Satan’s Seat, The Letter to Pergamos

This is a continuation of our series on the Seven Letters to the Seven Churches. We have covered so far the letters to the Jewish churches in Ephesus and Smyrna. Today, we’re going to look at Pergamos, which is an amazing place.

Rev 2:12 And to the angel of the church in Pergamos write; These things saith he which hath the sharp sword with two edges; Rev 2:13 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. Rev 2:14 But I have a few things against thee, because thou hast there them that hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balac to cast a stumblingblock before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed unto idols, and to commit fornication. Rev 2:15 So hast thou also them that hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitans, which thing I hate. Rev 2:16 Repent; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth. Rev 2:17 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth it.

Background

You have to see Pergamos to believe it. This place is amazing. The name Pergamos means, roughly, a fortified tower. This city sat atop this giant mountain of volcanic rock 1,000 feet above sea level with this panoramic view of the Aegean Sea and Asia Minor at the time. It still has some of the most superbly intact ancient monuments in the world. Filled with temples to Greek gods like Zeus, Athena, Trajan, etc.

Berlin has a Pergamon Museum. They actually convinced the leaders of the Ottoman Empire to give up some of its relics to put in a museum in Germany. In the 1800’s, they brought back the entrance to this massive structure known today as the Great Altar of Pergamon, which they think was the temple of Zeus.

One of the most spectacular—and dizzying—sites of the ancient world is a theater on the side of the mountain facing the Aegean Sea. The steepest seating ever created. 80 rows of horizontal seating, and if you’re not careful, you could tumble all the way to 120 feet to the stage. They say that theater in its prime could hold 10,000 people. Plus, they say the theater is an acoustic marvel: An actor (or tourist) speaking normally on the stage can be heard all the way in the nosebleed sections.

Biblical Archeology had some interesting articles about Pergamos. Wiki also has a lot of great information about the city. Here are a few interesting highlights. Pergamos rose to prominence following the death of Alexander the Great in 323 B.C. The city enjoyed centuries of prosperity that continued when it passed peacefully into Rome’s control in 133 B.C. From that point on, Pergamon’s fate was inextricably linked to that of Rome, and it rose and fell in tandem with the great Roman Empire. In its prime, Pergamos rivaled Alexandria, Ephesus and Antioch in terms of culture and commerce. Pergamos had a library that rivaled the one in Alexandria. They had an estimated 200,000 documents of papyrus and parchment, and it was one of the largest collections of written material in the ancient world. It was also used as one of the most extravagant wedding gifts of all time: Mark Antony is said to have presented Cleopatra with a sizable portion of the Pergamon library’s collection, in part to restore Alexandria’s own collection that went up in flames when Julius Caesar occupied the city.

Pergamos also achieved great scientific advancements in the field of medicine. Its most celebrated citizen during this period was the physician Galen, whose work and research largely laid the foundation for much of modern medicine today. There was also a place called the asclepion, one of the most famous medical spas in the world that attracted pilgrims from all over the Mediterranean region who came seeking the restorative powers of its thermal waters and medical treatments for various ailments and injuries.

Let the Exegesis Begin

In Rev 2:12 we read, “And to the angel of the church in Pergamos write; These things saith he which hath the sharp sword with two edges…”

We have here as we have in all the letters to the seven churches, a callback to an aspect of the vision of Christ in the first chapter. My question was, “Why did the Lord choose to highlight the two-edged sword that was coming out of His mouth in the first chapter?” I suspect it’s for multiple reasons. The sword of the Lord, His Word, wasn’t just the means by which they would defeat Satan while literally living in the place where “Satan dwelleth,” but the Word of the Lord was being used to convict them in this letter for having members in its assembly committing the error of Baalam, which we’ll cover.

However, primarily, the Sword was used to visualize impending judgment upon them if their members did not repent of this sin of committing the error of Balaam. Bullinger made the point that in Num. 31:8, “the judgment upon ‘the error of Balaam’ was executed with the sword. ‘Balaam also, the son of Beor, they slew with the sword’. Hence all the significant references to the ‘sword’ in Revelation. In 1:16, the sword proceeds out of Christ’s mouth, teaching them how, by the word which cometh out of His mouth, He can chastise and destroy. Hearken therefore to Him.”

The sword was a callback to the OT story of Balaam and the judgment that befell him for trying to make money by corrupting Israel. The same fate would befall these Jews in Pergamos if they did not repent of this sin.

Satan’s Seat

Rev 2:13 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.

