“I know your works; you have a name of being alive, but you are dead. Wake up and strengthen what remains and is on the point of death, for I have not found your works perfect in the sight of my God. Remember, then, what you received and heard; obey it and repent.”

“I know your affliction and your poverty, even though you are rich. I know the slander on the part of those who say that they are Jews and are not but are a synagogue of Satan. Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Beware, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison so that you may be tested, and for ten days you will have affliction. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life.  Let anyone who has an ear listen to what the Spirit is saying to the churches. Whoever conquers will not be harmed by the second death.”

What is Satan’s throne and why is it so important?  You may be surprised to find that Satan has a throne and that it’s in Pergamum.  Read on and you will understand why the Risen Christ used these words.

Actually, it’s not exactly a throne in the usual sense. It’s more, much more. What the term refers to is an altar, one dedicated to the Greek gods, especially Zeus and Athena. And it is large, almost the size of an actual temple, with images of Greek gods lining its borders.

My name is Pavlos and I live in Thyatira. There is really nothing especially notable about me that you might have heard, and I’m sure that by the time you finish this letter to you, you will definitely agree! But anyway, please, do read on.

You should understand that we reviewed the letter carefully, analyzing just where we stand in comparison. As you no doubt know, some of the others were praised and some were called out. And most received both praise and criticism. Notably, ours is the only one to hear criticism alone. Frankly, we were shocked to receive any criticism, any at all!

In this time of mourning Moses’ death, I often saw Joshua, my friend, and our new leader, who Moses appointed as his successor, sitting on the eastern bank of the Jordan River. He was looking west, across the river into Canaan, to the Promised Land. The east side was harsh, rocky, and dry. It was a desert. But to the west, the Promised Land was beautiful, lush, and full of the land’s bounty, the Lord’s bounty.