<< Previous | Index | Next >>"THE BOOK OF REVELATION" Letter To Thyatira (2:18-29) INTRODUCTION 1. Previously, we considered the letter to Pergamos (Re 2:12-17), in which Jesus... a. Commended their works and steadfast faith in the midst of persecution and Satanic influence b. Condemned them for harboring those who held false doctrine and compromise with the world c. Warned them to repent, or He would fight against them with "the sword of My mouth" d. Promised to those who overcome: hidden manna to eat, a white stone, on that stone a name known only to the recipient (perhaps metaphors alluding to attending the Messianic banquet, cf. Re 19:9) 2. We suggested that it provides information regarding the opposition they were facing... a. Dwelling where Satan's throne is, where Satan dwells - Re 2:13 b. With pressure by their society to worship the Roman emperor and state sanctioned idolatry c. With pressure by some of their own members to compromise with societal sanctioned immorality 3. The fourth letter is written to the church in Thyatira, home of Paul's first convert in Philippi (Ac 16:14-15). Some background information... a. The city of Thyatira 1) The center of a number of trade guilds that used natural resources in the area - HIBD 2) The purple cloth that Lydia sold was a major product of that city - Revelation: Four Views -- The trade guilds practiced idolatrous rites at their gatherings, which would had made it difficult for Christians to continue in their trades without compromise - ibid. b. The church at Thyatira 1) May have begun through Paul's work while at Ephesus - cf. Ac 19:8-10 2) Received the longest letter of the seven churches (12 verses) 3) Faced pressure from within as well as from without to conform with the world -- Other than what is written here in Revelation, little else is known about the church [As we proceed to examine the letter written to the church at Thyatira, again note carefully the setting it provides for why and what is to follow in the Book of Revelation. Once again we start with…] I. THE LORD'S SELF-DESIGNATION (18) A. "THESE THINGS SAYS THE SON OF GOD"... 1. Emperor worship in Thyatira gave homage to the Roman emperor as "the Son of God" - Back To The Future, Ralph E. Bass 2. Here Christ is confronting that worship and stating that it is He who is the true Son of God - ibid. -- And serving as a reminder of Who is truly the King of kings and Lord of lords! B. "WHO HAS EYES LIKE A FLAME OF FIRE, AND HIS FEET LIKE FINE BRASS"... 1. With piercing vision that sees all and judges righteously - ibid. 2. And feet to tread upon the wicked in the winepress of God's wrath - ibid. -- The description of His eyes and feet both suggest impending judgment - ibid. [As before, the Lord's self-designation in each letter ties together elements of the vision of the Son of Man in chapter one, with what He then says to each of the seven churches. Now for...] II. THE LORD'S COMMENDATION (19) A. FOR THEIR WORKS, LOVE, SERVICE, FAITH, AND PATIENCE... 1. Their work and service was joined with love, faith, and patience 2. Unlike the church at Ephesus, they had not left their first love - cf. Re 2:4 -- Sounds like a wonderful congregation! B. THEIR LAST WORKS ARE MORE THAN THE FIRST... 1. Their spiritual productivity was increasing 2. Typical of that expected of all Christians - cf. 1Co 15:58; 1Th 4:1,9-10 -- Sounds like an excellent congregation! [With piercing eyes, the Lord sees and gives credit where credit is due. But all was not well; indeed, there was a serious problem at Thyatira, and thus follows...] III. THE LORD'S CONDEMNATION AND WARNING (20-24) A. HIS CONDEMNATION... 1. They allow that woman Jezebel who calls herself a prophetess a. To teach and seduce His servants (contrary to 1Co 14:34; 1Ti 2:12) b. To commit sexual immorality and eat things sacrificed to idols c. Akin to the Jezebel of the OT - cf. 1Kin 16:30-33; 19:1-2 2. Whom the Lord had given time for her to repent a. Of her own sexual immorality b. But she did not repent -- Note the Lord's longsuffering: He gave the woman time to repent! - cf. 2Pe 3:9 B. HIS WARNING... 1. The Lord will cast her into a sickbed (from a bed of fornication to a bed of sickness) 2. Those who commit adultery with her will have great tribulation, unless they repent 3. He will kill her children (followers?) with death (pestilence) 4. The churches will know that He searches the minds and hearts - cf. Ac 5:1-11 5. He will give to each according to their works - cf. Jer 17:10 6. For those who do not follow her doctrine (or have not known the depths of Satan as they say), He places on them no other burden 7. Thoughts on "The depths of Satan": a. "This suggests a fascination with quasi-Gnostic teachings that said that familiarity with and practice of paganism resulted in greater sanctification." - Ralph Bass, Back To The Future b. "Connecting this with what we already know of her teaching, it seems that her doctrine was a proto-Gnostic teaching that Christians would attain new and greater levels of sanctification by immersion into the depths of Satanism: worshiping idols, committing fornication, entering to the fullest extent into the depravities of the heathen around them—sinning that grace might abound." - David Chilton, The Days Of Vengeance -- Again note the Lord's longsuffering: He is willing to withhold tribulation, if they repent! [Strong warning and condemnation to be sure, but perhaps necessary to warn the faithful if they were going to remain such in the days ahead (akin to the effect the judgment on Ananias & Sapphira had - cf. Ac 5:11). But the warning is followed by...] IV. THE LORD'S EXHORTATION AND PROMISE (25-29) A. "BUT HOLD FAST WHAT YOU HAVE TILL I COME"... 1. May have reference to His Second Coming 2. Or His coming in judgment upon nations deceived by Satan (cf. Jerusalem & Rome) 3. Or the arrival of judgment threatened to "Jezebel" and her "children" -- Whichever, the principle charge remains forever true: Hold fast! - cf. He 10:23 B. "HE WHO OVERCOMES, AND KEEPS MY WORKS UNTIL THE END, TO HIM I WILL GIVE POWER OVER THE NATIONS—'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;"... 1. A promise in some way to participate in the current reign of Christ! 2. A reign of the Messiah foretold in Psalms - cf. Psa 2:8-9 3. In which He would reign "in the midst of His enemies" - cf. Psa 110:1-7 4. His reign declared by the apostles to be current - cf. 1Co 15:24-26; Re 1:5 -- Perhaps an allusion to that described later: participating in the reign of the saints with Christ after death in heaven - Re 20:4-6; cf. also 1Co 6:2-3 C. "I WILL GIVE HIM THE MORNING STAR"... 1. "In a later chapter, Jesus identifies himself as the Bright and Morning Star (Re 22:16)." - Revelation: Four Views 2. "Thus as He is the 'hidden manna' promised to the overcomers of Pergamos (Re 2:17), so is He the 'morning star' that will be given to the overcomers of Thyatira." - ibid. -- "The promise may convey the idea that those who continue to hold forth their lamp in the present night, they will live to see the dawning of a new day." - ibid. D. "HE WHO HAS AN EAR, LET HIM HEAR WHAT THE SPIRIT SAYS TO THE CHURCHES"... 1. As with the three previous churches, Jesus includes this exhortation 2. A reminder that these letters were not just for the benefit of the seven churches to whom they were initially addressed -- The exhortation to hold fast against societal pressures to conform is especially worth heeding when one contemplates the promises Jesus offers to those who hold fast! CONCLUSION 1. From the letter to the church at Thyatira, we learn that they… a. Had much for which to be commended b. Had much for which to be condemned 2. From the letter to the church at Thyatira, we learn that Jesus… a. Will bring judgment upon those who compromise with the world in its ungodliness b. Will in some way involve His saints who overcome in His current reign over the world Next we shall consider the letter to the church in Sardis...<< Previous | Index | Next >>
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