A CLEANSED CHURCH
REVELATION 2:18-29
THIS IS THE FOURTH OF SEVEN MESSAGES THAT JESUS GIVES TO SEVEN CHURCHES IN THE GEOGRAPHIC AREA OF WHAT IS NOW TURKEY. EACH OF THESE CHURCHES HAS A PARTICULAR CHARACTERISTIC THAT CAN BE APPLIED TO OUR CHURCH TODAY FOR IT’S ADVANCEMENT.
EPHESUS WAS A LARGE ACTIVE CHURCH, WEATHERED BY TRIALS AND WELL TAUGHT, SO THAT IT HAD THE APPEARANCE OF BEING HEALTHY. BUT IT’S ACTIVITY WAS FOR ITS OWN GLORY. IT HAD LOST ITS DESIRE TO PLEASE GOD AND SO IT WAS UNHEALTHY.
SMYRNA WAS A SMALL PERSECUTED CHURCH. THE BIBLE CALLS IT A “CRUSHED” CHURCH AND ALSO A “CROWNED” CHURCH. THEY FACED PRESSURE, POVERTY AND PUTDOWNS BUT THEY FAITHFULLY PERSEVERED.
PERGAMUM WAS A COMPROMISING CHURCH. IT WAS A CHURCH THAT DANGEROUSLY TOLERATED SATAN’S PRESENCE.
WE LEARN FROM THESE CHURCHES TO BE FAITHFUL, AND UNCOMPROMISING IN OUR WALK WITH THE LORD AND THAT BY FAITHFULLY WALKING WITH GOD WE WILL NOT LOSE THAT INTIMATE RELATIONSHIP WE CAN HAVE WITH HIM.
NOW WE COME TO THE FOURTH OF SEVEN CHURCHES. THE LETTER TO THE CHURCH AT THYATIRA IS THE LONGEST OF ALL THE LETTERS TO THE CHURCHES. THIS IS STRANGE BECAUSE OF ALL THE CHURCHES THYATIRA IS THE LEAST IMPORTANT OF THE CHURCHES.
THYATIRA SERVED MILITARILY AS A DEFENCE FOR PERGAMUM, THE CAPTIAL CITY. A GARRISON OF ROMAN SOLDIERS WAS THERE AND THEIR MAIN DUTY WAS TO DELAY INVADERS LONG ENOUGH FOR PERGAMUM TO BE PREPARED FOR THE COMING ATTACK. IT WAS LOCATED IN A VALLEY WITH NO NATURAL DEFENCES. IF YOU WANTED TO ATTACK THE CAPITAL, YOU WOULD HAVE TO GO THROUGH THEM FIRST.
IT WAS NOT A LARGE CITY, BUT IT WAS A THRIVING CITY OF MERCHANTS AND MANUFACTURERS OF EVERY KIND, AND IN THE CITY WERE MANY GUILDS, WHAT WE WOULD CALL TODAY UNIONS. THEY INCLUDED:
A) POTTER’S GUILD
B) TANNERS GUILD
C) WEAVER’S GUILD
D) ROBE MAKER’S GUILD
E) DYER’S GUILD
THYATIRA WAS THE HOME OF A LOCAL GOD, APOLLO TYRIMNUS WHICH WAS THE PATRON GOD OF THE GUILDS AND HONORED AT THEIR SOCIAL GATHERINGS. THE GUILDS WERE LARGE AND POWERFUL AND IF YOU DID NOT TAKE PARTY IN THEIR SOCIAL GATHERINGS YOU COULD LOSE YOUR ECONOMIC SECURITY.
LET’S LOOK AT THE PASSAGE:
REVELATION 2:18: 18 “TO THE ANGEL OF THE CHURCH IN THYATIRA WRITE: THESE ARE THE WORDS OF THE SON OF GOD, WHOSE EYES ARE LIKE BLAZING FIRE AND WHOSE FEET ARE LIKE BURNISHED BRONZE
THIS IS A VERY AUTHORITATIVE INTRODUCTION TO THE CHURCH. JESUS REFERS TO HIMSELF AS “THE SON OF GOD”, AND IT IS AN INTRODUCTION OF AUTHORITY. HE WANTS THE CHURCH AT THYATIRA TO KNOW THE POWER THAT HE HAS.
WE NEED TO BE REMINDED AT TIMES OF WHO IT IS WE COME TO WORSHIP AT CHURCH. WE ARE COMING INTO THE PRESENCE OF THE GREAT CREATOR, THE AUTHOR AND SUSTAINER OF OUR FAITH. IF WE WOULD BOW IN RECOGNITION IF ROYALTY WERE TO COME IN HERE, HOW MUCH MORE REVERENT SHOULD WE BE AS WE GO INTO THE PRESENCE OF GOD.
