Synagogue of Satan

Many "Christian Identity" groups (who taint theethnic group (whom He acknowledged as literal
Israelite origins of the West) claim that most whophysical descendants of Abraham and so did Paul)
refer to themselves today as Jews aren't reallyor to the Jewish religious authorities in Jerusalem.
Jews but dangerous imposters.Again, spiritually speaking, anybody who professes
Such misguided souls rely heavily upon twoto be a true Christian is claiming to be a spiritual
scriptures, taken out of context, to stoke theirJew, as Paul spoke of such circumcision of the
unwarranted hatred:heart. Therefore, TRADITIONAL CHURCHIANITY
"And unto the angel of the church in SmyrnaCONSTITUTES THE SYNAGOGUE OF SATAN --
write; These things saith the first and the last,cleverly misleading the masses for a Gentilized
which was dead, and is alive; I know thy works,Jesus, a counterfeit gospel, a different spirit and
and tribulation, and poverty, but thou art rich andpagan holidays and ways of the Babylonian
I know the blasphemy of them which say theyMystery religion -- in those days and in these
are Jews, and are not, but are the synagogue ofdays! (2 Cor. 11:4, Rev. 17:5).
Satan." (Rev. 2:8-9)Any literal, physical Israelite or Jew remains such
"And to the angel of the church in Philadelphiaregardless of whether they're blind to Jesus'
write; These things saith he that is holy, he that isidentity at this time, as Paul made reference to
true, he that hath the key of David, he thathis ethnic Jewish brethren and didn't reject them
openeth, and no man shutteth; and shutteth, andas such, even though admitting they were
no man openeth; I know thy works: behold, Ienemies of the gospel. Paul didn't once call them
have set before thee an open door, and no mancounterfeit Jews or synagogue of Satan or any
can shut it: for thou hast a little strength, and hastthing like it. Instead he praised their zeal (having
kept my word, and hast not denied my name.shared it) but said it was "not according to
Behold, I will make them of the synagogue ofknowledge." However, Paul, like true Christians,
Satan, which say they are Jews, and are not, butknows in God's good time the blindness that
do lie; behold, I will make them to come andafflicts ISRAEL (Anglo-Saxons and Northwestern
worship before thy feet, and to know that I haveEuropeans) and JUDAH will be history.
loved thee." (Rev. 3:7-9)Some persist in their error and state that the
Both messages were given by Messiah throughphysical Jews in Israel today aren't Jews in God's
the apostle John to two different Church of Godsight any more since they reject the Priest-King
congregations in what today would be modernof Israel and therefore aren't worthy to live in the
Turkey. Unlike Jerusalem, the Jews were noHoly Land, saying God would never give it to
major power or threat in either Gentile city.them.
The Sabbath-keeping Churches of God, whoOthers compound their sin against our Jewish
follow the plain truth of the Bible as taught bybrethren (ethnically, tribally speaking) by refusing
Herbert W. Armstrong, have always understoodto believe that they're even physical Jews,
such scriptures about imposter Jews to refer torepeating the lie that they're all Khazar converts,
professing Christians who were following the falseexaggerating claims made by those who refuse
convert, Samaritan sorcerer Simon Magus:to submit to God's Word that clearly reveals
"Simon had bewitched the people of that country,LEGITIMATE JEWS would again be living in the
and they followed him as their leader in thePromised Land of Israel, exercising sovereignty
Babylonian mystery religion "from the least to theover Jerusalem, contested by the international
greatest, saying, This man is the great power ofcommunity of fools, just before the False Prophet
God" (Acts 8:10)...and Beast occupy Jerusalem.
[After being rebuked by Peter]...Simon proclaimedThe Bible, the inspired Word of God, calls them
himself a Christian apostle, nevertheless, and calledJews and refers to "the cities of Judah" (not
the pagan Babylonian mystery religionoccupied "Palestinian" towns) so we should believe
"Christianity." He accepted the doctrine of "grace"the Bible over men who would say otherwise, as
for the forgiveness of sin (which the paganI bring out in a Jewish Homeland.
religions had never had), but turned grace intoBoth Israel and Judah have been blessed because
license to disobey God (Jude 4). He aspired toof ABRAHAM'S OBEDIENCE. Our ethnic Israelite
turn his pagan religion, under the namefolks, mostly professing Christians, were not
"Christianity," into a universal religion, to gaindenied the physical inheritances God unconditionally
thereby the political rule of the world.promised Abraham, Isaac and Jacob that their
Simon, the "Pater" (Peter) of his counterfeitheirs would inherit -- even though we're acting like
religion, did not accomplish this in his lifetime. ButGentiles. Yes, we're Gentilized Israelites just like
succeeding leaders, with the headquarters movedour pagan forefathers who rejected God's holy
to Rome, did, later, gain political control over thedays for pagan holidays.
Roman Empire and its medieval successor, calledYet God has blessed Joseph primarily, the leader
"The Holy Roman Empire." This empire is inof the Northern Ten Tribes, with the United
process of again being resurrected in EuropeStates and British Commonwealth. Likewise, God
now!" (Mystery of the Ages, Herbert W.has not denied Judah a homeland despite their
Armstrong).current serious spiritual condition that -- like our
Spiritually speaking, all truly converted ChristiansIsraelite countries -- is in desperate need of
are spiritual Jews. Ethnic Jews and physicalrepentance and healing or we'll all suffer national
Israelites who reject Messiah are spirituallydestruction, defeat and deportation (Dan. 9:11,
Gentiles. Paul explains:Malachi 4:4). God has faithfully given us the
"For indeed circumcision is of value if you practiceblessings He promised Abraham but now their
the Law; but if you are a transgressor of thecontinuance is conditional upon our obedience.
Law, your circumcision has become uncircumcision.Both counterfeit Christians and jaded Jews must
26 So if the uncircumcised [Gentile] man keepscome to NATIONAL REPENTANCE. The Jews
the requirements of the Law, will not hishave rejected Jesus, blinded by their traditions,
uncircumcision be regarded as circumcision? [aand Churchianity has rejected Jesus for their
spiritual Jew/Israelite] 27 And he who is physicallyidolatrous traditions, both against the biblical
uncircumcised, if he keeps the Law, will he nottraditions the Jewish apostles have shared with us
judge you who though having the letter of the(Titus 1:16, 1 John 2:4). Such blindness, in large
Law and circumcision are a transgressor of thepart, was prophesied. But now that God is
Law? 28 For he is not a Jew who is onerevealing these things, bringing it to light, exposing
outwardly, nor is circumcision that which isthe darkness in traditional Judaism and Christianity,
outward in the flesh. 29 But he is a Jew who iswe're to confess and forsake our sins and get
one inwardly; and circumcision is that which is ofback to the biblical basics, back to the Faith once
the heart, by the Spirit, not by the letter; and hisdelivered -- so help us God -- or we'll go back into
praise is not from men, but from God." (Romansnational captivity.
2:28).The good news is even if we insist upon learning
When Yeshua mentioned the "synagogue ofthe hard way, going through the "hell" of the
Satan," Yeshua was speaking to the Smyrna andGreat Tribulation, the Time of Jacob's Trouble,
Philadelphia Churches of God in Asia Minor. He wasTwo Witnesses will see us through the long night
referring to some "synagogue of Satan" opposingand help us prepare to meet our God, to receive
them there. He was not referring to Jews as anour King: Yeshua the Messiah.