He first says, as He does in all the letters to the seven churches, I know thy works… I know you. I know where you are, and I know this is where Satan’s seat is located. I know all the good that you’ve done. I know what you’re going through. I know the persecution you’re enduring. I know that you’ve held fast to my name. I know that you’ve not denied the faith even when one of your own beloved kinsmen was martyred. That is high praise, indeed, and in all those respects, they are a model to all of the Tribulation saints.

With respect to Antipas, we do not know who he was nor the details of his death. But that’s not the point. The point is that Antipas was used to highlight their faithfulness in the face of real sacrifice, in the face of real death of one of their own beloved saints. The Lord isn’t talking generalities. He’s showing them how He knows personally how real the pain is for them in the sacrifices they’re all making by taking a firm stand for Christ.

I love the fact that the Lord said, Antipas was my faithful martyr. Antipas wasn’t only dear to the saints at Pergamos but he’s also and even more dear to the Lord.

For all of the Tribulation saints, reading this letter will be a reality check for them about what is to come. Facing death of loved ones will be a reality. BUT, throughout those seven years, the Lord will always know them intimately. He will know all the good their doing. He will know their faithfulness, their depths of suffering, and the sacrifices they’re making if a loved one is killed. That’s encouraging.

Satan’s Seat or Throne

Is the Lord saying that in the spiritual realm, Satan’s throne is literally located atop that mountain of volcanic rock where Pergamos resides? There are two primary theories.

One is that Pergamos was a special place of wickedness as if Satan was there.

The other theory is to take these verses literally, which is the only position that makes any sense to me. The Lord said at the end of that verse, “where Satan dwelleth”. He doesn’t talk about the influence of Satan. He doesn’t say that this is a hotbed of Satanic activity. He says, “where Satan dwelleth”. There’s no reason to not take what the Lord said literally.

In the spiritual realm, Satan’s throne was/is atop that volcanic mountain of rock called Pergamos. I suspect many of us, myself included, always pictured Satan up there somewhere in the second heaven, because he is the prince of the power of the air, the one who is over all the spiritual wickedness in high places, but that is positional, which doesn’t mean he is always located above everyone in the second heaven.

In fact, Scripture indicates that Satan prefers to be down here on the earth amongst the sinners. You recall in Job 1:7, the LORD said unto Satan, Whence comest thou? Then Satan answered the LORD, and said, From going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in it. In 1 Pet. 5:8, Peter described the devil, as a roaring lion, who walketh about, seeking whom he may devour. He won’t be doing a lot of walking in the second heaven. He’ll be walking down here on the Earth. Thus, it would be consistent Scripturally to learn that Satan’s throne is not up there but down here amongst the sinners.

It can be a bit unnerving to imagine what may be going on around you in the spiritual realm. In the spiritual realm, we know angels watch us. The demonic realm is active all around us. Satan himself oftentimes walks the earth. In the spiritual realm, Satan may have even brushed right past you, and you never knew it. He may have even walked into your church and ranted and raved in the spiritual realm about all the grace truth being proclaimed and stormed out.

You might also recall how Paul wrote in 2 Tim. 1:15 that all they which are in Asia be turned away from me. Is it any wonder? Satan’s throne is in Asia. He may well have been personally involved in making sure Asia turned their backs from the truth to embrace legalism to obfuscate the gospel and keep believers in the dark about everything they are in Christ.

Plus, we will learn that Satan’s seat will still exist during the Tribulation. Rev. 13:2 tells us that the Dragon gave the Beast “his power, and his throne, and great authority.” In Rev. 16:10, we learn that “the fifth angel poured out his vial upon the throne of the Beast,” and Bullinger would make the case that during the Tribulation, “there will be a special place where Satan’s throne will be set up in this world; and when he and the Beast will receive that worship which it is and has ever been his aim, all through, to obtain from mankind. This throne is evidently to be in Pergamos.” I’m not convinced that the references to Satan’s throne given to the antichrist upon which the fifth vial will be poured out is the same seat mentioned in the letter to Pergamos. In the letter to Pergamos, Satan’s seat is in the spiritual realm. The throne of the antichrist will be physical. I suspect that the throne Satan had in the spiritual realm will be done away with in order to give a new throne to the antichrist in the physical realm.

The point is that the antichrist, who will be possessed by Satan, will have Satan’s seat of power.

But Satan’s seat is still on this Earth, perhaps atop Pergamos or somewhere else like Hollywood.

