Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has revived Turkey’s Islamic identity. Public expressions of Islam are once again widespread, and the state increasingly invokes Ottoman imagery and imperial nostalgia. Erdoğan has even referenced aspirations toward leadership in the Muslim world, echoing the role the Ottomans once held. The transformation of Hagia Sophia from a museum into a mosque in 2020 was a watershed moment, seen by many as symbolic of Turkey’s return to its Islamic imperial roots.

The 20th century bore witness to two world wars initiated by Germany and its allies, which unleashed unparalleled destruction upon the Judeo-Christian world.

Behind these political upheavals lies a deeper, spiritual dimension, seen through prophetic Scripture and ancient symbols like the Seat of Pergamum, which some theologians associate with satanic opposition to God’s kingdom on earth.

One of the most chilling spiritual symbols associated with Germany’s role in these conflicts is the Pergamum Altar, often referred to by theologians as “the Seat of Satan.”

In Revelation 2:12-13, Jesus says to the church in Pergamum: “I know where you live — where Satan has his throne. Yet you remain true to my name…”

Pergamum, an ancient city in Asia Minor (modern-day Turkey), was a centre of pagan worship and imperial cult. The Great Altar of Pergamum, built in the 2nd century BC, was dedicated to Zeus and stood as a monument to idolatry and emperor worship.

In the late 19th century, German archaeologists dismantled this altar and transported it to Berlin, where it was reconstructed in the Pergamon Museum. Some Christian scholars and intercessors believe that this relocation was more than coincidental — that Germany had, quite literally, brought the “throne of Satan” into its heart.

The timing is striking: within a few decades, Germany became the epicentre of unprecedented evil, culminating in the Holocaust and a world war that left tens of millions dead.

Adolf Hitler even delivered some of his most infamous speeches on a stage modelled after the Pergamum altar during Nazi rallies in Nuremberg. The resemblance is undeniable — and disturbing.

Could this altar be more than symbolic? Could it represent a spiritual stronghold — one that moved from Pergamum to Berlin, and which now seeks another seat?

Turkish politicians, including the mayor of the city of Izmir near the excavation site, have called for the altar’s return. In 2022, Saraya Gomis, Berlin’s state secretary for diversity and anti-discrimination at the time, weighed in to support returning the altar, as well as the Nefertiti bust.

Erdoğan’s revival of Ottoman identity involves more than cultural pride. He seeks to reclaim influence across former Ottoman territories — Syria, the Balkans, North Africa, and even Jerusalem. He speaks of the Muslim ummah (community) and positions himself as a protector of Islam globally.

This aligns ominously with Ezekiel 38–39, where Turkey (often identified with “Meshech, Tubal, Gomer, and Togarmah”) is part of a northern confederacy that comes against Israel. This war, led by “Gog of Magog,” is interpreted by many Christians as a major prophetic event that precedes Christ’s return.

The spirit behind such ambitions — whether Nazi fascism or Islamic imperialism — may be the same: the spirit of antichrist that seeks to replace God’s authority, oppress His people, and erect a counterfeit kingdom on the earth.

Watch to see how this unfolds. Will the Seat of Satan (Pergamum Altar) be returned to Turkey?