The Church in Thyatira

Revelation 2:18–29 ESV

“And to the angel of the church in Thyatira write: ‘The words of the Son of God, who has eyes like a flame of fire, and whose feet are like burnished bronze. “ ‘I know your works, your love and faith and service and patient endurance, and that your latter works exceed the first. But I have this against you, that you tolerate that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess and is teaching and seducing my servants to practice sexual immorality and to eat food sacrificed to idols. I gave her time to repent, but she refuses to repent of her sexual immorality. Behold, I will throw her onto a sickbed, and those who commit adultery with her I will throw into great tribulation, unless they repent of her works, and I will strike her children dead. And all the churches will know that I am he who searches mind and heart, and I will give to each of you according to your works. But to the rest of you in Thyatira, who do not hold this teaching, who have not learned what some call the deep things of Satan, to you I say, I do not lay on you any other burden. Only hold fast what you have until I come. The one who conquers and who keeps my works until the end, to him I will give authority over the nations, and he will rule them with a rod of iron, as when earthen pots are broken in pieces, even as I myself have received authority from my Father. And I will give him the morning star. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’

Address

to the church at Thyatira

In modern Turkey - about 40 miles SE of Pergamum

smaller city

Wiersbe: smallest city gets the longest letter

Wiersbe: temple to Apollo - the “sun god” - “which explains why the Lord introduced himself as the ‘Son of God’”

Author:

Son of God - Easley notes that this is the only time this title appears in the book of revelation.

Eyes like a flame of fire -

indignation of Christ (Walvoord)

“his eyes represented his all-encompassing knowledge (“omniscience”) - in other words he sees everything - (Easley)

Feet like burnished (shiny) bronze -

righteousness of Christ (Walvoord)

“his feet symbolized his all-encircling power (“omnipotence”). - (Easley)

Commendation

how does Jesus commend them?

What does this say of them?

How should this encourage us? - we should never stop growing in our knowledge and application of God’s Word and His Work in our lives.

Wiersbe - they were busy in sacrificial ministry and were “increasing”/maturing in their activity.

Walvoord -

Correction

compromise -

they allowed the teachings of “Jezebel” - “seducing my servants to practice sexual immorality and to eat food sacrificed to idols.”

rather than correcting her - they put up with her - some were drawn away.

This is part of what makes our current cultural climate so invasive - they seduce people to practice sexual immorality - whether through unhindered sexual encounters, pornography, sexual experimentation, etc. Even some more liberal denominations have acquiesced to the cultural pressure.

Could her teaching be just the moral laxity or is there something more? Is it a “spiritual adultery”? Or are they one in the same?

How do we risk the same correction?

Exhortation

she was given time to repent - but she refused

Jesus promises a destruction for “Jezebel” and for those who join in her “adultery”

For those who stand firm - hold fast - keep doing what you’re doing -

Promise

authority over nations

Sources:

Easley, Kendell H. Revelation. Vol. 12. Holman New Testament Commentary. Nashville, TN: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 1998.

Walvoord, John F. “Revelation.” In The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures, edited by J. F. Walvoord and R. B. Zuck. Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1985.

Wiersbe, Warren W. The Bible Exposition Commentary. Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1996.