HE THEN STRENGTHENS HIS INTRODUCTION FURTHER BY STATING “WHOSE EYES ARE LIKE BLAZING FIRE AND WHOSE FEET ARE LIKE BURNISHED BRONZE”.
THERE ARE SOME PEOPLE WHO WHEN THEY LOOK AT YOU, MAKE YOU FEEL LIKE THEY CAN SEE RIGHT INTO YOUR VERY SOUL. YOU JUST CAN’T HIDE ANYTHING FROM THEM. JESUS IS TELLING US THAT THERE IS NOTHING WE CAN HIDE FROM HIM. HE NOT ONLY KNOWS WHAT WE DO, HE KNOWS OUR VERY THOUGHTS. THE SCARY PART OF THIS IS THAT HE WILL HOLD US RESPONSIBLE FOR WHAT WE SAY AND WHAT WE DO.
IT’S EASIER TO BE RESPONSIBLE FOR OUR THOUGHTS WHEN IN CHURCH. WE SING HYMNS, READ BIBLE PASSAGES, HEAR THE MESSAGE, AND OUR THOUGHTS ARE TAKEN UP IN GOD. BUT GOD KNOWS OUR THOUGHTS AND ACTIONS EVERY DAY OF THE WEEK.
REVELATION 2:23: THEN ALL THE CHURCHES WILL KNOW THAT I AM HE WHO SEARCHES HEARTS AND MINDS, AND I WILL REPAY EACH OF YOU ACCORDING TO YOUR DEEDS.
BRONZE WAS SYMBOLIC OF JUDGMENT, AND THE BRONZE FEET SYMBOLIZE GODS STRENGTH AND STAYING POWER. THYATIRA WAS KNOWN FOR THE BRASS ARMOR MADE THERE. THE MESSAGE OF VERSE 1 IS CLEAR. YOU CAN’T HIDE ANYTHING FROM GOD’S BLAZING EYES, AND HE WILL PUNISH WHAT IS WRONG OR SINFUL. THIS WAS THE MESSGE TO THYATIRA, AND IT IS THE MESSAGE TO US TODAY.
JESUS THEN COMMENDS THEM AND TELLS THEM WHAT IS RIGHT IN THE CHURCH IN V. 19.
REVELATION 2:19: I KNOW YOUR DEEDS, YOUR LOVE AND FAITH, YOUR SERVICE AND PERSEVERANCE, AND THAT YOU ARE NOW DOING MORE THAN YOU DID AT FIRST.
JESUS COMMENDS THE CHURCH FOR FOUR THINGS:
1. LOVE: THE LOVE IN THIS CHURCH WAS UNCONDITIONAL OR AGAPE LOVE. IT WAS A SELFLESS, SELF-GIVING LOVE THE WAY THAT A CHURCH SHOULD BE. IT CAN ONLY BE PUT IN YOUR HEART AND PRODUCED BY THE HOLY SPIRIT. THIS AGAPE LOVE IS WAY THE WORLD WILL KNOW THAT YOU ARE A CHRISTIAN AND THAT THE CHURCH IS IN TUNE WITH CHRIST.
I WONDER, DOES THE WORLD SEE THIS KIND OF LOVE EXPRESSED IN US? DOES JESUS SEE THIS TYPE OF LOVE EXPRESSED IN US?
2. FAITH: THIS FAITH GIVES THE IDEA OF FAITHFULNESS EVEN DURING THE TIMES OF PERSECUTION. IT IS A PERSEVERENCE THAT OVERCOMES, THE HIGHEST FORM OF LOYALTY. THIS IS THE TYPE OF FAITH THAT COMES AS A PERSON MATURES IN CHRIST. THEY WILL USE THEIR FAITH TO HELP THEM FACE THE DAILY CHALLENGES FROM THE GUILDS AND BUSINESS PRESSURES.
WHAT KIND OF PRESSURES ARE YOU FACING IN YOUR LIVES TODAY? FOR SOME IT IS HEALTH, FOR OTHERS ECONOMIC PRESSURES OF SOME KIND, PERHAPS ITS WITH YOUR FAMILY. ARE YOU FACING THEM USING YOUR FAITH THAT GOD WILL SEE YOU THROUGH THEM? ARE WE FACING THESE ISSUES IN OUR OWN STRENGTH OR ARE WE TRUSTING BY FAITH IN THE POWER OF GOD.
