Thyatira: The Church of Corruption
18"Write this letter to the angel of the church in Thyatira. This is the message from the Son of God, whose eyes are bright like flames of fire, whose feet are like polished bronze: 19"I know all the things you do--your love, your faith, your service, and your patient endurance. And I can see your constant improvement in all these things. 20But I have this complaint against you. You are permitting that woman--that Jezebel who calls herself a prophet--to lead my servants astray. She is encouraging them to worship idols, eat food offered to idols, and commit sexual sin. 21I gave her time to repent, but she would not turn away from her immorality. 22Therefore, I will throw her upon a sickbed, and she will suffer greatly with all who commit adultery with her, unless they turn away from all their evil deeds. 23I will strike her children dead. And all the churches will know that I am the one who searches out the thoughts and intentions of every person. And I will give to each of you whatever you deserve. 24But I also have a message for the rest of you in Thyatira who have not followed this false teaching (`deeper truths,’ as they call them-- depths of Satan, really). I will ask nothing more of you 25except that you hold tightly to what you have until I come. 26"To all who are victorious, who obey me to the very end, I will give authority over all the nations. 27They will rule the nations with an iron rod and smash them like clay pots. 28They will have the same authority I received from my Father, and I will also give them the morning star! 29Anyone who is willing to hear should listen to the Spirit and understand what the Spirit is saying to the churches."
Thyatira was located between Pergamos and Sardis, this city being under Roman rule for nearly three centuries. The city was situated in a long valley that swept forty miles to Pergamos, and had no natural defenses, but had a long history of being destroyed and rebuilt. Thyatira was basically no more than a military town that defended Pergamos from being attacked. They were more of a deterrent so that Pergamos as we learned last week would have time to prepare itself to fight against whatever foe would assail it.
18"Write this letter to the angel of the church in Thyatira. This is the message from the Son of God, whose eyes are bright like flames of fire, whose feet are like polished bronze:" As always the angel is a reference to the bishop of the church in this case at Thyatira. Not much is known about this particular town so I was not able to find out who the bishop was that is in question here. This is the only reference in the book of Revelation to Jesus as the Son of God. There are many references to Him as the Son of Man, but not the Son of God. The Lord here is making a stand in preparation for His coming rebuke against the bishop of this church. The Lord is reaffirming His deity by using the title the Son of God. It is significant as well to note that the author John uses this in the Book of John seven times in the I Am statements that Jesus used during His earthly ministry. The reason that is significant is because Jesus here is asserting who He is to His Church. Christ is the One who is the head of the Church; not a false teacher, cult or anything else. He runs the Church, and no man may have the authority that He has or the glory that He deserves. Any man that may try is but a false teacher full of himself and full of the lies of the Devil. Christ has the keys; He holds all the cards as the Son of God.
"Eyes are bright like flames of fire"
This is a specific reference to His Omniscience. He knows all that goes on in our lives. He searches our hearts looking at every intention. In a very real sense God knows every thought before we say it and even after we do it; he knows its end result.
"Whose feet are like polished bronze"
The altar of burnt offering was covered with brass and its utensils were made of the same material. (Exodus 38:1-7) Glowing hot brass feet are a reference to the divine judgement of Jesus Christ with feet of judgement moving thoughout His Church looking at each person’s heart. He looks throughout all His Church; searching each person’s heart. As we come into the experience of His presence the more we realize He is there every more beside us reaching out to us. What motivates us is not His divine judgement though it is sure, but His Divine mercy in spite of the fact that He could judge us even more showing His mercy to us being shown by His Judgement. It is in His Judgement on us that His mercy is in full display. God the Father has gone out of His way to get His people’s attention down through the ages. Beware lest He comes before you have Him in your life. The reward of the saint’s draws nearer and nearer each day; calling aloud to all people to come to Jesus into the courts of our God and experience the depths of His mercy.
19"I know all the things you do--your love, your faith, your service, and your patient endurance. And I can see your constant improvement in all these things.
William Barclay in Letters to the Seven Churches said, "If you claim to have Christian love in your heart, you can only prove it by showing that you have Christian service in your life. If you claim to have Christian faith in your soul, you can only prove it by living a life which triumphantly overcomes the world." This is true. As we walk with God closer and closer; the things that we once held dear; the love of ourselves becomes less and less resulting in service to Christ as a result of that love He gave you will in turn lead to being victorious over the Devil. It is interesting to note that right before Jesus criticizes the church at Thyatira He encourages them. This is something every preacher/pastor ought to do to give praise before rebuke. Real criticism is not found in cracking the whip, but in showing the person who has done the wrong; the right way by the way you live your life. This is the ultimate aim in our Savior and Lord to cause us to draw nearer to Himself.
