To the Angel of the Church of Thyatira
To the Angel
of the Church of Thyatira
Revelation 2:18-29
“The Jezebel Church” (607-Tribulation)
I.
Christ’s Description - Eyes
Like A Flame Of Fire, Feet Like Fine Brass (2:18 see also 1:14 -15)
II.
Commendations (2:19 )
1. Deeds/works, love/charity, faith, service, perseverance/patience
2. Last works were more than the first
III.
Condemnations (2:20 -15)
1. Allowed self-proclaimed prophetess to teach and seduce
Christ servants (2:20 )
i. to commit fornication
ii. to eat things sacrificed to idols.
2. She did not repent (2:21 )
3. Some knew and spoke of the “depths of Satan” (2:24 )
IV.
Commands (2:22 ,25)
1. Repent of the deeds
2. Hold fast until Christ comes
V.
Consequences (2:22 -28)
1. Those who commit adultery with her will be cast into great
tribulation
2. She will be cast into a bed
3. Her children to be killed with death
4. True churches to know the “I AM” who searches the minds (reins)
and hearts
5. Each will be given according to works
6. Overcomers (believers, see 1 John 5:1-4) will receive…
i. Power over the nations
ii. The Morning Star (Rev. 22:16)
PARTICULARLY:
Historical Setting:
Thyatira is perhaps the most insignificant city in the seven letters, yet Jesus
Christ devotes the longest letter to this church. Pliny the elder dismissed
Thyatira, lumping the city with “other unimportant communities.” Lydia 16:14 ), a color of wealth and
royalty. Jesus refers to a woman as Jezebel, but she is not known historically
except for this reference. Some have speculated that it could have been anyone
from the preacher’s wife to a false prophetess outside the church, enticing
true Christians.
Name Defined:
The name can be defined as “thea” (female
goddess) plus tira (tyrannical rule). Others have said the word comes from “thuo”
a wood used for aromatic sacrifices and plus tira, or “reigning (continual) sacrifices.”
Both the adulation of Mary and the teaching of continual sacrifice of Christ
have been falsely taught by the papal church since this era.
PROPHETICALLY:
Church History Parallel: “The Adulterous
Church” (607-Tribulation)-The final four churches differ from
the previous three in that Christ concludes each letter with “He that hath an ear,
let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches,” indicating that each
church will have a similar end. The final four churches correspond with
churches which will likely be ongoing until Christ returns.
The
church at Thyatira was similar to the Pergamos church, but this church has a
prominent false prophetess called Jezebel (in Hebrew = “wife of Baal.”) In 607,
Boniface III became the first bishop of Rome 5:23 ).
It
is not just Rome which has had false churches. Even today, there are false churches
which go by the label of Protestant. Any church which has mystical teachings are
both idolatrous and commit spiritual “fornication” (Rev. 2:20-21). Yet, there
are true believers within this time frame from the seventh century A.D. through
now, with “charity and service and faith and patience and works” even greater
than the first (Rev. 2:19). The church grew during this period in some ways greater
in number and greater in devotion, but also in its apostasy, which eventually
led to the Reformation.
The
children of Jezebel (Rev. 2:23) should be interpreted figuratively, perhaps as
false churches which will be put to death by Christ, but at the same time the true
church is encouraged to hold fast “till I come.”
18 And to
the angel of the church in Thyatira write: The Son of God, who has eyes like a
flame of fire, and His feet are like burnished bronze, says this: 19 I know your works, love, service, faith, and your
patience; and as for your works, the last are more than the first.
This appearance is similar to Daniel 10:5-6 in
His feet and eyes. Fire signified judgment and purity, in contrast
to the Jezebel-like woman and the impurity within the church, despite the good
works being done. The Old Testament altar was also made of “burnished
bronze” or something like a copper and gold color. Churches will see that Jesus
doesn’t just look at the good deeds, but also the thoughts (reins-KJV,
minds-NKJV) and hearts as well.
20 Nevertheless I have a few things
against you, because you allow that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess,
to teach and seduce My servants to commit (fornication-KJV)
and eat things sacrificed to idols. 21
And I gave her time to repent of her sexual immorality, and she did not
repent. 22 Indeed I will cast her into a sickbed,
and those who commit adultery with her into great tribulation, unless they
repent of their deeds.
