The Synagogue of Satan

"Indeed 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 (God) before your feet, and to know that I have loved you."   (Rv. 3:9)

Jesus said that to the angel of the church of Philadelphia after saying to those in V.8, "I know your works. See, I have set before you an open door, and no one can shut it: for you have a little strength, HAVE KEPT MY WORD, AND HAVE NOT DENIED MY NAME."

So. Just who is it that inhabits the synagogue of Satan? Each of us says, I know! :) But, let us defer to Jesus Christ, the King of Righteousness.

"From that time Jesus began to show His disciples that He must go to Jerusalem, and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised the third day. THEN PETER TOOK HIM ASIDE AND BEGAN TO REBUKE HIM, SAYING, 'FAR BE IT FROM YOU, LORD; THIS SHALL NOT HAPPEN TO YOU!' But He turned and said to Peter, 'Get behind Me, Satan! You are an offense to Me, FOR YOU ARE NOT MINDFUL OF THE THINGS OF GOD, BUT THE THINGS OF MEN.' "(Matthew 16:21-23)

Peter, at that moment was an agent of Satan: his mind was full of what he thought was best, not the things of God. Nevertheless, Satan's assignment was against Head. If the Head stumbled at this temptation, the body (what we are, if we are) would be doomed. As for our calling, as the body of Christ: if your head, attached to your body goes somewhere, does your body stay behind or do something different? Not if you are alive! Dismemberment of head from body means death.

Therefore, a synagogue of Satan gathers "in His name" yet is inclined, as Peter in that time of immaturity, to dismiss/reject the calling of the Lord based upon what seems best to them. Convincingly,the apostle John understood and was willing prior to, he being stationed AT THE CROSS while his Savior, and Lord, was finishing His Father's command.

"Then Jesus said to His disciples, 'If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and FOLLOW ME. For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it. For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul? For the Son of Man will come in the glory of His Father with His angels, and then He will reward each according to his works."(Matthew 16:24-27)

Peter's "exchange" would have kept Jesus Christ off the cross. A Satanic synagogue would "work" to keep us from following Him as His body.

We Heard, So We Now Have, The Prophetic Word Confirmed

"For we did not follow cunningly devised fables when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of His majesty. For He received from God the Father honor and glory when such a voice came to Him from the Excellent Glory: 'This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.' And WE HEARD this voice which came from heaven when we were with Him on the holy mountain. AND SO WE HAVE THE PROPHETIC WORD CONFIRMED, which YOU do well to heed as a light in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts; knowing this first, that no prophecy of Scripture is of any private interpretation (origin), for prophecy never came by the will of man (should never come that way) but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit." (2 Peter 1:16-20)

"Now after six days Jesus took Peter, James and John, and led them on a high mountain apart by themselves; and He was transfigured before them. And Elijah appeared to them with Moses, and they were talking with Jesus. Then Peter answered and said to Jesus, 'Rabbi, it is good for us to be here; and let us make three tabernacles: one for You, one for Moses, and one for Elijah' -  because he did not know what to say, for they were greatly afraid. And a cloud came and overshadowed them; and a voice came out of the cloud, saying, 'This is My beloved Son, Hear Him!' " (Mark 9:2-7)

"Let us be glad and rejoice and give Him glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His wife has made herself ready. And to her it was granted to be arrayed in fine linen, clean and bright, for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints. Then he said to me, 'Write. Blessed are those who are called to the marriage supper of the Lamb!'  And he said to me, 'These are the true sayings of God.' And I fell at his feet to worship him. But he said to me, 'See that you do not do that. I am your fellow servant, AND OF YOUR BRETHREN WHO HAVE THE TESTIMONY OF JESUS. Worship God! For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of (intent, reason for) prophecy.' "(Revelation 19:7-10)

Notice that the owner of the voice in RV. 19:7-10 is not capitalized. That means the speaker was not God nor Jesus Christ. The voice belonged to one of the  brethren who had been willing to hear and obey the testimony of Jesus Christ! That one rejoiced in those who were willing to "make themselves ready". The good news is, Peter continued to HEAR the Father's voice and align himself with the testimony of Jesus. So we should.

What Makes For Our Response?

"Now when they drew near Jerusalem, to Bethphage and Bethany, at the Mount of Olives, He sent two of His disciples: and He said to them, 'Go into the village opposite you; and as soon as you have entered it you will find a colt tied, on which no one has sat. Loose it and bring it. And if anyone says to you, "Why are you doing this?" say 'The Lord has need of it,' and immediately he will send it here. So they went their way, and found the colt tied by the door outside on the street, and they loosed it. But some of those who stood there said to them, 'What are you doing, loosing the colt?' And they spoke to them just as Jesus had commanded, SO THEY LET THEM GO." (Mark 11:1-6)

"So they came to Jerusalem. Then Jesus went into the temple and began to drive out those who bought and sold in the temple, and overturned the tables of the money changers and the seats of those who sold doves. And He would not allow anyone to carry wares through the temple. Then He taught, saying to them, 'Is it not written, "My house shall be called a house of prayer for all nations"? But you have made it a den of thieves.' And the scribes and the chief priests HEARD IT AND SOUGHT HOW THEY MIGHT DESTROY HIM,..." (Mark 11:15-18)

What makes for such a dramatic difference in response to His words?

Recently, my sister bought me a car. When I received the car, I didn't immediately digest the operator's manual. Why? Because I have driven cars for about 40 years. As long as it operated well without the manual information, I would be ok. BUT, any intricacy for this model I would be without, yet still driving the car. Jesus has been manifested to us, from the Father, for intimacy with Him. 

Those who stood around the colt when Jesus' words were relayed to them through His disciples responded favorably and immediately to His words. Clearly the scribes and chief priests thought better than what Jesus said. The difference is a heart responding from the measure of faith God has given as opposed to those whose measure has been covered over by the traditions of men, confident in what they think they know about Him. We must speak to this confidence as God reveals it to us, "Be removed and be cast into the sea!"