Thyatira: Corrupted

V.18:

Located halfway between Pergamos and Sardis, this city had been under Roman rule for nearly three centuries (c. 190 b.c.).

Since the city was situated in a long valley that spanned 40 miles to Pergamos, it had no natural defenses and had a long history of being destroyed and rebuilt.

Originally populated by soldiers of Alexander the Great, it was basically just a military outpost to guard Pergamos.

Lydia came from this city on business and was converted by Paul.

Lydia was from Thyatira

Acts 16:14-15

Acts 16:14–15 NKJV

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. And when she and her household were baptized, she begged us, saying, “If you have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come to my house and stay.” So she persuaded us.

This church is very similar to Pergamos. They have allowed compromise, but it has carried them a step farther.

They were more given in to immorality than Pergamos.

Pergamos had [dangerously] allowed those teachings, Thyatira had put them into practice.

Evil is the eventual road to which compromise leads, and Thyatira was steeped in it.

We see Jesus with eyes like a flame of fire. Burning, piercing to the depths of our soul.

Purifying, burning away the sin.

His feet like fine brass, like the brazen altar on which sin was judged by fire.

Jesus is identified here as a righteous judge, and judge, He will.

V.19:

Thyatira's strengths and weaknesses are the opposite of those at Ephesus.

This church is strong in love and in works; but it lacks discernment and tolerates heresy.

Imagine a neighborhood drug dealer, who will sometimes bring food to the hungry.

On one hand, he may be doing a good thing, but it's at the expense of the lives of others.

In the end, he is still bad, and his works mean nothing.

Likewise, this church had a major flaw, which negated the value of their works.

Despite what many would teach, what you believe is of paramount importance.

Right beliefs must come first. If you believe the wrong things, you’ll have faith in the wrong things.

Your faith stems from what you believe

Romans 10:9

Romans 10:9 NKJV

that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.

Faith is a result of your beliefs, and without faith it is impossible to please God. It won't matter how many good works you do.

Hebrews 11:6

Hebrews 11:6 NKJV

But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.

V.20:

Jezebel had been the pagan queen of Israel in the days of Elijah.

She introduced Baal worship into Israel.

Jezebel is a symbolic reference to the one who first introduced Baal worship to Israel

1 Kings 16:30-33

1 Kings 16:30–33 NKJV

Now Ahab the son of Omri did evil in the sight of the Lord, more than all who were before him. And it came to pass, as though it had been a trivial thing for him to walk in the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, that he took as wife Jezebel the daughter of Ethbaal, king of the Sidonians; and he went and served Baal and worshiped him. Then he set up an altar for Baal in the temple of Baal, which he had built in Samaria. And Ahab made a wooden image. Ahab did more to provoke the Lord God of Israel to anger than all the kings of Israel who were before him.

Apparently, there was in this church, a woman who had a reputation as a teacher and a prophetess.

This was despite the Lord's warning against women holding such a position in the church.

The Bible is clear about who can hold the position of Pastor

1 Timothy 3:1-7

1 Timothy 3:1–7 NKJV

This is a faithful saying: If a man desires the position of a bishop, he desires a good work. A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, temperate, sober-minded, of good behavior, hospitable, able to teach; not given to wine, not violent, not greedy for money, but gentle, not quarrelsome, not covetous; one who rules his own house well, having his children in submission with all reverence (for if a man does not know how to rule his own house, how will he take care of the church of God?); not a novice, lest being puffed up with pride he fall into the same condemnation as the devil. Moreover he must have a good testimony among those who are outside, lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil.

This was a critical false doctrine being flaunted from the pulpit. With the very leadership of the church being faded on a false belief, the rest of the church didn’t stand a chance.

This disregard of Scripture was, without a doubt, a huge contributor to their apostasy.

This woman was the modern day counterpart of the ancient Jezebel.

Her teachings gave license to sin, and lead the church into gross immorality, while still maintaining the outward appearance of love, faith and good works.

This church, as well as many since, have professed spirituality and love, while dismissing Biblical doctrine, and living in sin.

She taught permissiveness, and permissiveness always leads to participation.

We have these same modern day jezebels in many churches today.

Far too many have compromised the pulpit with Biblically unqualified pastors.

