God’s Power Stories | Finding God’s Lead, How ... - 098 | In the Margins: Pergamum — Where Satan's Throne Once Stood

What if a visit to the place Jesus called where Satan's throne is ended with a rainbow?In this GPS episode, in our In the Margins series, we almost didn't make it to Pergamum at all. You may remember that the reason we pivoted our day was because storms had rolled into Pergamum that morning. By the time we arrived, the storms had passed. And at the end of that day, a rainbow showed over the acropolis.Before we get to the rainbow, let's talk about marble. Many of these ancient cities are paved with it. Though it's beautiful, it's also extraordinarily slippery on a steep hillside. Pergamum sits on a dramatic acropolis, so the ground is constantly sloping. The edges of those ancient slabs catch you off guard. Grippy soles. No pride about holding onto someone's arm.Pergamum—modern-day Bergama, Turkey—was one of the wealthiest and most powerful cities in the Roman world, rivaled only by Ephesus. It held one of the greatest libraries in the ancient world, second only to Alexandria — Mark Antony eventually gave its entire scroll collection to Cleopatra. We passed through the Royal Gates and walked up to those foundations, looking out over the valley below.The thing that defines Pergamum spiritually is the Altar of Zeus—massive, ornate, dramatic—that once stood on the acropolis. Many scholars believe this is what Jesus meant when He said: I know that you live where Satan's throne is. Jonathan Cahn taught about it right there. Then he told us where the altar is today. It's not in Pergamum but in Berlin, at the Pergamon Museum, excavated by German archaeologists in the late 1800s and shipped to the heart of Europe. Jonathan didn't leave that alone.Then there is Antipas. Most people have never heard of him. He barely gets a sentence in Scripture. But Jesus says his name out loud: my faithful witness, Antipas, who was martyred among you, where Satan lives. Antipas is believed to be one of the first Christians executed by Rome, placed inside a hollow bronze bull with a fire lit underneath it. According to tradition, he died praying for his congregation. The word martyr comes from the Greek word for witness. He bore witness. To the end. In that place.Jesus commends this church for holding fast even there. But He has a correction: some were compromising, following teachers who said blending in was acceptable. And then He makes a promise so personal it stops you cold—hidden manna, and a white stone with a new name that only God and the one who receives it will ever know.We stood where the throne once stood. We walked where Antipas walked. And at the end of the day, a rainbow arched over Pergamum — the first covenant sign God ever gave humanity, over the darkest city on the tour.Key Takeaways:God clears the storm in His timing — we were spared, and we saw itThe Altar of Zeus — what Jesus called Satan's throne — now stands in BerlinAntipas bore witness to the end, in the darkest place, praying for his peopleCompromise is subtle — the teaching of Balaam looks different from outright denialThe white stone: God has a name for you that only He knowsKey Themes: Pergamum · Altar of Zeus · Antipas · Spiritual warfare · Holding fast · God's covenant · Hidden manna · White stone · Revelation TourWho Will Benefit: Anyone standing firm in a dark place, tempted to compromise just enough to survive, or who needs to know God sees them — specifically, personally, by name.Whatever you're holding fast to today — keep holding. God tends to show up in the margins.If this podcast has been a gift to you, help us reach someone who needs it. Find the giving link, all four Lambswool Chronicles books, community, and speaking inquiries at beacons.ai/annamoorebradfield