Satan’s Throne

The Pergamon Altar, a place for the worship of Zeus, is regarded by some as a wonder of the ancient world. The intricately carved stone colossus, with a width and length of nearly 115 feet, is more than two thousand years old. It was excavated in 1878 and is now on display in Berlin.

The letter to the church of Pergamos refers to believers who lived “where Satan’s throne is.” There are several reasons to believe that “Satan’s throne” was a reference to the Pergamon Altar. Pergamos was the religious capital of Asia Minor and the center of Roman emperor worship. When John wrote Revelation, Christians were being persecuted for not worshiping Emperor Domitian. Moreover, Pergamos hosted many pagan temples rife with hedonistic practices.

However, the callout to this local altar speaks to a larger spiritual issue during the period of church history from ad 313 to 538, beginning with the so-called conversion of Emperor Constantine. Though John’s letter to the church speaks of Antipas as a faithful martyr in his day, the church era here represented a time when persecution against Christians had ceased.

The ironclad pagan spirit of the city of Pergamos influenced the introduction of false doctrines into the Christian church. Some even believe that the ancient priests of Babylon fled to Pergamos when their city fell to the Persian Cyrus. Eventually, these priest-kings gave their royal and priestly work over to the Romans, who bestowed these combined powers onto the Caesars. These political and spiritual powers were later transferred to all-powerful Roman popes.

Thus, Antipas—whose name means “against papa” or “against the fathers”—was not only a martyr in John’s day; he symbolized all who stood “against papa,” that is, who opposed the popes and other misleading church fathers during this period in church history.

Lord, I stand for the name of Jesus and against all who would destroy the true faith found in the Bible. May I never deny You by bowing to the ruler of this world.

For Further Study: 1 Kings 13:33, 34; 1 John 5:19; Revelation 13:2

Key Bible Texts

I know thy works, and where thou dwellest, even where Satan’s seat is: and thou holdest fast my name, and hast not denied my faith, even in those days wherein Antipas was my faithful martyr, who was slain among you, where Satan dwelleth. (Revelation 2:13 KJV)