Where Does Satan Live?

By David Sielaff, June 2002

Satan lives on earth, and the Bible almost gives his precise address. You think I’m kidding? Consider … Satan has a home on earth just as God does. God’s home or dwelling was in the Temple in Jerusalem (Matthew 23:21 & John 2:16) until its destruction in 70 C.E. Satan dwells in Pergamos (sometimes spelled Pergamum), a city near the coast in Asia Minor which is currently in modern Turkey. The site of the ancient city of Pergamos is: 39° north, 27° east.

And to the angel of the church [ekklesia] in Pergamos write; These things saith he which hath the sharp sword with two edges; "I know thy works, and where thou dwell, 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 dwells."

• Revelation 2:12–13

Where the ekklesia of Pergamos was and dwelt, there Satan’s seat was also — at least at the time the book of Revelation was written. It appears it will be the location of his dwelling near the end time because the context (verse 16) has reference to Christ’s coming “quickly.” The location is repeated in verse 13 where it says again that Satan dwells at Pergamos. This repetition of the location is for emphasis.

Not only does Satan have a dwelling at Pergamos, but he also has a throne there. The KJV word “seat” in verse 12 is the common word for throne (it is thronos in Greek). A throne implies rulership, so Satan rules from that location. It would be his base of operations on earth, most likely.

While Satan may “dwell” at Pergamos he does a lot of traveling. In Revelation 12 he is cast out of heaven along with his messengers (angels). Until that time he has access to heaven and even the throne of God as he had in the days of Job (see Job 1:6–12 and 2:1–7). At the time of Jesus’ last journey to Jerusalem, Satan tempted and supervised opposition to Him, which culminated in Satan's personal possession of Judas (Luke 22:3) at the time of His betrayal to the Jewish leaders.

Soon, Satan’s home for 1,000 years will be in the bottomless pit (the abyss, Revelation 20:1–3) during the millennium. He will not go there willingly. He will be laid hold of, bound, chained, cast into the pit, "which will locked and sealed."

See the related articles:

“The Lake of Fire — Where Is It Located?”

“The Geography of Heaven”

David Sielaff
david@askelm.com

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