Revelation 2:13
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.
Glad I wasn’t there. That is a phrase we often use when we hear a terrible story and are grateful we did not experience it ourselves. The church in Pergamum could say no such thing because, as Jesus says here, they not only were there, they lived there, where Satan dwelled and where his throne was. This throne could possibly be Pergamum’s Altar of Zeus that was visible for miles but it more likely describes the pagan environment the Christians were subjected to in Pergamum, surrounded by Pagan temples. It was so bad that one of them, Antipas, paid the ultimate price for holding fast to the name of Jesus. The temptation would have been strong for him to loosen his grip on the name and compromise.
Come to Cape Community Church tomorrow and learn how to strengthen your grip on the gospel of grace like Antipas did. Just as physical therapy uses repetition and concentration to strengthen that part of our body that has become weak and frail, we can use repeated prayer and Bible reading to strengthen our feeble resolve and give it “muscle memory”. We live in a world that increasingly resembles the seat of Satan where he dwells. We see massive altars built to sports stars and celebrities but strong faith resides in the one who is unseen but will soon reveal himself.
O Heavenly Father, may we cling to your gospel when surrounded by the altars of sin. Thank you for the throne of Jesus that will emerge victorious. In Jesus’ name. Amen.