This study was first taught on December 8, 2019

Topic: The Assessment of the Churches (25.2): The Church in Philadelphia (The Two Assemblies (2))

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Background
We began to look at "The Two Assemblies" last week in which we noted that these assemblies are the Church of God and the Synagogue of Satan. We noted that the Lord called the synagogue of the Jews in Philadelphia the synagogue of Satan, implying that they were not worshipping God, but paying obeisance to Satan. We saw that only in places where the church did not give Satan access into it, was there a synagogue of note, to be branded a synagogue of Satan. The implication is that where ever the true church of God is present there will also be a synagogue of Satan. It is therefore imperative that we are able to identify the true church of God, and anything that does not conform to that is counterfeit and a synagogue of Satan.

We noted that the true church of God is made up of sinners who have been saved, sanctified, and are being sanctified. We saw that even when an assembly is made up of a few people, is politically impotent, persecuted and even financially poor, it could nonetheless be the true church of God. The crucial thing about the true church of God is that they keep the word of God, they do not deny the name of the Lord, and they are faithful to God till the end. Any assembly that is not keeping the word of God, that denies the name of the Lord by there lifestyle, and that will not remain faithful to God in the face of life's challenges and even death, is not a true church of God, but a counterfeit and a synagogue of Satan.

Scripture Text(s)
Revelation 3:9
We shall continue from where we stopped last week so that we can conclude on the topic ...
We shall now look at why the churches in Smyrna and Philadelphia which had in each of their localities, a synagogue of Satan, were in such unpleasant and challenging conditions, among other observations.
1 Peter 4:12-19; 1 Corinthians 10:13; Romans 5:3-4; James 1:2-4, 12-15; Philippians 1:29; 2 Timothy 2:3; 1 Peter 5:10; Revelation 2:13, 24; 3:4; 1 Corinthians 11:18-19, 1; 4:1-16; Philippians 3:17-20; 2:10-11; 1 Corinthians 14:24-25; Acts 2;6-11ff; Hebrews 9:27.

Conclusion
We have seen that unpleasant situations and conditions are attempts by Satan to dissuade the true church from continuing with God and to seek a short-cut to obtaining the promises of God. We have also seen that Christianity is a personal walk with Christ and so, even if Satan has access into a church as in the cases of Pergamum, Thyatira and Sardis, there were some who kept their devotion and dedication to God. So, we should not seek men of God, rather we should seek after Almighty God and His Christ! Again, in fulfilling His promise that those who are of the synagogue of Satan will certainly come and bow to the true church of God, we note that indeed, sooner or later, every knee shall bow and every tongue confess that Jesus is Lord to the glory of the Father.

Our counsel is that we should hold fast to the word of God and emulate those who were in Berea, who though, of the synagogue of the Jews, searched the scriptures after hearing Paul teach, and in the process saw the truth in the word of God and turned to God in faith. Let us endure hardship, remain humble, keep the word of God, be loyal, dedicated to God, and faithful to Him to the end, even unto death, and the Lord shall show to the world that we are loved regardless of our challenges and unpleasant conditions (<strong>John 14:21-24</strong>).

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