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The Truth About the ‘Synagogue of Satan’ – Israel My Glory Skip to content Contact Get The App My Account Donate About Israel My Glory Current Issue Archives & Downloads Topics Biblical Studies/Theology Israel: Past and Present Jewish Culture and Customs Prophetic Studies Human Interest Inspirational Web Exclusives Subscribe Advanced Search Search for: July/August 2006 Tom Simcox The Truth About the ‘Synagogue of Satan’ What did the Lord mean when He used the words synagogue of Satan in His revelation to His beloved apostle John in Revelation 2:9 and 3:9? The Greek word translated “synagogue” literally means “an assembly.” The word Satan means “adversary.” So John was told that the believers in Smyrna and Philadelphia would suffer persecution from “an assembly of the adversary”—literally, “a gathering of Satan.” The phrase does not mean that Jewish people are satanic or devil worshipers. It means only that Jewish people in Smyrna and Philadelphia persecuted believers. They did not comprehend the message of God’s grace as revealed to the fledgling church. This was so because they were being prejudiced by their teachers and, being uninformed, were encouraged to oppose the early Christians, many of whom were Jewish. These two verses (2:9; 3:9) have led to much anti-Semi -tism down through the centuries. Some Gentiles (including some Christians) have used them to deny the Jewish heritage of Christianity and even go so far as to deny that Jesus Himself was Jewish. However, such people do so because of personal prejudice, blind hatred, and ignorance concerning whom the Bible is identifying in these two verses. There is not much difference between the unbe -lieving Jewish people in Revelation and the unbelieving Saul of Tarsus, who persecuted the church unto death (Acts 9:1–2; 22:20). Saul, in his unregenerate state, thought “the Way,” meaning the early church, was wrong and contrary to Judaism. So he attacked it and sought to destroy it. Later, when he met the resurrected Lord Jesus on the Damascus Road, his life was transformed; he ceased persecuting the church and became the apostle Paul, a believer in Jesus the Messiah. The late scholar Dr. Harry A. Ironside, in his commentary on Revelation, suggested another possible interpretation of the verses. Perhaps there was still an attempt to make Gentile Christians become Jewish before they became followers of Jesus. This heresy of Judaizing was first addressed by Paul in his letter to the Galatians. Wrote Ironside, such advocates “oppose the truth of grace and seek in every way to hinder the carrying out of the principles…pleasing to the Lord.”1 They “put the consciences of Christians under the bondage of Jewish legalism, thus really doing Satan’s work.”2 Perhaps the correct position is a hybrid of both interpretations. The important thing to keep in mind is that the Bible teaches that Christians will have tribulation and persecution. Yet they are not to hate or despise the perpetrators. Believers are to love them, pray for them, and do good, so “they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven” (Mt. 5:16). ENDNOTES A. Ironside, Revelation (1920; Grand Rapids: Kregel, 2004), 45. Ibid. Tom Simcox is the Church Ministries training coordinator and a Bible teacher for The Friends of Israel Gospel Ministry and Word of Life Bible Institute. 2 thoughts on “The Truth About the ‘Synagogue of Satan’” Charlotte says: May 17, 2022 at 11:36 pm Then why wasn’t Saul/Paul doomed? Meu says: March 25, 2022 at 8:12 pm I was thinking the same thing too Comments are closed. Get Full Access July/August 2006 In This Issue: Features Jihad, American StyleEphesus: Serving Without Love Revelation 2:1–7The Peril of Compromise Revelation 2:12–17Sardis: Averting Spiritual Suicide Revelation 3:1–6Danger! Lukewarmness Ahead Revelation 3:14–22 More In This Issue From Bill Sutter’s Desk Jul/Aug 2006Eye on the Middle East Jul/Aug 2006Ignoring the ObviousThey Cry in Silence Jul/Aug 2006In Exile for the WordSmyrna: The Suffering Church Revelation 2:8–11The Truth About the ‘Synagogue of Satan’Who Are the Church ‘Angels’?Up, Up, and Away!Hold Fast Revelation 2:18–29Philadelphia: The Little Church that Could Revelation 3:7–13Israel’s Defilement RemovedGod Is Moral Part SixThe Perfect TriadIsrael in the News Jul/Aug 2006Zvi Jul/Aug 2006 Buy This Print Issue TagsABRAHAMIC COVENANT ANTISEMITISM APPLES OF GOLD ARAB-ISRAELI CONFLICT ARCHAEOLOGY CHRISTIAN LIVING CHRISTIAN PERSECUTION CHRISTMAS DEVOTIONAL DOCTRINE EDITORIAL END-TIMES EVANGELISM EYE ON THE MIDDLE EAST FIRST COMING HOLOCAUST ISRAEL'S HISTORY ISRAEL'S WARS ISRAELI INNOVATIONS ISRAELI LIFE JERUSALEM JEWISH CULTURE JEWISH HISTORY JEWISH HOLIDAYS JEWISH WORLD UPDATE JUDAISM LAND OF ISRAEL LAND PROPHECY MESSIANIC PROPHECY MIDDLE EAST CONFLICT MILLENNIAL KINGDOM PROPHECY REPLACEMENT THEOLOGY RIGHTLY DIVIDING SALVATION SECOND COMING SOCIAL ISSUES SPIRITUAL WARFARE TEMPLE TERRORISM THE FOUNDATIONS OF FAITH THEOLOGY TRIBULATION UNITED NATIONS ZIONISM Share Your Story. Has God used The Friends of Israel Gospel Ministry in your life? Share your story with us!   Post navigation Last Article Who Are the Church ‘Angels’? Next Article The Peril of Compromise Revelation 2:12–17 Features Jihad, American Style A crusade is under way to rid America of Christianity. If this statement seems harsh to you, you may change your mind after reading this article. Elwood McQuaid Ephesus: Serving Without Love Revelation 2:1–7 The church in Ephesus had much going for it. Yet it was deficient in an area that many of us are deficient in today. And God was not pleased. David M. Levy The Peril of Compromise Revelation 2:12–17 Contrary to what some people believe, Satan’s throne is not in hell. In ancient days, it was in the sophisticated city of Pergamos, which also had a church. Charles McCracken Sardis: Averting Spiritual Suicide Revelation 3:1–6 How can a church that seems spiritually alive actually be dead? It happens all the time. The symptoms may surprise you. But, praise God, there is a cure. Richard Emmons Danger! Lukewarmness Ahead Revelation 3:14–22 God was upset with the church in Laodicea. And He explained its condition using a comparison the Laodiceans would have no trouble understanding. 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