Revelation 2:13 Commentary and Bible Study

Here is the letter that I have for you, says Christ. ‘I know thy works, and where thou dwellest.’ That is comforting too. I know you live ‘even where Satan’s seat is’, in a particularly difficult place, just as hostile to Christians as Smyrna, a great centre of emperor worship. The god of healing, that was curiously depicted by a serpent idol, was there also and other major cults. Pergamos was to the north of Smyrna, and built on a thousand foot cone-shaped hill, but it was a terrible place for Christians to be. I know your situation, says the Lord. I know where you dwell. I know what it is like in London, he says to us, and in Britain in these days. I know the hostility, the difficulty, and the hardness of the people. I am with you and I will not lay anything too hard on you, but I will see you through and bless you in. But look at this commendation of the church – ‘And thou holdest fast my name, and hast not denied my faith.’ Tremendous words! The church is going to be reproved, but it does not take away from this commendation. The church in Pergamos is very powerfully commended. They are in a terrible place, but nevertheless, ‘thou holdest fast my name.’ Tremendous commendation. ‘And hast not denied my faith.’ Oh no, say some of the commentators, they were just theologically accurate, but it was not in their hearts. They are not entitled to say that. They are highly commended by the Lord. It was a tremendous church. And Antipas, Christ’s faithful martyr, was put to death there. We do not know who he was, but obviously he was a very significant believing leader in those days.