"And to the angel of the church in Pergamos write, 'These things says He who has the sharp two-edged sword: "I know your works, and where you live, where Satan's throne is. And you hold fast to My name, and did not deny My faith in the days in which Antipas was My faithful witness, who was killed among you, where Satan is dwelling.
Rev 2:12-13 Complete Apostles' Bible
A little history lesson might make this clearer. Pergamum, the church referenced here, was also the city in which could be found the chief temple of the god Aesculapius. You are familiar, somewhat, with his image today. If you've ever seen the entwined serpents on a doctor's emblem, this is a holdover from this Greek god. Aesculapius was the god of healing, and was represented by the entwined serpents. (An interesting parallel may be drawn with Moses' bronze snake in the wilderness.) The cult of this god was one of the most fanatic of the time.
Satan, often represented in the Bible as a serpent, is seen here. From this short passage we can learn something about him:
First, he is a deceiver. You might think the God of healing would never prompt his followers to hound someone to death—but it happened in Pergamum. Satan portrays himself as kind and gentle and ever so wise. "Evil is enlightening," he says, just as he said to Eve. "God will forgive no matter what; there is no need of repentance." The serpent is an apt representation of Satan—smooth and low.
Next, he persecutes the church. The method and the argument change with the times, but the persecution is a constant them. Today it is "tolerance" - meaning, of course, unless you renounce the faith you must be a bigot, and therefore subject to extermination (in a politically correct way, of course.)
His motivation, and his chief sin, is pride. It is no accident that Satan is described as having his throne—for that throne is set up in rivalry to God. He is the ultimate rebel; no wonder our teenagers are taught today that rebellion is good.
Antipas
What is a Christian to do about this? Antipas paid with his life, evidently. Some see in this name, which means "against all," a symbolic person. In some interpretations this period is associated with the time of one Athanasius, who defended the Trinity so well. He was told, "Athanasius, all the world is against you." He replied, "Then say that Athanasius is against all the world." Exiled for his faith by the Arians, his firm faith and dogged persistence eventually turned the church back to the truth.
Athanasius contra mundum. Even if all the world is against us, we must remain true to the One who loves us.
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