Revelation: The Church in Pergamum, I Know This … | May 11, 2023

I know where you dwell, where Satan's throne is. Yet you hold fast my name, and you did not deny my faith even in the days of Antipas my faithful witness, who was killed among you, where Satan dwells. —Revelation 2:13 ESV

 Jesus knows three things about the church in Pergamum:

• The pagan world in which they lived. “Satan’s throne” may refer to the great temple of Asclepius, a pagan god of healing represented in the form of a serpent.^[1]
• Their faithful witness
• Their endurance under persecution. Antipas was the first martyr of Asia and according to tradition, he was slowly roasted to death in a bronze kettle during the reign of Domitian. 

While we may not be able to relate to being martyred for our faith, we, too, live in a pagan society where standing up for what and who we believe in could mean we are slandered, mistreated, alienated, lose our jobs, or be “canceled.” Do we hold fast to the name of Jesus and not deny our faith in situations where we see and hear His name dishonored? 

In your place of employment or where you go to school, how do the rules in those places or the culture there go against what you know to be true about Jesus? How do you choose to stand?

 Ephesians 6:10-18 ESV

¹⁰ Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. ¹¹ Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. ¹² For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. ¹³ Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. ¹⁴ Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, ¹⁵ and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. ¹⁶ In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; ¹⁷ and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, ¹⁸ praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end, keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints.

We are in a spiritual battle, and we are not each other’s enemy. We must stand together. Today as you enter into places of society that stand against God, pray for His wisdom to stand for Him.

^[1] Walvoord, J. F. (1985). Revelation. In J. F. Walvoord & R. B. Zuck (Eds.), The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures (Vol. 2, p. 936). Victor Books.