Welcome back to our study of the seven churches of The Revelation. Today we continue our study of the church at Thyatira. I call it the ‘church of tolerance and sleaze’ because….well, you’re about to find out why. Join me as we step through the front door of the church at Thyatira.
Let’s remind ourselves of Jesus’ words to the church
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.
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.
20 Nevertheless, I have this against you: You tolerate that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess. By her teaching she misleads my servants into sexual immorality and the eating of food sacrificed to idols.
21 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. 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.
24 Now I say to the rest of you in Thyatira, to you who do not hold to her teaching and have not learned Satan’s so-called deep secrets (I will not impose any other burden on you):
25 Only hold on to what you have until I come.
26 To him who overcomes and does my will to the end, I will give authority over the nations—
27 ‘He will rule them with an iron scepter; he will dash them to pieces like pottery — just as I have received authority from my Father.
28 I will also give him the morning star.
29 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.
Commendations of Christ to this Church
- This congregation worked hard. They sacrificed for the sake of others and were known for their faith, love and patience. Sounds great, huh?
- This was the first of the seven churches to be commended for its love.
- Their works were increasing according to the commendation from Christ. Still sounds pretty good.
- The Greek word for ‘service’ here is diakonian from which we get the English word ‘deacon’. The use of this word suggests gracious hospitality and service.
Christ’s Rebukes
- The problems at Thyatira were the sins of tolerance and compromise
- One commentator suggested that part of the problem was that they allowed a woman to teach. Other commentators did not address this as a problem.
- John MacArthur suggests that “Jezebel” might have taught philosophical dualism – the spirit is good, the flesh is evil, and since God is only interested in the spirit, it doesn’t matter what one does with the body. She possibly also took an antinomian approach, and said that since one lives under grace, it doesn’t matter how much you sin because God always forgives. (MacArthur p. 100).
- The church permitted a false prophetess to teach and lead their people astray into sexual immorality. The Greek word used here is porneuo which suggests a tolerance to the morays of the society of that day, rather than actual sexual immorality taking place in the church. Sounding nauseatingly familiar, don’t you think?
- “Jezebel” also led the people to eat meat sacrificed to idols. 1 Corinthians 8 is important in understanding this passage.
- ‘Jezebel’ taught the people to compromise with the Roman religion and the practices of the guilds in order to keep their jobs and lives.
- ‘Jezebel’ had been given a warning and an opportunity to repent, but had refused. Now the church is being given a warning and an opportunity to repent.
I’m going to stop here for today, because I believe the commendations and rebukes of the church of Thyatira are worthy of contemplation for the next few days. I’m concerned that the tolerance of the Thyatiran church is present in many churches in 2013….small churches, as well as mega-churches. It would be wise for us to take some time to examine what is being taught in churches, as well as what we, the church of Jesus Christ, are tolerating. I’ll meet you back here next Monday for the conclusion of our visit to Thyatira.
