Jesus said Antipas is my faithful martyr! Antipas was the Bishop of the church at Pergamos during the reign of Roman Emperor Domitian. The Apostle John ordained Antipas as Bishop of the church at Pergamos. Antipas was burned inside an idol which was a bull shaped copper structure. His crime was casting out demons worshipped by the local population! Some of the hero’s of the Faith are listed in Hebrews Chapter eleven! Stephen was a faithful martyr listed in the Book of Acts! Antipas was most likely a Greek who converted to Christianity. Antipas is the shortened name of Antipater. Remember that was the name of one of Alexander the Great successful Generals. (397-319 B.C.). Remember Herod the Great was known by this name! Jesus will avenge the blood of the Saints! Why did Jesus call Pergamum Satan’s Seat? Even Ephesus with all of its advantages with the Great Temple and bustling port, could not match the importance of the once royal seat of the Attalids! Situated on a scenic acropolis Pergamum was embellished with the largest number of Greek and Roman Temples in the whole of Asia Minor! Examples are Zeus, Athena, Apollo, Demetia, Dionysis and Aphrodite. On another site was housed the largest Aesclepium of the Empire. Its library of two hundred thousand volumes rivaled the renowned library in Alexandria! The eminent Doctor Galen was among her favorite sons! Roman Emperors came to seek healing at the famous Aesclelpium! Aesclepium was honored as the god of healing in the classical world. When the cult of “Dominus et Deus”, was initiated at Pergamum, the great Basilica was erected, adding to the rostrum of numerous idol Temples! The visitor today Bergama (Turkish name of the present day city), will see the immense structure at the edge of the bustling center. Basilica became the monument of vice and cruelty! Every citizen was forced to burn a few grains of incense here and worship the Emperor of Deus. Then they would proceed to their preferred practice a common syncetistic act which never lacked its double-faced devotees! For anyone who refused to submit to this profane practice death was imminent! Where as the Temple of Zeus was referred by the early Christians as the “Seat of Satan”, the appellation was later transferred to this center where some Christians felt compelled to pay obeisance! Source: Thomas Cosmades Comment: Remember God’s church was established in the midst of all this evil! The venerable Polycarp followed Antipas in martyrdom! Christ and his Cross was raised up over “Satan’s Seat”, to defeat Satan the eternal enemy of man! This battle rages on today between the One True God and the millions of the gods of men! James and Hamsa Sasse. GodWhoisGod.com
Tag: minor
Mystery Solved! Revelation 1:20
Comment: The word mystery translated from the Greek means a sacred spiritual mystery! Something that is hidden but to be revealed later. This is why a believer in Christ lives by faith! We do not see everything about our faith immediately but God reveals himself to us in steps as we progress in following him! The word angels used here simply means a messenger! Someone with a message! It could be Gabriel however this word angel in the Greek can also mean a Bishop, Pastor or a designated elder! The word churches means a congregation of believers following Christ. I believe the angels were the seven Pastor’s of the seven churches in Asia Minor (Turkey). This letter was for them! Some believe the Roman guards would have read John’s letters so he coded them so only the churches would understand what he was saying! When the Roman guards read these letters they probably thought John was crazy! I am sure the world today looks at us the same way! The foolishness of God is wiser than the wisdom of men! The reason the Romans released John from prison is probably because they thought he was not a threat to Caesar but just plain crazy! Remember the whole Book of Revelation is the unveiling or uncovering the mystery of Jesus Christ! Look for Jesus Christ as you read and study this Book! To those who have not received the Revelation of Jesus Christ this Book would look foolish yet to those who have received him it is the power of God! The stars and the candlesticks ultimately all point to Christ! There was a star over Bethlehem and Jesus is the light of the world! Let him light your path so you do not stumble in the darkness! James and Hamsa Sasse. GodWhoisGod.com
Seven Spirits! Revelation 1:4
John to the seven churches which are in Asia; grace be unto you, and peace, from which is and which is to come, and from the seven spirits who are before his Thrown. Comment: The seven churches in Asia Minor were not the only congregations there! They were the nearest churches to John who was exiled on the island of Patmos. The phrase “from which is and which is to come”, refers to Jesus Christ. Grace and truth comes through Jesus Christ. Where some controversy can come is the phrase, “Seven spirits who are before his Throne”. Some believe these are angels! However the problem here is the word used is not angels but spirits! The word spirits, Strongs #4151, translates breath of God or the mighty rushing wind of God! This leads me to believe this was the Holy Spirit part of the Trinity! Remember the Holy Spirit was already sent to the church at Pentecost! Jesus said I must go back to my Father to send the Holy Spirit! Where is the Holy Spirit sent from? Heaven! From the Throne of God where He resides! Remember the Holy Spirit is not a created being like humans and angels! However the Holy Spirit resides in created beings like me and you! Why? For God’s purposes! Remember Lucifer who became Satan and 1/3 of the angels rejected God and His Holy Spirit! God does use angels like Gabriel and Michael and are his servants! They have a choice just like we do! Some believe these spirits are the gifts of the Holy Spirit! The Catholics believe there are 7 gifts and the Protestants believe there are 9 gifts! The gifts are for His church! Later in this Book of Revelation we see these 7 spirits help the churches is Asia Minor! James and Hamsa Sasse. GodWhoisGod.com
Do Christian’s Sin? 1John1:8-10, 1John2:1-2
The Apostle John was writing to believers, saved people, born again people who were members of the churches in Asia Minor around 90 AD. Let us start at Verse 8; If we say we have no sin we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. Verse 9: If we confess our sins he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. Verse 10; If we say we have not sinned we make him a liar, and his word is not in us! Comments: John goes on to say in Chapter 3 that who is born of God cannot sin? Do we have a contradiction here? We will discuss Chapter 3 and do Greek translations of key words next time. John makes it clear in Chapter 1 that we are sinners and need a Saviour everyday and forever! Jesus established ordinances in the church such as communion to examine ourselves! Do not let pride deceive you as did Lucifer into thinking we are above God and His Christ and have no need of a Saviour! Thankyou. James and Hamsa Sasse. GodWhoisGod.com