Who Really Belongs to the Synagogue of Satan?
Is the Synagogue of Satan a real place? Do all Jews belong to it by virtue of being Jewish? Are all Jews demon-possessed?
In Jackson, Mississippi, during the night of January 10-11, 2026, a man broke a synagogue window and got inside the building, doused the rooms with gasoline, set it on fire and left. No casualties were reported, but two Torah scrolls were destroyed along with most of the synagogue's library and administrative records. Incidentally, that synagogue–the only one in Jackson–was bombed in 1967 by a member of the Klu Klux Klan because the Jewish community was supporting Martin Luther King Jr.
This time, it was almost burned to the ground, and, yet, within hours, the arsonist was identified. He admitted that he had targeted the building because of its "Jewish ties." He also claimed that he did it because it was a "Synagogue of Satan" and in the same breath, he proclaimed "Jesus is Lord!" This was not just physical fire inside a real building, but it was also oil thrown on the fire of Christian antisemitism, at a time when Jews are increasingly feeling unsafe anywhere they turn. Does the Bible really speak of the Synagogue of Satan?
There are two verses that speak of such a gathering, and they are both found in the early section of the book of Revelation, in 2:9, "I know your tribulation and your poverty (but you are rich), and the blasphemy by those who say they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue (synagōgē) of Satan", and 3:9, " Behold, I am giving up those of the synagogue (synagōgē)of Satan, those who say that they are Jews and are not, but lie. Behold, I will make them come and bow down before your feet, and make them know that I have loved you."
Mottel Baleston explained in an article for the Ariel Newsletter, that the context for the accusation of belonging to the "Synagogue of Satan" must be seen as an intra-mural or intra-family Jewish struggle over the messiahship of Yeshua of Nazareth. This is never meant to be a clashing of Judaism against Christianity, but rather a family dispute within a First-Century Judean community.
Continuing within the proper context, we need to look at the meaning of the greek word used in those two verses that was translated "synagogue." For a moment, let's not think of a synagogue as the modern Jewish place of worship that we are all used to, and let's go back to the use of the koine Greek word synagōgē. It is found 56 times in all four Gospel accounts, Acts and James and two more times in Revelation with a different qualifier.
In the Gospels and Acts, the context clearly defined the gatherings as being Jewish and institutional, so, the word synagogue became the most common translation, but originally, it meant an "assembly" or "gathering" as we can see in James 2:2, "For if a man comes into your assembly (synagōgē)with a gold ring and dressed in bright clothes, and there also comes in a poor man in dirty clothes." Etymology often evolves with time, customs and traditions. What the word synagōgē means today isn't quite what it meant originally.
Both examples speaking of the "Synagogue of Satan" are found in Revelation, within the passage about the seven churches. Scholars have different opinions on the meaning of the seven churches. Were they real geographical locations or were these describing seven different church ages? If they were specific places, 2:9 refers to the church of Smyrna and 3:9 the church of Philadelphia.
Beyond that, Bible scholars offer two possible explanations for who the "Synagogue of Satan" was referring to. It was either a group of individuals pushing the false teaching that gentiles need to convert to Judaism and undergo circumcision, in essence, adding works to justification by faith alone, or a group of ethnic Jews fighting early messianic Jewish believers in Yeshua. If we take Yeshua's words literally, Revelation 3:9 seems to indicate that these people were not ethnically Jewish, "those who say that they are Jews and are not, but lie."
So, there you have it, the "Synagogue of Satan" is most likely not even referring to ethnic Jews!
In Matthew 16:21-23, Yeshua rebukes Peter who–in the flesh– is being used by Satan, and is arguing that Yeshua shouldn't be crucified, "But He turned and said to Peter, “Get behind Me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to Me; for you are not setting your mind on God’s interests, but man’s." Yeshua is not accusing Peter of being demon-possessed or belonging to the "Synagogue of Satan." He is recognizing that Satan is influencing Peter and is calling him [Satan] out. Yeshua is not applying the "Synagogue of Satan" to all Jews of all times being demon-possessed. Why should it be any different in Revelation 2:9 and 3:9?
It is seen differently by antisemites because it serves a purpose. It allows Jew-haters to group all Jews as belonging to the "Synagogue of Satan" while in fact, the context calls for a historical event and not a normative teaching. If indeed there was such a group described as the "Synagogue of Satan", it was a first century gathering, acting as a stumbling block to those who wanted to follow the Jewish Messiah and it doesn't apply to Jews after that era, if it even applied to Jews back then.
Nick Fuentes, Rick Wiles and Candace Owens are just a few of those who promote the trope about "The Synagogue of Satan." They are the 21st Century digital Joseph Goebbels. These new ministers of propaganda, and their rhetoric, encourage and embolden people like Stephen Pittman (not Jewish) to torch a synagogue in Mississippi while claiming to be a Christian.
Such damaging actions committed by evil people against the Jews in the name of Christ continue to burn the few remaining very fragile bridges between Christians and Jews. This, at a time when Christians should double their efforts to reach out to their Jewish friends and offer love, compassion AND protection, is making our task ever so more complicated.
In my research, I have found that it is often the very accusers who can be accused of the same sin. I wonder if the very people influenced by Satan today to hurt and or kill the Jews and who congregate in person or online to do so, shouldn't be called "The New Gathering of Satan?"
Best paragraph, the last one, the new gathering of satan. In person or online! Powerful statement! Thank you for this article and deep definition and history.