Many have compared this woman of the fourth church
to the woman of the fourth parable of the Kingdom of Heaven
Jesus allows time for repentance, but if not heeded,
judgment will come, for both the leaders and the followers. The word for “bed”
used in marriage (see Heb. 13:4) was a different word used here, which often
was used for carrying the sick, hence the translation “sickbed.” Jezebel was
called a harlot in 2 Kings 9:22. As Jezebel, with painted eyes and adorned
head, was cast down from her lofty window (2 Kings 9:30 -37), so also would this false prophetess and
so will be any false teaching in the church.
Historically, many of the sins of the Adulterous
Church during this time period (607 AD and forward) have since been repented of and admittedly erroneous.
23 I will kill her children with death,
and all the churches shall know that I am He who searches the minds and hearts.
And I will give to each one of you according to your works. 24 Now to you I say, and to the rest in Thyatira, as many as
do not have this doctrine, who have not known the depths of Satan, as they say,
I will put on you no other burden.
25 But hold fast what you have till I come.
Children often suffer for the sins of their parents,
especially those who commit fornication. Likewise, if Jezebel is symbolic of a
false church, children would be false cults that come from false teaching and
practices. False churches and organizations which have good works but errant
teachings are dead and will go into the great tribulation. On the other hand,
while the world is undergoing the Great Tribulation, the true church and Christians
will receive their good rewards according to their works before the Judgment Seat
(Gr: bema) of Christ. (See Matt. 16:27 , Romans 14:10 , 1 Cor. 3:8-15, 2 Cor. 5:10 , 2 Tim. 4:8, 2 John 1:8, Rev.
22:12).
26 And he who overcomes, and keeps My
works until the end, to him I will give power over the nations-- 27 “He shall rule them with a rod of iron; They shall be dashed to pieces
like the potter's vessels”-- as I also have received from My Father; 28 and I will give him the morning star. 29 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.
This is in fulfillment of Psalm 2:9, the first
Messianic Psalm. See also Rev. 12:5 and Rev. 19:15. In the thousand year
reign of Christ, Christians will have authority and ruling power over the
nations, or sometimes translated “the Gentiles” or unbelievers. There will
still be nations during the millennium, and part of our reward will be to reign
as Christ has also received from His Father to reign (see Rev. 5:9-10). Thrones
will especially be given to those beheaded during the Great Tribulation (Rev.
20:4). There will be twelve thrones
especially for the judging of Israel 19:28 ) and
perhaps another 12 thrones (perhaps for the gentiles or nations).
A description of life on earth is given more fully
in Isaiah 11-12. Wolves, leopards, lions, bears, and serpents will lay peacefully
with baby goats, lambs, cows, and even children. This new state will be
like a “new earth” according to Isa. 65:17, but not the new earth in Rev.
21:1. Resurrected believers will have new bodies, but also there will be
still unbelievers and sinners (Isa. 65:20), and some of the nations or
unbelievers will be deceived by Satan (or at least the devil will try to
deceive them) at the end of the millennium.
The morning star (astera ton proinon) refers to that
shining light from heaven seen after the darkest of night. This reference to
Jesus is seen again in Rev. 22:16 and also 2 Peter 1:19. This term should
not be confused at all with Lucifer which is sometimes wrongly translated as
“morning star” (HSCB, GNB, NIV), or “star of the morning” (NASB) from Isa. 14:12 . The Hebrew word is “Heylel” or shining one (which is
transliterated into the Greek to helios or the “sun god” from which we get the
word “hell.” It is followed by the word “ben”
or “son of” and then the word “shacar” or morning. Accurate translations (King James
and New King James) do not try to make “Heylel” to be translated as “star” or
“morning star” as it literally means bright. There is another Hebrew word
that is translated star, but it is “kowkob”, not even close to “Heylel”.
It is amazing that Satan has wanted to be “like the Most High” (Isa. 14:14 ) and has been aided by the
translators of some of the newer Bible versions.
PERSONALLY:
We all have good works.
We can find good in most if not all people. There may be a few people who could
be described as completely devoid of good, who don’t have an ounce of love, who
have never served anyone else to save their lives, entirely devoid of faith and
patience. But most of us could describe ourselves like Thyatira, and we would
like to think that maybe we are getting better than we were at the first.
Intermixed with
our good works, however, may be the spirit of Jezebel, which originally unrighteously
fed the lust of Ahab. Lust as described by Christ is the same as adultery. “But
I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lustful intent has already
committed adultery with her in his heart.” (Matthew 5:28).
The sins of the
lust of the eyes, flesh, and boastful pride of life eventually lead to death.
The wages of sin death, Romans 6:23 states. Our world is increasingly ruled by
the idolatry of fornication, adultery, and idolatry and those sins are causing
Christ’s servants to teach and seduce My servants to commit (fornication).
