Difference between revisions of "Pergamos"

<p> A city of Mysia, three miles N. of the River Caicus. [[Eumenes]] II (197-159 B.C.) built a beautiful city round an impregnable castle on "the pine-coned rock." [[Attalus]] II bequeathed his kingdom to Rome 133 B.C. The library was its great boast; founded by Earaches and destroyed by [[Caliph]] Omar. The prepared sheepskins were called pergamena charta from whence our "parchment" is derived. The Nicephorium, or thank offering grove for victory over Antiochus, had an assemblage of temples of idols, Zeus, Athene, Apollo, Aesculapius, Dionysus, Aphrodite. Aesculapius the healing god (Tacitus, Ann. 3:63) was the prominent Pergamean idol (Martial); the Pergamenes on coins are called "the principal "temple care-takers" ( '''''Neokoroi''''' ) of Asia," and their ritual is made by [[Pausanias]] a standard. The grove of Aesculapius was recognized by the Roman senate under [[Tiberius]] as having right of sanctuary. </p> <p> The serpent ''(Satan'S Image)'' was sacred to him, charms and incantations were among medical agencies then, and Aesculapius was called "saviour." How appropriately the address to the [[Pergamos]] church says, "I know thy works, and where thou dwellest, even where Satan's seat ''(Throne)'' is," etc. Here Antipas, Jesus' "faithful martyr," was slain (&nbsp;Revelation 2:12-16). (See [[Antipas]] .) "Thou hast them that hold the doctrine of Beldam who taught [[Balak]] to cast a stumbling-block before ... Israel, to eat things sacrificed unto idols and to commit fornication"; this naturally would happen in such an idol-devoted city. The [[Nicolaitanes]] persuaded some to escape obloquy by yielding in the test of faithfulness, the eating of idol meats; even further, on the plea of [[Christian]] "liberty," to join in fornication which was a regular concomitant of certain idols' worship. </p> <p> Jesus will compensate with "the hidden manna" ''(In Contrast To The Occult Arts Of Aesculapius)'' the Pergamene Christian who rejects the world's dainties for Christ. Like the incorruptible manna preserved in the sanctuary, the spiritual feast Jesus offers, an incorruptible life of body and soul, is everlasting. The "white stone" is the glistering diamond, the [[Urim]] ("light") in the high priest's breast-plate; "none" but the high priest "knew the name" on it, probably Jehovah. As [[Phinehas]] was rewarded for his zeal against idol compliances and fornication (to which [[Balaam]] seduced Israel), with "an everlasting priesthood," so the heavenly priesthood is the reward of those zealous against New [[Testament]] Balaamites. Now Bergamo. </p>

<p> [[Pergamos]] ( ''Per'Ga-Mŏs,'' &nbsp;Revelation 1:11, A. V., but in R. V. [[Pergamum]] ), ''Height, Elevation.'' A city of Mysia, about three miles to the north of the river Caicus, and 20 miles from its present mouth. The city was noted for its vast library, containing 200,000 volumes. Here were splendid temples of Zeus or Jupiter, Athene, Apollo, and Æsculapius. One of "the 3even churches of Asia" was in Pergamos. &nbsp;Revelation 1:11; &nbsp;Revelation 2:12-17. It is called "Satan's seat" by John, which some suppose to refer to the worship of Æsculapius, from the serpent being his characteristic emblem. The modern name of the city is Bergama. </p>

<p> [[Royal]] city of [[Mysia]] in Asia Minor: it was not visited by Paul as far as is recorded. The church there is one of the seven in Asia to which the addresses in the Revelation were sent. The saints dwelt where Satan's throne was (the city was renowned for its idolatry). &nbsp;Revelation 1:11; &nbsp;Revelation 2:12 . The city is still in existence, and is called <i> Bergama, </i> with a population of about 20,000, some 2,000 of whom are nominally christian. See [[Revelation]] </p>