Revelation Now :
Daily Devotional Bible studies in Revelation
Next | Previous | Contact Ron | Introduction | Foreword | Index | Tellout Home
The Throne of Satan in Pergamum : Day 10 
"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 was a unifying principle that held the empire together. But it was also an easy way to discover 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 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. 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 from Pergamum now in the Pergamum Museum in Berlin (2 )
Worship of Asclepion
Pergamum was also connected to the worship of Asclepion, who became the Pergamene god. Asclepion was the god of healing and its symbol, the serpent, still appears as an insignia of the medical profession. The serpent god was called Asclepion the Savior. Pergamum was built on a hill 1,000 feet above the surrounding countryside, creating a natural fortress. It was a sophisticated city, a centre of Greek culture and education, with a 200,000 volume library. The word "parchment" made from the skins of animals, smoothed and polished, is derived from its name and was invented here. It was also the centre of four cults, and it rivaled Ephesus in its worship of idols. People came to Pergamum from all over the world to seek healing from this god.
Persevering in The Faith
The letter to Pergamum praises the members of the church for persevering in their faith in Christ even in the midst of this pagan setting and in face of persecution and martyrdom. But it admonishes them about members who advocate an unprincipled morality and others who follow the teaching of the Nicolaitans. Only when they repent will they receive the hidden manna and Christ's amulet. The sharp double edged sword was the symbol of the Roman proconsul's power. He controlled the justice system and literally had 'the accused' life and death in his hands.
Meditation
Jesus is the past, present and future.
Prayer
"Yesterday, Today, Forever, Jesus is the same"
Notes
(1) 197-160 BC (2) http://www.everythingimportant.org/altarOfZeus/
"The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show his servants what must soon take place."
