REVELATION ITS GRAND CLIMAX AT HAND!/Chapter Nine -Holding Fast to Jesus' Name

Yes, "throne of Satan" is right there in Pergamum.  "And yet, Jesus continues,  "you keep  holding fast to my name, and you did not deny your faith in me even in the days of Antipas, my witness, the faithful one, who was killed by your side, where Satan is dwelling." (Revelation 2:13b) What soul-stirring  commendation!  No doubt the mardyrdom of Antipas resulted from his refusal to go along with demonistic practices  and the worship of the Roman emperor.   Not long after Joehn received this prophecy, Pliny the Younger, personal legate to Emperor Trajan of  Rome, wrote Trajan and explained his procedure for handling persons accused of being Christians - a procedure that the emperor approved. Those who denied being Christians were being released  when, as Pliny said, "they had repeated after me an invocation to the gods, offered incense and wine to your [Trajan's] image . . . and, in addition, cursed Christ." Any found to be Christians were executed. Even though  face by such danger, the Christians in Pergamum did not deny their faith.  They 'held fast to Jesus' name' in that they continued to honor his high position as Jehovah's Vindicator and appointed Judge. Loyally, they followed Jesus' footsteps as Kingdom witnesses.

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