The Imperial Cult in Asia Minor

All seven cities addressed by John had cultic sites attached to them, right? Six of the cities all but Thyretira had imperial temples. Five had imperial altars and subsidized priesthoods. Pergamum was a center for the imperial cult in the province. And it held a great deal of honor because it was the first neo-colros in Asia Minor.

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In this episode of the Exile Series, Mike Erre and Tim Stafford delve deep into the Roman imperial cult to uncover how the official narrative of Rome influences the understanding of the Book of Revelation. They explore the parallels between ancient Rome's civic religion and modern-day cultural narratives, challenging listeners to discern where contemporary society may mirror the dynamics of empire.

Key Takeaways:

The Official Story of Rome – Understanding how Rome's mythic narrative of being the chosen empire of the gods shapes the context of Revelation.
The Imperial Cult and Asia Minor – Examining how cities competed to honor the emperor, and how this impacted early Christian communities in the seven churches addressed in Revelation.
Parallels to Modern Empire – Identifying similarities between the Roman imperial narrative and current cultural narratives, encouraging critical reflection on nationalism and faith.
Discerning Babylon Today – Discussing the importance of recognizing and resisting the parts of culture that are counter to the teachings of Jesus.
The Counter-Narrative of Revelation – Exploring how Revelation subverts the Roman story by presenting Jesus as the true King and His kingdom as the true eternal city.

Resources Mentioned:

"Unholy Allegiances" by David deSilva – [Link]
"Reading Revelation Responsibly" by Michael Gorman – [Link]
Scott McKnight's New Book – [Link]
Previous Episodes on the Exile Series – [Link]

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Music in this episode by Timothy John Stafford

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