PERGAMOS: SATAN’S HEADQUARTERS

Sir,

When we read the letter to the church in Pergamos (Rev. 2:12-17) one feature stands out: The church dwelt in a city where satan had his throne. This is mentioned twice, in the beginning and at the end of verse 13.  
Of all the cities in Asia Minor, the devil exercised greater influence and power in Pergamos than in any other place. Evil was present in Pergamos in an intense way; the church was located in a nest of satanic activity, thus it is referred to as the place ‘where satan’s throne is’.

It was the prominence of its worship of Asclepius as saviour, healer and preserver that made Pergamos distinctive in this regard.
Asclepius was a god of healing and health; he had an impressive temple, the ruins of which can be visited in Pergamos today.
One animal was associated with Asclepius: the snake.

This was devil worship through a false god, Asclepius, symbolised by a snake.
In Revelation 12:9, ‘the great dragon’ or ‘the devil’ or satan, which deceives the whole world’ is also called ‘that old serpent’. This is a reference to the devil’s use of a snake in Genesis 3 to tempt Eve to eat the forbidden fruit.
Whereas death and disease came through the devil using a snake, the worshippers of Asclepius ascribed healing and preservation to the serpent. How perverse!

Prophetically, the period of Christian history represented by Pergamos extended from around AD 313 to 538. Satan changed his form of attack upon the church during the Pergamos era. Previously, during the Ephesus period, he used persecution to defeat God’s purpose but now he infiltrated the church.

It was during this period when the Roman emperor Constantine professed to be a Christian. It was also during this time that a mixture of paganism and pure worship was witnessed.
Satan’s masterpiece of deception took place during this era. A counterfeit religious system that claimed to be the true church of God came into existence.

This period began with the accession of Constantine the great; the first so called Christian emperor and concluded with Justinian in 538AD. This was the period of amalgamation of the church and state.
God’s unequivocal counsel to his church is very clear. “Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship has righteousness with unrighteousness? And what communion has light with darkness? And what concord hath Christ with Belial?

Or what part hath he that believes with an infidel? And what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For you are the temple of the living God; as God has said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. Therefore come out from among them, and be separate, said the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you.
And will be a Father unto you, and you shall be my sons and daughters, said the Lord Almighty (2 Corinthians 6:14-18).

Bopoto Gwinyai (7663 8191)

Post your comment

Your name:

Your e-mail address:

Add your comments:

Please enter the code you see in the image:

Image:

Code: