Revelation 3:9
Behold, I will cause those of the synagogue of Satan, who say that they are Jews, and are not, but lie—behold, I will make them to come and bow down at your feet, and to know that I have loved you.
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The church in Philadelphia here in today’s verse, along with the church in Smyrna, are the only two of the seven churches of Revelation that the Lord sent no message or mention of correction from John in Patmos. Those brothers and sisters were an assembly of believers who “had kept God's word and had not denied His name.” {Rev.3:8}
Apparently that was a problem that was a real issue facing true believers at the time, and certainly one that remains, even flourishes, now in our day. It actually continues to grow worse! The Lord spoke through the apostle Paul to warn us of the fact that in the last days, perilous days, many men and women—part of the “church”—would not keep God's word. What they will do instead ‘wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires; and will turn away their ears from the truth, and will turn aside to myths.’ {2Tim.4:3-4} All leading to the incredible division that permeates the church in our days in spite of the exhortation that there would be no division among us. {1Cor.1:10}
What I have seen to be true in my years of traveling in ministry is that if we lack unity with true believers we will have unity with others who we should not have! I am not speaking of cutting ourselves off from non-believers—otherwise how would we bring them the knowledge of Christ Jesus—we just cannot have spiritual connections with them. Remember Paul’s statement, ‘what has a believer in common with a non-believer?’ {2Cor.6:15} The real danger lies in wolves in sheep’s clothing. {Mat.7:15}
Jesus Himself warned of all of this happening as He taught about the signs of His coming and the end of the age when His disciples asked Him privately as He was sitting on the Mount of Olives. {Matt.24:2-13} It is a very sobering thing to realize that, like the 'Synagogue of Satan' mentioned in today’s verse that issue is rife, so common in the largest part of what is called 'christianity' today. And it has been even from the earliest days of the New Testament church. That is the reason there is so much warning in the Word about false teachers and doctrines. Jesus warned that we have to abide, to live, in His word in order to know the truth and be His disciples. {Jn.8:31-32}
We close these posts frequently with the admonition to test everything by the word of God. I have to add the codicil to make sure that the book you hold in your hand and study actually is the word of God! It is an unfortunate truth that many new versions of the bible are not faithful translations of what the Lord, His prophets and apostles, etc, actually wrote or said—thus the warning to beware the lying pen of the scribes. {Jer.8:8}
I cannot, and will not, tell you what version you should be using but if you will be like the Bereans were with the apostle Paul and who tested everything he said to see if it was so {Acts 17:11} you will know! I will remind you of this; The Holy Spirit was sent to lead you and I into all truth. {Jn.16:13} If you keep your eyes fixed on Jesus {Heb.12:2} and your heart filled with His love, basking in His presence, you will not be deceived. He is the Way, the Truth, and the Life! {Jn.14:6}
“Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world.
By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God; and every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God; and this is the spirit of the antichrist, of which you have heard that it is coming, and now it is already in the world.” (1 John 4:1-3)
TEST EVERYTHING BY THE WORD OF GOD |