This is an extremely difficult topic to discuss because of its implications. One reason is we often ask questions with ‘this or that’. Like in this article regarding the 7 Churches. I believe they were 7 Literal Churches AND represent the Church Age dispensationally. Notice these references are in the 2nd and 6th Letters. This could represent heavy persecution to the Truth of Jesus at beginning of the Church and the end. Who are they? Definitely not all Jews and aren’t truly Jews as Jesus mentions. How many of the Sanhedrin at the time Jesus walked the earth and are in Jewish religious leadership now might fit this bill? Another very important scripture reference is John 8, especially verses 42-47. Unfortunately, there is still a hardness of heart in Jewish leadership to accept Jesus as Messiah and confirms Romans 9-11, especially 11:25. The good news is Jesus will fulfill All God’s Promises to the Jewish People for His Names Sake.
Amen Amen, so true and spot on.🙏 praying for people not to be sucked in and blinded by the dilusion of the enemy.
Thank Olivier, for always saying what’s true!
Recently, a'friend' of mine who I met a decade or so ago told me in a text message that my support for Israel and "their little flag" I have on my wall represents the synagogue of satan and she could no longer be friends with someone that supports genocide and that the star of David was satanic, that Israel is the reason for several different issues, and maybe I should really read my Bible, more specifically, the KJV only and that I've been conditioned. She quoted several Scriptures and then proceeded to tell me that I was deceived and being lied to, unquote, and then blocked me before I could rightly respond. I came to Christ in 2020 a few months after waking up from a coma after a cardiac arrest and my brother encouraging me to read the Bible and give my life over to Jesus, ask for forgiveness, and thank Him for everything. I listened to him for once, and I did that very thing. I've had a lot of people in my life, relatives included, walk away because of my outloud faith in Christ, and Him delivering me from my old life. In these last couple of years it has been picking up. Matthew 5:10-12 was flashing in my head as she continued her texts one after another. It's obvious that these last days are getting late. I pray that all will repent and believe in the Lord Jesus and keep running this race and keep the faith. Thank you for your ministry. May the Lord bless you and keep you all.
Dear Mindy, Stay strong in Messiah. Be blessed!
I have a neighbor who says she is a Christian who bandies that phrase about quite often. I have asked her exactly what she means and who she is referring to and she goes into a long drawn-out explanation that is completely incoherent to me. I hate this kind of rhetoric. I am a Christian who loves the Jewish people, not because I know very many Jewish people or because they are good- none of us are good- but because The bible commands it. I believe that this will ultimately be the great divider-those of us who love Israel and those who claim to be Christian or otherwise but seem to hate the Jewish people. It makes no good sense to me. But I think that is what is coming. Could I ask a question? It seems to me that the synagogue of satan simply refers to those at the time who simply denied that Jesus was the Christ, Messiah, Mashiach, and relied on their own righteousness to be right with God. Maybe that is what you were saying. Is this incorrect?
The great final divider indeed! As to the meaning of the Synagogue of Satan, let reiterate a part of my article: "Bible scholars offer two possible explanations for who the "Synagogue of Satan" was referring to. It was either a group of individuals pushing the false teaching that gentiles need to convert to Judaism and undergo circumcision, in essence, adding works to justification by faith alone, or a group of ethnic Jews fighting early messianic Jewish believers in Yeshua."
I lean for the first option, but we can't be dogmatic on that part, as long as we remember that it was historical.
thanks for the clarification. I just watched you on Brannon Howse and that was very good. I think I will present these 2 views to my neighbor next time she says it
Oliver,I have had conversations on this verse for many years trying to truly understand it. Why do you consider it totally historic since it is in Revelation (future) & indicates that the "synagogue of satan" will be bowing down at the feet of the believing Jews running the Millennial Temple? I have thought the ones at the feet of the Jews to be Reformed theology believers who, though now in heaven/Millennial Kingdom, once claimed to be "the true Jews" & caused all the crusades, hatred of ethnic Jews, holocaust etc in history due to their teaching that God is done with the Jews. They are even doubling down on this now in their "reformed, covenant" theology churches! Yes, they have faith in Yeshua,so are saved, but spend some time on their knees before the believing Jews in the Millennial Temple telling them they were wrong, that God did love them. Would appreciate your reply to me personally.
The one aspect of this passage that we must stay true to, is that what is described doesn't apply to all Jews. This has been said of all Jews being from the synagogue of Satan or being demon possessed. This is why historical is critical. There are no reason to believe that this carries through the ages.
This passage of scripture has always been straightforward and simple. Those who say they are Jews but ARE NOT. It doesn't get any clearer than that. It still applies today and will apply just like all the letters of the seven churches do to us as believers until the church age has ended. We can easily see this play out in the days of Martin Luther and today especially in America. It's called replacement theology. The synagogue of Satan is everywhere. From the NAR people to, Hebrew roots movement to Black Hebrew Israelites lie, to certain denominations, to these people on YouTube, etc... Remember these people claim to have replaced Israel but we all know that is a lie. It's the same thing simply worded differently. Those people causing the problems weren't Jews.
I tend to take the side of the late Chuck Missler. He thought those that called themselves Jews, but we’re not…might be the “Replacement Theologists” (people who believe they have replaced Israel, and now the Church will gain the blessings of God). Many in the Church today take this stance of Replacement Theology because in their mind, Israel rejected their Messiah. Obviously, these people don’t know their O.T.