Pergamum was the capital city of the Roman province of Asia. It was celebrated for its intellectual, political and medical influence. It was also famous for being a religious center. The city erected temples to almost a handful of gods. Two of those gods – Zeus and Asclepios – were called the “Savior.” Asclepios was also known as the serpent god of healing. People with all kinds of physical ailments came from all over the world to the temple of Asclepios to be cured. Incidentally, the serpent pictured as representing Asclepios is the emblem that’s representative of today’s medical profession – the serpent wrapped around a pole.

Additionally, Pergamum was the first of the Asia cities to build a temple dedicated to Roman emperor worship. As a sacred duty, Christians, like all other citizens, were called to offer incense to a representation of the emperor. After saying “Caesar is Lord,” a certificate would be issued to the person. Of course, if one refused to worship Caesar, thereby failing the test of loyalty to Rome, persecution and death followed. The Roman governor’s headquarters was in Pergamum and he often used his authority to put a person to death, on the spot, if the demand to worship the emperor was refused.

That was the world in which the Pergamum church resided – surrounded by pagan, world renowned religions and temples, and a morality that was hostile to Christianity. Believers were even demanded to renounce Jesus and give up their faith.

Pergamum was the city in which Satan’s rule was the strongest. It was one of the seats of emperor worship, and with one of its major religions being represented by a serpent – regarded to be an incarnation of its god, and called a savior – it’s no wonder that the Pergamum Christians thought of the city as Satan’s throne. Jesus too described it the same way (Rev. 2: 13).