Revelation 2:12-13; Pergamos

Revelation 2:12-13 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.

Pergamos was a most unlikely church to survive because it is located at the place where Satan sets up his headquarters. It did survive the ravages of the evil one. When Satan could not succeed by overt methods, he did so by covert methods, this church capitulated to some degree to the subtle in-route of falsehoods – codenamed “Balaam’s doctrine” and “the doctrine of the Nicolaitans”! The world and its philosophies crept into the church threatening its very existence.

The distance of the Cites of Symrna and Pergamos from Ephesus was like the distance from Singapore to Kulai and Muar, in Johore between 70 and 160 km.

On the Holy Land tour in 1998 going to the 7 churches of Revelation in modern-day Turkey, recall traveling on a coach. The places were within driving distance from each other. Little is known concerning the beginning of these churches, we can surmise that they came as a result of the spread of God’s Word from the church in Ephesus where Paul nurtured for two whole years Acts 19:9-10 tells us:

Acts 19:9-10 …disputing daily in the school of one Tyrannus. 10 And this continued by the space of two years; so that all they which dwelt in Asia heard the word of the Lord Jesus, both Jews and Greeks.

Possibly the gospel went out and gospel outpost was established that became beacons of light in the region beyond.

Ephesians 6:10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.  Amen.