Where Satan has his throne

Pergamum, the City where satan lives.  We walked early up a hill to over look the city of Pergamum and a cold east wind whipped through our group.  We learned that the east wind is thought of as an evil wind.  Hosea 11:12-12:1, so if Jesus crosses a lake in an east wind you would expect him to meet a demon (Luke 8:26-39).  Today we were faced all day with a strong east wind, and it felt as though we weren’t wanted here.  How appropriate coming into this city.  There were so many things that were horrifying to think of here.  First we started with the temple to Askelapios, the snake god of healing.  If you look on a medical patch today you will see the staff of Askelapios..  He was said to be a kind god, loving and caring.  One who could bring eternal life, like the snake dies and a new snake crawls out of its skin, so Askelapios can give eternal life.  This was the mayo clinic of the ancient world but you would have to give tribute in order to receive healing from Askelapios.  It is a hard day to describe, there is so much and it seems too fresh.  I am not sure I have digested it well yet.  There were so many gods and so many temples, but the amazing thing is the way John was able to use his gospel. He text and stories he recalls that the other gospels don’t are incredible, especially knowing that he was here when he wrote it.  It was text, old testament text and yet it spoke directly to their culture and everyday lives.  And the result was G-d came in, and just like in Egypt challenged all their gods and said they aren’t the god of this, I am.  One of the coolest things and most important that we learned is how to fight against this world.  We always think we can promise them eternal life or make a convincing argument that will persuade people to come to Jesus.  There was one thing that made it clear.  In this world all the gods promised eternal life and these Greek thinkers could not be out thought, so how do you reach them?  With the kingdom of heaven.  The Roman soldier’s dress was that of Ephesians 6, the armor of G-d. notice that all but one of the things G-d gives us are defensive.  The one weapon we are given s the sword of the Spirit which is the Word of G-d.  G-d’s word is our weapon and it is the only thing we can use in a word like this, and by the way we love each other people will know it is true.  When we don’t love each other we rob the gospel of the proof that it is true.  We must know the Bible well enough to speak it naturally in conversation without drawing attention to it so as not to offend and then let it accomplish what it is meant to accomplish.  Then we must love one another so that the proof of the gospels truth is given.  I would love to write more but I have to process first.  If there is time I will try again later.  Blessings to all and may G-d bless you as he is blessing us.

Tben

Here is the city were satan lives and has his throne, Pergamum.  We were in the Askelapieion and looking back to the acropolis.

This is so cool, it is the marker for the unknown god, just like when Paul argues for Jesus.

The Theatre of Dionysis.

This is part of the temple to Trajan and Hadrian who made this their neochorus.

Check out this armor of the Roman emperor, what do you notice(Eph 6) and it has 4 animals below his breastplate, bull, eagle, lion and human (rev)