The letter to Pergamos, as found in Revelation 2:12-17, presents a divine evaluation of the church in that city, portraying them as cultural compromisers amidst a deeply pagan society. Pergamos, also known as Pergamon or Pergamum, was a significant city of 120,000 to 200,000 people, located over 50 miles north of Smyrna, 16 miles inland on the north edge of the Kikuyus plain in Mysia, northern Asia Minor. Unlike coastal cities, it was not a major trading hub due to its smaller rivers, but it held prominence as a longtime seat of Roman government in Asia, often vying with Ephesus and Smyrna for this honor. The city's name derives from a conical mountain, rising 1,099 feet, resembling a throne from the south, which may relate to Christ's reference to it as the place where satan's throne is. This church is a mixed bag, receiving both praise and admonition from Christ. He commends them for clinging to His name and not denying the faith, even under persecution, as exemplified by Antipas, His faithful witness who endured to the end, likely as a martyr. However, Christ has a few things against them, noting their compromise with the surrounding corrupt, satanic society that wears them down. They tolerate false teachings akin to those of Balaam, who deceived for profit, and the Nicolaitans, whose doctrines lead to disobedience through either asceticism or licentiousness. Christ warns them sternly with the image of a two-edged sword, symbolizing His judgment and wrath, urging them to repent swiftly or face His coming quickly to fight against the compromisers, casting them out as enemies. The city itself was a center of pagan worship, featuring temples to Zeus, Athena, Dionysus, Hera, Demeter, Persephone, Isis, and Serapis, alongside a massive altar to Zeus atop the citadel, possibly linked to the throne of satan. Pergamos was also a hub for the Imperial cult, honored three times as temple warden under Caesar Augustus, Trajan, and Caracalla, reflecting its extreme loyalty to Rome. This environment pressured Christians daily to conform through sacrifices to the emperor, risking charges of atheism—denial of other gods—and being labeled disloyal or haters of mankind if they refused. Such refusal could lead to social ostracism, loss of jobs, or businesses, intensifying the cultural and economic pressures to compromise. Christ promises three rewards to those who overcome: hidden manna, a white stone, and a new name. The hidden manna suggests union with Christ, possibly linked to the Marriage Supper of the Lamb and beneficent judgment under God's throne. The white stone implies acquittal from guilt and an invitation to fellowship with Christ, symbolizing righteousness and victory. The new name represents genuine membership in the Kingdom of God, marking an intimate relationship with Him, known only to those within His fold. Through this letter, Christ emphasizes the deadly peril of compromise, urging the Pergamenes to hold fast to His revealed character and faith, enduring faithfully to avoid the second death under the sword of His Word.