3. DEEDS OF SERVICE: JESUS COMMENDS THE PEOPLE FOR THEIR PATIENT ENDURANCE AND FOR THEIR WORKS AS A CHURCH TO OTHERS.
EPHESIANS 2:10: FOR WE ARE GOD’S HANDIWORK, CREATED IN CHRIST JESUS TO DO GOOD WORKS, WHICH GOD PREPARED IN ADVANCE FOR US TO DO.
4. GROWTH: JESUS SAID HE COULD SEE THEIR CONSTANT IMPROVEMENT IN ALL THESE THINGS. HE SAW THEIR GROWTH. CHRISTIANITY ISN’T SUPPOSED TO BE STAGNANT. IT’S SUPPOSED TO GET BETTER AND BETTER.
DON’T YOU WANT TO HEAR CHRIST SAY THIS ABOUT YOU. I CAN SEE YOUR GROWTH, THAT IT IS GETTING BETTER AND BETTER EACH DAY. HOW THRILLING TO HEAR HIM SAYING I’M PROUD OF YOU MY SON OR MY DAUGHTER.
ARE YOU GROWING EACH DAY? AS ONE PASTOR SAID,
“SOME PEOPLE LIKE TO BLAME THE PASTOR SAYING ‘WELL I’M JUST NOT GETTING FED ON SUNDAY.” TO WHICH I (MEANING THE PASTOR) LIKES TO REPLY ‘GET YOUR OWN FORK’. WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IF YOU ONLY ATE FOOD ON SUNDAY? YOU’D STARVE TO DEATH EVENTUALLY.”
REVELATION 2:20: MISLEADS MY SERVANTS INTO SEXUAL IMMORALITY AND THE EATING OF FOOD SACRIFICED TO IDOLS.
NOW WE MOVE INTO THE SECOND PART OF THE LETTER. HERE JESUS IS TELLING THE PEOPLE WHAT’S WRONG WITH THEIR CHURCH. THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN PERGAMUM AND THYATIRA IS THAT IN PERGAMUM THERE WAS A DANGER OF COMPROMISE TO OUTSIDE TEACHINGS. IN THYATIRA THIS WAS HAPPENING IN THEIR CHURCH.
THYATIRA’S PROBLEMS CENTERED IN TWO AREAS.
1. FALSE TEACHING BY SOMEONE THAT JOHN HAS GIVEN THE NAME “JEZEBEL”
2. THE PRESSURE OF THE GUILDS TOWARDS IDOLATRY.
THERE IS LITTLE DOUBT AMONG THEOLOGIANS THAT THIS WOMAN’S REAL NAME WAS JEZEBEL. NO FAMILY DURING THIS TIME WOULD GIVE A CHILD THAT NAME REMINDING PEOPLE OF THE JEZEBEL IN THE OLD TESTAMENT. IT WOULD BE LIKE SOMEONE CALLING YOU A JUDAS.
THE JEZEBEL OF THE OLD TESTAMENT WAS EXTREMELY WICKED. YOU CAN READ HER STORY IN 1 KINGS THE LATTER CHAPTERS.
THIS JEZEBEL AT THYATIRA LED CHRISTIANS INTO SINFUL PRACTICES AND CLAIMED TO HAVE SPECIAL KNOWLEDGE AS A PROPHETESS, WHICH WAS NOT FROM GOD.
JEZEBEL DOCTRINES THAT WERE AT THYATIRA COULD EASILY INVADE THE CHURCH TODAY. THERE IS A GROWING ACCEPTANCE OF SEXUAL IMMORALITY, PROSPERITY GOSPEL IS ON THE RISE, TEACHING THAT STATES YOU ONLY HAVE TO BELIEVE PARTS OF THE BIBLE, THE ONES THAT AGREE WITH WHAT YOU THINK. WE WOULD LIKE TO SAY THAT COULD NEVER HAPPEN HERE, BUT THEY CAN COME SO CLEVERLY WRAPPED THAT YOU WOULDN’T REALIZE IT UNTIL IT IS TOO LATE.
CHOSEN SIN FOR THE BELIEVER IS ALWAYS A FORM OF IDOLATRY. THEY KNOW IT IS WRONG, YET THEY CONSCIOUSLY CHOOSE TO DO SO, VIOLATING THE AUTHORITY OF GOD SHOWING THAT GOD IS NO LONGER THEIR GOD. WHATEVER YOU ARE LIVING FOR, WHATEVER MAKES LIFE WORTHWHILE TO YOU BECOMES YOUR GOD AND THAT IS THE DEFINITION OF IDOLATRY. IT IS THE BREAKING OF THE FIRST TWO COMMANDMENTS.
