See the series here
All human governments with significant international influence have (a) a headquarters, a seat, in its home nation, (b) regional seats across its nation, and (c) strategically placed ambassadorial seats across the world. They also tend to beautify their national seats, and some even move their seats of governance to a new location.
In establishing his global governance system, The Bible reveals satan effectively:
1. Locked-down the heavenlies around Earth, in and above the atmosphere;
2. Assigned his ranks of demons over territories; and
3. Established his governing seat on Earth.
Conquering rulers have done something equivalent throughout human history. In organizing His Millennial Reign, Jesus also promises to do exactly the same thing. satan has demons assigned over territories, high above Earth’s atmosphere, he apparently either mimics or directly opposes what he knows of Heaven’s governance and systems. And though he is a spirit, he apparently has a geographic headquarters on Earth, just as God has a demonstrably preferred plot of land. I believe the land of Shinar offered an excellent, strategic location for satan’s post-flood headquarters on Earth. The prominence of this land is informative in human history, in Jewish history, and in the Old Testament. Within this land, Babylon and Ur have been particularly significant. (See Part 2)
As noted, most national governments work to beautify their seats of governance. Thus, it is interesting that God, through Isaiah, uniquely refers to Babylon as, ‘the beauty of kingdoms [nations], and of the Chaldees’ [Babylonians’] excellency…’ This city reportedly was awesome in beauty! 1 Moreover, Babylon, whether as a physical city or a figurative/spiritual reference, figures very prominently in the eschatological Book of Revelation. This book mysteriously outlines the ‘behind-the-scenes’ spiritual dimension of many unfilled physical events predicted in the Old and New Testaments. 2 Yet in spite of the above, Jesus, in His post-incarnate vision with The Apostle John on the Isle of Patmos, specifically refers to Pergamum (in north western Turkey) as being ‘where satan dwells’. 3 Imagine that!
Human governments are well known for moving their seats of governance – their capitals. Such moves are highly strategic and costly, whether related to drastic climate changes (as in Indonesia currently), or shifting population and economic development needs (as in Nigeria), or a host of other reasons. If/if satan’s governance system was at one point based in the land of Shinar, e.g., in Babylon, Jesus may have signaled to John that it had since moved. If so, why to Pergamum? And might there have been other, similar moves?
I imagine the answers to these questions are found in satan’s revealed modus operandi, namely:
1. Follow the growth and development of humans, to target and pridefully puff-up would-be and elected national leaders; and
2. Counteract whatever he perceives as The Lord's plans.
Having a governance seat of wickedness in Shinar might have been highly useful as the post-flood human population grew from there, and especially as The Lord allowed Babylon to flourish, and for King Nebuchadnezzar to become ‘king of the whole then world’. The Book of Daniel chronicles the heights of this king’s pride, which attracted God’s extremely unique humiliation. 4
But later, satan’s seat of wickedness may well have tracked with the rise and fall of powerful and influential nations, particularly the global and regional hegemon nations he would have learned about from Daniel’s interpretation of King Nebuchadnezzar’s incredible statue dream. 5 However, in time, something extremely significant happened later that I imagine could have triggered a geographic shift to Pergamum.
What happened??
God revealed to Apostle Paul His long-hidden mystery – a post-crucifixion strategy to develop a global church! With the untiring work of Paul, seven pivotal churches took root across Asia minor (modern day Turkey). From there, churches would grow across the entire world! The Church at Pergamum was the northernmost of the seven churches, situated near the northwestern coast of Asia Minor. Voila! I imagine Pergamum may have been a highly strategic perch from which satan could thwart God’s plan. From Asia minor, churches spread rapidly across the world. Ahhh, but empires grew far less rapidly than the spread of churches! With that, a strategic general would likely revert to targeting and puffing-up rulers of empires as the best means to maximize influence on the rapidly growing human race! The Roman Empire is estimated to have been the longest lasting government, lasting well over five centuries.
In a world with no current empires, might there be a seat of wickedness or iniquity today, whether geographical or spiritual? In a real sense, there are many satanic seats of wickedness, principally within the heart/spirit of anyone and any institution who/that intentionally and regularly practices gross iniquity, i.e., sinful wickedness.
There is obviously much we don’t know about this concept, and especially its significance across our world today. For example, imagine with me what might be the geographic seat of wickedness for …the predicted final anti-Christ.
See Part 4
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1 See: Isaiah 13:19. It is also interesting how The Lord, through Isaiah, while in spirit is addressing the King of Babylon in 14:12-14, briefly addresses Lucifer (who became satan), recognizing him as the prideful personality motivating the King of Babylon.
2 See: Revelation 2:12-17 and also chapters 14–19
3 Also called as Pergamos and Pergamon, and is not to be confused with a small city, Pergamos, on the Isle of Cyprus.
4 See: Daniel 4 and 5
5 See: Daniel 2. I imagine satan and his imps learned of this global hegemon strategy when or after Daniel explained it to King Nebuchadnezzar. The nations predicted in this dream were Babylon, Medo-Persia and Persia, Greece, Rome and today’s remnant nations of the Roman Empire, and finally the Millennial Reign of Christ. Uniquely, the short regime of the final anti-Christ is omitted in this sequence.
