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Revelation 2:12
ESV "And to the angel of the church in Pergamum write: ‘The words of him who has the sharp two-edged sword.
NIV "To the angel of the church in Pergamum write: These are the words of him who has the sharp, double-edged sword.
NASB And to the angel of the church in Pergamum write: The One who has the sharp two-edged sword says this:
CSB "Write to the angel of the church in Pergamum: Thus says the one who has the sharp, double-edged sword:
NLT Write this letter to the angel of the church in Pergamum. This is the message from the one with the sharp two-edged sword:
KJV And to the angel of the church in Pergamos write; These things saith he which hath the sharp sword with two edges;
NKJV “And to the angel of the church in Pergamos write, ‘These things says He who has the sharp two-edged sword:

What does Revelation 2:12 mean?

Pergamum lay about sixty miles north of Smyrna and fifteen miles from the coast of the Aegean Sea. For some four centuries, beginning in 133 BC, it was the capital of Asia. Like Ephesus and Smyrna, it was a wealthy city. Pergamum boasted a library of about 200,000 volumes, but it rejected God's written Words, and the wisdom of Christ. Here, Jesus addresses the church at Pergamum through the apostle John.

Christ commanded John to describe Him as possessing the sharp two-edged sword. The description reminds the church that Jesus wields more power and authority than any government official who wields the sword of justice in Asia on behalf of Rome. This verse uses the word rhomphaian, typically implying the large, broad swords used by Roman soldiers. This is a weapon of offense, meant to separate and slash. Jesus' words are able to pierce paganism and destroy the works of Satan. This echoes statements such as Hebrews 4:12, which describes God's written Word as a sharp, dividing sword.

The characteristics of the church at Pergamum prefigure those of the Church from AD 316 to 500. Interestingly, "Pergamum" means "marriage." During the fourth and fifth centuries, the Church was effectively "married" to the state.
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