J Philip Bible Readings

⁸ “And to the angel of the church in Smyrna write: ‘The words of the first and the last, who died and came to life.

⁹ “‘I know your tribulation and your poverty (but you are rich) and the slander of those who say that they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan. ¹⁰ Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and for ten days you will have tribulation. Be faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life. ¹¹ He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. The one who conquers will not be hurt by the second death.’

There is good evidence both in Acts and in early Church history that some of the fiercest opposition and persecution the Church had to bear was from the Jews, who at times joined with the heathen powers in doing despite to the Christians. This is what lies behind the reference to 'the synagogue of Satan' (9). It is one of the great mysteries that the message of the cross should have become such a decisive stumbling-block to the Jews, of all people, 'to whom pertaineth the adoption, and the glory, and the covenants, and the giving of the law, and the service of God and the promises; whose are the fathers, and of whom, as concerning the flesh Christ came, Who is over all, God blessed forever' (Romans 9:5). But it was precisely because the Jews misunderstood their own Scriptures, and resisted the implications of their own calling that they developed such an implacable hatred of the Christian gospel. Rightly understood, their own religion was fulfilled in Christ, and therefore a real Jew would necessarily give Christ his allegiance, (this is what Paul refers to in Romans 2:29, 'He is a Jew, which is one inwardly, and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit and not in the letter'). Those who do not, may say they are Jews (9) but are not, but are of Satan. ('Ye are of your father the devil'). This casts much light on two facts in our own experience. In the first place it helps us to understand why in a congregation the deepest resentment at the message of the gospel comes not from the casual and uninterested attender, but from the 'devout and honourable' folks (see Acts 13:50) who though thoroughly immersed in the work of the Kirk, have never really understood the message of the gospel, and are maddened by its insistence on the new birth. It also explains why, even within the context of true Christian experience, and among those who are truly born again of the Spirit of God, we sometimes find people unwittingly doing devil's work in a fellowship. An unsanctified and uncrucified believer is a far greater danger, and a source of much deeper distress and hurt, than a solid phalanx of worldliness. Satan often finds his most powerful instruments among those who are nearest to us, but who resist the truth. Judas Iscariot was one of the Twelve.