Does Satan dwell in Switzerland?
This was something recently repeated by some folks who are often considered to be on the fringe. But is it true?
If you’re a bible student, you know that Satan has access to both the earth and heaven at this very moment. In the book of Job, potentially the first book of the bible ever put to paper, Satan is seen standing before God and accusing Job of having an insincere love for Him. Towards the end of life as we know it, in the book of Revelation, Satan is still pictured standing in heaven before God accusing the brethren day and night.
But Satan also has a mysterious dominion over earth.
Initially, man was supposed to rule the earth. We see this in Genesis chapter 1. However, in short order man falls from grace and loses this inheritance. In Luke 4 we’re given a hint that Satan has received man’s birthright (the earth) in humanity’s place. This is demonstrated when Satan is able to offer Jesus all the kingdoms and authority of the earth without being called a liar by Jesus:
5 Then the devil, taking Him up on a high mountain, showed Him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time. 6 And the devil said to Him, “All this authority I will give You, and their glory; for this has been delivered to me, and I give it to whomever I wish. 7 Therefore, if You will worship before me, all will be Yours.”
This idea is further confirmed in 1 John 5, where we find out the world lies in the power of the evil one.
18 We know that whoever is born of God does not sin; but he who has been born of God keeps himself, and the wicked one does not touch him.
19 We know that we are of God, and the whole world lies under the sway of the wicked one.
20 And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us an understanding, that we may know Him who is true; and we are in Him who is true, in His Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God and eternal life.
And in 1 Peter 5 we’re told that Satan actively patrols the earth seeking whom he may devour.
8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. 9 Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world. 10 But may the God of all grace, who called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you. 11 To Him be the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen.
In Revelation 12, we see Satan start a war in heaven. He is summarily kicked out by the archangel Michael.
7 And war broke out in heaven: Michael and his angels fought with the dragon; and the dragon and his angels fought, 8 but they [a]did not prevail, nor was a place found for them in heaven any longer. 9 So the great dragon was cast out, that serpent of old, called the Devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world; he was cast to the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.
The story goes that after Satan is kicked out of heaven he thrashes around on earth for a while and kills or condemns a lot of people. Eventually, Jesus puts an end to this, so he doesn’t destroy the whole earth, and another angel binds Satan with a chain and casts him into the bottomless pit for 1,000 years.
It's safe to say that, biblically speaking, Satan’s interactions on earth are rather extensive and complex. But did you know he has a specific seat of power here? It’s something I didn’t catch until just recently, and I’ve probably read these verses a dozen times in passing.
Where is Satan’s throne on earth?
Well, you may have heard it's in Switzerland if you are into any of the same crazy topics I am. But, is it?
As it turns out, that information appears to just come from the misinformed. How do I know this? Well, I know it because the bible talks about it...
12 “And to the angel of the church in Pergamos write,
‘These things says He who has the sharp two-edged sword: 13 “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.
Revelation 2:12-13
The church of Pergamos is/was where Satan’s throne was. We have two markers here, the church itself and the death of place of Antipas.
And, wouldn’t you know it, both these things happened in Pergamon, Turkey.
Acropolis, Pergamon, İzmir Province, Turkey (photo: Carol Raddato, CC BY-SA 2.0)
Now, you could use this to push forward a couple of different ideas. One, you could say this lends to the the idea that Istanbul, which is right next door, is the Mystery Babylon of in the book of Revelation. After all, it was the second capital of Rome, it had 7 hills (just like Babylon the Great), and Babylon the great is cast into the Sea in the book of Revelation.
Or you could point out that the altar of Pergamon was moved to Berlin. So, maybe there’s an argument to be made for Berlin being the seat of Satan? But, since I've never heard anyone make that argument, I see no reason to go there.
Pergamon Altar (today in the Pergamon Museum, Berlin, photo: Garret Ziegler, CC BY-NC-ND 2.0)
All this to say, even though the UN and Davos and all these institutions bent on global dominion are in Switzerland, even though Cern is in Switzernland, and their logo looks suspiciously like 666, and even though they have some wild tunnel opening ceremonies over there, it doesn’t seem that one can honestly say that Switzerland is the biblical seat of Satan with any degree of certainty.
If you're trying to find the physical seat of Satan, the search should start in Turkey.
And if you like getting deep into the innerworkings of prophecy and history check out my book.