The Pergamosian church:

Rev 2:12 ¶ And to the angel of the church in Pergamos write; These things saith he which hath the sharp sword with two edges;


Rev 2:13 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.


Rev 2:14 But I have a few things against thee, because thou hast there them that hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balac to cast a stumblingblock before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed unto idols, and to commit fornication.


Rev 2:15 So hast thou also them that hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitans, which thing I hate.


Rev 2:16 Repent; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth.


Rev 2:17 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh 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 knoweth saving he that receiveth [it].


This church is commended for the following:

1. Works. This church, too, was active in propagating the gospel.

2. They were in a bad location where satan had power as if it were the very throne room of hell, yet they still promoted the gospel, held fast to the name of the Lord, and had not denied the faith of Jesus. They did not cave in to the pressures of their environment and deny the true faith, even when persecution came against them for their stand for the true gospel.

But they had some problems.

1. The doctrine of Balaam was believed in by some of the members, and apparently being promoted. Balaam's great sin was to teach Balak to set out the Moabite and Midianite women to entice Israel to join in ecumenical idol worship and fornication, resulting in God's wrath slaying many of Israel's finest. So here there is in the church those whose believe in ecumenical compromise and enticing of the sheep to partake in the benefits of idolatry...

2. The hated doctrine of the Nicolaitanes was maintained by some mebers as well. We do not know for sure what that doctrine was, but Christ hated it and some members of His church embraced it. This church thus had members who had accepted some doctrines and practices which Christ hated.

The church is warned that unless it repents - that is, unless the Balaamites and Nicolaitanites repented, and the church as a whole purged those evils from their midst, the Lord would bring judgement upon them and condemn them by His Word. And the ones who overcome the ecumenical spirit of compromise, and purge themselves from all teaching that is offensive to the Lord, will enjoy the true benefits of being a new creature.