The Revelation Revealed, Chapter 3 · Verse 9
Verſ. 9. Behold I will make them of the Sinagogue of Satan, which call themſelves Jews and are not, but do lye: Behold, I ſay, I will make them that they ſhall come and worſhip before thy feet, and they ſhall know that I have loved thee:
By this double remarkable Aſteriſme, or twice repeated Note of attention, Behold! In one verſe Chriſt is about to bring to paſs ſome notable worke in his church; and what is it, but to make the perverſe Iews that troubled the peace of the churches, in blaſpheming the truths of Chriſt, and endeavouring to bring afflictions and tribulations on the true Profeſſors thereof, but to make them ſtoop to the Scepter of Chriſt, and to make them worſhip him before their feet, to make them one flock and one church, and to make them know that this Chriſt and this church whom they have vilified, blaſphemed and perſecuted, to be the only ſpecial object of God's Law, and the only way and means to ſalvation and eternal life. But to explicate the words more fully.
Behold, I will make them of the Sinagogue of Satan: The words in the Greek copy are foreign: Beza's Verſion reads them, Prebebo eos qui ſunt ex Synaga Satana: The Verb is in the Preſent tenſe I give, and not in the Future; and what is given? Thoſe that call themſelves Jews; I give, or I yeild, is put in the preſent tenſe, either for the more certain denotation of the certainty of the good promiſed to come in the future; (for ſo the latter clauſe doth intimate, I will make them that they ſhall come and worſhip, &c.) Or elſe, Secondly, it denotes unto us, that God did at that preſent time make ſome of the Iews to ſubmit themſelves unto his church, as it were, a taſte and firſt fruits, or as a pawn and earneſt of their more full, general and univerſal call and ſubjection to the Scepter of Ieſus Chriſt, which ſhould enſue in future ages, which the latter clauſe of this verſe is full unto, whereof, more hereafter.
I formerly ſhe wed on cap. 2. ver. 9. how thoſe Iews that are only ſo by lineage and deſcent do lye, when they cal themſelves Iews and are not: To call ones ſelf a Iew in thoſe days when John wrote this Revelation, was as much as to profeſs and to arrogate to themſelves, that they were the ſeed of Jacob, and had Abraham to their Father, and were the Iſrael of God, the only people of God, his peculiar Inheritage, to whom the promiſes appertained, the children of the Kingdom, to whom the Oracles of God were committed; and all others Aliens and Barbarians in reſpect of them, who alone had the priviledges of the children, a holy Nation, the Lord's Portion, who alone had the Temple, Divine Ordinances, Worſhip, and clear Viſions of God. Now when thoſe perſons that boaſted themſelves of thoſe priviledges, yet perſecuted, reviled and blaſphemed Chriſt and his churches, as they did that of Smyrna, cap. 2. 9. They ceaſe to be true Iews, and make a lye, when they call or profeſs themſelves Iews, true Iſraelites of God, when indeed they are children of the Divel, and of the Sinagogue of Satan; for his works and counſels they do really execute and performe; they do ſynagere, work together, plot, ſtudy, and execute one and the ſame thing; and therefore worthy to be denominated his Diſciples, of this infernal Colledg and Synagogue, and not of Chriſt's church, colledg, or of the Society of Ieſus, Hence Note,
Obſerv. That many are apt to call and boaſt themſelves to be true Jews, true Iſraelites of God, true Chriſtians, that in truth are not: for their evil works and blaſphemies both towards Chriſt and true Christians, doth evidently ſhew that they do lye in their Profeſſion, and Indeed are not true inward Jews and Chriſtians, but of the Synagogue of Satan.
You would have thought it ſtrange to hear of a Sinagogue of Satan, an Univerſity as it were, for the Divel, ſet up among the holy people of God, his own Inheritance; and yet it was moſt true: John Baptiſt could have called them a generation of Vipers, and Chriſt more plainly the children of the Divel, for his works they did do, and John here a Synagogue of Satan, and that moſt deſervedly, for their contumelious reproaches and oppoſitions againſt the Goſpel of Chriſt and true Believers: We have a true counterpane of theſe carnal Jews among the chriſtian churches in thoſe days, who call themſelves chriſtians and children of the Kingdome, and yet only fit to be caſt into utter darkneſs: They crack of the Temple of God, of Miniſtry, of Ordinances, of true Viſions of God and the truth; and yet who more enemies to the truth and to true godlineſs? They are juſt like the Iews of old, that boaſt of Abraham to be their Father, and that they are Iſraelites as from Jacob, and yet are ready with the Iews to crucifie the Lord of life in his Saints and followers.
