Revelation Study part 7: Letter to Thyatira
Notes
Transcript
PRAY
Review
Overview of the Messages to the 7 Churches in the Province of Asia
7 Churches: Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, Laodicea
7 Elements of Letters: The recipients, The Speaker's Identity, Jesus's knowledge of them, His rebuke, His commendation, His call to listen, His promise for overcomers
Reminder about the letters to the churches
These letters are written to specific churches going through specific situations, yet their message is also timeless - it applies to us today. This is why he says, “hear what the Spirit says to the churches” (not “to the church”).
Although each message was for a specific church of the first century, it also had applications for other churches of that time and throughout church history.
As we read each of these letters, we ought to ask, “How does this apply to my church today?” and also, “How does this apply to my life individually?”
For study purposes, we will divide up these churches according to the general tone of Jesus’s message to them:
Churches with balanced strengths and weaknesses mentioned: Ephesus, Pergamum, & Thyatira
Churches with only strengths mentioned: Smyrna & Philadelphia
Churches with mostly / only weaknesses mentioned: Sardis & Laodicea
Review of the Letter to Pergamum (last study, Dec. 22)
The church in Pergamum faced great pressure to give in to false teaching and worldly living because of the culture that they lived in.
Jesus knows their situation, and yet he rebukes them for this compromise and calls them back to holy living.
Those who refuse to pursue holiness are inviting the judgment of Jesus, but those who persevere in holy living will enjoy His eternal blessing.
Letter to Thyatira
18 To the angel of the church in Thyatira write: These are the words of the Son of God, whose eyes are like a blazing fire and whose feet are like polished bronze.
19 I know your deeds—your love, your faith, your service, your perseverance—and your latter deeds are greater than your first.
20 But I have this against you: You tolerate that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess. By her teaching she misleads My servants to be sexually immoral and to eat food sacrificed to idols.
21 Even though I have given her time to repent of her immorality, she is unwilling.
22 Behold, I will cast her onto a bed of sickness, and those who commit adultery with her will suffer great tribulation unless they repent of her deeds.
23 Then I will strike her children dead, and all the churches will know that I am the One who searches minds and hearts, and I will repay each of you according to your deeds.
24 But I say to the rest of you in Thyatira, who do not hold to her teaching and have not learned the so-called deep things of Satan: I will place no further burden upon you.
25 Nevertheless, hold fast to what you have until I come.
26 And to the one who overcomes and continues in My work until the end, I will give authority over the nations.
27 He will rule them with an iron scepter and shatter them like pottery —just as I have received authority from My Father.
28 And I will give him the morning star.
29 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.
Thyatira
The recipients (v. 18)
Revelation 2:18 (BSB)
18 To the angel of the church in Thyatira write…
Thyatira - the city
Thyatira was a small and relatively unimportant city in comparison with the others mentioned here in Revelation, probably population around 25,000
Known for trade guilds - like modern labor unions - in cloth, pottery, metals, leather, etc.
These trade guilds were not only the center of city life but also the religious life of the town. Worship of false gods and feasts to these gods were common practices in these trade guilds, and their idolatrous feasts often included acts of sexual immorality.
Thyatira - the church
It is in this context that the church in Thyatira began and is seeking to grow. Christians were likely being pressured to participate in the idolatry and sexual immorality of their culture, with the added pressure of financial exclusion if they refused. Refusal to participate in these idolatrous practices likely meant forfeiting income they might have had or perhaps even their jobs.
Lydia (Paul’s first convert in Philippi) was originally from Thyatira
Some have speculated she may have had influence in starting the church in Thyatira, but the church’s origins are unknown.
The Speaker's Identity (v. 18)
18 To the angel of the church in Thyatira write: These are the words of the Son of God, whose eyes are like a blazing fire and whose feet are like polished bronze.
the Son of God,
The only use of this Title of Jesus in Revelation
Possible cultural significance - Jesus is countering the worship of “Apollos, son of Zeus, as the patron god of Thyatira” and saying that He (Jesus) is the true Son of God; the one they worship is a counterfeit. Jesus is the true Son of God.
This is also likely intended to take us back to Psalm 2, which prophesies the installation of Jesus as God’s Messiah-King on Zion and his judgment of His enemies, which is quoted later in this section (v. 26-27).
6 “I have installed My King on Zion, upon My holy mountain.”
