The Synagogue Of Satan

The synagogue of Satan appears in the Bible only in the New Testament book of Revelation and in John’s Revelation it only appears twice.

The first appearance is in verse 2:9 referencing the church of Smyrna and the next and final reference appears in verse 3:9 referencing the church of Philadelphia.

If you read the book of Revelation in particular the first few chapters dealing with the seven churches you will notice that in the verses referencing the synagogue of Satan, Jesus does not have any rebukes or reprimands for the church at Smyrna or the church at Philadelphia.

Revelation 2:9 - NIV
I know your afflictions and your poverty—yet you are rich! I know the slander of those who say they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan.

Here the church body of believers at Smyrna was suffering afflictions primarily because of Jewish persecution because they opposed Christians or followers of the way.

The church was also poor or in poverty despite the fact that Smyrna was a wealthy city most likely due to the Jewish leader sanctions and the Jews prejudice against them. The Jews of Smyrna were slanderous when they said that they were Jews or Gods chosen people the descendants of Abraham:

Deuteronomy 7:6 - NIV
For you are a people holy to the Lord your God. The Lord your God has chosen you out of all the peoples on the face of the earth to be his people, his treasured possession.

But Jesus called them nothing more than liars because as Paul wrote in Galatians you must belong to Jesus Christ to be a true heir of Abraham:

Galatians 3:29 – NIV
If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise.

Because the Jews here rejected Jesus Christ and still have not recognized him as the Messiah they were and are in reality a synagogue of Satan - according to Jesus because they were serving Satan’s purposes and not Gods in their Synagogues.

Messiah is a Hebrew word that literally means "The Anointed (One)". In the Greek New Testament the word is Khristos which means "The Anointed" where we get the word Christ from. The next reference to the synagogue of Satan in Revelation deals with them:

Revelation 3:9 - NIV
I will make those who are of the synagogue of Satan, who claim to be Jews though they are not, but are liars—I will make them come and fall down at your feet and acknowledge that I have loved you.

The early Christians of Philadelphia apparently had more conflicts with the Jews than the Christians in Smyrna as Jesus rebukes the Jews in this verse. Here again Jesus says that they are not Jews but are liars.

Jesus then states that he will make the Jews fall down at the true believers feet and see that Jesus loves them.

Jews are descended from Abraham and are Jews by birth however they are not true Jews or Gods chosen people for one simple reason: They do not accept Jesus Christ as the Messiah prophesied about in the Old Testament.

Daniel 7:13-14 – NIV
In my vision at night I looked, and there before me was one like a son of man, coming with the clouds of heaven. He approached the Ancient of Days and was led into his presence. He was given authority, glory and sovereign power; all peoples, nations and men of every language worshiped him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that will not pass away, and his kingdom is one that will never be destroyed.

Because of their rejection of him Jesus says that they belong to Satan and not God by their rejection.

Furthermore the Jews did not allow the true believers into their synagogue but Jesus says that he will make them fall down at the feet of his faithful ones. Then they will acknowledge or see that they are the ones Jesus Christ truly loves.

Jesus himself stated that if you are not with him you are against him:

Luke 11:23 - NKJ
He who is not with Me is against Me, and he who does not gather with Me scatters.

John the Baptist who was Gods appointed messenger had but one mission in life as foretold by the angel Gabriel and that was to prepare the way for the coming Messiah as we read in Matthew 3, Mark 1 and Luke 3. At first John did not know that his relative Jesus as their mothers were cousins was the Messiah until God revealed it to him:

John 1:29-34 – NLT
The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Look! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! He is the one I was talking about when I said, ‘A man is coming after me who is far greater than I am, for he existed long before me.’ I did not recognize him as the Messiah, but I have been baptizing with water so that he might be revealed to Israel."

Then John testified, “I saw the Holy Spirit descending like a dove from heaven and resting upon him. I didn’t know he was the one, but when God sent me to baptize with water, he told me, ‘The one on whom you see the Spirit descend and rest is the one who will baptize with the Holy Spirit.’ I saw this happen to Jesus, so I testify that he is the Chosen One of God.

Make no mistake about it: Jesus Christ is the Messiah or the chosen one spoken about by the psalmist in Psalm 2 and prophesied by Isaiah and Daniel. Jesus himself told his disciples and the disciples of John the Baptist he was the Messiah:

Matthew 11:1-6 - NLT
When Jesus had finished giving these instructions to his twelve disciples, he went out to teach and preach in towns throughout the region. John the Baptist, who was in prison, heard about all the things the Messiah was doing. So he sent his disciples to ask Jesus, “Are you the Messiah we’ve been expecting,or should we keep looking for someone else?”

Jesus told them, “Go back to John and tell him what you have heard and seen — the blind see, the lame walk, the lepers are cured, the deaf hear, the dead are raised to life, and the Good News is being preached to the poor. And tell him, ‘God blesses those who do not turn away because of me.’

Your final reward in heaven can only be attained if you accept Jesus Christ into your life and recognize him as the Messiah, the anointed one and the chosen one.

If you are not for him you are against him and you cannot serve two masters (ex. kingdom of God and the synagogue of Satan).

The choice is yours today and your decision will last for eternity if you accept Jesus Christ as your personal lord and savior.