The Letter to Pergamum (Revelation 2:12-17)
Pergamum is described as the “Throne of Satan.” The speculations as to what this means are several. It is a fascinating city. It was the Washington D.C. to Ephesus’ New York, a powerful and influential seat of local government. It had several temples and places of worship.
An Altar to Zeus had a prominent place at the top of the hill on which the city was built. If you travel there today this altar is no longer among the ruins. It has another prominent place as the highlight of the Pegamum Museum in Berlin.
Another candidate for Satan’s Throne was the Temple of Asclepius, a sort of spa and hospital dedicated to the God of Medicine, also designated as “savior.” This was a destination for sick (but not deathly ill) patients from all over the region. They were treated with hallucinogenic drugs and slept among snakes hoping to receive visions.
But the most likely seat of Satan was the new Temple to Augustus and the center of Imperial worship. While Smyrna had built the first Temple to Rome, Pergamum was allowed to build the first temple to a living emperor. Christians here were the most likely to conflict with, and face persecution from, the imperial cult.
Jesus commends them for not denying their faith, even in the face of persecution. One of their own has even faced martyrdom!
However, just as with the Ephesian church, He has a complaint. Unlike the Ephesian church, there are those among the church who follow the Nicolatians. It seems that they are teachers who were leading believers into idolatry. Jesus refers to the prototypical characters of Balaam and Balak who led the children of Israel to do the same.
In some ways, this is the conflict of the entire Biblical story. From the moment of the temptation and fall in Genesis, right up to this last book of scripture, the story is all about people being led away from the Creator into any of the various forms of idolatry. Even after people have decided to trust and follow Christ, the allure of idolatry calls.
The danger is when we create arguments that justify our idolatry. When we tell ourselves it is alright to live like the world to avoid standing out, avoid persecution or even just ridicule. Truth be told, however, we too often hold tightly to our gods without even bothering to justify ourselves. We don’t even see them as gods. Money, entertainment, our kids, our comfort, or sport.
As always, Christ ends this message with the promise of eternal life to those who “conquer.” This is not just a case of enduring persecution, but of overcoming our tendency to rebel.
An Altar to Zeus had a prominent place at the top of the hill on which the city was built. If you travel there today this altar is no longer among the ruins. It has another prominent place as the highlight of the Pegamum Museum in Berlin.
Another candidate for Satan’s Throne was the Temple of Asclepius, a sort of spa and hospital dedicated to the God of Medicine, also designated as “savior.” This was a destination for sick (but not deathly ill) patients from all over the region. They were treated with hallucinogenic drugs and slept among snakes hoping to receive visions.
But the most likely seat of Satan was the new Temple to Augustus and the center of Imperial worship. While Smyrna had built the first Temple to Rome, Pergamum was allowed to build the first temple to a living emperor. Christians here were the most likely to conflict with, and face persecution from, the imperial cult.
Jesus commends them for not denying their faith, even in the face of persecution. One of their own has even faced martyrdom!
However, just as with the Ephesian church, He has a complaint. Unlike the Ephesian church, there are those among the church who follow the Nicolatians. It seems that they are teachers who were leading believers into idolatry. Jesus refers to the prototypical characters of Balaam and Balak who led the children of Israel to do the same.
In some ways, this is the conflict of the entire Biblical story. From the moment of the temptation and fall in Genesis, right up to this last book of scripture, the story is all about people being led away from the Creator into any of the various forms of idolatry. Even after people have decided to trust and follow Christ, the allure of idolatry calls.
The danger is when we create arguments that justify our idolatry. When we tell ourselves it is alright to live like the world to avoid standing out, avoid persecution or even just ridicule. Truth be told, however, we too often hold tightly to our gods without even bothering to justify ourselves. We don’t even see them as gods. Money, entertainment, our kids, our comfort, or sport.
As always, Christ ends this message with the promise of eternal life to those who “conquer.” This is not just a case of enduring persecution, but of overcoming our tendency to rebel.
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