7 I will proclaim the decree spoken to Me by the LORD: “You are My Son; today I have become Your Father.
8 Ask Me, and I will make the nations Your inheritance, the ends of the earth Your possession.
9 You will break them with an iron scepter; You will shatter them like pottery.”
This title then shows not only that Jesus is the true Son of God, but it also reminds us that He is the Anointed King, chosen by God the Father to rule the nations. Jesus is the King.
whose eyes are like a blazing fire and whose feet are like polished bronze.
This is a reference back to Rev. 1:14-15, which in turn comes from Daniel 10:6, which describes his eyes as flaming torches and his arms and legs as polished bronze.
14 The hair of His head was white like wool, as white as snow, and His eyes were like a blazing fire.
15 His feet were like polished bronze refined in a furnace, and His voice was like the roar of many waters.
6 His body was like beryl, his face like the brilliance of lightning, his eyes like flaming torches, his arms and legs like the gleam of polished bronze, and his voice like the sound of a multitude.
Eyes like blazing fire or torches remind us of His perfect knowledge of all things - nothing is hidden from His eyes.
2 Chronicles 16:9 (BSB)
9 For the eyes of the LORD roam to and fro over all the earth, to show Himself strong on behalf of those whose hearts are fully devoted to Him.
3 The eyes of the LORD are in every place, observing the evil and the good.
The image of fire also reminds us that not only does He see all things, but He will judge all things. He will be able to judge impartially because He sees and knows everything, even the hidden motives and intentions of people’s hearts.
17 And the Light of Israel will become a fire, and its Holy One a flame. In a single day it will burn and devour Assyria’s thorns and thistles.
12 For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it pierces even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow. It judges the thoughts and intentions of the heart.
Feet like polished bronze is another image that reminds us of his power as the judge. He has the right to judge, He will judge perfectly, and He will carry out the perfect justice.
Jesus's knowledge of them (v. 19)
Revelation 2:19 (BSB)
19 I know your deeds…
I know your deeds
As He just reminded them with this imagery of eyes like blazing fire, Jesus sees and knows all things. Nothing is hidden from Him.
He knows their situation, and He knows their deeds - what they’ve done.
His commendation (v. 19)
19 I know your deeds—your love, your faith, your service, your perseverance—and your latter deeds are greater than your first.
your love, your faith, your service, your perseverance—
All of these qualities are marks of a genuine believer
They seem to be doing especially well in the area of love, which is where Ephesus was falling short.
and your latter deeds are greater than your first.
They are growing in these things, so that He can say these virtues characterize them more now than when they first started.
Where there is genuine spiritual life, there is growth
His rebuke (v. 20-23)
20 But I have this against you: You tolerate that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess. By her teaching she misleads My servants to be sexually immoral and to eat food sacrificed to idols.
21 Even though I have given her time to repent of her immorality, she is unwilling.
22 Behold, I will cast her onto a bed of sickness, and those who commit adultery with her will suffer great tribulation unless they repent of her deeds.
23 Then I will strike her children dead, and all the churches will know that I am the One who searches minds and hearts, and I will repay each of you according to your deeds.
But I have this against you
While they were doing some things well (v. 19), there was a major problem He had to address:
You tolerate that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess.
This is the sin Jesus has to address - tolerance.
This is a major issue in our culture today.
In fact, tolerance of anything and everything is seen as a virtue by our American culture. The only thing people won’t tolerate is intolerance.
The world considers it a loving thing to just let people do whatever they want to do as long as their not harming someone. “It’s your life”, “You only live once”, “My body my choice”, “Love is love”, “You can love whoever you want.” So many statements like this and others call us to tolerate, to put up with or allow any behavior, as long as it’s not causing harm to someone else.
And our culture is full of it.
There is a kind of tolerance that is virtuous and biblical of course - putting up with the weaknesses and failures of our brothers and sisters in Christ, forgiving one another, not holding a grudge against a believer, being patient with them.
But while biblical tolerance makes room for weaknesses and failure, it also expects repentance and change in the life of a genuine believer.
Biblical tolerance patiently forgives and helps other believers toward spiritual strength and maturity.
But biblical tolerance does not mean allowing sin to grow or flourish, especially within the church. We are commanded not to tolerate sin in the church, but to lovingly expose it, confront it, and if necessary practice church discipline with those involved in it.
A professing believer living in public unrepentant sin is not to be tolerated but dealt with according to the practices Jesus commanded in Matthew 18 and Paul explained more in 1 Corinthians 5. When sin is allowed to remain unchecked, it grows and affects others, and it drags the whole church down. For this reason, church discipline must be practiced, and if necessary, the offender must be expelled from the church.
