Revelation 3:9 9 Behold, I will make those of the synagogue of Satan who say that they are Jews and are not but they are lying. Behold, I will make them so that they come and bow down before your feet, and they will know that I have loved you.
The problem people for the Philadelphians came from the synagogue of Satan. The meaning of this powerful accusation is unclear, whether it refers to an actual Jewish synagogue that was causing the church problems or represents a group of legalists within the church. Legalistic and hardhearted Jews created problems for other churches, as indicated by Paul’s letters. Such antagonistic Jews came from both outside the church and within the church, such as the so-called Judaizers. The unbelieving Jews saw the followers of Jesus as a heretical sect. Others preached a that Gentiles needed to be circumcised and follow various Jewish traditions in order to be part of the church. Jewish synagogues could be located in most major cities of the Roman Empire.
What seems clearer is that these people were following the wrong teaching. Satan is the great deceiver and one of the primary adversaries of God’s people. Satan entices and convinces people that their way and religious beliefs are the truth and that the gospel is weak and untrue. Unbelieving Jews were blinded by “the god of this world” (2 Corinthians 4:4). They would not accept Jesus as the Messiah and fulfillment of their own Scriptures. They may have been Jews by blood or ritual but not by faith. True Jews are those who have accepted their Messiah.
These misguided and troublesome people would one day bow before the Philadelphian believers and acknowledge the truth of the gospel. They would be forced one day to realize their wrong understanding. This statement was intended to give the church confidence and help them realize that what they were seeing and experiencing was not the end of the story. They, like many today, were tempted to give up or compromise when persecution or accusation came. Jesus’ message for us is also not to give up either because we are on the winning side because of his love.