Back to Pergamum, one of the biggest temptations they had, and I submit to you that it is one of our biggest temptations today, was to compromise with the world: compromising by watering down Christianity—watering down what we believe. There is a popular phrase that has been used in regard to education in some parts of our country. The terms that is used is “dumbing down.” There are many school systems apparently who bring down their standards of excellence and standards of learning to meet the level of sub-standard students, rather than raising the students to a higher standard. That was, perhaps, what those in Pergamum were doing. That is what we are tempted to do even today. Instead of lifting the world up to the high standards of Christ, we are tempted to lower ourselves and our standards down to theirs.

Several writers I have read say that here in this City of Pergamum, these pagan temples that we have described employed many, many people. The writers suggest that perhaps even some members of the church there in Pergamum may have been employed in the pagan temples as well. For them, it would have been extremely difficult not to eat and not to drink what was offered in honor of these pagan gods.

Again, the Lord says that He is going to bring the battle; He’s going to come with the “sword of His mouth”—the Word of God. And He will make war with His enemies—in this case, those who are false teachers. But we see that the entire church has been implicated—the entire church is called to repentance because of a spirit of compromise.

Exhortation and Promise (verse 17)

Then the Lord promises them what He refers to as “hidden manna.” “Manna”—is the food of God; the food at God’s heavenly banquet table. Now, think about that in contrast to the pagan banquets and feasts which were held, and in which some of these Christians may have been enticed or maybe even forced to be involved with and to participate in due to their employment. They compromised and participated in what was forbidden by the Lord. Now the Lord is offering here this great contrast to pagan banquets: “hidden manna”—the food of God; at the heavenly table of God.

He also promises what is referred to as the “white stone,” that is inscribed with the “new name” that “no one knows except the one who receives it.”

There are several different interpretations from those who have studied this. One interpretation is that this was a small stone that was used for counting or voting, signifying a jury-type of situation. If the white stone was drawn, it signified acquittal. If the black stone was drawn, it signified guilt. So the word-picture there is, if one is given the white stone, then they are acquitted—or not guilty. That’s one understanding.

Another interpretation is that the white stone refers to a little stone tablet upon which something was written.

Others have referred to this white stone as the tickets that were used and given for food and drink to victors in the games/contests/arena games entitling them to eat at public expense. We might be reminded of that metaphor used before about the crown in reference to the athletic games, and so on. This may be another metaphor.

Some have related the white stone to the stone on the Jewish high priest’s breastplate where were written the names of the twelve tribes of Israel.

There are several other ideas that have been advanced. In fact, I have six or eight more written down here. But it probably refers to the high honor which the Lord will give to him who overcomes as one of His Own; that is, the individual to whom this image—this “white stone”—is given. The implication is that the “new name” that is “written” there is the individual’s name. It is my name—it is your name. It is the name of those who were faithful there in Pergamum—those who would repent and return to the Lord.

“He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.”