THE SYNAGOGUES
I wrote about the churches, in the August
issue. However, "churches" is a misnomer. I intend
no unkindness in saying this. I am simply stating a fact.
"Synagogue" is the transliteration of
the Greek word, "sunagoge," or "synagoge," for, in
English we use y where the Greek u is made like the English y.
"Synagoge" is made up of two words: Syn, meaning
"together," and Agoge, which means "leading."
The Word means "together leading," or a company that has been
led together. In the transliteration, as it occurs in English, all
the Greek letters are retained, and u is inserted between the last
two.
"Church" is a translation of the Greek
words: Ek, which means "out," and Klesia, meaning
"called." The church is an out-called company. The
church of God is composed of those whom God has our-called, or called
out.
It is generally admitted by all preachers and other
"religious" workers, that in all the churches there are some
who are merely professors, who do not possess the life of Christ-in
short, some who have not been out-called. I say this is generally
admitted. After such a craze for new members, as manifested by all
the churches for many years, no one can deny that many who are
unbelievers have been gathered in. If there is one unbeliever in
an organization, that person has not been out-called by God. That
organization can not be said to be a church, or the out-called.
Part of the is in the organization, but the organization is not
composed entirely of the out-called, and is not a church. On the
other hand, the membership, both believers and unbelievers, have been
led together, into the organization. Therefore, it is a
synagogue.
The forming of the church of God is the sovereign act
of God. No one is led into the church. God calls sinners
out, by His spirit, and baptizes them in spirit. This act places
them in the church. God leads His saints, for we are told that as
many as are being led by God's spirit, these are sons of God. See
Rom. 8:14. This leading takes place after they become
saints. The very act of God that makes them saints, places them in
the church. The out-called and the baptism in spirit can not be
separated. The church is not a "led-together"
company. It is not an organization; it is an organism. No
one joins it; God places them in it. Membership is not obtained by
baptism in water; in one spirit we are baptized into one body. See 1
Cor. 12:13.
The word of God recognizes the so-called
"churches" as synagogues. In the Revelation, of
Unveiling, we see one of them in the early part of the future day of the
Lord, and it is called the synagogue of Satan. See Un. 2:9.
Let us remember:
1. What is written in the Unveiling, or the
Revelation, will not take place until the day of the Lord begins.
See 1:10: "I came to be, in spirit, in the Lord's day."
John, in spirit, was transported across the centuries, in to the Lord's
day, which is still future, and saw and recorded what shall take place
then.
2. The seven churches of Asia are Jewish
churches that have had no existence as yet, but which will be on the
earth in the early part of the Lord's day. That they are Jewish,
is proven by the fact that they are contrasted with some claiming to be
Jews, and are not. See 2:9.
3. Those falsely claiming to be Jews are a
synagogue of Satan. See 2:9. Not being a Jews, they are
gentiles. How can anyone escape the conclusion that they are a
gentile "church?"
4. Before the day of the Lord begins, all
saints shall be taken away from the earth-that is, the church, the
out-called of God, shall be taken up for a meeting with the Lord in the
air. See 1 Thess. 4:13-5:10. Unbelievers will be left on
earth, even though they have "joined the church." In the
early part of the day of the Lord, gentile "churches" will
still be in existence but no saints will have membership in them.
This is why they will then be called synagogues of Satan.
Let it not be thought that these "churches"
will become synagogues after the saints are taken out of them.
They are synagogues now, but they are not synagogues of Satan.
After the saints are taken away, they will not become synagogues; they
are already that. They will become synagogues of Satan.
It is not unkind to call them synagogues. I am
simply recognizing the meaning of the word. They had to become
synagogues. If the scriptural truth, that the church is the
out-called, had prevailed throughout the centuries, there would have no
unscriptural together-leading, and God's plan that there would be
synagogues of Satan on earth in the early part of the Lord's day, would
have been defeated. In other words, Un. 2:9, would never be true,
if Christendom had held to the truth concerning the church. Not
only in the case of Israel of old, but also in that of Christendom,
God's plans demand a measure of unbelief, as well as some belief.
I am not censuring anyone for this. Christendom has carried
out God's intention although it has not carried out His revealed
will.
The synagogues are not churches of God, but parts of
the church of God are in them. I have fellowship for them.
My attitude toward the saints, and even toward the unbelieving members
of the synagogues is peace. I have the same attitude toward the
world. I teach concilliation; may God lead me to manifest it in
all my acts.
But the synagogues have the same attitude toward the
truth, as was manifested in the days of old. Those who teach it,
in the way of preaching, are usually cast out. I am not
complaining at this, either. This is carrying out God's
intention. Many saints who love the truth of Universal
Reconciliation choose to hold membership in the synagogues, while
supporting those whom the synagogues reject. They hold their
membership there because of social advantages. I do not censure
them. Some remain there in hope of winning the entire synagogue to
the truth; others, because it gives them an opportunity to teach them
the truth occasionally.
Two things are certain: The synagogues will not be
converted to the truth of Universal Reconciliation, and not all saints
will sever their connection with these organizations before the Lord
comes in the air. If the former should take place, there would be
no synagogues of Satan in the coming administration; if the latter
should come to pass, the synagogues would become synagogues of Satan
before God's time.
Believers in Universal Reconciliation, who have been
led b the spirit of God to sever their connection with the synagogues,
and those who retain membership there, but attend and support the truth,
should feel grateful to God for this privilege of believing, and
suffering for the truth. Let us not expect the multitudes to be
with us. May we be satisfied to be pointed out as unorthodox, and
strange people. Knowing what we do, we should not wish to be
identified with, and commended by a system that is getting further and
further from the truth. But let us be careful to manifest the
fullest fellowship for all who live devout lives, even though they do
not fellowship us. While we teach that there is one body, let us
remember that a large part of this body is in the synagogues, that are
called churches. Let not out acts or teaching set up a barrier
between them and us, and thus form ourselves into another sect.
