2007-2-5 05:45:00
Behold, I will make them of the synagogue of Satan, which say they are Jews, and are not, but do lie; behold, I will make them to come and worship before thy feet, and to know that I have loved thee. (Revelation 3:9)
We discussed earlier about those who say they are Jews, apostles, etc but are not. These are the false authorities - those who claim to be the voice of God to the people, but in truth lead the people away from God.
An interesting new statement is made, however. These people who are of the "synagogue of Satan" shall worship at the feet of the pilgrim who passes through Philadelphia. How could this be when these are the same people who persecuted the saints and lead the people astray?
The answer is quite simple. When the seeker in Philadelphia is alive the false teachers will indeed persecute him and fight against him with all their power. However, when his work is done he will die and then be reborn in a future age along with many of the false teachers who were his enemies. In this future life the work in which the seeker participated has become recognized as a great work and he and his co-workers as wonderful servants of humanity.
Now here is where it gets interesting. Those who previously were enemies of the work now embrace it and start leading the parade extolling its virtues and praising to the extent of worship toward the founding leaders.
For example: Many of those who persecuted Jesus and early Christians are now Christians themselves in this age and idolize the early saints. Some even pray to them.
Many who fought against the Founding Fathers of the United States and supported King George are born again and cannot say enough good things about the Constitution and Thomas Jefferson and the gang.
Many who despised Abraham Lincoln and others who struggled to free the slaves are now attempting to lead the parade in bringing more rights to African Americans.
In the new cycle the false teachers wind up worshipping at the feet of those from Philadelphia that they persecuted in the past.
Does this mean they have reformed and are now the good guys? Not necessarily. Some of them do make some progress, but most of them are still caught in the false authority trap and are drawn to the now established work to become adored leaders themselves. When a new work is created that shakes their belief system and will bring positive change again they will feel threatened and repeat the cycle until their lesson is learned.
This makes for an embarrassing life review for these folks when they see that they worshipped at the feet of one they hated so much in the past. When the feelings from both lives unite in them after death it brings a painful realization. Most hope within themselves they will not repeat such a mistake, but they usually do. As human beings most of us have to learn the hard way.
Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth. (Revelation 3:10)
Because the seeker has endured with patience and done all in his power to follow the inner voice and keep his mind focused in the light he receives a reward. He will be kept "from the hour of temptation."
Why will he be kept from this great temptation? The simple answer is that the channel of communication is now an open door and so clear that the inner voice will successfully guide him in the right direction. All he has to do is listen and follow.
The next question to ask is, what is this temptation so great that it is to "come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth."
Some students think it will come in the form of a great antichrist worse than Hitler, but those that look to the future where only a small portion of humanity will be tested are looking the wrong direction. This temptation is always with us and it comes upon the world again and again to test us.
That temptation comes to us in forms that are very deceptive to all except those who have solidified communion with the inner voice.
Every great work undergoes tremendous corruption within several generations after the founders leave. That which was pure and good often becomes corrupt and run by power hungry individuals. When seekers are reborn and encounter the systems that they helped to create they are tempted to merge with them and obey the false teachers who are now in control. All but those who have established inner communion, as has the seeker in Philadelphia, will yield to the temptation to accept false authority. Only the inner voice saves him from this captivity.
Here's how the situation plays out. The seeker helps establish a great work, such as Christianity. Much of his work becomes corrupt. He is reborn and attracted again to the work that seems familiar to him. He is told by the leaders that he must follow or be damned, but that which he is told to follow does not seem right. He checks with the inner voice and the truth is confirmed. He then leaves the corrupt organization and seeks again to promote a work which will truly serve humanity.
Here are the final verses for Philadelphia:
11 Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown.
12 Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and I will write upon him my new name.
13 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.
Revelation 3:11-13
The real power behind whatever success I have now was something I found within myself - something that's in all of us, I think, a little piece of God just waiting to be discovered.
Tina Turner (1938 - ), O Magazine, December 2003
Copyright © 2007 by J J Dewey, All Rights Reserved