In this week’s study, we will continue in Chapter 2 verse 13, the Church of Pergamos
Pergamos was a city in the southern part of Mysia, the capital of a kingdom of that name, and afterward of the Roman province of Asia Propria. Some of the pagan temples that were seated there are the temples of Jupiter and Diana, of Aesculapius [healing] and Venus. It is called "Satan's seat" by John, which some suppose to refer to the worship of Aesculapius, from the serpent being his characteristic emblem. Others refer it to the persecutions of Christians, which was work of Satan.
Pergamos served many idols, such as Zeus (god of the sky and ruler of the Olympian gods, Greek), Dionysius (god of altered states, wine, ecstasy), Athene (goddess of war, architecture, astronomy, science, etc) and others. It had many temples and altars. But this did not mark it out as Satan’s throne because all the pagan cities in the Roman empire at that time worshipped idols, including the other cities mentioned in Revelation 2-3.
It was the prominence of its worship of Aesculapius (god of healing and of medicine) or Asclepius as saviour, healer and preserver that made Pergamos distinctive in this regard. Asclepius was a god of healing and health. He had an impressive temple, the ruins of which can be visited in Pergamos today. People used to sleep in that temple with the idea that Asclepius would give them a dream which would be interpreted by his priest telling them how to be healed. The spring beside the temple was said to possess healing powers. Devotees would offer sacrifices or leave gifts for healing. Small terracotta body parts to represent the injured area or limb have been found near Asclepius’ temple in Pergamos. Small wonder that Pergamos has been called the Lourdes of the ancient world.
I discuss the teachings of Balaam and how those teachings are alive today within the church community
14 Hold the doctrine of Balaam = Teachers like Balaam who seduce the true Israel into sin. Balaam showed Balak how to lead the children of Israel astray. See Num. 22:2, and Num. 31:16. In the same way there were false teachers at Pergamos who taught that Christians might join the idol feasts and in heathen fornication.
Who taught Balak to cast a stumbling-block before the children of Israel = The word “stumbling-block” properly means anything over which one falls or stumbles, and then anything over which anyone may fall into sin, or which becomes the occasion of one’s falling into sin.
I continue my ranting on the fact that we have false ministers standing in the pulpits teaching the doctrines of Balaam.
I discuss the symbolism of Starbucks logo on their cups and how it is of Satan.
My intention is to take this study to a deep level. Deeper than most of you are used to! I am asking no one to agree with me; however I do ask that you check every detail that I present out for yourself.
Don’t end up like those in Hosea 4:6 ‘My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me: seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God (Elohim), I will also forget thy children.’
But, be like those in 2Timothy 2:15 ‘Study to shew thyself approved unto God (Yahweh), a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.’
Join me as we go Chapter by Chapter, Verse by Verse, Unraveling the Words of Yahweh!
Have any questions? Feel free to email me at utwoy@netzero.net
