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Are Jews the Synagogue of Satan? The Bible separates mankind into two categories, Jews, (Israelites, Hebrews, who received the law of God, the oracles of God) and the Gentiles who did not. Everyone on earth is either born a Jew (Hebrew) or a Gentile. The New Testament adds a third category, spiritually; Christians (I Cor. 10:32), which are made of people who believe the gospel from both groups. Because of Jesus, the Jewish Messiah being crucified the middle wall of partition was removed Eph.2:11. The Church is not a nation like Israel but a spiritual entity of believers in Israel's Messiah- Yeshua Ha Mashiach, called the body of Christ on earth. 1 Cor. 12:13 “ by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body--whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free--and have all been made to drink into one Spirit.” Rom. 9:24 “ even us whom He called, not of the Jews only, but also of the Gentiles? REVELATION 2:9 To the church of Smyrna Jesus said Rv. 2:9 “ and I know the blasphemy of those who say they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan.” First, we need to understand this is not a church but a synagogue, which is strictly a Jewish place of worship formed by a grouping of Jews in a city. What it is not referring to is all Jews everywhere. The answer is found in the text, they say they are Jews but they are not. Jesus is not condemning all Jews only those who lie about it (Rv.3:9). This argument in Rv.2 can be applied as the same as those who said they were apostles but are not. They lied. So it’s very opposite of what they interpret the verse as. They say they are Jews but are not. This verse is heavily used and abused by anti-Semites (intentionally or not) out of its intentional meaning to foster their hatred. Notice carefully what he is saying, contrary to those who use this completely out of its context, they are not Jews who say they are Jews. Which logically means there are others who are actually Jews; affirming there are Jews. This means there are Jews God sees as Jews. We know this because of Rv.7. (Jews being a word for Hebrews and Israelites, the children of Israel. The term Jew is the most used word for and by Jesus’ brethren and by others). To the church of Philadelphia again this mentioned, Rv. 3:9 “ I will make those of the synagogue of Satan, who say they are Jews and are not, but lie--indeed I will make them come and worship before your feet, and to know that I have loved you.” The background is the church being persecuted, Those who persecuted the believers will one day understand as Saul did, God loves the church. The synagogue of Satan refers to a specific group in both Smyrna and Philadelphia (a cult?) most likely involved in direct persecution of the church, people of God, in Christ. This would include both Jews and Gentiles. This synagogue was claiming to be Jew’s but were not, which means they are similar in spirit to those today who say they have now become a Jew by believing in Christ, replacement teaching. The viewpoint of those who use these verses is that God is finished with the people of Israel – they have been replaced. That God is saying there are no more Jews, which He is not saying. They boasted, as being the true Jews (Israelites) the true people of God, but they were deceived. This verse says or implies nothing about Christians being the true Israel, replacing Israel, or inheriting Israel’s covenants as some want it to be interpreted. Paul explains in Romans 2:28-29 (“For he is not a Jew who is one outwardly, nor is circumcision that which is outward in the flesh. But he is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is that which is of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the letter”). A practicing Jew worships God by the Word, not by traditions of men. The word used for Jew is in Greek Iουδαίους, pronounced Ioudaíous (meaning of Judah) which identifies all the people not just one of the 12 tribes. Rv. 7:4 “One hundred and forty-four thousand of all the tribes of the children of Israel were sealed.”12,000 from every tribe. God knows who these future Jews are, even if they do not. Jesus (Yeshua’s) Jewish genealogy is listed twice, as a son of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob whose name God changed to Israel. In Scripture Israel is mentioned 78 times; Judea 46 times; Samaria 12 times. Galilee 64 times. Jews and Jewish are mentioned 173 times, more than any other name or title. It is the most used word for and by Jesus’ brethren, and by others. Jesus is identified as a Jew all throughout the New Testament. John 1:47, Jesus saw Nathanael approaching, he said, 'Here truly is an Israelite in whom there is no deceit.” Abraham is called a Jew. Jews are not one tribe (i.e. the tribe of Judah). Jews are from the other tribes, as Paul called himself a Jew from the Tribe of Benjamen. Paul persecuted the Jews who were following Christ, does this mean he was of this synagogue of Satan before he was saved? Saying he was a Jews when he was not? Using Paul seems to be a moot argument because he was a Jew even when persecuting the church. Paul writes in Gal 2:15 “We who are Jews by nature,”Paul calls himself a Jew Acts 21:39, " I am a Jew from Tarsus.” |
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