Pergamum was a government town, which means it had a level of arrogance and a feeling like it was the center of the news cycle - we don't know anything about that here in DC, right? The Christians in Pergamum faced tremendous cultural and political pressure, and Jesus told them that their city was the place where Satan's throne was. While the Pergamites did hold to Jesus' name, they allowed their beliefs to sway to the whims of the pressure they were under. This is a particularly important church for us to see and understand. The pressure to change and adapt the gospel to fit the culture of our time and place is nothing new. Jesus has strong words to say, though, and reinforces the importance of His Word.