Dentist of Pergamos

Asclepieia Temples had the power we often see in modern medicine.

Antipas of Pergamum

The Pergamon Altar is a monumental construction built during the reign of King Eumenes II in the first half of the 2nd century BC on one of the terraces of the acropolis of the ancient Greek city of Pergamon in Asia Minor.

Pergamon’s strategic location along both land and sea routes contributed to its prosperity. Pilgrims from all over the Mediterranean region would come to the city to visit the famous Ascelpion, a center of medical treatments. Over 300 Asclepieia Temples which were medical centers have been discovered throughout ancient Greece. Among the most famous of the temples were Trikke, Epidaurus, Island of Kos, Athens, Corinth, and Pergamon.

Many Christian traditions, according to the Commentary on the Apocalypse of Andreas of Caesarea, believe Saint Antipas to be the Antipas referred to in the Book of Revelation.

• "And to the angel of the church in Pergamos write; These things saith he which hath the sharp sword with two edges; 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 2:12-13

Tradition has it that John the Apostle ordained Antipas as bishop of Pergamon during the reign of Nero (54-68) but was martyred during the reign of the Roman emperor Domitian, by burning in a brazen bull-shaped altar for casting out demons worshiped by the local population. But it is also reported that when the Christians came at night to fetch his body they found it "was untouched by the fire".

The word martyr was translated from "martus" which appears in the Bible 34 times and is normally translated witness, but is translated martyr only three times and record twice.

It means a witness but often in a legal sense or even in a historical sense, it does not necessarily mean "to die" although in this text they speak of him being slain.

Many interpret Antipas as a Christian of Pergamos who suffered martyrdom. Pergamos was organized with the framework of the Roman State's religious syncretism. There was great tolerance in the Imperial Cult of Rome for all gods, ideology or philosophy Just as Herod had built both the Temple in Jerusalem and the temple of Roma. Temples had purposes and functions in society. As long as your religion or temple system did not undermine the Roman system they were generally acceptable. Yes, the Emperor, as the Apotheos, as well as many of the judges of Rome were called gods but the term simply meant "ruling judges".

Augustus as the Apotheos of Rome was honored as an appointor of the gods of Rome Which meant he appointed judges in the imperial courts. To understand what this means one should read "There are gods many"?

Also, the goddess of Rome was worshiped in Pergamos and a temple was built to honor her in 29 B.C.. The temples were dedicated to the personification of religious myths, what the Romans called "superstitio", but also to provide services including welfare services, what they called "religiare". These temples were a part of the cestui que Charitable trust established by Rome for the distribution of welfare, free bread and health care to the people.

There was a famous Asclepeion, an important healing sanctuary (a Medical Center), where Asclepeios was worshiped. Asclepeios was the god of physicians who were called Asclepiads or "sons of Ascelpios". Their symbol was a staff with a snake twined around it. In the modern symbol of the medical profession, the staff and snake have been adapted to the caduceus of Hermes. The modern medical practitioner and the Ascelpios differ little in the pride of their art. Many of their practices were more rational than supposedly superstitious but they coveted their position, power, and prestige with an empirical fervor. All practices of their art were licensed through their position of favor with the State.

Antipas was a doctor of Dentistry. He studied Dentistry in Pergamos and also become an episcopate or Bishop of the early Church which gathered in a network of ten families gathered in ranks of a hundred. This meant he was guiding and teaching other ministers. Few today understand what the Church was and what it did in those days of a social change and the rise of political power, the decline of Rome, and the degeneration of the people into intolerant and perfect savages. The Medical profession at that time strictly coveted their secret knowledge and regulated the way in which you practiced any licensed profession or taught it.

Antipas offered his dental medical services and preached the ways of the Kingdom of Heaven freely without charge relying on charity to sustain him and his ministry. He even healed his patients with occasional miracles. He was becoming not only "healer of their flesh, but of their souls too". He preached against the heresy of the Nicolaitans and would not take from the gratuities of the established welfare system of Roman altars.

Not only the people were being converted but larget contributors were abandoning the pagan temples and following the way of Christ. The Asclepieia Temples only remained lucrative with large and loyal patronage. They also received government support based on the membership rolls.

To understand the significance of this you need to understand the significance of the daily ministration of the early Christians, what the word Religion used to mean, and why there was a Christian Conflict with Rome. It also may be helpful to understand why the Corban of the Pharisees and Rome made the word of God to none effect and what Pure Religion actually meant and its significance compared to the covetous practices that Peter and Paul warn us about that made people merchandise and curse children.

The term Nicolaitan is derived from nikao (to conquer) and laos (the people). They were accused of casting a stumbling block before the church of God by upholding the liberty of eating things sacrificed to idols as well as committing fornication and idolatry.

How did they conquer the people but through the covetous practices of public welfare?

"The real destroyers of the liberties of the people is he who spreads among them bounties,

donations, and benefits."

Who are the Nicolaitans and why does God hate their deeds?

Eating of idols was taking the benefits of these welfare systems established by Rome that depended upon extracted contributions of the tax collectors rather than pure charity. The word fornication was not at all exclusively referencing sexual intercourse. It was considered fornication to indulge in the membership required to receive such gratuitous benefits of the benevolent benefactors of the State of Rome. This status changing membership eventually required an oath under penalty of perjury which was forbidden by Jesus.

• "But I say unto you, Swear not at all; neither by heaven; for it is God's throne: Nor by the earth; for it is his footstool: neither by Jerusalem; for it is the city of the great King. Neither shalt thou swear by thy head, because thou canst not make one hair white or black. But let your communication be, Yea, yea; Nay, nay: for whatsoever is more than these cometh of evil." Matthew 5:34-37

Bishop Antipas' reputation for condemning the practice of using state-sponsored medical care as idolatry and membership in such schemes as fornication enraged the population. In the kingdom of God the contribution to His government is entirely composed of freewill offering while in the government of the gentiles intimidation, force and even violence is used to extract the contributions used by those authoritarian benefactors to support the welfare of the people.

Jesus made it clear that our applications or prayers were to be to the Father in Heaven and not the Fathers in Rome which was the adversary of the Kingdom of Heaven on earth.

Cry Father. ABBA.

See Call no man on earth Father

When Antipas was advised: "Antipas, the whole world is against you!", Antipas reputedly replied: "Then I am against the whole world!"

In the kingdom of Heaven, we should depend on individual charity distributed throughout the kingdom to care for the sick and needy that have no family to care for them. There has always been a need to establish an efficient system for the welfare of the needy. This was seen in the Old Testament and the New. This is in part the purpose and mission of His Holy Church and His Church Sacred Purpose trust. Nothing is more healing than the responsibility of liberty under God.

• "And heal the sick that are therein, and say unto them, The kingdom of God is come nigh unto

you." Luke 10:9

Laying on of hands and the practice of gathering in the tens and hundreds as Christ commanded is essential in the practice of Pure Religion.

Mark 5:23 And besought him greatly, saying, My little daughter lieth at the point of death: I pray thee, come and lay thy hands on her, that she may be healed; and she shall live.

Mark 16:18 They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.

Acts 8:18 And when Simon saw that through laying on of the apostles’ hands the Holy Ghost was given, he offered them money,

Acts 8:19 Saying, Give me also this power, that on whomsoever I lay hands, he may receive the Holy Ghost.

Acts 28:8 And it came to pass, that the father of Publius lay sick of a fever and of a bloody flux: to whom Paul entered in, and prayed, and laid his hands on him, and healed him.

1 Timothy 4:14 Neglect not the gift that is in thee, which was given thee by prophecy, with the laying on of the hands of the presbytery.

Hebrews 6:2 Of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment.

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