Pergamum was the capital city of the Roman province of Asia. It was located about 50 miles north of Smyrna. This city was known for its pagan worship, including a temple dedicated to Caesar, the Roman emperor.
In the book of Revelation, Jesus calls Pergamum the place “where Satan has his throne” and “where Satan lives.” This means it was a place full of evil influence and spiritual darkness Ephesus Daily Tour.
Satan’s “Throne” in Pergamum
Many Bible scholars believe that this refers to the great altar of Zeus, a massive pagan altar on a hillside above the city. This altar looked like a huge throne, about 40 feet high, and could be seen by everyone in Pergamum. Jesus may have been pointing to this altar when He said Satan had a throne there.
Because of all the idol worship and spiritual corruption, Pergamum felt like the center of evil at that time.
A Strange Historical Connection
In the 1880s, a German archaeologist went to Pergamum and removed the altar of Zeus, taking it back to Europe. Today, that altar—called Satan’s throne by Jesus—is still displayed in the Pergamum Museum in East Berlin Jesus Has a Warning for the Church in Pergamum.
Here’s an interesting historical note: East Berlin was also where Adolf Hitler set up his headquarters. Some people wonder if there’s a connection between this and the evil rise of Nazi power in Germany. That’s something to think about.
Jesus Praises the Church’s Faithfulness
Even though Pergamum was surrounded by evil, the believers in the church there stayed true to Jesus. Jesus says, “You remain true to my name.”
This means they did not give up their belief in who Jesus really is. They continued to believe that Jesus is both fully God and fully human—the two natures united in one person.
This is the core teaching of Christianity and has been taught since the early church. Despite the corrupt teachings and idol worship around them, these believers held on to the truth.
Guarding the Truth About Jesus
Many false teachings today come from denying that Jesus is God. But we must also remember not to deny His humanity. Both parts—His divine and human nature—are important. The church in Pergamum got this right, and Jesus honored them for it.
