Revelation 3:9

The Faithful Church

7 “And to the¹ angel of the church in Philadelphia write, ‘These things says ^aHe who is holy, ^bHe who is true, ^c“He who has the key of David, ^dHe who opens and no one shuts, and ^eshuts and no one opens”:

8 ^a“I know your works. See, I have set before you ^ban open door, and no one can shut it; for you have a little strength, have kept My word, and have not denied My name.

9 Indeed I will make ^athose of the synagogue of Satan, who say they are Jews and are not, but lie—indeed ^bI will make them come and worship before your feet, and to know that I have loved you.

10 Because you have kept My command to persevere, ^aI also will keep you from the hour of trial which shall come upon ^bthe whole world, to test those who dwell ^con the earth.

11 Behold, ^aI am coming quickly! ^bHold fast what you have, that no one may take ^cyour crown.

12 He who overcomes, I will make him ^aa pillar in the temple of My God, and he shall ^bgo out no more. ^cI will write on him the name of My God and the name of the city of My God, the ^dNew Jerusalem, which ^ecomes down out of heaven from My God. ^fAnd I will write on him My new name.

13 ^a“He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.” ’

The Lukewarm Church

14 “And to the¹ angel of the church of the Laodiceans write, ^a‘These things says the Amen, ^bthe Faithful and True Witness, ^cthe Beginning of the creation of God:

15 ^a“I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot.

Commentaries:

Barnes' Notes

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Revelation 3:9

Behold, I will make - Greek, "I give" - ́ didōmi ; that is, I will arrange matters so that this shall occur. The word implies that he had power to do this, and consequently proves that he has power over the heart of man, and Call secure such a result as he chooses.

Them of the synagogue of Satan, which say they are Jews - Who profess to be Jews, but are really of the synagogue of Satan. See the notes on Revelation 2:9. The meaning is, that, though they were of Jewish extraction, and boasted much of being Jews, yet they were really under the influence of Satan, and their assemblages deserved to be called his "synagogue."

And are not, but do lie - It is a false profession altogether. Compare notes on I John 1:6.

Behold, I will make them to come and worship before thy feet - The word rendered "worship" here, means, properly, to full prostrate; and then to do homage, or to worship in the proper sense, as this was commonly done by falling prostrate. See the notes on Matthew 2:2. So far as the word is concerned, it may refer either to spiritual homage, that is, the worship of God; or it may mean respect as shown to superiors. If it is used here in the sense of divine worship properly so called, it means that they would be constrained to come and worship "before them," or in their very presence; if it is used in the more general signification, it means that they would be constrained to show them honor and respect. The latter is the probable meaning; that is, that they would be constrained to acknowledge that they were the children of God, or that God regarded them with his favor. It does not mean necessarily that they would themselves be converted to Christ, but that, as they had been accustomed to revile and oppose those who were true Christians, they would be constrained to come and render them the respect due to those who were sincerely endeavoring to serve their Maker. The truth taught here is, that it is in the power of the Lord Jesus so to turn the hearts of all the enemies of religion that they shall be brought to show respect to it; so to incline the minds of all people that they shall honor the church, or be at least outwardly its friends. Such homage the world shall yet be constrained to pay to it.

And to know that I have loved thee - This explains what he had just said, and shows that he means that the enemies of his church will yet be constrained to acknowledge that it enjoys the smiles of God, and that instead of being persecuted and reviled, it should be respected and loved.

Other Barnes' Notes entries containing Revelation 3:9:

Isaiah 60:14
Revelation 3:6
Revelation 3:6
Revelation 10:9

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