EXODUS 20:3-5:
“YOU SHALL HAVE NO OTHER GODS BEFORE ME. 4 “YOU SHALL NOT MAKE FOR YOURSELF AN IMAGE IN THE FORM OF ANYTHING IN HEAVEN ABOVE OR ON THE EARTH BENEATH OR IN THE WATERS BELOW. 5 YOU SHALL NOT BOW DOWN TO THEM OR WORSHIP THEM; FOR I, THE LORD YOUR GOD, AM A JEALOUS GOD.
GOD WILL NOT ALLOW THIS ACTION TO GO UNPUNISHED. HE WILL ALSO EXCEEDINGLY BLESS THOSE WHO REMAIN FAITHFUL TO HIM.
EXODUS 20:5-6:
PUNISHING THE CHILDREN FOR THE SIN OF THE PARENTS TO THE THIRD AND FOURTH GENERATION OF THOSE WHO HATE ME, 6 BUT SHOWING LOVE TO A THOUSAND GENERATIONS OF THOSE WHO LOVE ME AND KEEP MY COMMANDMENTS.
ADDED TO THE TEACHING OF THIS FALSE PROPHETESS WAS THE PRESSURE OF THE GUILDS. EACH GUILD HAD A PARTICULAR GUARDIAN GOD, AND AS A MEMBER OF THE GUILD YOU WERE EXPECTED TO ATTEND ALL FUNCTIONS AND PARTICIPATE IN ALL ACTIVITIES INCLUDING OFFERINGS, FEASTS AND IMMORAL BEHAVIORS. THE JEZEBEL WOULD TEACH THAT IT IS ALL RIGHT TO PARTICIPATE, BECAUSE EVERYONE KNEW YOU WERE A PERSON OF FAITH.
GUILDS WOULD OFTEN HAVE BANQUETS WHERE MEALS WOULD INCLUDE MEAT SACRIFICED TO VARIOUS GODS, AND SACRIFICES WOULD BE MADE TO GODS AT THE END OF THE BANQUET. THESE BANQUETS WOULD INCLUDE EXCESSIVE DRINKING AND FESTIVITIES THAT WERE OFTEN SEXUAL IN NATURE.
THE QUESTION WAS SHOULD A CHRISTIAN BELONG TO A GUILD KNOWING THESE PRACTICES? CHRISTIANS IN THYATIRA KNEW THAT TO SPEAK OUT AGAINST THE GUILDS WOULD RUIN THEM FINANCIALLY. IT COULD DESTROY THEIR HOME. TO BE INVOLVED WITH THEM WOULD COMPROMISE THEIR BASIC MORAL AND WTHICAL STANDARDS AND THEIR WITNESS OF THE GOSPEL OF CHRIST. THE CHURCH IN THYATIRA WAS ALLOWING THIS JEZEBEL WITHIN ITS RANKS TO TEACH AND INFLUENCE THEIR PEOPLE TO SIN.
THERE ARE JEZEBELS WITHIN OUR SOCIETY TODAY, AND JEZEBELS WHO WANT TO INFLUENCE AND LEAD IN THE CHURCH. HOW DO WE SPOT THEM? WHAT DO WE DO ABOUT THEM?
MY ANSWER IS TO BE STRONG IN THE WORD OF GOD AND TO MAKE A BOLD STAND FOR CHRISTIAN PRINCIPLES. THESE ARE PRINCIPLES THAT ARE CHALLENGED BY SOCIETY, BUT PRINCIPLES THAT ARE BLESSED BY THE LORD HIMSELF.
PRINCIPLES SUCH AS:
1. ALL FORMS OF SEXUALY IMMORALITY ARE WRONG. THE BIBLE TEACHES THAT THE SEXUAL RELATIONSHIP IS A COVENANT RELATIONSHIP TO BE SHARED ONLY BY HUSBAND AND WIFE.
2. LOOKING AFTER OUR FELLOW HUMANS AS JAMES 1:27 STATES:
JAMES 1:27: RELIGION THAT GOD OUR FATHER ACCEPTS AS PURE AND FAULTLESS IS THIS: TO LOOK AFTER ORPHANS AND WIDOWS IN THEIR DISTRESS AND TO KEEP ONESELF FROM BEING POLLUTED BY THE WORLD.
3. WE MUST STAND ON THE AUTHORITY OF THE ENTIRE BIBLE, NOT JUST PARTS OF IT, RECOGNIZING THAT EVERY WORD OF THE BIBLE IS INSPIRED BY THE HOLY SPIRIT.
