Deb
This is what I was able to find on Pergamum and Thyatira. Number one they were very close to each other and considered sister cities.
Pergamum was about 55 miles northeast of Ephesus in the valley of Caicus. It was the capitol of the Attalid land. Later on the Romans made it the capitol of the province of Asia. (1) It had a great library of over 200,000 books and the word parchment is derived from its name. (2) it was internationally famous as a center of Asklepios worship. Asklepios was the god of healing. The emblem of this ancient god is the serpent and it appears on many medical emblems. It gloried in the presence of the temples of Athene, Zeus, and was a center of the Caesar cults (worship of Caesar). Revelation tells us this is where the throne of Satan resided. There were two heretical groups in this church. The followers of Balaam and the Nicolaitans. Both of which had polluted the church there. There seemed to be a great division between the clergy and laity in this church hence the nicolaitins (nico against and laios laity)
Thyatira was the birth place of Lydia the seller of purple the first Christian convert from Europe (Acts 16:11-15). Pliny called this city an insignificant one. Almost nothing is known of it. It lay between the Caicus and Hermus rivers and a great road from the Byzantium (Eastern Roman Empire) to Smyrna ran through it making it easily accessible for evangelism. What Jesus had against them was the purity of their doctrine was not as pure as when delivered (mans additions had entered in). the one calling herself a prophetess named Jezebel was seducing the saints and that they were continually allowing her teaching. She also continually taught and continually deceived the servants to commit fornication and eat things sacrificed to idols. It is her teaching that leads her to be cast upon her death bed and those who follow to be in great affliction
Both seem to be perfect examples of the infant corrupted church we now know as Roman Catholic. The division of clergy and laity, the worship of idols, the eating in conjunction with idol worship and corrupted doctrine. The fact that the throne of Satan resided so close also opens avenues we may want to explore as to the clergy seats of Rome and the importance these cities played in the empire. What we see is the beginning of the corruption of the church Christ founded and the infiltration of the religious practices of the Greeks and Romanists
Brother John
This is what I was able to find on Pergamum and Thyatira. Number one they were very close to each other and considered sister cities.
Pergamum was about 55 miles northeast of Ephesus in the valley of Caicus. It was the capitol of the Attalid land. Later on the Romans made it the capitol of the province of Asia. (1) It had a great library of over 200,000 books and the word parchment is derived from its name. (2) it was internationally famous as a center of Asklepios worship. Asklepios was the god of healing. The emblem of this ancient god is the serpent and it appears on many medical emblems. It gloried in the presence of the temples of Athene, Zeus, and was a center of the Caesar cults (worship of Caesar). Revelation tells us this is where the throne of Satan resided. There were two heretical groups in this church. The followers of Balaam and the Nicolaitans. Both of which had polluted the church there. There seemed to be a great division between the clergy and laity in this church hence the nicolaitins (nico against and laios laity)
Thyatira was the birth place of Lydia the seller of purple the first Christian convert from Europe (Acts 16:11-15). Pliny called this city an insignificant one. Almost nothing is known of it. It lay between the Caicus and Hermus rivers and a great road from the Byzantium (Eastern Roman Empire) to Smyrna ran through it making it easily accessible for evangelism. What Jesus had against them was the purity of their doctrine was not as pure as when delivered (mans additions had entered in). the one calling herself a prophetess named Jezebel was seducing the saints and that they were continually allowing her teaching. She also continually taught and continually deceived the servants to commit fornication and eat things sacrificed to idols. It is her teaching that leads her to be cast upon her death bed and those who follow to be in great affliction
Both seem to be perfect examples of the infant corrupted church we now know as Roman Catholic. The division of clergy and laity, the worship of idols, the eating in conjunction with idol worship and corrupted doctrine. The fact that the throne of Satan resided so close also opens avenues we may want to explore as to the clergy seats of Rome and the importance these cities played in the empire. What we see is the beginning of the corruption of the church Christ founded and the infiltration of the religious practices of the Greeks and Romanists
Brother John
All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work. (2 Timothy 3:16)
