Episode 1218: The church at Pergamos - The Background.

Hello everyone. In today's Bible study we commence our examination of the letter the Lord Jesus wrote to the church at Pergamos.

Our primary focus will be on how the Lord Jesus presented Himself to the church. He introduced Himself to the church as the God of judgment. Wait, hold on. Why in the world would the Lord introduce Himself as the God of judgment to His own children.

Now you are thinking properly. Why would the Lord do that? Have you not read;Hebrews 12:3-8 (NKJV)

The Discipline of God
3 For consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners against Himself, lest you become weary and discouraged in your souls. 4 You have not yet resisted to bloodshed, striving against sin. 5 And you have forgotten the exhortation which speaks to you as to sons:
“My son, do not despise the chastening of the LORD,
Nor be discouraged when you are rebuked by Him;
6 For whom the LORD loves He chastens,
And scourges every son whom He receives.”
7 If you endure chastening, God deals with you as with sons; for what son is there whom a father does not chasten? 8 But if you are without chastening, of which all have become partakers, then you are illegitimate and not sons.
Today we begin with a look at the history of Pergamum which is the region where Pergamos was located.

As a reminder, each of the seven churches were located in Asia Minor which is modern day Turkey.

"Pergamos" (also spelled Pergamum) refers to a city in ancient Asia Minor (modern-day Turkey). The Greek word "Pergamos" (Πέργαμος) itself is derived from "pergos," meaning "citadel" or "fortress," “per”, meaning “mixed” or "objectionable" and "gamos," meaning "marriage". The meaning of the city’s name provides a concise overview of what the letter addressed to this church would be regarding.

A fortress of mixed and objectionable marriage between the church and the world which has always been one of Satan’s best methods of attack.

The name Pergamos is also the root word from which we get our English term, parchment. Parchment is an ancient writing material developed from dried animal skin, which apparently was first developed in that area.

Pergamos was a city in western Asia Minor (modern Turkey), north of Smyrna, and about 15 miles inland from the Aegean Sea. For a while it was the capital of the Roman province of Asia. Pergamos was famous for its library and beautiful architecture.

Pergamos, which is modern day Bergama in Turkey, was built on a 1,000-foot hill in a broad and fertile plain. It had served as the capital of the Roman province of Asia Minor for over 250 years. It was an important Greek and Roman religious center for the pagan cults of Athena, Asklepios, Dionysius (or Bacchus, the god of drunkenness), and Zeus. It was the first city in Asia to build a temple to Caesar (29 B.C.) and became the capital of the cult of Caesar worship.

Today's study is 59 minutes in duration. I have broken it into six segments. This is segment 1 of 6 titled The church at Pergamos - The Background.