It Starts Small

Look at how Jesus describes where they live: where satan’s throne is. Jesus commends them for holding on to His name and not denying their faith, even when a man named Antipas was put to death. Then Jesus says it again: where satan lives.

Jesus is remind them and us of satan’s driving motivation and throne and power.

Satan’s Driving Motivation

Satan has long desire to kill all of the offspring of Adam. He delights in killing the Lord’s elect.

Look at what God said to satan in Genesis:

¹⁴ So the Lord God said to the serpent:

Because you have done this,
you are cursed more than any livestock
and more than any wild animal.
You will move on your belly
and eat dust all the days of your life.
¹⁵ I will put hostility between you and the woman,
and between your offspring and her offspring.^[a]
He will strike your head,
and you will strike his heel.

Genesis 3:14-15

Jesus has been bruised for us, but He has leveled that fatal blow as a headshot. Satan’s destiny has been set. His power is diminished and he will be cast into outer darkness.

Satan’s Throne and His Power

Satan’s throne may be here on earth, but he does not rule in sovereignty. He rules in a subordinate way. He roams the earth seeking those he cane devour.

⁸ Be sober-minded, be alert. Your adversary the devil is prowling around like a roaring lion, looking for anyone he can devour.

1 Peter 5:8

He has freedom but he himself is still subordinate to God’s sovereign power and control.

Many will get tripped up into the traditional amillennial idea that is bound from deceiving the nations. This does not mean that he is not out doing evil work to kill God’s people. It asserts that he no longer has the ability to withstand the unbridled power of the Holy Spirit. Before Christ, the world was characterized by darkness and idol worship. Now the gospel is saving souls and Satan only has a limited power. He is working hard, he never rests at scooping up and devouring who he can, but he is not able to tamp out the gospel or keep the world in darkness.

Antipas

We have to lean upon early church historians to discover who this man is. Jesus calls Him by name as an example of faithfulness and holding on to Him int he face of persecution.

It is not known for sure, but it is believed he was murdered in 68 or 92 AD. He is believed to have died during the reign of Nero or Domitian of the Roman Empire, this is why the two dates are listed. Both these evil wicked men had a blood lust for killing in the worst most horrific ways. According to historians, one of these evil men had a golden bull built. It was hollow int he middle. They put Antipas in there because he refused to to renounce faith in Christ Jesus. They put him inside the bull and set a fire under it’s belly. Essentially he was burned alive in the most horrific way.

Antipas’ story is an encouragement to us; He stood for God’s truth, even if it meant he stood alone. No one else is recorded as having died with him. He was a man of conviction and did not stand to please men. As a Christ follower we should never look around us to see who else believes. We need to stand, even if it is by ourselves, for God and God’s Truth. This is who Antipas was.

If he had been a people pleaser, he would have escaped death. He was killed because he had an uncompromised heart for God. Can you imagine the conversation and what other would have said: he’s narrow minded and insane. This never bothered Antipas. He stood true to God, standing against sin, worldliness, compromise, and disobedience to God’s Word. This man stood at the throne of satan and and refused to bend a knee. He was a threat to satan.

Do we stand firm like Antipas did?

Or do we bow the knee to Satan to preserve our life?

Are we convinced that it is worth losing our life for the sake of God’s truth?