Thur.s’ Devo - The Church in Pergamos: 312-606 A.D.

Read Rev. 2:12 The church in Pergamos was the type of our next church age. Pergmum was considered the most illustrious city in Asia. It had three rivers that flowed around it. It was a city of culture and had one of the largest libraries. I notice a trend in these cities - they all have much knowledge which was the fruit of the bad tree in the garden of Eden. This beautiful city had irrigated gardens, public walks and parks but was full of satanic worship and sin. They worshipped Aesculapius which was a serpent. They actually had a live serpent in their temple. The word Pergamos means “much marriage”, which could be interpreted much sex. In the midst of this satanic-worshipping city was a remnant of believers who chose not to be a part of the licentiousness of the city and lived lives separated unto God. The messenger of that age was Martin. Martin was born in 315 in Hungary. He spent most of his life in France where he was a bishop. He was the uncle of St. Patrick of Ireland. He became a Christian while serving in the military. One winter day, Martin was walking down the street, when he came upon a beggar, lying in the cold without a coat. Martin only had the cloak he was wearing, so he took out his knife and cut his coat in half and wrapped it around this man. That night, Martin had a vision. The Lord came to him and showed him this man wrapped in his coat and the Lord spoke to him and said. “Martin, though he is only a catechumen has clothed Me with this garment.” When Martin woke up he sought to serve the Lord with all his heart. His life became filled with miracles of God’s power. When he left the army, he became a leader in the church and was very militant against the sin of the city. He cut down the groves, broke up the images and pulled down the altars of paganism. When he was challenged by the pagan leaders, he challenged them to a test like Elijah did to the prophets of Baal. He told them to tie him to a tree branch, on the underside, so that when they cut it down, it would fall and crush him. God would have to turn the tree branch while it was falling to keep him alive. They found one on a hill and tied him to it. When they cut the branch, it not only rotated so he would be on top, but it also spun around and went uphill defying all the laws of nature. It landed on some of them that were fleeing. He also raised three people from the dead and was spared from death several times himself with amazing power. Despite all this, Martin never gave in to pride, but remained a humble servant of God which qualified him to be the messenger of this age. Lord, may we be inspired to not love our lives unto death. You are more powerful than death!