Churches of Revelation: 6 Philadelphia – Doors, Keys and Pillars.

The church in Philadelphia was commended for their endurance in following Jesus even in the midst of trials. When Jesus encourages this church He calls the Jews who are making their lives hard a “synagogue of Satan.” The word for Satan means “adversary” or “accuser,” Jesus’ words were not an a attack against Jews in general, but a reference to Jews in Philadelphia who denounced Jewish Christians before Roman officials for not being “true Jews.” In Philadelphia, as in other places, Jewish Christians were being excommunicated from their synagogues for following Christ. Jews were exempt from participation in the emperor worship cult, but Jewish Christians, because of their exclusion from the Jewish community, did not enjoy the same legal protection.