4. WE MUST RECOGNIZE THAT THERE IS ONLY ONE WAY THAT A PERSON COMES TO SAVING FAITH IN JESUS CHRIST. JESUS SAID:
JOHN 3: 5-7:
JESUS ANSWERED, “VERY TRULY I TELL YOU, NO ONE CAN ENTER THE KINGDOM OF GOD UNLESS THEY ARE BORN OF WATER AND THE SPIRIT. FLESH GIVES BIRTH TO FLESH, BUT THE SPIRIT GIVES BIRTH TO SPIRIT. 7 YOU SHOULD NOT BE SURPRISED AT MY SAYING, ‘YOU MUST BE BORN AGAIN.’
5. THE ACQUIRING OF POSSESSIONS IS NOT A SIGN OF SPIRITUAL BLESSING. GOD CAN CHOOSE TO BLESS SOME PEOPLE WITH MATERIAL ABUNDANCE, BUT ALONG WITH THAT BLESSING COMES GREAT RESPONSIBILITY TO USE THOSE POSSESSIONS FOR HIS GLORY.
MATTHEW 6:19-21:
DO NOT STORE UP FOR YOURSELVES TREASURES ON EARTH, WHERE MOTHS AND VERMIN DESTROY, AND WHERE THIEVES BREAK IN AND STEAL. 20 BUT STORE UP FOR YOURSELVES TREASURES IN HEAVEN, WHERE MOTHS AND VERMIN DO NOT DESTROY, AND WHERE THIEVES DO NOT BREAK IN AND STEAL. 21 FOR WHERE YOUR TREASURE IS, THERE YOUR HEART WILL BE ALSO.
IF WE ARE CAUGHT IN THIS GOD WILL GIVE US TIME TO REPENT. THIS TIME THOUGH WILL BE FULL OF CRISIS AND INSTABILITY, BUT WE CAN REPENT. IF WE DO NOT THEN HE WILL DISCIPLINE PEOPLE. HE SAID OF THIS JEZEBEL IN V.21-23:
REVELATION 2:21-23:
I HAVE GIVEN HER TIME TO REPENT OF HER IMMORALITY, BUT SHE IS UNWILLING. 22 SO I WILL CAST HER ON A BED OF SUFFERING, AND I WILL MAKE THOSE WHO COMMIT ADULTERY WITH HER SUFFER INTENSELY, UNLESS THEY REPENT OF HER WAYS. 23 I WILL STRIKE HER CHILDREN DEAD.
THE REASON THERE ARE SUCH HIGH RATES OF SEXUAL DISEASES IN THE WORLD TODAY IS BECAUSE OF THE PROGRESSIVE NATURE OF SEX TODAY. ANYTHING GOES, AND AT ANY AGE NOW, AND THE LAW IS MAKING SURE THAT PARENTS CAN NO LONGER EDUCATE THEIR CHILDREN ABOUT SEXUALITY.
AS A CHURCH WE MUST STAND FOR THE ABSOLUTES OF SCRIPTURE. DOING SO WILL HELP UIS TO RECEIVE THE BLESSINGS GOD WANTS US TO HAVE. HE TOLD THE CHURCH AT THYATIRA:
REVELATION 2:26-28:
TO THE ONE WHO IS VICTORIOUS AND DOES MY WILL TO THE END, I WILL GIVE AUTHORITY OVER THE NATIONS—28 I WILL ALSO GIVE THAT ONE THE MORNING STAR.
DURING THE MILLENNIUM CHRISTIANS WILL BE GIVEN AUTHORITY OVER THE NATIONS TO RULE. IT WILL BE QUEEN LINDA OR QUEEN PAM. DON’T LET IT GET TO YOUR HEADS YOU’RE NOT THERE YET!
HE WILL GIVE THE MORNING STAR.
REVELATION 22:16: 16 “I, JESUS, HAVE SENT MY ANGEL TO GIVE YOU THIS TESTIMONY FOR THE CHURCHES. I AM THE ROOT AND THE OFFSPRING OF DAVID, AND THE BRIGHT MORNING STAR.”
THE GREATEST GIFT THAT A CHRISTIAN COULD EVER HAVE IS THE ONE GIVEN TO THEM AT THEIR CONVERSION. THIS IS WHEN WE ARE GIVEN JESUS INTO OUR HEARTS. HE WILL NEVER LEAVE US OR FORSAKE US. HE IS THE AUTHOR AND FINISHER OF OUR FAITH. NO JEZEBEL OR GUILD CAN EVER COME BETWEEN US. NO PERSECUTION OF THIS WORLD CAN EVER DEFEAT US. WE ARE LEAD BY THE LION OF JUDAH, THE KING OF THE AGES, AND SO WE STAND IN HIM, AND WE WILL LIVE WITH HIM FOR ETERNITY.
