THE CHURCH AT PERGAMOS, WHERE SATAN’S SEAT IS! by Pastor James Wright

THE CHURCH AT PERGAMOS, WHERE SATAN’S SEAT IS

Revelation 2:12-14

12 And to the angel of the church in Pergamos write; These things saith he which hath the sharp sword with two edges;

13 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.

14 But I have a few things against thee, because thou hast there them that hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balac to cast a stumblingblock before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed unto idols, and to commit fornication.

EVER SINCE THE CREATION OF MAN, AND EVEN BEFORE, THE SCRIPTURES PRESENT TO US ONE ENEMY BOTH TO GOD AND MAN. HIS NAME IS LUCIFER, THE MOST EXALTED ANGEL, AND ONCE A COVERING CHERUB. THE PROPHET ISAIAH WRITING UNDER THE INSPIRATION OF THE HOLY SPIRIT TELLS US:

ISAIAH 14:12-14

12 How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! How art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations!

13 For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north:

14 I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High.

THIS ANGEL COVETED THE POSITION OF GOD, AND DESIRED TO BE WORSHIPPED AS GOD. HE AND THE ANGELS THAT SYMPHATIZED WITH HIM WAS THROWN OUT OF HEAVEN. REVELATION 12:9 SPEAKS;

And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.

HAVING BEEN CAST OUT OF HEAVEN, THIS ONCE ANGEL OF LIGHT NOW BECAME THE PRINCE OF DARKNESS. IN AN EFFORT TO DECEIVED THE WHOLE WORLD HE ASSUMED THE POSITION AS AN ANGEL OF LIGHT. THE APOSTLE PAUL WRITING TO THE CHURCH AT CORINTH HAD THIS TO SAY;

2 CORINTHIANS 11:13-15:

13 For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ.

14 And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.

15 Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.

THE BIBLE SPEAKS VOLUME TO THE CHIEF CHARACTERISTIC OF SATAN, WHICH IS (A) WORKING BY DECEIT THROUGH FALSE APOSTLES (DECEITFUL WORKERS), PRETENDING TO BE THE APOSTLES OF CHRIST, AND HE HIMSELF , THOUGH AN ANGEL OF DARKNESS, APPEARING AS AN ANGEL OF LIGHT. THEREFORE, IT IS NO GREAT THING IF HIS MINISTERS ALSO BE TRANSFORMED AS MINISTERS OF RIGHTEOUSNESS. AN AMERICAN AUTHOR ELLEN G. WHITE, THE MOST TRANSLATED FEMALE NON-FICTION WRITER IN HISTORY , PENNED IN HER BOOK “THE GREAT CONTROVERSY PAGE-49.2”

The nominal conversion of Constantine, in the early part of the fourth century, caused great rejoicing; and the world, cloaked with a form of righteousness, walked into the church. Now the work of corruption rapidly progressed. Paganism, while appearing to be vanquished, became the conqueror. Her spirit controlled the church. Her doctrines, ceremonies, and superstitions were incorporated into the faith and worship of the professed followers of Christ.

This compromise between paganism and Christianity resulted in the development of “the man of sin” foretold in prophecy as opposing and exalting himself above God.

THE SCRIPTURE HERE ALLUDED TO IS, 2 THESSALONIANS 2:3-4

3 Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;

4 Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God.

IN THE SAME BOOK, THE GREAT CONTROVERSY PAGE-356.2 ELLEN G. WHITE IDENTIFIED THE MAN OF SIN AS THE PAPACY( THE ROMAN CHURCH). URIAH SMITH, THE CHRISTIAN HISTORIAN WROTE IN HIS BOOK “ DANIEL AND THE REVELATION PAGE- 373.2,

“IT IS INTERESTING TO NOTE THAT THE CITY OF PERGAMOS BECAME THE SEAT OF ANCIENT BABYLONIAN SUN WORSHIP … AFTER THE MEDO-PERSIAN OCCUPATION, THE DEFEATED CHALDEANS FLED TO ASIA MINOR, AND FIXED THEIR CENTRAL COLLEGE AT PERGAMOS, AND TOOK THE PALLADIUM OF BABYLON, THE CUBIC STONE WITH THEM. INDEPENDENT OF STATE CONTROL, THEY CARRIED ON THE RITES OF THEIR RELIGION.”

AT PERGAMOS,IN THE TEMPLE OF ZEUS, THE OBJECT OF WORSHIP WAS A SERPENT NAMED ASCLEPIUS, THE SAME SERPENT THAT IS FOUND ON THE MEDICAL ASSOCIATION SIGN.THE TITLE OF THE HIGH PRIEST IS PONTIFEX MAXIMUS.BUT IN 133 B.C. THIS BABYLONIAN RELIGION WAS TRANSFERRED TO ROME, AND THE CITY VATICAN WASNAMED AFTER THE SERPENT IN PERGAMOS.THE TITLE OF THE HIGH PRIEST, PONTIFEX MAXIMUS, WHEN TRANSFERRED TO ROME, WAS GIVEN TO THE BISHOP OF ROME, NAMING HIM THE ROMAN PONTIFF. THEREFORE, THE SEAT OF SATAN IS TRANSFERRED FROM BABYLON, TO PERGAMOS, TO ROME.