Christ’s Knowledge and Preparation for Pergamos
When Christ sent the letter to Pergamos, He was adequately prepared to deliver them from whatever bondage they entered. He knows the city very well and was well equipped with two edged sword to fight every power behind their problem. No matter where you find yourself or the problem you are going through, Christ knows them better than you,
‘And to the angel of the church in Pergamos write; These things saith he which hath the sharp sword with two edges; 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 2:12-13).
The Serpent’s Influence and Deception in the Church
Pergamos was the official capital of the province of Asia and the seat of imperial authority. One of the prominent symbols on the coinage of Pergamos was serpent.
‘Now the serpent was more subtil than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden? And the woman said unto the serpent, We may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden’ (Genesis 3:1-2).
‘Notwithstanding I have a few things against thee, because thou sufferest that woman Jezebel, which calleth herself a prophetess, to teach and to seduce my servants to commit fornication, and to eat things sacrificed unto idols’ (Revelation 2:20).
The spirit of serpent has entered into the lives of many in the church and deceived them. In the church at Pergamos, deceit and subtlety was the order of the day. All manner of insincerity was being displayed by many members of the church, like anger, fierceness, violence, rape, and all manner of aggression were displayed. Their emblem for Asklepios, the god of medicine, whom they worshipped there was serpent. Pergamos was fortunate to receive one of the letters of the seven churches.
The Influence of Pagan Cults on the Church
Pergamos was the center of four Pagan cults (Zeus, Athena, Dionyus, and Ecclepius) and the seat of the blasphemous Emperor worship. Zeus cult is a powerful god, the king of gods and husband of Herain, Greek, and Mythology compared to Jupiter. Members of this cult are very destructive and some of them came into the church and penetrated into some leaders. Athena is a Greek goddess of wisdom compared to Minerva, while Dionyus is in charge of the ancient Greek festival observances, held in seasonal cycles, in honor of Dionyus, and with dramatic performances. It is also a powerful cult of worship of Dionyus. The other cult is Ecclepius, which bothers on the doctrine relating to the church, or the study of church architecture and adornment. It is the teaching of excessive attachment to ecclesiastical forms and practices. The teachings and lifestyles of these four cult members affected the church in Pergamos. Many of them compromised, that was why Christ spoke of Pergamos as the place where Satan’s seat is, and were Satan dwells.