Balaam’s Ass

This brings us to the Lord’s spiritual concerns about the church in Pergamos. He says in Rev 2:14 But I have a few things against thee, because thou hast there them that hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balac to cast a stumblingblock before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed unto idols, and to commit fornication. Rev 2:15 So hast thou also them that hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitans, which thing I hate. Rev 2:16 Repent; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth.

I’ve noticed over the years that some in Christendom confuse these verses to mean that during the Tribulation, many will return to Baal worship. And there’s all this weird stuff happening in the world. There was for a couple of years this reconstruction of the ancient Arch of Palmyra, that was on tour and setup in D.C., New York, London, Dubai, etc. This arch was related to Baal worship. You had to walk through that arch to enter the temple of Baal.

There was also not long ago, articles about how Prince (King) Charles had opened the 2022 Birmingham Commonwealth Games and in their opening ceremony there was a giant, 10-meter tall, demonic-looking, mechanical bull. You can watch videos of it. All this weird stuff happened, and at the end, everyone worshipped the bull. Some Christians were getting all hysterical and saying that we’re in the end times now and that this isa fulfillment of the prophecy of Rev. 2:14 because people are returning to Baal worship. Oh no! Can it be?

The problem is,these passages aren’t about Baal worship. These passages are about Balaam, the man who had the donkey talk to him in Num. 22. This is the error of Balaam that Jude wrote about. Idolatry was part of the story but the sin was Israel eating meats offered to idols, which is a no-no, and even that is not what the story is really about. This was about Balaam making tons of money from the Moabites by corrupting Israel and bringing them under a curse so they’d be driven from their land in judgment from God. Sexual sins was the big means by which he would try to bring Israel under the curse so he could make money.

Here’s how Paul Sadler summed up this story in his first volume on Revelation. He wrote, “What exactly is Balaamism? Balaam was a hireling prophet who sought to market his gift. This is the way of Balaam. When Balak, the king of the Moabites, saw how the Amorites were utterly destroyed by the children of Israel, he feared that he was going to suffer the same fate. So he sent the elders of Moab with gifts to Balaam, hoping he would be persuaded to curse Israel. Balak reasoned that if the prophet cursed the chosen nation, he would prevail and drive her out of the land. The very fact that these bearers of silver and gold were sent to Balaam strongly suggests that the reputation of the prophet preceded him. As they say, money talks, and Balaam was listening. But God would not allow the prophet to return with the elders of Moab, nor did He permit him to curse Israel. However, temptation always knocks at the door of opportunity more than once, so it should not surprise us when the princes of Moab returned to offer Balaam riches untold and even greater honor throughout the realm. Rather than accept the will of God regarding the matter, he approached the face of the Lord again. Balaam reasoned that, since Israel had sinned against God, she deserved to be cursed, which, of course, meant he would reap a handsome sum for his effort. He had no concern whatsoever for others, that many of them would perish, as long as it profited him.”

Balaam talked to the Lord. The Lord said NO. Balak and his princes repeatedly pressured Balaam to go curse the Israelites. Balaam finally said, If Balak would give me his house full of silver and gold, I cannot go beyond the word of the LORD my God, to do less or more. He desperately wanted that filthy lucre, but he also knows God won’t allow him to curse His own people if He doesn’t want them cursed. Yet, the Lord allows him to try, just as He allowed Jonah to flee and would deal with Balaam just as miraculously as He did Jonah.

Then we get the story of Balaam and his talking donkey, arguably one of the funniest stories in the Bible and proof God has a wonderful sense of humor.

