The seven churches of Revelation – The church of Pergamum

At the very time, John wrote his message to the church of Pergamos, the true believers were suffering harsh persecution for refusing to bow down to the emperor Domitian (a.d. 81–96), who wanted to be venerated as “lord and god.” Thus, its meaning as the place “where Satan’s seat is” (v.13) is true. Jesus told them that the persecution would get worse, so be prepared for what’s to come. This is a very similar message for today in the end times.

Jesus is our model example and we are to be like Him. Being like Christ is not accomplished by imitation but by reflection. Imitation is impersonal and occasional. But a mirror doesn’t have to work to reflect. Many times, you’ll not even be aware that you’re reflecting Him because it just becomes second nature. Being Christlike is possible by cultivating faith, virtue, knowledge, temperance, patience, brotherly kindness, godliness, charity, humility, and diligence.

Yet so many people think the standard of the kingdom can never be obtained?

To get there we need to have the helper the Holy Spirit to impart God’s nature and drive out human nature. Humans are not perfect but we can grow Christlike. First, Jesus affirms the church’s positive actions: “I know where you live—where Satan has his throne. Yet you remain true to my name.”

At that time Jesus knows Gods Word as He is God’s Word delivers the message “You need to change.”

He wanted them to use the Word of God which is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword. If disciples were all Jesus’s today we would never lose an argument. The church in Pergamos refused to renounce their faith, even after one of their members was martyred. These believers experienced great pressure to compromise and leave their faith behind.

It is never easy to stand against the strong pressures of society and government. The temptation is to give up when facing cruel punishment, but the church understood renouncing their faith would be far worse. So Jesus cut to the very heart of the matter in the heart and soul. Attacking the heart and soul should then bring about a change from that person’s conscience what they are doing is in fact wrong:

Revelation 2:13
“I know your works, and where you dwell, where (Satan’s throne) is. And you hold fast to My name, and did not deny My faith even in the days in which (Antipas) was My faithful martyr, who was killed among you, where Satan dwells.”

Pergamum had a great cultural influence like many places do today. It was a thriving hub of material pleasures. There was a large temple that was a place of healing. The site in Pergamon was founded in the 4th Century BC around a sacred spring that still flows today. Over the next centuries, it became one of the best-known healing centres of the ancient world, second in importance only to Epidaurus in Greece and was also the world’s first psychiatric hospital.

There was a cave system where people walked through to an area to lay down and snakes were let in. Their belief was the snakes would take the illness into themselves thus healing the afflicted. The symbol of the snake and the pole is still used today in medicine and adorns ambulances. This cult practice was satanic worship, dwelling where Satan’s throne was. The teachings of Satan was spread and adopted by many, and idol worship reflected this fact.

Satan is called the “Prince of the power of the air.” This means the (air of influence) he can spread. If we look at the modern world, social media influences the world. Hollywood has had a big effect on doing what you want. Doing what you want might not be the right thing to do, or up to the required standard set by God.

Satan is always trying to make things that seem innocent right in the human mind. Look at cremation being pushed in the pandemic, burial is the right thing to do and the biblical standard not a pagan tradition. This was a satanic temple which the movement still exists today and has the satanic Bible.

Abortion and the freedom of the human body are all pushed as being normal, free from any moral standard. The sacrifice of babies has always been a grave sin and goes back to the time of Christ. Antipas died faithfully for the Lord during the reign of Nero (54-68), by burning in a brazen bull-shaped altar at the Apollyon temple, because he wouldn’t deny Jesus or worship Caesar. This burning altar was used to burn children also for fertility rights.

Antipas was a shock to the faithful church, yet they stood fast under persecution. Some in the church were teaching about Balaam and the teachings of the Nicolaitans. Balaam was a prophet of God but decided to speak the words God did not want him to say, so as the account says in the Bible, a donkey spoke to him to change his ways and actions. Balaam couldn’t curse the people himself, so he decided they could be a curse unto themselves through idolatry snd sexual immorality. In the church of Pergamum, there were people doing the same thing. Greed was a big problem and the same can be said today with so-called believers and in the church.

How many people confess with their mouths that they are Christian yet work on a church day?

If this is you greed is idolatry. Not giving to the church is idolatry. Putting your wife, children, family, holidays ahead of God is idolatry. We will all die, return to dust and stop eating food. Feeding our stomachs is not the ultimate purpose of who we are. We do not (live to eat) as we are made in the image of God.

The body is much more than just the stomach, and it is much more than just our sexual organs. The bodies of those who are believers serve a larger purpose, which is why they are not meant for sexual immorality or idolatry. The unrighteous will (not) inherit the kingdom of God so we should not be deceived, change requires repentance:

Revelation 2:17
“He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes I will give some of the hidden manna to eat. And I will give him a (white stone), and on the stone, a (new name) written which no one knows except him who receives it.”

Be fed with the bread of heaven. When we get to heaven we receive a new personal name. A white stone was comparable with innocence.