Connections

I have been studying ancient Greece in my Humanities class and put an interesting connection together. This picture is of the Altar of Zeus from the city of Pergamum (modern day Bergama Turkey). This temple-like building sat on the top of a hill and was an enormous (almost 400 feet long) open-air tribute to the gods with opulent sculptures showing battles between the gods and the giants. Serpents wreathing, satyrs, Athena pulling hair--exciting stuff! Pergamum, a Greek stronghold was one of the wealthiest and most powerful cities in the world around 200BCE.

In the book of Revelation in the Bible chapters 1-3 I have some notes from a Brother Millet Sunday school lesson a few years ago. There are 7 candlesticks and angels of the seven churches. My notes say those are seven of the branches or areas of the church at the time and the angels are servants or the church leaders of those areas. The angels of the church of Ephesus(2:1)Smyrna(2:8),Pergamos(2:12),Thyatira(2:18), Sardis(3:1), Philadelphia(3:7),and the Laodiceans(3:14). The deeds of the Nicolaitans are also mentioned. If you look at the map section of the Bible (Paul's travels) all of these cities are on the Aegean Sea (mostly the eastern side). These had been under Greek control for many years thus religiously influenced by the stories, rituals, etc of Greek Mythology. Any brief study of mythology of course includes awful stuff--think Oedipus, Antigone, etc. So here is the connection. In Rev (2:12) it says: ...to the angel (church leader) of the church in Pergamos (which is the city of Pergamum)...I know thy works, and where thou dwellest, even where Satan's seat (the Altar of Zeus) is: and thou holdest fast my name, and hast not denied my faith..." Then he goes on to tell them things they need to repent of and how they can be blessed. It was so interesting to me that even though these things sound so mysterious to us, they were familiar and meaningful to the people at that time. John (John writing, the Lord speaking) knew how difficult it must be for that little group of church members in Pergamum and the evils they faced within their community. He was advising them and giving them special help for their situation. Just like our church leaders now. The advice was the same: listen to the Holy Ghost, be morally clean, be faithful, avoid evil influences, and keep the commandments.