Aside from the reference to the synagogue of Satan, which we will discuss next, it is worthwhile to look at how Satan is discussed in Revelation 2 and 3 when the letters to the seven churches are provided.  Let us first look at these messages and then see what it is that is said about Satan relationship to these churches.  It should be noted that there are at least four different ways that Revelation is viewed, whether we are looking at the perspective of the first century churches themselves in their locations in seven cities along a mail route, whether we are looking at the seven cities as representing seven church eras throughout history starting at the first century and going up to the time of the return of Jesus Christ and the beginning of the millennium, whether we are looking at the state of the church in the last days as Jesus’ return is imminent, or whether we are looking at seven different spirits or attitudes that can be found among different populations of believers.  We will attempt in this particular discussion to briefly discuss all of these layers as they may all be simultaneously true.

The first mention of Satan that we find (other than the references to the Synagogue of Satan, which we find in both Smyrna and Philadelphia) occurs in the letter to the church at Pergamum, which can be found in Revelation 2:12-17:  ““And to the angel of the church in Pergamos write, ‘These things says He who has the sharp two-edged sword:  “I know your works, and where you dwell, where Satan’s throne is. And you hold fast to My name, and did not deny My faith even in the days in which Antipas was My faithful martyr, who was killed among you, where Satan dwells.  But I have a few things against you, because you have there those who hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balak to put a stumbling block before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed to idols, and to commit sexual immorality.  Thus you also have those who hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitans, which thing I hate.  Repent, or else I will come to you quickly and will fight against them with the sword of My mouth.  “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes I will give some of the hidden manna to eat. And I will give him a white stone, and on the stone a new name written which no one knows except him who receives it.” ’”  We next find Satan mentioned in the letter to the church at Thyatira in Revelation 2:18-29:  ““And to the angel of the church in Thyatira write, ‘These things says the Son of God, who has eyes like a flame of fire, and His feet like fine brass:  “I know your works, love, service, faith, and your patience; and as for your works, the last are more than the first.  Nevertheless I have a few things against you, because you allow that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess, to teach and seduce My servants to commit sexual immorality and eat things sacrificed to idols.  And I gave her time to repent of her sexual immorality, and she did not repent.  Indeed I will cast her into a sickbed, and those who commit adultery with her into great tribulation, unless they repent of their deeds.  I will kill her children with death, and all the churches shall know that I am He who searches the minds and hearts. And I will give to each one of you according to your works.  “Now to you I say, and to the rest in Thyatira, as many as do not have this doctrine, who have not known the depths of Satan, as they say, I will put on you no other burden.  But hold fast what you have till I come.  And he who overcomes, and keeps My works until the end,to him I will give power over the nations— ‘He shall rule them with a rod of iron; they shall be dashed to pieces like the potter’s vessels’—as I also have received from My Father; and I will give him the morning star.  “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.” ’”

What exactly is said by Satan in these two letters?  In the church at Pergamos, or Pergamum, it is said that Satan’s throne is in that particular city, which now sits as ruins on top of a high hill near the ancient city of Troy.  Many scholars think that the “outstanding masterpiece of the Pergamon altar [1]” is what John is referring to as the throne of Satan.  This particular altar was set up in the 2nd century BC and it is unclear to which god or gods of heathen antiquity this altar was dedicated to, although it appears to involve the politics of the 2nd century BC when it was made before Pergamum became part of the late Roman Republic as well as references to the warfare between the Greek gods and titans.  Clearly, being where Satan’s throne dwells is not a good thing and what is said about the church at Pergamos is decidedly mixed, as some of the brethren were eating food offered to idols and engaging in sexual immorality, aspects which may be credited to syncretism with corrupt Hellenistic religion as well as early Catholic practices of idolatry, although some martyrs remained faithful unto death from persecution both in the first century and historically, and likely also in the present and future if Pergamos is viewed as being the sort of church that compromises with Hellenistic aspects of religion while attempting to remain loyal to God in other areas.

Similarly, the reference to Satan in the letter to the Church at Thyatira also relates to sexual immorality.  Those who commit adultery with the Jezebel spoken of here and eat what has been sacrificed to idols are accused of knowing the depths of Satan.  This is again paralleled exactly with what is said to the church at Pergamos.  And again, it would appear as if there are references to the Mariology as well as the heathen practices of Catholicism being referred to as a temptation to the Church of God that was in exile during the long and dark period of the Middle Ages as well as with female figures in the first century congregation who may have been urging some sort of early female-centered false beliefs and wicked practices.  As was the case with Pergamos, the evaluation of Thyatira is decidedly mixed and the warning against sexual immorality and idolatry can be relevant to contemporary believers if such warnings are interpreted to relate to women who view themselves as prophetesses and thus seek authority within local congregations that contradicts what the Bible says and that urges disobedience to biblical prohibitions relating to proper sexuality.  It is interesting that eating food offered to idols (and thus unclean) and sexual immorality (also something that is unclean) are referred to in both of these congregations, and in both cases it is connected with Satan, who clearly seeks to urge people to do that which makes them impure and unclean in the eyes of God and therefore rejected by Him.

[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pergamon#cite_note-2