “exalted,” so the church began

to be highly esteemed by the world during this juncture of its journey through

time. Whereas the Smyrna period offered persecution to the people of Christ,

the Pergamos period gave them popularity. While that may sound good, it

actually, proved to be perilous. Under persecution the church of Smyrna was

“rich” in spiritual treasure. Under the influence of the world’s praise, the church

began to weaken. Large numbers of half-converted pagans began to flood in,

not leaving behind all their superstitions and corrupt theology. Even Emperor

Constantine professed himself to be a Christian, along with his whole army,

after marching them through a river and declaring them baptized. The purity of

the persecuted church gave way to the many evils that flooded into the “popular

church.” It is at this point in history that we witness the first mixture of paganism

with the pure worship of Christianity.

Satan’s Seat

In His message to Pergamos, Christ recognized that the church was now

at a dangerous place in its existence. I know “where thou dwellest, even

where Satan’s seat is,” He said (Revelation 2:13).

As we look to this period of the church’s history (between A.D. 313 and

538), what is here meant by “Satan’s seat” is clear. This was the time when

the obvious evil of pagan Rome was giving way to the subtle yet more deadly

deception of the papal Roman Church.

Paul had warned that the church would face danger in the future.

He foretold a major apostasy from the pure faith of Christ which he called

“the falling away” (2 Thessalonians 2:3, NKJV).

One power would lead out in this downward course of corruption,

referred to by the apostle as “the man of sin . . . the son of perdition, who

opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God or that is worshiped,

so that he sits as God in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God”

(2 Thessalonians 2:3-4, NKJV).

Here Paul pointed to a power that would rise future to his day that would

lead many people into a large-scale departure from the truth of Christ. The

apostasy would involve the distinct leadership of a “man” who would promote

disobedience to God’s law (“man of sin”) and exalt himself to a status

of Godhood, establishing himself in the temple of God to receive worship.

Words could not better describe the apostasy embodied in the papal

church. During the Pergamos period, bishops and popes assumed more and

more authority until finally they were worshipped as God, receiving the awesome

title, “Holy Father,” and claiming the power to forgive sins.

Continuing with his warning, Paul described pagan Rome as an obstacle

that would eventually be moved out of the way and give its place to the papacy:

“The mystery of lawlessness is already at work; only he [the pagan

empire] who now restrains [the papal empire] will do so until he is taken out

of the way. And then the lawless one [the papal church] will be revealed,

whom the Lord will consume with the breath of His mouth and destroy with

the brightness of His coming” (2 Thessalonians 2:7-8, NKJV).

Satan’s masterpiece of deception would take shape in the form of a counterfeit

religious system that would claim to be the true church of Christ. It was

already developing in Paul’s and John’s time. The subtle mixture of pagan

philosophy with Christian principles was underway and would eventually find

mature manifestation as an organized counterfeit of the faith first delivered to

the apostles by the Lord Jesus.

So it was that the church began to dwell “where Satan’s seat is.” The

faithful began to coexist with an increasingly more and more corrupt version

of Christianity.

Antipas, the Faithful Martyr

It is possible that there was an individual by the name of “Antipas” who

was martyred in the Pergamos period. However, there is no historical record of

such a person. It is more likely, given the symbolic nature of Revelation, that

“Antipas” represents all those who were faithful unto death at this time. Antipas

is a union of two words: Anti, which means “opposed,” and papas, which

means “father” or “pope.” “Opposed to popery” is the meaning of the word.

There were many Christians who braced themselves against the influence and

claims of the papal system, not a few of whom were hung, beheaded, or burned

for their “antipas” convictions.

The Doctrine of Balaam

The Pergamos message contains a rebuke to the church for retaining members

who “hold the doctrine of Balaam.” Here is an allusion to the Old Testament

story of Balaam, obviously intended to engage our attention to discern a

parallel to that episode of Israel’s history (see Numbers 22-25).

