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Throne of Satan Day 16
"To the angel of the church in Pergamum write: These are the words of him who has the sharp, double-edged sword. I know where you live where Satan has his throne. Yet you remain true to my name. You did not renounce your faith in me, even in the days of Antipas, my faithful witness, who was put to death in your city--where Satan lives. Nevertheless, I have a few things against you: You have people there who hold to the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to entice the Israelites to sin by eating food sacrificed to idols and by committing sexual immorality. Likewise you also have those who hold to the teaching of the Nicolaitans. Repent therefore! Otherwise, I will soon come to you and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth." (Revelation 2:12-16 )
Caesar is Lord
Early emperors like Augustus refused to be deified, to be called gods. Later, it was felt to be politically useful, and they soon started believing they were actual gods. The people were then required to burn incense to the bust of the emperor and say, "Caesar is Lord" as a test of loyalty. This became a unifying principle in the Roman Empire.
Throne of Satan
But it was also an easy way to discover who were the Christians in the towns and villages for whom only Jesus was Lord. The Emperor's bust set up in the town square therefore became the place of condemnation for Christians, even "Satan's throne."
Pergamum
"Pergamum" was also the official centre of emperor worship in Asia, with temples to Augustus and Trajan. Rome was Satan's capital. Therefore, "Pergamum" was seen as Satan's throne.
Altar of Zeus
"Where Satan has his throne," may also refer to the temple dedicated to Zeus on the top of Pergamum's eight hundred foot conical hill. It was forty feet high on a projecting ledge of rock, looking like a great seat on the hillside. Smoking constantly with the sacrifice of animals, it would have been both hated and feared by Christians.
Pergamum Throne of Satan
"Satan's throne" may alternatively be a reference to the white marble altar in "Pergamum" dedicated to Zeus by Eumenes II. 1 See also the very impressive Altar of Zeus (pictured above right) from Pergamum now in the Pergamum Museum in Berlin. 2
Prayer
"Yesterday, Today, Forever, Jesus is the same. All may change but Jesus never. Glory to his name"
Notes
1197-160 BC 2http://www.everythingimportant.org/altarOfZeus/
Throne of Satan in Pergamum
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