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Romans 2:28-29 — For he is not a Jew who is one outwardly, nor is  circumcision that which is outward in the flesh. But he is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is that which is of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the letter; and his praise is not from men, but from God. (NASB)

Acts 26:11 — And as I punished them often in all the  synagogues, I tried to force them to blaspheme; and being furiously enraged at them, I kept pursuing them even  to foreign cities.

Romans 2:28-29 — For he is not a Jew who is one outwardly, nor is  circumcision that which is outward in the flesh. But he is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is that which is of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the letter; and his praise is not from men, but from God. (NASB)

1 Peter 2:8-9 — And, “He is the stone that makes people stumble, the rock that makes them fall.” They stumble because they do not obey God’s word, and so they meet the fate that was planned for them (Ethnic Israel). But you (Spiritual Israel) are not like that, for you are a chosen people. You are royal priests, a holy nation, God’s very own possession. As a result, you can show others the goodness of God, for he called you out of the darkness into his wonderful light. (NLT)

Yes, such groups definitely existed, but there's no clear textual evidence that John’s “synagogue of Satan” imagery in Revelation was influenced by or related directly to them—it seem more likely that the author was refering to local Jewish opposition to Christians (Matthew 10:17, 23:34; Luke 21:12; John 16:2; Acts 9:1–2, 22:19, 26:11; Galatains 4:29).

Matthew 23:34 — Therefore, behold, I (Jesus) am sending you prophets and wise men and scribes; some of them you will kill and crucify, and some of them you will scourge in your synagogues, and persecute from city to city, (NASB)

John 8:39, 44-45 — They (the Jews, v. 31) answered him (Jesus), “Abraham is our father. ” Jesus said to them, “If you were Abraham’s children, you would be doing the works Abraham did, You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies. But because I tell the truth, you do not believe me. (ESV)

Revelation 2:9, 3:9 — I know your  tribulation and your poverty (but you are rich  ), and the blasphemy by those who say they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan. Behold, I will cause those of the synagogue of Satan, who say that they are Jews and are not, but lie -I will make them come and bow down at your feet, and make them know  that I have loved you. (NASB)

While my view—rooted in the broader Johannine context, Pauline statements and Jesus' synagogue prophecies—understands this as referring to specific Jewish groups opposing early Christians in Smyrna and Philadelphia, alternative interpretations exist, with some seeing the imagery as more symbolic or universally representative of opposition to the gospel (which is plausible).

It’s important to recognize that these passages (e.g., synagogue of Satan) address specific historical contexts and should not be taken as a blanket condemnation of all Jews. Sadly, some have misused texts like these to justify antisemitism—something the New Testament does not support (Romans 11:1; 1 John 4:20).

Yes, such groups definitely existed, but there's no clear textual evidence that John’s “synagogue of Satan” imagery in Revelation was influenced by or related directly to them—it seem more likely that the author was refering to local Jewish opposition to early Christians (Matthew 10:17, 23:34; Luke 21:12; John 16:2; Acts 9:1–2, 22:19, 26:11; Galatains 4:29).

Matthew 23:34 — Therefore, behold, I am sending you prophets and wise men and scribes; some of them you will kill and crucify, and some of them you will scourge in your synagogues, and persecute from city to city, (NASB)

John 8:39, 44-45 — They (the Jews, v. 31) answered him, “Abraham is our father. ” Jesus said to them, “If you were Abraham’s children, you would be doing the works Abraham did, You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies. But because I tell the truth, you do not believe me. (ESV)

Revelation 2:9, 3:9 — I know your  tribulation and your poverty (but you are rich), and the blasphemy by those who say they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan. Behold, I will cause those of the synagogue of Satan, who say that they are Jews and are not, but lie I will make them come and bow down at your feet, and make them know  that I have loved you. (NASB)

My view—grounded in Pauline teachings, Jesus’ warnings about synagogue persecution, and the wider Johannine context—is that this refers to specific Jewish groups opposing early Christians in Smyrna and Philadelphia. However, alternative interpretations also exist, with some seeing the imagery as symbolic or broadly representing opposition to the gospel, which is a plausible reading.

It’s important to recognize that these passages (e.g., synagogue of Satan; Matthew 27:25) address specific historical contexts and should not be taken as a blanket condemnation of all Jews. Sadly, some have misused texts like these to justify antisemitism—something the New Testament does not support (Romans 11:1; 1 John 4:20).

Yes, such groups definitely existed (Eleusinian, Orphic, Mithraic, Isis cults, etc.), but there's no clear textual evidence that John’s “synagogue of Satan” imagery in Revelation was influenced by or related directly to them—it seem more likely that the author was refering to local Jewish opposition to Christians (Matthew 10:17, 23:34; Luke 21:12; John 16:2; Acts 9:1–2, 22:19, 26:11; Galatains 4:29).

He likely wasn’t referring to secret societies or cults, though groups like the Eleusinian, Orphic, Dionysian, Mithraic, and Hermetic were definitely active in the Greco-Roman world. But there’s no clear indication that Revelation is addressing them here. The reference to a “synagogue” more likely points to certain Jewish groups in Smyrna and Philadelphia who opposed early Christians, not to pagan or Satanic cults.

While my view—rooted in the broader Johannine context—understands this as referring to specific Jewish groups opposing early Christians in Smyrna and Philadelphia, alternative interpretations exist, with some seeing the imagery as more symbolic or universally representative of opposition to the gospel (which is plausible).

It’s important to recognize that these passages address specific historical contexts and should not be taken as a condemnation of all Jews. Sadly, some have misused texts like these to justify antisemitism—something the New Testament does not support (Romans 11:1; 1 John 4:20).

Yes, such groups definitely existed, but there's no clear textual evidence that John’s “synagogue of Satan” imagery in Revelation was influenced by or related directly to them—it seem more likely that the author was refering to local Jewish opposition to Christians (Matthew 10:17, 23:34; Luke 21:12; John 16:2; Acts 9:1–2, 22:19, 26:11; Galatains 4:29).

He likely wasn’t referring to secret societies or cults, though groups like the Eleusinian, Orphic, Dionysian, Mithraic, Isis, Hermetic and others were definitely active in the Greco-Roman world. But there’s no clear indication that Revelation is addressing them here. The reference to a “synagogue” more likely points to certain Jewish groups in Smyrna and Philadelphia who opposed early Christians, not to pagan or Satanic cults.

While my view—rooted in the broader Johannine context, Pauline statements and Jesus' synagogue prophecies—understands this as referring to specific Jewish groups opposing early Christians in Smyrna and Philadelphia, alternative interpretations exist, with some seeing the imagery as more symbolic or universally representative of opposition to the gospel (which is plausible).

It’s important to recognize that these passages (e.g., synagogue of Satan) address specific historical contexts and should not be taken as a blanket condemnation of all Jews. Sadly, some have misused texts like these to justify antisemitism—something the New Testament does not support (Romans 11:1; 1 John 4:20).