New American Standard Bible Chapter 2 Verse 13

Revelation Chapter 2 Verse 13 (NASB)

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13. `I know where you dwell, where Satan's throne is; and you hold fast My name, and did not deny My faith, even in the days of Antipas, My witness, My faithful one, who was killed among you, where Satan dwells.

     I know where you dwell where Satan's throne is;

The city of Pergamus was the center of idol and emperor worship. This put the Christian at great risk. The forces of idolatry, learning and celebrity were very strong. So strong that this city was considered to be where Satan's throne was.

Satan, as a created being, does not have the qualities of God. He is NOT

   *  omniscient  - Satan is not all knowing.  He does have an
                    active organization of fallen angels and demons.
                    They continually capture people who leave them-
                    selves open to their entrance.  Sometimes they
                    even hinder men of God from receiving answers or
                    help to their prayers - Daniel 10:10-14, 20-21.

   *  omnipotent  - Satan is not all powerful.  He does have a
                    number of thrones, dominions, principalities,
                    powers, rulers and wicked spirits in high
                    places. (Ephesians 6:12, Colossians 1:16, and
                    Colossians 2:15)

   *  omnipresent - Satan is limited to being at only one place at
                    one time.  Pergamus, apparently, was the location
                    of one of his thrones.  Job indicates that Satan
                    roams about the earth - Job 1:6-7.  As a
                    spirit entity, Satan has power in the air too -
                    Ephesians 2:2.  Satan is called the "ruler of
                    this world" in John 12:27-32.  However, he can
                    only be at one place at a time...he moves fast
                    though and has many helpers in the form of evil
                    spirits and demons within humans.

     and you
     (1) hold fast My name, and
     (2) did not deny My faith,

PRAISE THE LORD! Even in all this Satanistic realm, Christ complements the members of the church at Pergamum for raising His name and not denying the faith. It is the same complement given to those who do not take the MARK of the beast - Revelation 14:12.

     even in the days of Antipas My witness, My faithful one, who was
     killed among you, where Satan dwells.

The term "faithful witness" is used with Jesus Christ right at the beginning of Revelation in Revelation 1:5. Later in Revelation, there are two witnesses of the Messiah in Revelation 11:3 so that all the Jews may know. The spirit told the Smyrna church that the "faithful until death" would be given the crown of life - Revelation 2:10.

"Scripture taken from the NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE®, © Copyright The Lockman Foundation, 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 Used by permission."

References to the Revelation of Jesus Christ are in bold italics. All other references are in bold only.