Num 22:22 And God’s anger was kindled because he went: and the angel of the LORD stood in the way for an adversary against him. Now he was riding upon his ass, and his two servants were with him. Num 22:23 And the ass saw the angel of the LORD standing in the way, and his sword drawn in his hand: and the ass turned aside out of the way, and went into the field: and Balaam smote the ass, to turn her into the way. Num 22:24 But the angel of the LORD stood in a path of the vineyards, a wall being on this side, and a wall on that side. Num 22:25 And when the ass saw the angel of the LORD, she thrust herself unto the wall, and crushed Balaam’s foot against the wall: and he smote her again. Num 22:26 And the angel of the LORD went further, and stood in a narrow place, where was no way to turn either to the right hand or to the left. Num 22:27 And when the ass saw the angel of the LORD, she fell down under Balaam: and Balaam’s anger was kindled, and he smote the ass with a staff. Num 22:28 And the LORD opened the mouth of the ass, and she said unto Balaam, What have I done unto thee, that thou hast smitten me these three times? Num 22:29 And Balaam said unto the ass, Because thou hast mocked me: I would there were a sword in mine hand, for now would I kill thee. Num 22:30 And the ass said unto Balaam, Am not I thine ass, upon which thou hast ridden ever since I was thine unto this day? was I ever wont to do so unto thee? And he said, Nay. Num 22:31 Then the LORD opened the eyes of Balaam, and he saw the angel of the LORD standing in the way, and his sword drawn in his hand: and he bowed down his head, and fell flat on his face. Num 22:32 And the angel of the LORD said unto him, Wherefore hast thou smitten thine ass these three times? behold, I went out to withstand thee, because thy way is perverse before me: Num 22:33 And the ass saw me, and turned from me these three times: unless she had turned from me, surely now also I had slain thee, and saved her alive. Num 22:34 And Balaam said unto the angel of the LORD, I have sinned; for I knew not that thou stoodest in the way against me: now therefore, if it displease thee, I will get me back again.

You might remember we looked at this story in our study of the Angel of the Lord. This was a pre-incarnate appearance of Christ. He could appear and disappear at will, but here, we find something different. The Lord totally changes things up. He’s there in person in this physical realm but He blinded the eyes of everyone from seeing him except the donkey, because we read in Num 22:31 Then the LORD opened the eyes of Balaam… And what did he see? Num 22:31 Then the LORD opened the eyes of Balaam, and he saw the angel of the LORD standing in the way, and his sword drawn in his hand: and he bowed down his head, and fell flat on his face.

Balaam’s reaction was the same as the donkey’s. He immediately prostrated himself with his face flat on the ground.

Notice, the Lord was holding a sword.

As we mentioned earlier, Balaam would be killed by the sword, and in the letter to the saints in Pergamos, the Lord reminds them of the vision of the Lord in chapter one with the two-edged sword protruding from His mouth. That reminder of the sword is a callback to Balaam and how he died. If they didn’t repent of committing this same error as Balaam, they will fall under the same judgment.

Sadler would write, “After Balaam realized God would not allow him to curse Israel, he deceitfully devised a plan to corrupt Israel. He taught Balak to entice the chosen nation into eating things that had been offered to idols and to commit fornication, both of which were strictly forbidden by God. This is the doctrine of Balaam made reference to here in Revelation 2:14. Israel was only to worship the true and living God. She was to be a separate nation unto God; therefore, she was not to marry those of other nations. So when the Israelites committed fornication with the pagan daughters of Moab, God sent a plague among His people wherein 24,000 perished (Num. 25:1-9). The false teachers at Pergamos were promoting the doctrine of Balaam, which is to say that they were imitating the prophet. Balaamism is a system of teaching that’s based purely upon human reasoning. It is worldliness in its worst forms: lust, immorality, greed, and personal advancement at the expense of others. The face of evil may change, but its devastating effects are always the same.”

The Lord says in Rev 2:15, “So hast thou also them that hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitans, which thing I hate.” The only other point that could be made about the doctrine of the Nicolaitans is that there is some kind of common thread to the error of Balaam. It is merely a doctrine that brings about corruption in Israel just like Balaamism.

Then we find in Rev 2:16 Repent; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth. How did that work exactly? How is it that the Lord would come unto thee quickly? It’s not that the Lord would literally come to them, because He will not be returning until His Second Coming. I think it means He will come against them in judgment. They will fall under His judgment in quick order.

So when Tribulation saints read this letter to Pergamos, what are they to take away from all of this? I don’t think it’s a necessity to know exactly what the Nicolaitans were doing, but that they learned the general principle that they were to not put a stumblingblock before a brother in order to benefit themselves. The threat of judgment to those at Pergamos was just as relevant to the Tribulation saints, because if, say, believers hiding in the mountains outside of Judea and in God’s protection, put stumblingblocks before their brethren in order to benefit themselves, then they will fall out of God’s protection and under His judgment and probably die. They won’t lose their salvation, but they’ll lose eternal rewards, and for at least 1,000 years, they’ll really regret that decision.

Rewards in the Kingdom

Rev 2:17 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth it.

First, we have the admonition to listen to the Holy Spirit, as He says in all His letters to the seven churches. He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches… We’ve covered this before, but I’ll just reiterate that certainly, the saints in Pergamos were to yield to the guiding of the Spirit when they read this letter, but there’s more going on here than just that. The Lord is quoting the Holy Spirit. It is the Holy Spirit who’s offering these rewards. The Lord said in this verse, He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; (and then He quotes the Holy Spirit. These are the words of the Spirit, and He says) To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth it.

