Lesson 6
We now come to Christ’s letter to “the church in Thyatira” (2:18a). It is significant that the longest of the letters is written to a church located in the smallest city, Thyatira. This city is located about thirty-five miles southeast of Pergamum (see map on page 10). Lydia was from Thyatira. What was her occupation (Acts 16:14)?
Jesus describes Himself as “ ‘the Son of God, who has eyes like a flame of fire’ ” (2:18b–c). This refers to the penetrating power of His sight, from which nothing can hide, and His ability to see the secret places in our hearts. His feet being “ ‘like burnished (polished) bronze’ ” (2:18d, explanation added) refers to strength for executing judgment. This description reminds us of what words of Jesus about judgment in Luke 8:17?
This is the only church the Lord commends for her “ ‘love.’ ” Next, He commends her for her “ ‘faith and service and patient endurance’ ” (2:19a–b). He then praises the church that her “ ‘latter works exceed the first’ ” (2:19c), which means there is constant improvement in all these things. However, our Lord also has a complaint against this church. They are tolerating a woman Jesus refers to as “ ‘Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess’ ” (2:20a–b). What is she teaching Christ’s “ ‘servants’ ” to do (2:20d)?
Jezebel in the Old Testament is considered the most wicked woman in the Bible. She was the pagan wife of Ahab, king of the northern kingdom of Israel. Although Ahab was the king, Jezebel dominated him and ran the kingdom. Through her husband, Jezebel single-handedly led the nation of Israel into worshipping the pagan god Balaam, which involved sexual immorality. As a result, what does 1 Kings 16:30 record?
Like her counterpart in the Old Testament, this woman at Thyatira was leading an entire church astray with the sins of sexual immorality and idolatry. In His Holy Word, God has given us all we need to know about when to be intolerant of those who tolerate sin. For example, what does 1 Thessalonians 4:3 declare is God’s will?
Our Lord makes it clear when a church tolerates teachings that pervert the clear teaching of Scripture, especially in the area of sexual morality, the divine penalty is severe. For example, what warning does 1 Corinthians 10:8 give?
This could refer to sexually-transmitted diseases, such as gonorrhea and syphilis, which were common in the ancient world. When sin is so hellish it can cause serious harm to the Gospel, God’s judgment can be severe, even in this life. The church at Corinth was making a drunken party of the Lord’s Supper. Therefore, what does Paul write in 1 Corinthians 11:30?
To encourage believers to hold fast, our Lord says: “ ‘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’ ” (2:26–27). This promise refers to a messianic psalm describing Christ’s rule during the millennium (Psa. 2:8–9). Christ’s rule will be shared with those who remain faithful until the end. This refers to those who have part in the first resurrection and over whom the second death will have no power (Rev. 20:6a–b). What does the rest of this verse reveal (20:6c)?
The church at Thyatira represents the church or Christian who thinks as long as you love, false doctrine and sexual immorality can be tolerated. There are many modern-day “Jezebels” who are trying to persuade believers to be tolerant of sexual immorality. They accuse those who are intolerant of tolerance of being too narrow-minded. However, what does our Lord declare in Matthew 7:14?
