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"The Ancient Landmark"

What Must I Do To Be Saved?

Comments:

We're studing the book of Revelations her in Anacanda OIF II; I would like to know a little history on the Pergamos church and who was Antipis and why he killed? I know the Pergamos church stilled believed in God, but they supported the teachings of Balaam why ?

Answer:

Hello ____________,

I am happy to get your question, and do appreciate you taking the time to write and ask your Bible question….

From my notes on Pergamos (Revelation 2:12-17), I can supply you with the following history of this city:

A. Pergamos was the royal city of Asia, and served as a political capital for more than two centuries. It is now known by the name "Bergamo."

    1. This city was 15-20 miles inland from the Mediterranean sea, though situated near the

        Caicus (Bakyrtchai, today) river.

    2. This city was 40-50 miles north of Smyrna.

    3. "The wealth of the princes had raised Pergamum to the rank of the first city in Asia as

        regards splendor. It was a sort of union of a pagan cathedral city, a university town,

        and a royal residence, embellished during a succession of years by kings who all had

        a passion for expenditure and ample means of gratifying it" (Unger's Bible Dictionary,

        p. 986).

B. This city gave its name to parchment ("pergamena," writing material made from the skins of certain animals) when they could no longer secure papyrus from Egypt.

    1. This city had a library of over 200,000 volumes. (Which was  an immense number

        considering that the books at this time were written and copied by hand.)

    2. They rivalled only Alexandria, Egypt in the size of their library.

C. The city was a well-known center of idolatry.

    1. Some who were worshipped there:

        a. The Roman Caesars (starting in 29 B.C.)

        b. Dea Roma (also in 29 B.C.)

        c. Zeus (ruler and father of the gods.)

        d. Athena (goddess of wisdom, fertility, the useful arts, and prudent warfare.)

            * Zeus and Athena were worshipped on a high hill overlooking the city.

        e. Dionysus (god of fertility, wine and drama.)

        f. Aesculapius (god of medicine and healing, worshipped in the form of a live serpent.)

    2. There were three distinct types of pagan worship here:

        a. The popular Asiatic

        b. The cultured Greek

        c. Official Roman (more political than religious)

 

D. This is a place where you could literally worship the "god of your choice."

=============== End of Notes ===========================

So far as Antipas is concerned (Revelation 2:13), there is very little "extra" we can know besides what is said in this text. This is the only place he is mentioned in the whole Bible. Antipas was obviously an example of those who were martyred for the cause of Christ in this wicked city. He was someone these folks knew very well, and I am sure it was very comforting to those in Pergamos to learn that Jesus also knew about this "faithful martyr." The phrase, "Even in those days ... among you" (v. 13) suggests that Antipas was not the only one martyred in Pergamos for the cause of Christ.

 

In the last part of your question, you asked "why" these folks would support the teachings of Balaam. To be honest, I don't know "why" these folks wished to follow the "doctrine of Balaam" (Revelation 2:14). Perhaps these folks, though Christians, still held on to some of the old idolatrous practices of Pergamos, and were trying to incorporate those things into the church at Pergamos. I am not sure of all the reasons that might motivate people to follow the "doctrine of Balaam," but I know that Christ told them to repent (Revelation 2:16). They needed to do that, or else Christ was going to fight against them. For more insight into Balaam and Balak, please read Numbers 23-25 and Numbers 31.

 

Thanks so much for writing and asking these questions. If I can help you by explaining something I wrote in this letter, or in answering another Bible-related question, I'd be glad to do it. Please visit our website again as we update it on a weekly basis.

Have a good day.

Jarrod Jacobs

http://www.southside-churchofchrist.com

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