After the death of Diocletian, there were six pretenders to the sovereignty of the Roman empire: Galerius, Licinius, Maximian, Maxentius, Maximin and Constantine. Constantine, in the year 312, while traveling from France to Italy against Maxentius, claimed to see the appearance of a glittering cross in the heavens and above it the inscription, “By This Conquer.” Confirmed again in a dream, he prepared a new standard to be borne at the head of his army, and having called Christian teachers, he declared himself a convert to Christianity. Constantine went on to defeat Maxentius, though his troops numbered less than a fourth of his foe. For a time the rule of the empire was divided between Constantine and Licinius, and they issued a joint edict in AD 313 at Milan in favour of Christians. Full and unlimited toleration was granted to them, and their churches and property were restored. In AD 314 war broke out between the two emperors. Licinius attached the pagan priesthood to his cause and resumed the persecution of Christians. However, in 325 Licinius was defeated and Constantine ruled the entire Empire, both east and west. Thus we have during Constantine’s rule the uniting of the church and State, and therewith the beginning of the Pergamos period.
Message to Pergamos
“And to the angel of the church in Pergamos write; These things saith He which hath the sharp sword with two edges; I know thy works, and where thou dwellest, [even] where Satan’s seat [is]: and thou holdest fast my name, and hast not denied My faith, even in those days wherein Antipas [was] My faithful martyr, who was slain among you, where Satan dwelleth. But I have a few things against thee, because thou hast there them that hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balac to cast a stumblingblock before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed unto idols, and to commit fornication. So hast thou also them that hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitans, which thing I hate. Repent; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will fight against them with the sword of My mouth. He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth [it]” (Revelation 2:12-1712And to the angel of the church in Pergamos write; These things saith he which hath the sharp sword with two edges; 13I know thy works, and where thou dwellest, even where Satan's seat is: and thou holdest fast my name, and hast not denied my faith, even in those days wherein Antipas was my faithful martyr, who was slain among you, where Satan dwelleth. 14But I have a few things against thee, because thou hast there them that hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balac to cast a stumblingblock before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed unto idols, and to commit fornication. 15So hast thou also them that hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitans, which thing I hate. 16Repent; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth. 17He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth it. (Revelation 2:12‑17)).
Constantine
There are many questions surrounding the conversion of Constantine. His early years as a so-called Christian, appear to be guided by superstition as much as by any real belief. Though he increasingly took upon himself the role of the head of the church, he retained the title and robe of the high priest of the ancient religion — Pontifex Maximus. (Gratian was the first emperor to refuse that title.) Constantine’s reign was stained in blood, including that of his own son Crispus (by Minervina) and of his second wife Fausta. Constantine delayed his baptism until the end of his life. It was not until AD 337 that he was baptized and received the Lord’s supper. He died shortly thereafter.
Constantine’s standard — the Labarum — was a long pole, intersected by a beam, from which hung a silken veil. The top of the pole supported a gold crown on which was inscribed Constantine’s adopted monogram, the overlaid Greek letters Chi (Χ) and Ro (Ρ) — the first two letters of “Christ” in Greek. The Labarum was an object of veneration and an item to be protected in battle. Fifty guards protected it, and the superstition arose that those guards, while engaged in the execution of their office, where protected from their enemies. And so Constantine, who is called the first great Christian Emperor, publicly united Christianity to idolatry.
The Nicene Creed
During the reign of Constantine we find the first great schisms that divided the church. In these controversies we find Constantine playing the part of the head of the church: calling for councils, presiding over them, and even giving sentence. On the other hand, we see the church appealing to their ruler and protector as judge.
In AD 325, at Nice in Bithynia, the first general council of the church assembled to consider the controversy known as Arianism. Three hundred and eighteen bishops were present, besides priests and deacons, while the Emperor himself moderated. The Arian controversy called into question the nature of the Trinity and in particular the position of Christ in the Godhead. That such a thing should be a matter of public debate and speculation is distressing in itself. The resulting confession of faith, usually called The Nicene Creed, rejected the Arian opinions, while the doctrine of the holy Trinity, the true Godhead of Christ, and Christ’s oneness with the Father were all affirmed. Those who bowed to the Nicene Creed were called catholic Christians and formed the so-called Catholic Church.
The Emperors of the Early Pergamos Period
Constantine AD 313-337
Constantine II (Gaul, Spain and Britain) 337-340
Constantius(Asiatic provinces) 337-361
Constans (Italy and Africa) 337-340
Julian (the Apostate) 361-363
Jovian 363-364
Valentinian (West) 364-375
Valens (East) 364-378
Gratian (West) 375-383
Valentinian II (West) 375-392
Theodosius (East only until 392, then both) 379-395
Arcadius (East) 395-408
Honorius (West) 395-423
The Remainder of the Period
Constantine was succeeded by his three sons. Constantine II and Constans were partial to the Catholic Church, while Constantius was inclined towards Arianism. Jealousies between the brothers led to civil war and in the end Constantius was Emperor alone. Julian, known as the Apostate, succeeded Constantius. Heathenism was revived during his brief reign and persecutions began again. Jovian, the successor to Julian, professed Christianity. The brothers Valentinian and Valens professed Christianity; Valentinian embraced the Catholic Church, while Valens was won over by Arianism. Gratian gave evidence of being a true believer, being the first emperor to refuse the title of Pontifex Maximus (head of the heathen pontiffs). Theodosius was the last Emperor to rule both the East and the West. Baptized at the beginning of his reign — and supposedly the first emperor to be baptized in the full name of the holy Trinity — he was a strong supporter of Christianity, subduing the Arian heresy and abolishing the worship of idols in the Roman world.
Friendship With the World
What Satan could not accomplish as the roaring lion — “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour” (1 Peter 5:88Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: (1 Peter 5:8)) — he now brought about as the subtle serpent — “Now the serpent was more subtil than any beast of the field” (Genesis 3:11Now the serpent was more subtile than any beast of the field which the Lord God had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden? (Genesis 3:1)). “That old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world” (Revelation 12:99And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him. (Revelation 12:9)).
When Balak’s injunction to Balaam to curse Israel was thwarted by God, Balaam taught Balak to cast a stumblingblock before the children of Israel. What he could not destroy outwardly, he could corrupt inwardly. He taught the children of Israel to eat things sacrificed to idols and to commit fornication with the daughters of Moab: “And Israel abode in Shittim, and the people began to commit whoredom with the daughters of Moab” (Numbers 25:11And Israel abode in Shittim, and the people began to commit whoredom with the daughters of Moab. (Numbers 25:1)). This was exactly the condition of things at Pergamos:
What many were martyred for — refusing to offer sacrifices to idols — the church had now allowed itself to be willingly associated with. “Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God” (James 4:44Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God. (James 4:4)).