"Keep on Holding Fast What You Have"/ PHILADELPHIA -"They Will Bow Down to You"

Hence, Jesus promises them fruitage:  "Look! I will give those from the synagogue of Satan who say they are Jews, and yet they are no but are lying-look!   I will make them come and do obeisance before your feet and make them know I have loved you." (Revelation 3:9)  Perhaps, as in Smyrna, the congregation has had problems with the local Jews.  Jesus designates these as the "synagogue of Satan."   Nevertheless, at least some of those Jews are about to realize that what the Christians have been preaching about Jesus is the truth.  Their 'doing obeisance' will likely be in the manner described by Paul at I Corinthians 14:24, 25,  so that they  actually repent and become Christians, fully appreciating  Jesus' great love in surrendering even his soul in behalf of his disciples. - JOHN 15:12, 13.

Members of the Jewish synagogue in Philadelphia would likely be startled to learn that some of them were to 'do obeisance' to the local Christian community.  In view of the fact that there are doubtless many non-Jews in that congregation, they would expect the very opposite to take place.  Why?  Because Isaiah foretold: "[Non-Jewish]kings become caretakers for you [the people of Israel], and their princesses nursing women for you.  With faces to the earth they will bow down to you." (Isaiah 49:23; 45:14; 60:14)  In a similar vein Zechariah was inspired to write:  "It will be in those days that ten men [non-Jews] out of all the languages of the nations will take hold, yes, they will actually take hold of the skirt of a man who is a Jew, saying: "We will go with you people, for we have heard that God is with you people." (Zechariah 8:23) Yes, non-Jews were to bow down to Jews, not the other way around! 

Those prophecies were addressed to God's chosen nation. Whey they were uttered, fleshly Israel occupied that honored position.  But when the Jewish nation rejected the Messiah, Jehovah cast  them off.  (Matthew 15:3-9'; 21:42, 43; Luke 12:32; John 1:10, 11)   At Pentecost 33 C,E,, he chose in their stead the true Israel of God, the Christian congregation.  Its members are the spiritual Jews with the real circumcision of the heart. ( Acts 2:1-4, 41, 42; Romans 2:28, 29; Galatians 6:16)  Thereafter, the only way that individual Jews could come back to a favored relationship with Jehovah would be by putting their faith in Jesus as the Messiah.  (Matthew 23:37-39)  Evidently, this was about to happen with some individuals in Philadelphia.

In modern times, prophecies  such as Isaiah 49:23 and Zechariah 8:23 have had a very significant fulfillment.  As a result of the preaching of the John class, huge members of people have entered through the open door into Kingdom service.  Most of these have come out of Christendom, whose religions falsely claim to be spiritual Israel.  (Compare Romans 9:6.)  These as a great crowd, wash their robes and make them white by exercising faith in Jesus's sacrificial blood.  (Revelation 7:9, 10, 14)  Obeying Christ's Kingdom rule, they hope to inherit its blessings here on earth.  They come to Jesus'  anointed brothers and "bow down" to them, spiritually speaking, because they have heard that God is with them.'  They minister to these anointed ones, with whom they themselves become united in a worldwide association of brothers. - MATTHEW 25:34-40; 1 PETER  5:9. 

Next time:  "Keep on Holding Fast What You Have"/PHILADELPHIA - "The Hour of Test" 

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