What does Revelation 2:13 mean?
In this verse the one who walks among the churches shows His perfect understanding of the situation the church at Pergamum faced. He understood the church existed in Satan's stronghold. People in Pergamum worshiped Zeus, the chief god of the Olympian gods. Perhaps the mention of Satan's throne at Pergamum was a reference to the Altar of Zeus. Residents of Pergamum also worshiped the Roman emperor; Dionysius, the god of wine and vegetation; Athena, the goddess of Athens; and Asklepios, the god of healing.Satan had arrayed a conglomerate of false worship that made it difficult for Christians to declare that they worshiped Christ. This is one of four times that Satan is mentioned in these messages to the seven churches (Revelation 2:9, 24; 3:9).
Nevertheless, as Jesus said, they professed the name of Jesus as supreme, and they did not deny the faith. Antipas, mentioned in this commendation as Jesus' faithful witness, was martyred. Even his martyrdom did not dissuade the believers at Pergamum from worshiping and serving Jesus.
Revelation 2:12–17 is a message from Jesus to the church at Pergamum. Jesus commends the church for keeping the faith despite intense persecution and the pervading worship of Satan around them. However, some members of the church followed the teaching of Balaam, and others followed the teaching of the Nicolaitans. Jesus calls the church out for repentance regarding those flaws. Failure to repent would bring judgment. The passage ends with Jesus' promise to give conquerors hidden manna and a new name written on a secret stone.
The contents of Revelation 2 are miniature letters to four churches, dictated by Jesus to John. Ephesus and Smyrna were coastal cities, whereas Pergamum and Thyatira were inland cities. Three more such letters are in Revelation 3. Each of these messages contains a unique description of Jesus, a command, a promise. All but one—the church in Laodicea—receive some commendation. All but two of the seven letters—those to the churches in Smyrna and Philadelphia—also contain a critical rebuke. Like churches today, most of the congregations addressed by Jesus had both good characteristics and at least one point which needed correction.