Balaam was a one-time true prophet of God who turned enemy to the Lord

for money. He accepted a bribe offered by Balac, ruler of the Moabites, to curse

Israel. God intervened so that Balaam could not speak a curse against them. In

a secondary effort to gain the bribe, he suggested that Balac host a pagan party

and tempt the men of Israel to engage in sexual immorality with the women of

Moab. The plan was a success and resulted in the spread of idolatry throughout

the camp of Israel. Because of their apostasy, the curse of God did, indeed,

come upon Israel. Twenty-four thousand people died.

During the Pergamos period, many professed Christians began to engage

in pagan rites, mingling idolatry with their worship of Christ. Image worship

was introduced with statues of Mary and the saints. Many bowed and prayed to

these as readily as the pagans worshipped idols of the goddess Diana and other

heathen deities.

The Doctrine of the Nicolaitans

The Ephesus church was commended by Christ for hating “the deeds of the

Nicolaitans” (Revelation 2:6). They had resisted this corrupting influence. But

the Pergamos church was infected with many who had yielded themselves to it.

The basic doctrine of this party was that God’s grace makes obedience to His

law unnecessary (see previous study on Ephesus for greater detail).

Repent, or Else

The counsel of Christ to the Pergamos church is straight and to the point:

“Repent; or else. . . .” As the church began to stray from the path of pure truth

through the fourth, fifth and sixth centuries, Jesus did fight against the falling

away by raising up faithful men and women who wielded the sword of His

Word to oppose the incoming tide of error and corruption. The church was seriously

divided time and time again.

The Overcomer’s Reward

To the faithful of the Pergamos church period, Jesus promised “hidden

manna” and “a white stone” engraved with a new name.

Manna was a mysterious, heaven-sent food provided morning by morning

to Israel in the desert. It represented the coming Messiah who would feed the

world with the spiritual food of eternal truth (see John 6:48-51). The promise of

“hidden manna” must mean a special spiritual feasting.

The “white stone” with the secret new name implies an intimate friendship

unique to Jesus and each person. In Bible times names were far more significant

changed one of His disciple’s names from Simon to Peter, the latter meaning “a

rock,” to represent this man’s firm and determined purpose. Jacob means

“supplanter,” “one who deceives.” God changed His name to Israel after

a severe night of struggle in which he prevailed. Israel means “one who

prevails with God.”

All who are on the Lord’s side will eventually receive a new name, representative

of his or her new character in Christ. No one but Jesus and the one

who bears the name will be able to fully appreciate its meaning, for the friendship

of each saint with the Savior will be as personal as if they were the only

two persons in all the universe.

Thyatira

“And unto the angel of the church in Thyatira write; These things saith the

Son of God, who hath his eyes like unto a flame of fire, and his feet are like fine

brass; I know thy works, and charity, and service, and faith, and thy patience,

and thy works; and the last to be more than the first.

“Notwithstanding I have a few things against thee, because thou suffers

that woman Jezebel, which calleth herself a prophetess, to teach and to seduce

My servants to commit fornication, and to eat things sacrificed unto idols. And I

gave her space to repent of her fornication; and she repented not. Behold, I will

cast her into a bed, and them that commit adultery with her into great tribulation,

except they repent of their deeds. And I will kill her children with death;

and all the churches shall know that I am He which searches the reins and

hearts: and I will give unto every one of you according to your works.

“But unto you I say, and unto the rest in Thyatira, as many as have not this

doctrine, and which have not known the depths of Satan, as they speak; I will

put upon you none other burden. But that which ye have already hold fast till

I come. And he that overcomes, and keeps My works unto the end, to him

will I give power over the nations: And he shall rule them with a rod of iron; as

the vessels of a potter shall they be broken to shivers: even as I received of My

Father. And I will give him the morning star. He that hath an ear, let him hear

what the Spirit saith unto the churches” (Revelation 2:18-29).

In the message to Thyatira, Jesus addresses the church of the “Dark Ages.”

Pergamos carries ecclesiastical history to the year A.D. 538, by which time the

foundation was laid for the long, hard reign of the papacy. The evil monster of

church-state union was alive and growing as the long history of Roman emperors

gave way to the even longer history of Roman popes.

