Kohathite: The Ancient Lie They’re Still Teaching | How The “Synagogue Of Satan” Twists Torah

The Ancient Lie They’re Still Teaching | How The “Synagogue Of Satan” Twists Torah

The phrase “synagogue of Satan” in Revelation 2:9 and 3:9 has long stirred debate. Some assume it describes a building, others a hostile group of outsiders. But what if the heart of this warning is not about bricks and mortar—or even about ethnicity—but about doctrinal deception?

What if the “synagogue of Satan” represents those who twist the very Word of God, cloaking lies in religious language? And what if that ancient lie still surfaces today, even in modern “prosperity” messages that sound spiritual but subtly distort the Torah and the Gospel?

Let’s uncover this deception together.

Revelation’s Warning

Yeshua told the congregation in Smyrna:

“I know your tribulation and your poverty (but you are rich) and the slander of those who say they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan.” (Revelation 2:9)

Notice the contrast. The believers in Smyrna were materially poor yet spiritually rich. Their opponents, however, boasted of covenant identity while resisting Yeshua—and in doing so, they aligned themselves not with God’s Spirit, but with the adversary.

It is no coincidence that Yeshua emphasizes poverty and richness in the same breath as this deception. Already, the seeds of a distorted teaching were taking root—one that equated God’s blessing with wealth and worldly security.

Yeshua’s Rebuke of Materialistic Religion

Yeshua consistently warned against confusing godliness with gain. In Luke 12:15 He said:

“Take care, and be on your guard against all covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of possessions.”

And in Matthew 6:24:

“No one can serve two masters… You cannot serve God and mammon.”

The “synagogue of Satan” is not just an assembly of persecutors—it is any system that uses God’s name to justify greed, power, and the exploitation of the vulnerable.

This is why Yeshua called out leaders who devoured widows’ houses (Mark 12:40) while pretending to be pious. It is why He overturned the tables of those who commercialized worship in the Temple (Matthew 21:12–13).

The Prophets Exposed the Same Lie

The Tanakh is full of warnings against twisting Torah for profit or power:

Isaiah 56:11 – “The dogs have a mighty appetite; they never have enough. But they are shepherds who have no understanding; they have all turned to their own way, each to his own gain, one and all.”
Jeremiah 6:13 – “For from the least to the greatest of them, everyone is greedy for unjust gain; and from prophet to priest, everyone deals falsely.”
Psalm 49:6–7 – “Those who trust in their wealth and boast of the abundance of their riches? Truly no man can ransom another, or give to God the price of his life.”

From generation to generation, false shepherds have twisted God’s truth to justify greed. That’s not Torah—it’s a satanic counterfeit.

The Prosperity Twist

Today, the same deception resurfaces under new labels: teachings that promise divine favor in exchange for “sowing a seed,” doctrines that equate righteousness with riches, and movements that subtly suggest suffering believers must lack faith.

But Revelation says the opposite: the Smyrna believers were poor but rich. Their authentic faith shone brightest in trial, not in material prosperity.

When prosperity teaching becomes the measure of God’s blessing, it reduces Torah to a transaction, turns Yeshua into a product, and makes disciples into customers. That, beloved, is nothing less than the synagogue of Satan in modern dress.

Authentic Faith in Messiah

True faith is not about manipulating God to get what we want. It is about surrendering fully to His will.

Yeshua said: “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” (Matthew 5:3)
Paul wrote: “As sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, yet possessing everything.” (2 Corinthians 6:10)
And Psalm 37:16 reminds us: “Better is the little that the righteous has than the abundance of many wicked.”

Authentic covenant life is measured not by wealth, but by faithfulness. Not by gain, but by godliness. Not by how much we accumulate, but by how deeply we walk with the God of Israel through Messiah Yeshua.

Encouragement in the Last Days

The book of Revelation was not written to make us afraid—it was written to make us faithful. The synagogue of Satan still whispers lies: “If God really loved you, you’d be rich, powerful, comfortable.” But the Spirit says: “Be faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life.” (Revelation 2:10)

Do not be deceived. Do not sell out for temporary gain. Do not measure yourself by the world’s standards. The King is coming, and His reward is with Him.

Call to Action

Beloved, the ancient lie is still being taught: a twisted Torah that promises gain instead of godliness. But you and I are called to stand in truth.

Here’s how you can respond:

Pray – Ask God to sharpen your discernment and keep you free from the lure of counterfeit religion.
Share – Spread this message to others who are confused by modern prosperity teachings.
Support – Partner financially with my advocacy work so that together, we can equip more believers, expose deception, and strengthen the body of Messiah worldwide.

The synagogue of Satan thrives on twisting Torah for gain. But we will stand firm in the authentic faith of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, revealed in Messiah Yeshua—our true Treasure, our eternal Reward.