Whether it be women pastors, homosexual pastors, or men who don’t meet the biblical requirements, the result is the same. It renders the church unable to please the Lord in anything they do.

We have another modern day Jezebel in the church today, and it teaches that you can have anything you desire, and anything that makes you feel good is ok.

This promotes greed, selfishness and pride.

Abortion, drug abuse, alcoholism, violence, sexual promiscuity, pornography, euthanasia, bestiality, homosexuality, witchcraft, etc. are but some of the results.

When God's Word is no longer considered truth, and people are no more than animals, then anything goes.

"If it feels good, do it." This is the society we end up with, and the church is in the middle of it.

When the Bible is compromised, God's Word no longer sets the standard.

If people have doubts about the authenticity and authority of Scripture, then they are bound to dismiss it, just as soon as it conflicts with their own desires for pleasure.

When people doubt the authority of Scripture, They'll cling only to the nice parts, and dismiss the convicting parts.

They'll concoct a god who loves permissively, and wouldn't dare judge sin.

They'll concoct a god of no consequences, and they'll live accordingly.

They'll heap upon themselves teachers who will tickle their ears, preachers who'll cherry pick the Bible, and teach only the non-offensive parts.

Sin will run rampant, and they'll feel good about it.

They'll be on a feel good, joy ride to hell.

The church must stand up and refute such unscriptural teachings, before more errors are made, and more souls are needlessly lost.

If we don't, the result will be devastating, and the judgment severe.

V.21:

It's a beautiful thing that God is patient.

Thankfully, God is patient

2 Peter 3:9

2 Peter 3:9 NKJV

The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.

He is constantly giving us time to repent, and we need to take advantage of that time.

However, once this life is over, there'll be no more chances at repentance

Hebrews 9:27

Hebrews 9:27 NKJV

And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment,

Keep in mind, that we don't know when God will say enough is enough, and your life will be over, with nothing but judgment to look forward to.

V.22:

We need also remember that our sin has earthly consequences, which are often far reaching.

It is promised here, that those who blatantly disregard God's Word will reap what they sow.

V.23:

This is a very stern warning to those who follow false teachers and heretical doctrines.

It speaks for itself. Sin can only bring death.

The Bible is very clear about the unrepentant

Romans 6:23

Romans 6:23 NKJV

For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

VV.24-25:

As dire as this is, all is not lost. As in any church, there are usually at least some who are truly faithful.

There were obviously some here, and they will not suffer the burden of tribulation which God has promised the heretics.

The faithful will not suffer God’s wrath

Romans 5:9

Romans 5:9 NKJV

Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him.

He'll add no other burden, He simply asks that they hold fast.

VV.26-27:

The first thing that overcomers are promised is authority over nations.

We talked about this in Revelation 1:6. The saints will be kings, ruling with Christ, but under His headship and authority.

Christ is the King of Kings, meaning He rules over the kings.

We should expect that the saints will have work to do, particularly during the millennium, considering that some unsaved will enter into the millennium as well.

It makes sense that Christ would give His faithful the task of ruling over the earthly affairs of men, on His behalf.

We also see reference to this in other places.

Believers receive promises

Revelation 3:21

Revelation 3:21 NKJV

To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne.

Revelation 20:6

Revelation 20:6 NKJV

Blessed and holy is he who has part in the first resurrection. Over such the second death has no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with Him a thousand years.

1 Corinthians 6:2

1 Corinthians 6:2 NKJV

Do you not know that the saints will judge the world? And if the world will be judged by you, are you unworthy to judge the smallest matters?

V.28:

The second promise is the morning star. This is Christ Himself.

The Morning Star is Christ, who has already dawned in the hearts of believers

Revelation 22:16

Revelation 22:16 NKJV

“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 morning star has already dawned in our hearts.

2 Peter 1:19

2 Peter 1:19 NKJV

And so we have the prophetic word confirmed, which you do well to heed as a light that shines in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts;

However, someday we will have him in his fullness.

V.29:

Once again, Jesus is speaking and we need to listen.

He has given us His word, and we need to accept it, as given, in its entirety.

We need to do more listening to His word, and stop changing it, otherwise we invite disaster upon us and those who follow.

Resolve to be one of the faithful, one who receives His promise rather than His judgment.