“I know thy works, and tribulation, and pouertie, but thou art rich, and I know the blasphemie of them which say they are Iewes and are not, but are the Synagogue of Satan.”
1611 King James Version (KJV)
2:9 I know thy affliction and poverty - A poor prerogative in the eyes of the world! The angel at Philadelphia likewise had in their sight but a little strength. And yet these two were the most honourable of all in the eyes of the Lord. But thou art rich - In faith and love, of more value than all the kingdoms of the earth. Who say they are Jews - God's own people. And are not - They are not Jews inwardly, not circumcised in heart. But a synagogue of Satan - Who, like them, was a liar and a murderer from the beginning.
Re 2:9 Tribulation. Affliction. Poverty. Most of those first enlisted for Christ were poor. See 1Co 1:26-29. But thou art rich. Rich in faith, hope and fruits. And [I know] the blasphemy. Reviling of the Jews against the Lord. Them who say they are Jews. Those who say that they are Jews were of the Jewish race, but were not of the true Israel. "He is not a (true) Jes who is one outwardly", etc. (Ro 2:28). John denies the right of these Jewish opposers to use the term "Jews" in the sense of God's chosen people. Their synagogue was the synagogue of Satan. Such strong language implies a complete separation of the church and synagogue, an event that occurred at the period of the destruction of Jerusalem. See Ac 21:20-26