PERGAMOS - THE PERIOD OF UNION OF CHURCH AND STATE

The Pergamos Church: The Period of Union of Church and State

2:12-17                  300 A.D. to 500 A.D.

The Destination of This Letter
 "Unto the angel of the church in Pergamos."

The Immediate Destination
"To the angel."

A supernatural spirit being whom God has appointed as the custodian of the church (Heb. 1:7, 14). This one can be trusted to convey the message to its intended destination. And he is able to accomplish the task (Ps. 103:20).
"And of the angels he saith, Who maketh his angels spirits, and his ministers a flame of fire." "Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation?"
"Bless the LORD, ye his angels, that excel in strength, that do his commandments, hearkening unto the voice of his word."

The Intermediate Destination "of the church."

Pastor taking oversight of the congregation. Officers who join him: teachers, deacons, helpers. People who belong to the congregation. These are to bear the message to the city.

The Ultimate Destination
"In Pergamos"

Located about 55 miles north and slightly east of Smyrna. While Smyrna is along the coast, Pergamos is in from the the coast.

Pergamum was the ancient capitol of Asia before Ephesus. The city had little or no commerce. It was a combination of pagan cathedrals, a university town, and a royal residence. It was renowned for its learning, refinements, and science.

Its library was second only to that of Alexandria, con­taining 200,000 volumes. It was here that the art of preparing skins of animals for writing was perfected and from which our word parchment is derived.

It was famed for medical science. Also pagan deities such as Zeus, Athena, Apollo, and Aesculapius, the god of medicine. This deity was termed the "Savior" and "Pre­server," frequently depicted as a serpent. No wonder this letter speaks of "Satan's throne" and "where Satan dwelleth."

Upon the very summit of the acropolis of the city stood the temple of Athena, just as in the city of Athens. Below or beneath it was a great altar to Zeus, one hundred feet square and elevated to a height above the plain of 800 feet. Deissman believes that this must have been what John had in mind when he referred to Satan's Throne. No other shrine was visible at so great a distance and could represent Satanic heathendom.