Overview:
Early Christians in the church in Pergamum were surrounded by a culture so dark, the city is described in Revelation 2:13 as “Satan’s city.” Jesus recognized the believers’ courage in the face of evil but pointed out that some of them had begun to compromise.Pastor Chuck Swindoll relates how the slippery slope the ancient church found itself on isn’t that different from today’s church. Explore three truths about compromise and remember Christ’s promise to those who have fallen and desire to return to Him.
Message Summary:
In this message centering on Revelation 2:12–17, Chuck Swindoll addresses the subtle but deadly danger of spiritual compromise within the church of Pergamum. He begins by defining compromise in two ways: the positive “settlement of differences by mutual consent” necessary for marriage and leadership, and the negative “shameful or disreputable concession” of one’s principles. Swindoll likens this negative compromise to erosion—a process that is slow, silent, and subtle, often leading believers from small concessions to total disobedience without them realizing it [13–14, 38].
Swindoll vividly describes the context of Pergamum as a “tough place to minister,” identified by Jesus as the place “where Satan’s throne is”. He details the city’s rampant idolatry, including the worship of the emperor and the snake-god Aesculapius, which created an environment hostile to the Gospel [16–17]. Despite this, Jesus commends the church for “dwelling” there—not fleeing to an easier location—and holding fast to His name, even amidst the martyrdom of faithful witnesses like Antipas.
However, the church faced a critical internal threat: tolerance of false teaching. Swindoll explains that they had allowed the “teaching of Balaam” and the Nicolaitans to infiltrate the body, leading to moral compromise and accommodation with the culture [25–27]. He illustrates the danger of “accommodating theology” using the metaphor of a white glove in mud—the glove always gets muddy; the mud never gets “glov”. The message concludes with a call to repentance, warning that Jesus will wage war against unrepentant compromise with the “sword of His mouth,” while promising the faithful the “hidden manna” and a “white stone” of acquittal and new identity [32, 36–37].
Message Key Facts:
- The Dual Nature of Compromise: Swindoll distinguishes between wise compromise (giving in on preferences, like using a dual-control electric blanket) and sinful compromise (accommodating theology to fit a lifestyle). He notes that in matters of character, morality, and biblical fidelity, there is “no wobble room” [7–10].
- “Church of God Grill”: To illustrate mission drift, Swindoll shares the story of a church that started selling chicken dinners to pay bills. Eventually, the business became so successful they closed the church entirely but kept the name “Church of God Grill”—a classic example of compromising purpose for survival.
- Pergamum as “Satan’s Throne”: Swindoll explains that Pergamum was a center of pagan cults, including the temple of Augustus (Emperor worship) and the temple of Aesculapius, the god of healing whose symbol was a snake. Worshipers would let snakes crawl over them for healing, creating a demonic stronghold in the city [16–17].
- The Teaching of Balaam: Referencing Numbers 22–25, Swindoll explains that Balaam’s error was advising enemies on how to seduce Israel into intermarriage and idolatry. In Pergamum, this represented a “live and let live” attitude that tolerated sexual immorality and idolatry to maintain social standing [26, 29–30].
- The Nicolaitans: Swindoll suggests this group may have initiated the unbiblical gap between clergy and laity, creating a system where the “religious professionals” were unaccountable to the people, keeping the congregation ignorant of the Scriptures [27–28].
- The Muddy Glove: Swindoll uses the illustration of a white glove touching mud to demonstrate that Christians cannot dabble in the world system without being stained. “I have never seen glovy mud,” he notes, “but I’ve seen many white gloves turn the color of mud”.
- The White Stone: In the ancient judicial system, a jury would cast a black stone for condemnation or a white stone for acquittal. Jesus promises the overcomer a white stone, symbolizing total forgiveness, acquittal from guilt, and a new beginning.
- The “Raccoon” Poster: Swindoll mocks the “Hang in There” poster featuring a raccoon straddling a boat and a dock. He argues that spiritually, you cannot keep a foot in both worlds; eventually, you will fall, get wet, and suffer the consequences.
Message References:
- Revelation 2:12–17: The primary text containing the letter to the church in Pergamum, the description of Satan’s throne, and the call to repent.
- 1 Thessalonians 4:3: “For this is the will of God, your sanctification; that is, that you abstain from sexual immorality”.
- 1 John 2:15–16: “Do not love the world nor the things in the world… the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life”.
- Numbers 22–25: The historical background of Balaam, used to explain the compromise of intermarriage and idolatry.
- Romans 8:15: Referenced in the introduction regarding the Aramaic term “Abba” (Daddy).
- John 14:26: Referenced in the introduction regarding the Holy Spirit as the “Paraclete” (Helper).
