The Gospel in Revelation - Robert J. Wieland

"Satan's seat" is the special place where he
works. During this period, the "mystery of
iniquity" was working to mislead the church, and
Satan was laying the foundation of a great falling
away from the truth.
History does not tell us about any single
individual called "Antipas," but it is understood
that this name represents a group of people in the
church who lost their lives because they defended
God's truth against the rising arrogance of the
Roman popes. "Anti" means opposed, and "Papas"
means father, or pope. Thus the "Antipas" party
were those who opposed the growing power and
claims of the papacy. Christ commended Antipas!
But some willingly denied God's truth in order
to reap the advantages of worldly wealth and honor
just as Balaam was willing to curse Israel if paid a
high enough price (see Numbers 22-25).
"Almost imperceptibly the customs of
heathenism found their way into the Christian
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