Revelation 3:9

Make them. Literally, “give them.” Grammatically, the statement of v. 9 may be understood to mean either that God would “make,” or “cause,” members of “the synagogue of Satan” to “come and worship” at the feet of the Philadelphia Christians, unrepentantly, or that God would “give” to the Philadelphia Christians some of the Jews of Philadelphia as converts to Christianity. The context is not decisive.

Of the synagogue. Or, “some of the synagogue” (see on ch. 2:9).

Say they are Jews. See on ch. 2:9.

Come and worship. The sequence of the thought—“come,” “worship,” “know”— seems to imply more than that the Christians of ancient Philadelphia would ultimately triumph publicly over their Jewish opponents. For Christians, like pagan conquerors, to rejoice at the prospect of their accusers finally lying prostrate before their feet hardly seems to reflect the spirit of true Christianity. Rather, these words may refer to the conversion of some of the Jews of Philadelphia (cf. 1 Cor. 14:24, 25) who would learn of God’s love by personal experience. Such a growth in membership may result from the “open door” of Rev. 3:8 and the loyalty of the church to Christ’s “word.” Such loyalty has often brought conviction even to the hearts of persecutors themselves.

Applied to the Philadelphia period of church history, this expression may be considered as applicable to those who do not keep pace with advancing truth and who oppose Christians who do. Thus understood, reference may be to the time when those who have rejected truth publicly confess their error.

The words “come and worship before thy feet” are from the LXX of Isa. 60:14 (cf. ch. 49:23). As strangers were to have come to literal Israel of old to learn of God (see Vol. IV, pp. 26–30), so non-Christians were to come to the light of the gospel and find salvation (see Vol. IV, pp. 35, 36).

Rev. 3:9 has also been applied to those who persist in their opposition to truth, particularly to the time when circumstances will compel them, though unrepentant, to acknowledge that those who have been loyal to truth are indeed God’s people. There is nothing to preclude the possibility that the statement of this verse may include both the repentant and unrepentant opponents of truth, with the one group making the acknowledgement in sincerity and the other only because circumstances compel them to do so.

I have loved. These words are probably taken from Isa. 43:4.