To this church Christ comes with “eyes like unto a flame of fire,” for He

says, “all the churches shall know that I am He who searches the minds and the

hearts. And I will give to each one of you according to your works” (Revelation

2:23, NKJV). He warns here of a time of judgment when “we must all appear

before the judgment seat of Christ” (2 Corinthians 5:10). Even amid terrible

errors and persecution, Christ reads every heart and knows who truly belongs to

Him. They will be judged worthy of eternal life, while the pretenders who have

played church for power and wealth will be condemned.

During the dark period of papal supremacy, it seemed that pure Christian

faith was almost entirely extinguished. The papal arms encompassed much of

the world, and it appeared that none would escape her delusive doctrine except

by falling prey to her sharp sword. But there were faithful little lights in the

darkness, though flickering in dungeons and caves at times. The message to

Thyatira tells the story of this time.

A Church of Works

“I know thy works,” Jesus says to Thyatira. The church of the Dark Ages

was, without question, a church of works. The diligence of the common people

to engage in good works was increased by the tragic teaching of popes and

priests that sinners are saved by works. Penance (acts of self-abasement to

earn forgiveness). Indulgences (the payment of money to earn forgiveness).

Pilgrimages (long journeys to places designated sacred by the church). The

confessional (confessing sins to a human priest). Image worship. The Rosary.

Praying to saints. The list goes on. The people were taught of a vengeful God

who would exact all He could squeeze from them to purchase His distant favor.

Graciously, Jesus looked with pity upon the countless honest men and women

and children who ignorantly tried so hard to gain His smile by multiplied deeds.

He commended them for their diligence. But for the church leaders He had a

severe rebuke.

The Church Likened to Jezebel

As the Nicolaitans and Balaam were used to describe problems existing in

former periods of the church’s history, so now Jezebel is figuratively employed

to relate the condition of the church during the Thyatira period.

Jezebel was a prophetess of the pagan god, Baal. Ahab, king of Israel, married

her for influence but got more than he bargained for. As queen of Israel

she led almost the whole nation into the immoral and idolatrous worship of

Baal. The true prophets of God were put to death and the false prophets of Baal

were exalted. Those prophets of Jehovah who escaped her wrath fled to the

mountains to hide. Among them was Elijah. Under her wicked influence Israel

suffered a three and one-half-year drought with no rain (see 1 Kings 16-31).

The terrible reign of Jezebel is a striking mirror image of the church during

the Dark Ages:

• Jezebel sought to lead Israel into pagan worship. The papacy introduced a

strange mixture of pagan worship with Christianity.

• Jezebel sought to execute all who opposed her. The papacy executed some

50 million Christians who chose to resist her supremacy.

• Many true worshipers of God went into hiding from Jezebel. Many maintained

their faith in Christ in mountain hideouts during the papal reign.

• Under Jezebel’s rule there were three and one-half years of drought. The

papacy reigned for a period of three and one-half prophetic years and thus

imposed a spiritual drought on the world (see Revelation 12:14).

While it is true that the church of the Dark Ages, like Israel in the days

of Jezebel, was largely corrupt, Christ recognized that there were those who

remained true to Him in those difficult circumstances.

The name Thyatira means “sacrifice of contrition,” a fitting way to describe

those who were deemed outlaws and heretics by the church while standing true

to their Lord. Theirs was certainly a contrite sacrifice as they grieved over the

state of their church and their own frailty to withstand her mighty influence.

The Overcomer’s Reward

The Bible is replete with promises that the children of God will eventually

judge their enemies and eternally possess the kingdom of this world. The

oppressed will rise up and pass sentence upon the oppressors (see Psalm 2:8-9).

When the Savior who is King performs His work of judgment against the

wicked, His redeemed saints will sit with Him in this capacity (see Revelation

20:4; Daniel 7:14, 18, 21-22).

The promise of the Morning Star is precious. It is Jesus saying, “I will give

you Myself,” as if a pledge of eternal friendship and love, for He is Himself

“the bright and Morning Star” (Revelation 22:16).

From Lightbearers.com “Revelation”

Understanding the Second Coming: The Seven Churches, Part 2 Smyrna, Pergamos and Thyatira