The “Seed of Satan” Does the Devil Have Offspring on this Earth? Part 11
Counterfeit Jews
If you have carefully read the last ten parts of this material, having checked each scriptural reference along the way, you should be able to see cleary that the Jews of Yahvahosha's day—including the scribes and Pharisees—were real Jews. They were for the most part descendants of the southern kingdom, of the House of Judah.
But we are told of a group of conterfeit Jews, who lived in Asia Minor during the later part of the first century. We read of them in Revelation 2:9
To the assembly in Smyran, Messiah said, 'I know thy workds, and tribulation, and poverty, (but thou art rich) and I know the blasphemy of them which say they are Jews, and are not, but are the synagogue of Satan (see also Rev 3:9)..
Who were these people? Were they Canaaintes in disguise? Are they still with us today?
It is not possible to identify these people precisely; we are not given enough information about them. However, we do know that Satan the Devil was behind their evil deeds (v9), that is was a time of intense persecution upon the assembly (vs 9-10), and that Satan was the source behind the persecution of the brethren at Smyrna,
We also know, through history, that Smyrna was a wealthy city; yet, the assembly there was improverished (v9). This poverty may have been the result of sanctions against the Brethren in the city—perhaps because of their refusal to engage in the highly esteemed worship of the emperor.
It is likely that hostile Jews acted as “watchdog” for the officials, and were thus responsible for bringing such persecution upon the assembly.
Thus, thouse 'watchdog' Jews 'say they are Jews, and are not, but are the synagogue of Satan.' This should be understood in the light of Romans 2:28-29 'For he is not a Jew, which is one outwardly, neither is that circumcision, which is outward in the flesh. But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly and uncircumision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter, whose praise is not of men, but of Yahvah.'
The hostile Jews of Smyrma were only Jews according to the flesh, but were not true Jews—not Jews inwardly—for their adversarial behavior was completely contrary to the standard of conduct Yahvah had given to the descendants of Avraham.
Now consider this: A Brother/Sister is a 'spiritual Israylite' (or 'spiritual Jew') regardless his lineage (see Gal 3:7, 29). But if one who professes Religion preaches a doctrine of hatred, then he is teaching a FALSE and DANGEROUS doctrine—a doctrine cmpletely contrary to the great Law revealed through Moshe and magnified by Yahvahosha the Messiah—and is therefore not a true Israylite. In effect, he says he is a Jews, but is NOT! (Note: Though all Israylites are not Jews—i.e., not descendants of the House of Judah—the terms 'Israyl' and 'Jews' are often used interchangeably in the Restored Covenant).
Which group, then, best fits the description of those who 'say they are Jews, but are not': the many thousands of Jews who are pleased to live side-by-side with people of ethnic and racial origins different from their own? Or the fanatics who call themselves Messianic Israylites, yet preach a doctrine of virulent hatred and a 'gospel' of salvation by race?
The preacher who said that it is time Brethren engage in 'fruit inspection' to find out ' who's who, and who's Jew' should take a long hard look at his own produce—he might find that he's been curising the wrong tree! To Be Cont.
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