The Synagogue of Satan
“Behold, I will make them of the synagogue of Satan, which say they are Jews, and are not, but do lie;” (Rev 3:9a KJV)
Just like the Church of Smyrna, the Church of Philadelphia was facing the opposition of Jews: those of the synagogue of Satan. Paul taught that a true Jew is not one that is Jewish outwardly but Jewish inwardly.
” 28 For he is not a Jew, which is one outwardly; neither is that circumcision, which is outward in the flesh:
29 But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God.”
(Rom 2:28-29 KJV)
Worship Before Thy Feet
“behold, I will make them to come and worship before thy feet, and to know that I have loved thee.” (Rev 3:9b KJV)
This is a promise to the Church of Philadelphia that those of the synagogue of Satan will not defeat God’s people but will bow before the righteous.
“The evil bow before the good; and the wicked at the gates of the righteous.” (Pro 14:19 KJV)
“Thus saith the LORD, The labour of Egypt, and merchandise of Ethiopia and of the Sabeans, men of stature, shall come over unto thee, and they shall be thine: they shall come after thee; in chains they shall come over, and they shall fall down unto thee, they shall make supplication unto thee, saying, Surely God is in thee; and there is none else, there is no God.” (Isa 45:14 KJV)
“22 Thus saith the Lord GOD, Behold, I will lift up mine hand to the Gentiles, and set up my standard to the people: and they shall bring thy sons in their arms, and thy daughters shall be carried upon their shoulders.
23 And kings shall be thy nursing fathers, and their queens thy nursing mothers: they shall bow down to thee with their face toward the earth, and lick up the dust of thy feet; and thou shalt know that I am the LORD: for they shall not be ashamed that wait for me.”
(Isa 49:22-23 KJV)
“13 The glory of Lebanon shall come unto thee, the fir tree, the pine tree, and the box together, to beautify the place of my sanctuary; and I will make the place of my feet glorious.
14 The sons also of them that afflicted thee shall come bending unto thee; and all they that despised thee shall bow themselves down at the soles of thy feet; and they shall call thee, The city of the LORD, The Zion of the Holy One of Israel.”
(Isa 60:13-14 KJV)