“To the angel of the church in Pergamos write.” Verse 12.
Note.—The meaning of Pergamos is height, or elevation, and fitly represents that period of the Christian church, beginning with the reign of the emperor Constantine in 313 a.d., when the power which had put the Christians to death espoused the cause of the church, and by rewards, edicts, and promised promotions to office in the government, sought to induce the people to become Christians, thus bringing a flood of worldliness and corruption into the church. Many of the heathen rites and ceremonies previously introduced into the Christian religion, including the heathen festival, Sunday (sun's day), were then established by law, resulting in the first day of the week taking the place of the Sabbath of the Bible.
13. How was the faithfulness of this church commended?
“I know thy works, and where thou dwellest, even where Satan's seat is: and thou holdest 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.” Verse 13.
Note.—Antipas comes from two Latin words, anti, opposed to, and papas, father, or pope, and denotes a class of people who were opposed to papal rule. Regarding Pergamos, see note on page [256].
14. What title was given to the fourth state of the church?
“Unto the angel of the church in Thyatira write.” Verse 18.
Note.—Thyatira means song of labor, or sacrifice of contrition, and points out the condition of God's people during the long, dark period of 1260 years, beginning with the establishment of papal supremacy in 538 a.d., and closing with the downfall of that power in 1798. See notes on page [223]. During that time, millions of the saints of God were put to death in the most cruel manner that wicked men and demons could invent. Christ referred to this time in His wonderful prophecy recorded in Matthew 24, in these words: “For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be. And except those days should be shortened there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect's sake those days shall be shortened.” The tribulation of the 1260 years was cut short through the influence of the Reformation.
15. What promise did God leave for these persecuted ones?
“But that which ye have already hold fast till I come. And [pg 283] he that overcometh, and keepeth My words 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.” Verses 25-27.