7 Churches of Revelation: Pergamum

Listen along as we look at the third church addressed in the book of Revelation.

Notes//Quotes:

Revelation 2:12-17 - Larry and Jorgen

Hebrews 4:12-13

“The truth does not change according to our ability to stomach it.”Flannery O’Connor

“The throne of Satan” in Pergamum is a way of referring to that city as a center of Roman government and pagan religion in the Asia Minor region. It was the first city in Asia Minor to build a temple to a Roman ruler (Augustus) and the capital of the whole area for the cult of the emperor. Furthermore, Pergamum was also a center of pagan cults of various deities. For example, the cult of Asclepius, the serpent god of healing, was prominent in Pergamum; the serpent symbol of Asclepius also became one of the emblems of the city and may have facilitated John’s reference to “the throne of Satan” (cf. 12:9; 20:2). Zeus, Athene, Demeter, and Dionysus were also gods receiving significant cultic attention. Satan works through the ungodly, earthly political power in Pergamum to persecute God’s people.” G.K. Beale

Numbers 22:28-35

“The people of Israel, after 40 years of austerity in the desert, were seduced by the smell of roasted rams and the smiles of perfumed girls. They had been true to God in matters of life and death but failed to be true in matters of eating and drinking. Opposition didn’t work. Cursing didn’t work. But clever lies did.”
Eugene Peterson

“Satan’s lie is to separate what we say from the way we live. To make a division between our confession in worship and our conduct at work. Truth is lived truth. Truth is not simply what we say but what we live…Sometimes it is easier to die for the truth in a crisis than to live the truth through a dull week at work.” Eugene Peterson

“You shall know the truth and the truth shall make you odd.” Flannery O’Connor

Growth equals change; change equals loss; loss equals pain; so inevitably, growth equals pain. Pain is a part of progress. Anything that grows experiences some pain. If I avoid all pain, I’m avoiding growth. Samuel Chand

Don't worry about being effective. Just concentrate on being faithful to the truth. - Dorthy Day