Even though the Lord is quoting the Spirit, it is still the entire triune Godhead operating as one. This is the will of the Father, the words of Christ, who is quoting the Holy Spirit. And of course, the Tribulation saints who will be reading this letter know that the rewards being offered to the saints at Pergamos is also by extension being offered to all of them.

The first reward is hidden manna. What does the Lord mean by that?

I came across some commentators, like Albert Barnes, who tried to make the case that hidden manna was somehow spiritual food, true spiritual food that nourishes the soul, which makes no sense whatsoever. How is it that these saints would consume true spiritual food outside of His Word and His completed revelation, which they’ll have? Were they not already consuming true spiritual food by reading God’s letter to Pergamos? Isn’t God’s Word already true spiritual food? What could we possibly lack spiritually from studying His Word that would make us want to consume something else like this hidden manna?

In John 6, the Lord made a contrast between manna and His Word, and His Word was true spiritual food. The Lord said in Joh 6:48 I am that bread of life. Joh 6:49 Your fathers did eat manna in the wilderness and are dead. Joh 6:50 This is the bread which cometh down from heaven, that a man may eat thereof, and not die. Joh 6:51 I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever: and the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world. The point the Lord makes here is that there is nothing more spiritually nourishing to the soul than the Word of God itself. The words of the Lord expressing the will of His Father that gives life to believers through the Holy Spirit. There is nothing more spiritually nourishing than that.

So there’s no question, for me, that the hidden manna the Spirit offered is literal manna from Heaven to those who are in the process of overcoming by faith and obeying the Words of the Lord Jesus Christ. God will divinely protect them, especially during the Great Tribulation while they’re hiding in the wilderness, like Israel from time past, and God will give these saints manna from Heaven to survive.

The Spirit first says, To him that overcometh. How do these saints overcome?

First, salvation by faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.

Remember how we quoted 1 Jn 5:4 …this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith. 1Jn 5:5 Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God? Once they’re saved by faith in Christ, they enter that eternal state of having overcome everything by faith.

Second, there is also overcoming all the shenanigans of Satan during the Tribulation by faithfully obeying all the instructions of Christ.

How well they overcome Satan through obedience to Christ will determine their reward when the Tribulation is over. If they fail, they won’t lose their salvation. It is then a matter off loss of reward, just as it is for us.

So when the Spirit says To him that overcometh, I think He means that those who are saved and who are also in the process of defeating Satan because they’re faithfully obeying the words of Christ, those saints will get some divine help of Heavenly food to survive, especially during the Great Tribulation. Bullinger pointed out that Exod. 16:34-35 said that manna was given “until they came to a land inhabited.” So, too, the Tribulation saints can have an expectation of manna until they receive their promised land and kingdom at the Second Coming.

Plus, they will be rewarded in other ways if they remain faithful to the end, whether it’s the end of their lives or the end of the Tribulation.

The Lord says, To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth it. I liked what Sadler had to say: “The Lord occasionally assigned new names in time past. He changed Jacob’s name, which means ‘deceiver,’ to Israel, which means ‘a prince with God.’ The new name, Israel, more accurately described his calling and relationship with God. The same will be true when those who overcome the Antichrist are given new names, known only to them, that will be inscribed on white gemstones. It, too, will express some characteristic of their devotion to Christ. The Lord also says this about those who fear Him and give thought to His name: “And they shall be mine, saith the LORD of hosts, in that day when I make up my jewels; and I will spare them, as a man spareth his own son that serveth him” (Mal. 3:17).

Conclusion

So to sum up what we covered. I see no reason to think that the Lord wasn’t literal when He talked about Satan’s seat being atop Pergamos in the spiritual realm. We have no reason to think that Satan’s throne isn’t there still or perhaps relocated somewhere else on this Earth. Satan loves to walk this Earth.

But the big picture point for the saints at Pergamos, for the Tribulation saints, and even for us, is the lesson from the error of Balaam, and what an egregious sin it is to cause another brother to stumble in order to benefit yourself. What would be an example of that today? How about false teachers who tell people nonsense they want to hear in order to make money? The church today is filled with people like that. In fact, the church today is as bad if not worse than the nation of Israel. How about tearing others down to make yourself look good? How about not giving the gospel to an unbeliever that you’re mad at?