Today we hear what Jesus has to tell us about the church at Thyatira. This letter is the longest of the seven messages, and reveals a blatant tolerance of sin and sleaze. Let’s carefully read the words of Christ and consider if they apply to our lives and churches.
Revelation 2: 18 – 29 (NIV)
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.
“Despite the clear biblical teaching to the contrary, churches throughout history have tolerated sin, following a pattern like the Thyatiran congregation, whose members were engaged in both spiritual and physical adultery.” (John MacArthur from The MacArthur New Testament Commentary – Revelation) p. 95
Whew! If that doesn’t open your eyes, you are in need of a gravedigger, friends. Let’s begin our study.
The Church at Thyatira
- The most corrupt church of the seven addressed by Christ
- This church is a contrast to the church of Ephesus. Ephesus had lost their love, but was faithful to deal with false teachers. Thyatira was doing well in maintaining their love for the Lord, but had failed to deal with a false teacher in their midst.
- “Unloving orthodoxy and loving compromise are both hateful to God.” (quote from Warren Wiersbe p. 42)
- Scripture does not record the founding of this church. However, the church at Thyatira is mentioned in Acts 16: 14. Do you remember why? Check it out and I bet you will remember.
- Apparently the church did not heed the warning of Christ, because it was no longer in existence by the end of the second century. Jesus was not just talking to hear his head roar, folks. He is serious about sin and the tolerance of it.
City of Thyatira
- Modern city of Akhisar sits on top of the ruins of Thyatira
- Thyatira was the smallest city of the seven cities. It was considered the gateway to Pergamos.
- It was a military town, founded by Seuleucus, that had many trade guilds (unions). These guilds were the main source of pressure and persecution for Christians. To hold a job or run a business, one had to be a guild member. Each guild had a patron deity. For Christians, who refuse to bow to anyone other than Jehovah, it was nearly impossible to make a living in Thyatira.
- Temple to Apollos (the Sun god) was located in Thyatira
- Thyatira’s main industry was, in John’s day and remains today, the production of dyed wools and other dyed goods.
Christ’s Greeting to the Church at Thyatira
- “Whose eyes are like blazing fire and whose feet are like burnished bronze.”
- This greeting is a reminder that Christ’s comprehension of the church and it’s ways is complete. He misses nothing concerning His church.
- “Feet like burnished bronze” also seems to indicate strength, purity and holiness.
- The wording also indicates Christ’s role as Divine Judge. This tells how serious the church’s sins were.
- This is the only time in Revelation Christ is identified as the Son of God, emphasizing His deity.
People other than the City Folks
- Jezebel was the wife of King Ahab (1 Kings 16-19) who enticed the Israelites to worship Baal. “She was a ruthless, godless, calculating, power-mad seducer of the people.” — Ray Stedman
- Baal worship involved male and female temple prostitutes, as well as obscene sex acts.
- Jezebel was probably not the real name of the woman causing disruption in the Thyatiran church. John likely gave her this name to indicate her character. There are many thoughts about who she might have been, but we don’t know for sure.
Friends, I hope you will come back next Monday for ‘the rest of the story’. This material is so important for us to consider. In the day in which we live, it is so easy to slip into tolerating sin and evil. I don’t want to do that, and I know you don’t either. I hope you will join me next week.
