Faithful unto Death

Today's Verse:

I know thy works, and where thou dwellest, even where Satan's seat is: and thou holdest fast my name, and hast not denied my faith, even in those days wherein Antipas was my faithful martyr, who was slain among you, where Satan dwelleth. ~Revelation 2:13 

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Faithfulness implies unswerving commitment and loyalty to a cause, mission, and purpose. Our Lord is very concerned about finding faithfulness on the earth when He returns (Luke 18:8). Paul stated that a steward is to be found faithful. A husband-and-wife pledge is one of faithfulness to one another for their marriage. This morning, our devotion centers on a man who is described as a faithful martyr. 

We see Antipas and his municipality. 

Antipas lived in the city of Pergamos. It was a commercial city that was located on the western part of Asia Minor in what is called Mysia Minor, north of Smyrna, and 20 miles from the Mediterranean Sea. The Selinus River flowed through it, and the Cetius River ran past it. It was the birthplace of the physician Galen, and it had a great royal library. It was also a cultic city where many cultic religions thrived. It was the seat of the dynasties of Attalus and Eumenes. It was famous for its temple of Aesculapius, the god of medicine who was famous for his symbol for medicine, the serpent wrapped around a rod. It was a wealthy city with many temples, statues, altars, and sacred groves devoted to idol worship. It was the place where the pagan Babylonian cults of Belshazzar (Magian) had moved to, and as a result, became the hub for the pagan cults of Athena, Ascelepius, Dionysius, and Zeus. The temple there is described as Satan’s seat or throne. This city is described as where Satan’s seat is and where Satan dwelleth. It was a stronghold of the devil. 

We see Antipas and his membership. 

Some church planter got a burden for that city and started preaching the gospel. People were getting saved, and a church was started. There in the midst of a pagan stronghold, Jesus was being lifted up, and a difference was being made. This was where Antipas was saved, baptized, and discipled, and he was one of the many witnesses of the church. Jesus commended the church at Pergamos for holding fast His name and not denying the faith. It was a biblical church; it was a bold church; it was a church that shined brightly as a beacon for His glory. Amid Satan’s stronghold, here was a church and one of its members shining brightly. 

We see Antipas the messenger. 

He was a soulwinning messenger. He was a man committed to proclaiming the gospel message to the citizens of his city. If this church had an organized soulwinning program, he was a vibrant part of it. It’s possible that he did open air street preaching. It’s possible that he looked for ways to get the gospel into places of education and public assemblies. Antipas was a model soulwinner and witness because he had a burden to get the people out of the bondage of sin and under the liberating power of the gospel. Antipas is an example of the kind of witness that every church needs. 

We see Antipas the martyr. 

Antipas was slain for his witness. It was a well-known fact that he gave his life for the gospel. Many years later, another man who gave his life for the gospel said, “He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose.” That man was Jim Elliot. Antipas is among the many heroes of faith, of whom the world is not worthy. He did not lose his life on the day he was slain. He “lost” his life on the day he decided that Jesus was all the world to him. 

Be inspired this morning by the life of Antipas. Be faithful even unto death! 

Have a faithful God Morning! 

Bible Reading Schedule: Joshua 22-24

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