20But I have this complaint against you. You are permitting that woman--that Jezebel who calls herself a prophet--to lead my servants astray. She is encouraging them to worship idols, eat food offered to idols, and commit sexual sin. I gave her time to repent, but she would not turn away from her immorality. Therefore, I will throw her upon a sickbed, and she will suffer greatly with all who commit adultery with her, unless they turn away from all their evil deeds. I will strike her children dead. And all the churches will know that I am the one who searches out the thoughts and intentions of every person. And I will give to each of you whatever you deserve."
Some commentaries have said that Jezebel was Lydia a person who was converted by the Apostle Paul; while others have said that this was a type of Jezebel having some of the same characteristics of her, of which she most certainty did. Jezebel taught the Israelites to commit idolatry and immorality. (1st Kings 21:25; 26) This made her an obvious prototypical Jezebel for the Christians especially the Jewish Christians living in Thyatira. In our times it is true as well. Many teach that in order to follow God you must comprise your values. To those that teach this, or believe this I want to tell you this. Friendship with the world is an enmity with God. If you choose to be friends with the world at the same time being friends with God you must choose whom you will truly serve and worship, for how great is your judgement going to be when the Lord Himself looks into your life and sees that you never truly followed Him. Will He not say be gone from me I never knew you? That day will be the saddest day of your life guaranteed! The Lord knows where you are in your spiritual journey; whether you are in a relationship with Him or not. He knows your heart as well and your standing with Him. If you are not walking with Him and instead walking your own way at this time I would like to encourage you from someone that has walked down that road even as a "Christian" that it ends up in nothing but sadness. For many years I compromised my Christian morals because I simply wanted what I wanted. I hung around all the wrong people and almost ended up being exactly like them. Friendship with the world results in our being separated from God. We have to choose moment by moment whom we will really live for whether that be for ourselves or for the Lord. On what we base our hope is shown daily in every decision we make. This affects our happiness, and our eternal destiny.
I know this may sound harsh in saying this, but I say it for your own benefit. Our beliefs dictate the life that we life; whether that be a life full of goodness and glory to the Creator, or for the glory of the Devil. The life we live is one that is a constant spiritual battle for the forces of God our Father, and Satan. The souls of men and woman are bound in the decision they make for their eternal destiny. The teaching we follow will ultimately be judged by the Judge on His Throne whom will judge the beliefs we cherish now. Therefore if you are following any of the following I strongly urge you to contact me. If you are a traditional catholic who holds to the pope being on the same level as Jesus Christ, or the Mormon doctrine of being baptized from the dead, or the Hindu belief in the incarnation; being made into a new person I strongly urge you to contact me. If you have not Jesus in your life you are dead. If you are not living for Jesus then you are dead in your soul. The soul longs to know Jesus Christ as Lord in every area; to experience the depths and riches of His glory. While you may feel happy now; your happiness is only as far as God allows. The happiness you feel now is because of the blessing of God to get you to turn more towards Him and less towards yourself. It is a sobering fact that we find in the Word of God that when God blesses a person they turn more towards themselves instead of turning towards the blessing. In times of trouble though they turn towards the One who blessed them, but they did not acknowledge Him, and then they blame Him for not being there when they really needed Him even though He was there in the midst of the blessing. Therefore I say as sternly as I know how to the culture that we live in and to the Christian community that we must REPENT and stop following false teachers who lead astray the people of God. I say to the pastors who may read this that you must repent quit living for yourselves. Quit living for yourself and live wholly for God. Abide in Him; go up to His Courts and take counsel from Christ. The Body of Christ is hurting because of pastors who are not spending time in the Word of God thus being lead astray by the wiles of Satan, and it is time that we no longer be tossed to and fro as the wind, but now begin to be planted in the Word and by the streams of life itself. Come to Jesus and experience what He has to offer you. 24But I also have a message for the rest of you in Thyatira who have not followed this false teaching (`deeper truths,’ as they call them-- depths of Satan, really). I will ask nothing more of you 25except that you hold tightly to what you have until I come.
