The Corrupt Church

Introduction:

One of the major tools Satan uses is compromise. As with the church in Pergamos, Thyatira was also a compromising church. Compromise not only weaken the person but the church as well. Opening the doors to allow sin to run rampant and also damages the reputation of the believers and drags our God’s name through the mud.

If it is allowed to go unchecked there are some telltale signs: when there is indifference, lack of dedication, and a distancing from God.

vv.18-19)The church—place, personality, praise:

Place: The city of Thyatira

Thyatira means perpetual sacrifice or continual offering. Thyatira was the smallest and seeming the least important cities Jesus addresses. Thyatira is located where the modern city of Akhisar is. The city was built on a cast plain and served as a military arsenal and the first line of defense for Pergamos. The city was know for its trade guilds and we see that correspond to: Acts 16:14

Acts 16:14 NKJV

14 Now a certain woman named Lydia heard us. She was a seller of purple from the city of Thyatira, who worshiped God. The Lord opened her heart to heed the things spoken by Paul.

Historically, we have no record that the Christians of Thyatira suffered any significant political or religious persecution. We might be able to connect the corruption in this church with the lack of persecution. If you are not a threat to Satan, why bring persecution against you?

Personality: Description of Jesus:

What are the implications of Jesus’ description (eyes like a flame of fire, and His feet like fine brass)?

As we have already have studied these descriptions of Jesus are important and are filled with significance.

Eyes like a flame of fire: Jesus Christ, knows all things that take place in each of the seven churches. Here it seems that He really wants to reiterate that He knows them, truly knows them at that. All the good and the bad He sees it all and judges all things. Judging with a penetrating judgement. Nothing will every be able to escape that piercing judgement.

Feet like fine brass: as we discussed in chapter 1, the takeaway from this description is twofold. The first being, that brass is a metal connected with judgment and sacrifice. And secondly, it speaks of a refined purity. Others have made the point too about Jesus’ feet that it could also emphasize His steadfastness and His immovability.

Praise: Commendations

The church was commended for six things:

Works

Love

Service

Faith

Patience

Increased Works.

What stands out in this list to you and why?

In light of the correction that Jesus will bring up in the next few verses, What is odd about this list?

Thyatira were achieving more now in these areas than they did even at first, which suggests growth in Christians maturity—which is atypical since the tendency is for spiritual entropy to assert itself in the church. Especially for a church struggling with corruption and compromise.

vv. 20-23) The complaint—sin, stubbornness, suffering:

Sin: What Jesus has against this church

Again despite all the good things this church was doing their church was under the blazing sight of the King of kings and Lord of lord. Jeremiah 17:9-10

Jeremiah 17:9–10 NKJV

9 “The heart is deceitful above all things, And desperately wicked; Who can know it? 10 I, the Lord, search the heart, I test the mind, Even to give every man according to his ways, According to the fruit of his doings.

Why does God have a problem with Jezebel?

Jezebel: The stem of the corruption in Thyatira was a woman Jesus called Jezebel. This probably wasn’t her literal name, but a title that clearly represented a self-appointed prophetess within the church, after the likeness of the OT Jezebel. (1 Kings 16-21; 2 Kings 9:30-37).

These are one of those names that have a powerful association to it. Similar to calling someone a Judas or a Hitler it means something heavy and strong.

Jezebel in Scripture is one of the most evil characters in the Bible. She attempted to combine the worship of Israel with the worship of Baal… She clearly is power hungry and her husband Ahab is submissive to her whims and acts like a big baby.

My opinion: God will rise up women when men fail to take action. Here, I believe, we see the negative aspect.

Some of the Greek manuscripts suggest that this woman might be the pastor’s wife of this church.

Our passage doesn’t suggest that this Jezebel was teaching or having authority over men, but it does seem probable.

Egalitarian vs. Complementarianism

The most serious problem with Jezebel was not that she taught but what she taught.

She was an immoral and ungodly influence on others, and led others into sin. Because of the city’s strong guild ties sexual immorality and eating of things sacrificed to idols was probably connected with the mandatory social occasions of the guild.

What is most likely happening is that these Christians would be invited and she would give them a “prophetic” word—and they would go fall into immorality and idolatry.

One ancient Christian named Tertullian wrote about Christians who made their living in trades connected to pagan idolatry. A painter might find work in pagan temples or a sculptor might be hired to make a statue of a pagan god. They would justify this by saying “This is my living, and I must live.” Tertullian replied, “Vivere ergo habes?” “Must you live?”

My servants: What makes this worse is that these were Jesus’ servants:

Mark 9:42 NKJV

42 “But whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to stumble, it would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were thrown into the sea.

Stubbornness: A unwillingness to repent

I gave her time to repent: In these words of Jesus we see both mercy and judgment. Time to repent shows mercy. God gives mankind time to repent. And she did not speaks to the judgment of God. God give time but it is not unlimited.

Suffering: consequences

This church on the outside models a good church, demonstrating: works, love, service, faith, and patience. yet they was significant corruption inside the church.

Before Jesus told the Christians what they must do, He would tell them first of what He would do.

Adultery: probably refers to both sexual adultery and spiritual adultery.

Sickbed: it is as if Jesus said, “You love an unclean bed. Here, I will give you one, and cast you into a sickbed.”

What is it? It could be an image of affliction, or a literal sickness. We know from Scripture that God can use sickness as a way to chastise His people when they are in sin.

Unless you repent: Jesus know reveals the purpose for His chastening. First, it was to draw them to repent of their deeds. They clearly weren’t listening to the Spirit before, hence the severe warning given. Secondly, it was to give an example of holiness to other churches: “and all the churches shall know that I am He who searches the minds and hearts.”

I will kill…with death: “all men die, but all are not killed with death… Oh, it is a woeful thing to be killed with death.”—Trapp

The phrase is literally: “kill in death.” And seems to emphasizes that in this case of death it wouldn’t happen naturally, but it is the actual act of God himself.

vv. 24-28) The possible course of action:

False teaching:

Doctrine: A doctrine is what the whole bibles teaches us today about some particular topic.—Dr. Grudem

False Doctrine would obviously the the opposite of this definition.

The gnostic heresy that developed in the ancient world did claim a super knowledge and often spoke of deep things that only gnostic initiates generally comprehended.

These believers were called not to give into the corruption that lead their brothers and sister astray. Jesus also wasn’t going to put any other burden on these saints.

Likewise, we shouldn’t put any burden on men or women who are wanting to live rightly before God.

Faithful in testing:

Even when there is incredible immorality and idolatry taking place in Thyatira, there were those Christians who overcame. And they would be given a reward, offering them a share in His own kingdom.

Morning star: Jesus offered the ma reward greater than the kingdom. He offered them the reward of Himself, because He is the Morning Star: Revelation 22:16

Revelation 22:16 NKJV

16 “I, Jesus, have sent My angel to testify to you these things in the churches. I am the Root and the Offspring of David, the Bright and Morning Star.”

The Consecration:

Two-fold consecration is shown here:

Hearing God’s Word. We must hear God’s Word with an open mind. Romans 10:17

Romans 10:17 NKJV

17 So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

Heeding God’s Word. Hearing the Word is not enough, we must obey His Word. James 1:22

James 1:22 NKJV

22 But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.

Compromise is the first step downward for the believer. Compromise leads men away from God and allows Satan to have control in our lives. On the other hand, Satan fears consecrated Christians who live overcoming lives. Consecration leaves no room for indifference or compromise in the lives of believers.