“Indeed I will make those of the synagogue of Satan, who say they are Jews and are not, but lie…” Revelation 3:9
For the second time in Revelation 2 and 3 we hear the Lord refer to the synagogue of Satan.
Both references are made when the Lord is speaking to very faithful churches – Philadelphia and Smyrna. In both instances the words the Lord uses are identical indicating this is the same group that is attacking both churches. In both instances the Lord makes an identical association. To the church at Smyrna He says, “I know the blasphemy of those who say they are Jews and are not” and to the church at Philadelphia He states, ” I will make those of the synagogue of Satan, who say they are Jews and are not, but lie…” So in both instances the synagogue of Satan is associated with people who claim they speak for God but do not.
There are several key points that need to be understood about the phrase “synagogue of Satan”.
First, this phrase has been used by some to justify antisemitism. They say this phrase links the Jewish religion to satanic worship. This is a violation of scripture and God’s heart. We are told that those who bless the Jews, God will bless and those who curse the Jews, God will curse. We are commanded to pray for Jerusalem. We see that love in the example of the apostles in the New Testament who always took the Gospel to the Jew first.
Second, the Lord makes clear in both instances this group says they are Jews but the are not. From the Lord’s reference we believe He is referring to the Judaizers who plagued the early church with their desire to add Judaism to Christianity – law added to grace. The Judaizers threatened early Gentile believers by telling them that they had to be circumcised and obey the feast days in order to be true believers. This matter was settled at an early church council with Peter, James and Paul. The attacks did not stop, however, as Paul warns Titus. “For there are many insubordinate, both idle talkers and deceivers, especially those of the circumcision, whose mouths must be stopped, who subvert whole households, teaching things which they ought not, for the sake of dishonest gain…Therefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith, not giving heed to Jewish fables and commandments of men who turn from the truth.” Works of man can bever be added to God’s grace for salvation – it is wrong no matter who does it.
Third, the Lord uses this same reference when He rebuked Peter. He told Peter, “Get behind, Me Satan”. This did not mean Peter was indwelt by Satan but rather that Peter, who spoke in his own flesh, rather than by the Spirit of God was doing Satan’s work.
What can we learn? Satan never stops attacking the Lord’s church and he especially attacks those who are the most faithful. He did not try to tempt them to compromise with the world. That worked with other more worldly churches that condoned sin into their fellowship. Here with the suffering church and the evangelizing church Satan uses a different tactic, He tempts them to compromise true doctrine. He tries to get them to do what John warns us against in Revelation 22. “If anyone adds to these things, God will add to him the plagues that are written in this book; and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part from the Book of Life.”
Satan desires to deceive with false doctrine. That takes many forms, as many as the number of false religions, each of which starts by adding to or taking away from God’s truth.
If we don’t know God’s word, we will never know error when it is presented as truth!