Revelation 2:18-29
This letter to Thyatira is the longest of the seven letters. The challenges that this church faced were similar to the church in Pergamum. The believers struggled to live pure lives in the midst of a pagan culture. We too face similar struggles.
About Thyatira
1. Thyatira was a military town as well as a commercial center.
2. It was known for its many trade guilds. They provided economic security and were often a basis for social life. There were guilds for people who worked with wool, leather, linen, bronze, and as potters, bakers, etc. Lydia, “a dealer in purple cloth” (Acts 16:14).
3. The problems which threatened this church were the two great enemies of the early church: idolatry and immorality.
As we study this letter we learn that “Christians are to resist spiritual and moral corruption and remain faithful to Jesus Christ. By avoiding corruption, believers are able to experience God’s best.”
INTRODUCTION (2:18) (See Daniel 10:6)
“Son of God” as opposed to Apollo, the “Sun God.” “Eyes are like blazing fire”signifies His penetrating gaze which strips away the disguises and sees into the heart. Christ’s feet are described as “like burnished bronze” which speaks of Christ’s immovable power.
I. APPROVAL (2:19)
The love, loyalty, and endurance of the church are matters for congratulations. The church in Thyatira is a thriving church, it is growing. Its members are serving. In fact, Jesus says that “as for your works, the last are more than the first.” This is how the normal Christian life should unfold. Our love, loyalty, and service should grow over time rather than diminish. Here is an encouragement and challenge to us today. May our last works be greater than our first works. Instead of fizzling out, God wants us to be fired up! On the surface, everything looks great at Thyatira. If a stranger came in, he would be impressed with their love, energy, and steadfastness. Yet for all of that, there was something not so noticeable going on that would have a chilling effect on the future of the church. Here too is a warning for the contemporary church today. A church that is crowded with people and which is busy is not necessarily a church that is spiritually healthy.
II. ACCUSATION (2:20-23)
There was most likely a dilemma in Thyatira which may be a clue as to the spiritual problem. To not join a guild was similar to not joining a trade union today. It was economic suicide. You might be ostracized economically and socially. Because of conscience, some Christians chose not participate in the guilds. Why?
(1) Some of the guilds had patron gods and they would hold feasts/meals, often in temples and offer sacrifices to
their gods.
(2) These meals often were occasions of drunkenness and immorality. Because of the rampant idolatry and immorality associated with some of these guilds, some Christians chose not to participate.
But was it possible for a Christian to participate in these activities? At Thyatira there was apparently a movement inside the church, led by a woman addressed as Jezebel, which was a movement of compromise with the worlds standards. This group felt that there was no harm in these associations. Their sin was that of using their liberty, their freedom in Christ as an excuse to sin. Paul addressed this same problem in Romans 6:1-2, “What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? By no means! We died to sin, how can we live in it any longer?” God’s grace is not a license to sin, it is power to win!
It is not likely that this woman was actually called “Jezebel!” This would be similar to naming your son “Judas.” The name is symbolic of her character.
(1) Jezebel was the daughter of Ethbaal, King of the Sidonians.
(2) She was the wife of Ahab the wicked king of Israel
(1 Kings 16:31).
(3) She orchestrated the death of God’s true prophets and replaced them with her own 450 prophets of Baal (1 Kings 18:13, 19). She was also responsible for the murder of Naboth in order that Ahab might gain possession of his vineyard (1 Kings 21).
(4) She was the idolatrous queen who enticed Israel to worship Baal (See 1 Kings 16-19). Her name became forever associated with “idolatry and witchcraft” (2 Kings 9:22).
Although we do not know the exact woman that is referred to her evil character is evident. “She misleads my servants into sexual immorality and the eating of food sacrificed to idols” (v.20). Most likely she was “misleading” believers by teaching them how to compromise with the Roman religions and practices of the guilds so that they would not loose their jobs or their lives. The compromise resulted in two things: (1) “Eating of food sacrificed to idols” (v.20) and (2) “Sexual immorality” (v.20). Idolatry and immorality run together like twins.
Apparently, those who have been captivated by this teaching believed that they have entered into a super spiritual state of being. They saw themselves as progressively moving on to a higher spiritual level. But Jesus says they are not moving up, they are descending into “the depths of Satan,” “Satan’s so-called deep secrets” (v.24). They may have been so deceived that they felt that it was their duty as Christians to experience every kind of sin. They were following Satan’s great lie which says “To know it, we must experience it.” This lie goes right back to the Garden of Eden. The Serpent made Eve believe that God was holding something back. Don’t believe the lie. The truth is, you can experience some things, but you may be scarred by the experience. But isn’t that just how sin works in our lives. Instead of enlightenment sin plunges us into darkness. Satan, or Lucifer as he is called in Isaiah 14:12 (KJV) means “light bringer.” But Satan brings a false light. The “depths of Satan” (NKJV) or “Satan’s so-called secrets” do not enlighten, they only lead to deeper darkness. Instead of freedom sin brings enslavement. Instead of joy sin brings shame.
Even in this rebuke by Christ there was an opportunity to repent, to make things right, “I have given her time to repent of her immorality, but she is unwilling” (v.21). However, judgement would come if no repentance was made (vv.22-23).
III. ADMONITION (2:24-25)
There was still a remnant of faithful believers. Upon these, God would not “impose any other burden” (v.24). You get the impression that what was going on in the church was a burden to those who knew the truth. The encouragement given to the faithful is to remain steadfast in their resistance of evil. “Only hold on to what you have until I come” (v.25).
IV. ASSURANCE (2:26-29)
A two-fold assurance is given to believers:
1. “I will give authority over the nations” (2:26-27)
What brings encouragement to the minority who are living for God, to people who feel as if evil is prevailing? The encouragement is that things will not continue on as they have. A new day is about to dawn, so hold on. One day, God’s people will live and reign with Christ (Rev. 20:4, 6; 22:5). God’s kingdom will be a perfect and righteous kingdom because the Lord Jesus Himself will be ruling. Verse 27 is a quotation from Psalm 2:8-9.
2. “I will also give him the morning star” (2:28)
This has two possibilities and probably means both. First, it is a statement that declares the complete conquest of Satan or Lucifer, the false morning star. Second, it is the promise of Christ Himself, the true Morning Star. This is what this church needed to hear – Evil will not prevail! Satan will not win! Jesus will reign victorious and we will reign with Him forever!
Two Final Words
1. Resist False Teaching
As believers we need to hear God’s Word to us in Romans 12:2, “Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is – his good, pleasing and perfect will.” Protect yourself, your family, your marriage, by walking in the truth, in the light, in Christ who is the true “light bringer,” “the bright and Morning Star” (Rev. 22:16).
2. Remain Faithful to Christ
Notice the emphasis on loyalty and service in this passage. Jesus says, “I know your works,” and “as for your works, the last are more than the first” (v.19). “I will give to each one of you according to your works” (v.23). “Keeps My works” (v.26). Our works are Christ’s works. This is what we are to continue in. This is what we are to hold on to. God wants you to continue faithfully in sound teaching, teaching which leads to doing Christ’s works.
The power to resist and remain is only found in Jesus Christ. “Christians are able to resist spiritual and moral corruption and remain faithful to Jesus Christ. And by avoiding corruption, believers are able to experience God’s best.”
For His Glory!
Pastor Joe
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