The Synagogue of Satan

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. Since you have kept my command to endure patiently, I will also keep you from the hour of trial that is going to come on the whole world to test the inhabitants of the earth.

Rev 3:9-10

The church at Philadelphia was responsive and ready to be used. As a result, the Lord told them he will use his power to open doors to make their enemies respect them and acknowledge God's blessing upon them. Those who claim to be Jews though they are not referred to certain Jews in that city who claimed to be spiritual descendants of Abraham but in actuality were only his physical descendants; their attitude toward the truth of God was far removed from Abraham's faith. The Lord himself continually confronted the Pharisees who claimed to be Abraham's descendants, but Jesus said to them, You are of your father the devil (John 8:44). So here in the city of Philadelphia Jesus refers to this Jewish opposition as the synagogue of Satan.

But something amazing happens. What causes these Jews to come at last and bow before the church and acknowledge God's blessing upon them? It is because the church responds to the opposition and hostility with knowledge of the love of God which these Jews do not possess, even though they have the Scriptures. As a result, they come at last and acknowledge God's blessing on the church at Philadelphia.

Another result of this church’s responsiveness to the Lord is that he will also keep you from the hour of trial that is going to come on the whole world to test the inhabitants of the earth. This promise is a reference to what our Lord himself calls the great tribulation — a time of distress that will come upon the whole world. It is particularly sent to test the inhabitants of the earth. This is referring to those who live as though this life is all there is, who live upon the earth and for the earth and for the things of earth. That is what the time of testing is sent to reveal.

But the promise to the church is specifically that it is to be delivered from the hour of trial. Actually the word is not from, but out of — to be delivered out of — not just the trial but out of the very time of the trial! This is one of the clearest promises in the Bible of the rapture of the church before the great tribulation begins. It is a promise of the departure of the church, which Paul describes in 1 Thessalonians 4, For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever (1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 KJV).

Thank you, Father, that you ordain the times and seasons of life here on earth. Thank you, that you will protect your people from the hour of trial that will come upon the whole world. Amen.