Revelation 3:9 - Coke's Commentary on the Holy Bible

Make them of the synagogue of Satan;— See ch. Revelation 2:9. Here we have the Jews mentioned again, who, through hatred to Christ, moved the Heathens to persecute the Christians; and it is likely that the persecution, in which the faith of this angel had been tried, like that at Smyrna, was contrived by them. Some understand the 9th verse, of the state of humiliation and subjection of the Jews to the Christian church; and others, of their future conversion to the faith. It has been, however, well observed, that were we more particularly acquainted with the history of those seven churches, in the times immediately succeeding the date of these epistles, we might, perhaps, find many remarkable illustrations of several passages in them, and of this among the rest. Supposing, for instance, that persons ofconsiderable rank and dignity in Philadelphia were converted to Christianity, and the interest of the synagogue here spoken of was so weakened, or the Heathen populace of the place were so prejudiced against them, as that the chief members of the synagogue should find it necessary to court the protection of the Christians, for the security of their persons or effects, it will throw considerable light upon the place. The like observation may be applied to the clause in Revelation 3:10. I will keep thee from the hour of temptation, &c. Dr. Smith (in his learned and accurate account of these parts, p. 134, &c.) has observed, that Philadelphia was the last of all the seven cities here spoken of, which fell into the hands of the Turks; for whereas the rest were subdued by Urchan and Amurath, Philadelphia held out till the time of Bajazet; so that the remains of this society were preserved, when those of the rest were ruined. The hour of temptation which should come upon all the world, according to some, relates to the persecution under Trajan, which was greater and more extensive than the preceding persecutions under Nero and Domitian.