"Depths of Satan"
This may have meant a few things. It could be a reference to the Gnostics who claimed to have superior knowledge than the Apostles. Gnosticism is seen today in our culture in many different forms. For one it is found in many different cults whose leaders claim to have superior knowledge than that of other Christians. Beware of these kind of teachers, or any teacher who claims to have special knowledge about God, or the Bible for they are more than likely false teachers who want to lead you astray and teach you the depths of Satan rather than the truths of God’s written Word.
25, "Except that you hold tightly to what you have until I come." Right after commendation to those who are following the false teacher Jezebel Christ gives encouragement to those who are holding fast to the truth of His Word. We are to fight for what is right to cling to it, for this is why the Apostle Paul in 1st Peter 3:13-17 wrote, "13Now, who will want to harm you if you are eager to do good? 14But even if you suffer for doing what is right, God will reward you for it. So don’t be afraid and don’t worry. 15Instead, you must worship Christ as Lord of your life. And if you are asked about your Christian hope, always be ready to explain it. 16But you must do this in a gentle and respectful way. Keep your conscience clear. Then if people speak evil against you, they will be ashamed when they see what a good life you live because you belong to Christ. 17Remember, it is better to suffer for doing good, if that is what God wants, than to suffer for doing wrong!
It is also why the Apostle Paul wrote in 2nd Timothy 1:13, "Hold fast the pattern of sound words which you have heard from me, in faith and love which are in Christ Jesus." Again Paul wrote to Timothy in 2nd Timothy 2:14-15, "Remind them of these things, charging them before the Lord not to strive about words to no profit, to the ruin of the hearers. Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth." The Apostle Paul and Peter had in mind the futility of fighting over mere words, but standing up for Christ and making known His truth in spite of the error of the false teachers. If people who hear the false teaching are lead to believe it is true as are many in Christianity today; they will fall subject not to the will of God, but the wiles of the Devil even while thinking they are doing the will of God. Satan’s schemes are subtle and we must stand firm in His Word. Many though are not even reading His Word who call themselves Christians. They call themselves "Christians" while walking away from the One who bought them that name. I say how dare you use the name of Christ when in fact you turn away everyday every more, even towards yourself instead of calling on the name of the Lord. Resist the Devil; turn towards God and live in the Spirit. Then you will know the peace of Christ, which surpasses all understanding, and know the life that God created for you to live in Him. Instead we must heed the Apostle Peter’s advice in 1st Peter 3:15a, "15Instead, you must worship Christ as Lord of your life. " May we be mindful everyday to worship God in every circumstance and in every way that we know how. 26"To all who are victorious, who obey me to the very end, I will give authority over all the nations."
This is essential to Christianity. Those who overcome mean those who put their trust in Christ, and then live for Him. The other `I will give authority over all the nations’ is a reference to endurance. Once again William Barclay puts it excellently, "The Christian life does not consist in one victory over sin; it consists in a life-long fidelity which defies every assault on sin. The Christian life is not a battle; it is a campaign." 27They will rule the nations with an iron rod and smash them like clay pots."
This is the promise to those who overcome that during the millennial kingdom Christ will enforce His will and protect His sheep with His iron scepter from any who would seek to harm them. (Psalm 2:8)
28"They will have the same authority I received from my Father, and I will also give them the morning star!" The morning star may be a reference to the promise of resurrection. As the morning star rises over the darkness of the night, so the Christian will rise over the darkness of death. No matter how dark our Christian life may be Christ always stands before the Father in our defense. It may also be a promise of Christ Himself. Revelation 22:16 says, ""I, Jesus, have sent my angel to give you this message for the churches. I am both the source of David and the heir to his throne. I am the bright morning star." The person who is faithful unto death who chooses to follow Jesus even unto their death will be granted the greatest prize of all-he will receive no other and no less than Jesus Christ Himself.
If you do not have a relationship with Jesus and would like to all you have to do is call on the name of the Lord; confess your sin and repent of them meaning turn away and choose to live life instead for Jesus Christ.
If you made a decision today to follow God or felt a stirring in your spirit that was the Holy Spirit trying to speak to you. Please feel free to contact me that is why I am here for you to serve you and to build you up on the Lord Jesus Christ. I would love to hear of your decision and encourage you in your journey with Christ.
God bless,
Pastor David