They think it enough with their elder Brethren the Iews, to have Abrahams and Iacobs to their Anceſtors and Progenitors; but for Abraham's faith, or Jacob's ſpirit in wreſtling with God, let that alone for them that will: They think it ſafe enough to be of Iſrael according to the fleſh, to be born in a chriſtian Nation or church, and to have ſome external badges and priviledges of children, as Baptiſme, or the like, then all is well, whilſt the weightieſt things of the Law, and the moſt ſubſtaintial parts of Religion, they let ly by and contemn: And what are all their arrogating Titles when truth is wanting, but a kind of blaſphemy and a lye? I know the blaſphemy of them that ſay they are Jews, and are not, cap. 2. 9. for indeed he is not a Iew, which is one outwardly in circumciſion of the fleſh; but he is a Iew which is one inwardly, whoſe heart is circumciſed, and is one in the ſpirit Rom. 2.28. There were two ſorts of people that did call themſelves Iews and were not, but did lye. 1. The Samaritans. 2. They of Iudea and Ieruſalem; and both by their perverſe carriages to Chriſt and the truth, did blaſpheme and diſhonour the honourable name of a Iew. So among chriſtians there are two ſorts that wound this honourable name of chriſtians, who call themſelves chriſtian churches, and are not, but do wrong and blaſpheme the honourable name of church and chriſtians; I mean the Romiſh Popiſh Synagogue, and many of the pretended reformed churches: The firſt like the Iews of old cry out, The Temple of the Lord! The Temple of the Lord! O, The Church! The holy Catholique Church! The Chaire of Peter! The infallible Chair of Peter! We are the only Spouſe of Chriſt, no ſalvation without our juriſdiction, and yet who greater blaſphemers, reproachers, and perſecutors of the true chriſtian churches and Saints then they? And ſeeing they will not part with the Title of the church, let them keep it; but is ſuch a one as is here mentioned the church or Synagogue of Satan, not of Chriſt; and as long as their Idolatries continue, ſhe will ever be a Babel, not a Bethel, counterfeit Iews, no real ſpiritual ones, chriſtians only in Title and ſhew, not in truth, notwithſtanding all their high pretentions and claimes to the contrary▪ 2. So many of the pretended reformed chriſtians cry out, We are of the reformation we are baptiſed, we are of the Lutheranes confeſſion, we are of the Calviniſts; and yet no Papiſt more blind, more ignorant, more vile, more profane, or greater enemies to Chriſt in the power of godlineſs. The names titles and honour of chriſtians they love, they eſteem, they expect; and yet who vainer, who more profane, more ungodly, or leſs deſerve it then they? They are only nominal chriſtians, outward Iews; but to the inward ſpiritual Iew, who more ſtrangers to it then they: Let them therefore look to it notwithſtanding their high and honourable affected titles, leaſt the ſpirit of God ſhall declare the very truth, and manifeſt to all true chriſtians, that they are only ſeeming Iews, and do lye when they call themſelves ſo, and that they are not of the true chriſtian church, but of the Synagogue of Satan. See more hereon, cap. 2. verſ. 9.
Behold I will make them that they ſhall come and worſhip before thy feet, and they ſhall know that I have loved thee. Theſe words contain a promiſe to the church of Philadelphia, that Chriſt would make thoſe enemies of hers the blaſpheming Iews, to come and worſhip before her feet, that is, would make them to ſubmit to the Scepter of Ieſus, Chriſt, and to worſhip him in the preſence of Philadelphia, which for her purity and ſoundneſs may paſs for a type and figure of the true church of Chriſt, before whom theſe carnal formal Iews ſhall fall low and worſhip.
Object. But if it be demanded, Whom ſhall they be made to worſhip?
