| Revelation 2:8-10 8 To the angel of the church in Smyrna write, These things says the first and the last, who was dead, and is alive. 9 I know your works, and tribulation, and poverty, (but you are rich), and I know the blasphemy of those who say they are Jews, and are not, but are of the synagogue of Satan.4 [Though they are relatively rich in spirit, they mourn for more. Christians are inward Jews with circumcised hearts; those who claim to be Christians, but who have not had their hearts circumcised by the Spirit, speak blasphemy calling themselves Christians; their churches are synagogues of Satan. Notice again! Jesus is referencing their works, which are works of loving obedience to the commands you hear spoken from God in your heart.] 10 Fear none of those things that you will suffer. Behold, the devil will cast some of you into prison, so that you may be tried; and you will have tribulation for ten days. Be faithful to death, and I will give you a crown of life. | |||||||||
4 I know your works, and tribulation, and poverty, (but you are rich) and I know the blasphemy of those who say they are Jews, and are not, but are of the synagogue of Satan. A true Christian is an inward Jew, his heart having been circumcised, putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ. Those who claim to be Christians, but who have not had their hearts circumcised by the Spirit, speak blasphemy calling themselves Christians. These are the false Christians of Babylon, worshiping in a form, without the power of God to free them from sin by cutting off the flesh of their hearts; their churches are synagogues of Satan. Throughout his writings, Kingdom-dwelling George Fox identified churches of those who professed Christ, but did not possess Christ, (those without a circumcised heart), as synagogues of Satan; Fox even has a letter devoted to identifying them as synagogues of Satan.
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