I anſwer, Firſt, God in Chriſt, whom they have blaſphemed and diſhonoured; the ſole object of Divine worſhip, which Philadelphia and the true church do honour and obey.
Secondly, They ſhall civilly worſhip and reverence Philadelphia, and the true church, for the honour that Chriſt hath put upon her, and ſo will think it an honour indeed to come under the ſame profeſſion, worſhip, and diſcipline with the chriſtian church: And when I have done this, ſaith Chriſt, they ſhall know that I always loved thee, and that thou wert moſt dear unto me. Now this Propheſy and promiſe was never fulfilled unto Philadelphia in the full extent thereof: only we read of ſome few of the malignant Iews, given by Chriſt to the church of Philadelphia, and others of that age; but how this promiſe was fulfilled in the Latitude thereof, it cannot enter into my underſtanding to comprehend: For when ever did thoſe perverſe Iews that for their notorious malignity againſt Chriſt and the truth, were juſtly called the Synagogue of Satan, come and worſhip or bow down before the feet of Philadelphia? Or when did they ſubmit to the worſhip of the the churches of Chriſt, only but in ſome firſt fruits, and that before this was written to Philadelphia? And when did the Iewiſh Sinagogue of Satan, even to this day ever ſince, become the true church of Chriſt more then ſome few ſcattering perſons that were converted to the faith, inconſiderable to the fulfilling of this promiſe? Or when did ever God make it it eminently appear to them, that the chriſtian churches were the only beloved people and ſocietys in the eye of God, above all others in the world? Seeing thoſe things were never yet acompliſhed according to the fulneſs of this promiſe, ſurely there is yet a time to come, when there ſhall be a more univerſal call of the Iewiſh Synagogue into holy Philadelphia or the chriſtian church, then ever yet have been to this preſent day. A Note hence will riſe,
Obſerv. That God will not only make the natural obſtinate Iews, but alſo their true counterpanes the nominal ſeeming Chriſtians, to come and bow before the true Spouſe of Chriſt, before the latter day.
This is confirmed from this verſe, wherein it is promiſed by Chriſt that the obſtinate Iews ſhould come in and worſhip before the feet of the church of Philadelphia; but towards Philadelphia in the latter, this was never as yet performed in the extenſiveneſs of this Scripture, as is above manifeſted, therefore as yet to come to paſs before the feet of the true Philadelphia the holy church of Chriſt: And not only the natural Iews ſhal come in, ſubmit and joyn to the holy church of Chriſt; but al formal birth chriſtians ſhall alſo either come in and worſhip before this true church, or elſe ſhall at leaſt wiſe reverence this true holy church, as the only beloved of Chriſt, for the glory of the Lamb will be upon her; and the Nations of them which are ſaved ſhall walk in the light of it; and for her greater honour the Kings of the earth do bring their glory and honour into it, Rev, 21.23. And it is but juſt that God's true church and people ſhould have a day too, as well as their adverſaries had theirs. We know how that the great and lofty ones of the world, have put all poſſible reproaches and afflictions on the Saints of God, and churches of the pureſt judgment; but yet the time is at hand that they ſhall be convinced, and ſhall know the Saints to be the only beloved of God, and the great intereſt and ſtay of Kingdomes, and then the greateſt Monarch will be glad to take hold on the skirt of a Jew to come under the protection of this holy church, for their God is the Lord of Hoſts.
Quest. And if any one ask when this ſhall be?
Anſw. When the fulneſs of the Gentiles ſhall come in, and all Iſrael ſhall be ſaved, Rom. 11. When Chriſt ſhall appear again for the reſtoring of his Kingdome, then the Kingdome and Dominion, and the greatneſs of the Kingdom under the whole Heaven ſhall be given unto the people of the Saints of the Moſt High, Dan. 7.27. then ſhall all come and worſhip before Philadelphia, the glorious new united chriſtian church, of Jews and Gentiles: And this ſhall be the true Sion, the dwelling place of God's glory, whereunto all Nations ſhall flock, and worſhip before it, and become one with it; or otherwiſe ſhall be made bow unto the Iron Scepter of Chriſt, whereby he will make all the Nations of the earth to ſubmit to his Soveraigne Authority, and fall and worſhip before his feet. Rev. 19.15.