The world would call that unloving and intolerant. The Bible tells us it’s true love for Christ and the purity of His bride that motivates this action.
Jezebel
We don’t know the identity of this woman called Jezebel, but it’s likely that Jezebel is not her actual name. She is being compared to Ahab’s wife who led him and the people of Israel astray into idolatry and immorality.
25 (Surely there was never one like Ahab, who sold himself to do evil in the sight of the LORD, incited by his wife Jezebel.
26 He committed the most detestable acts by going after idols, just like the Amorites whom the LORD had driven out before the Israelites.)
Suggested identity - the pastor’s wife? (“that woman Jezebel” could mean “your wife Jezebel” - if “angel” refers to the pastor of the church); this would explain her power and influence in the church
By her teaching she misleads My servants to be sexually immoral and to eat food sacrificed to idols.
She claims to be a prophetess - to speak for God. But she is a false prophet like those in Jeremiah 23.
21 I did not send these prophets, yet they have run with their message; I did not speak to them, yet they have prophesied.
11 “For both prophet and priest are ungodly; even in My house I have found their wickedness,” declares the LORD.
12 “Therefore their path will become slick; they will be driven away into the darkness and fall into it. For I will bring disaster upon them in the year of their punishment,” declares the LORD.
13 “Among the prophets of Samaria I saw an offensive thing: They prophesied by Baal and led My people Israel astray.
14 And among the prophets of Jerusalem I have seen a horrible thing: They commit adultery and walk in lies. They strengthen the hands of evildoers, so that no one turns his back on wickedness. They are all like Sodom to Me; the people of Jerusalem are like Gomorrah.”
15 Therefore this is what the LORD of Hosts says concerning the prophets: “I will feed them wormwood and give them poisoned water to drink, for from the prophets of Jerusalem ungodliness has spread throughout the land.”
16 This is what the LORD of Hosts says: “Do not listen to the words of the prophets who prophesy to you. They are filling you with false hopes. They speak visions from their own minds, not from the mouth of the LORD.
17 They keep saying to those who despise Me, ‘The LORD says that you will have peace,’ and to everyone who walks in the stubbornness of his own heart, ‘No harm will come to you.’
By her false claims, this woman is leading astray others in the church, teaching them that it’s ok to engage in idolatry and pagan sexual practices as long as they worship Christ also.
21 Even though I have given her time to repent of her immorality, she is unwilling.
She has had an opportunity to repent - to turn away from her sin and turn to God. But she is unwilling. She has no desire to change or do what’s right.
And sadly the church is allowing her to live in this sin and continue to be part of the church despite her own sin and her deception of others in the church.
22 Behold, I will cast her onto a bed of sickness, and those who commit adultery with her will suffer great tribulation unless they repent of her deeds. 23 Then I will strike her children dead,
Jesus says that He will judge both this unrepentant sinful woman and those who follow her in her sin - both she and those whom she misled would suffer the consequences of their sin.
The one who leads others astray will receive a harsher judgment,
James 3:1 (BSB)
1 … we who teach will be judged more strictly.
But those led astray will also be punished (as unbelievers), unless they repent.
By this we see that repentance is the mark of a true believer. Believers may fall into sin, but true believers will repent. Those who refuse to repent of sin show themselves to be unbelievers.
and all the churches will know that I am the One who searches minds and hearts, and I will repay each of you according to your deeds.
By His judgment of Jezebel and her followers Jesus will demonstrate 2 things about himself that He wants all the churches to know:
He knows everything about you, including hidden thoughts and motives (just as the fiery eyes indicated)
He will bring a just judgment on everyone for the things they’ve done in this life
28 Do not be amazed at this, for the hour is coming when all who are in their graves will hear His voice
29 and come out—those who have done good to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil to the resurrection of judgment.
12 “Behold, I am coming soon, and My reward is with Me, to give to each one according to what he has done.
10 I, the LORD, search the heart; I examine the mind to reward a man according to his way, by what his deeds deserve.
(this does not mean that believers will be saved by their works, but that their works serve as a confirmation of their genuine faith; faith without works is dead, meaning that a profession of faith not backed up by a life of growing in holiness is in doubt - only God knows a person’s heart and motives, but genuine faith will demonstrate itself in a changed life, producing the fruit of the Spirit)
His Encouragement for the Faithful (v. 24-25)
24 But I say to the rest of you in Thyatira, who do not hold to her teaching and have not learned the so-called deep things of Satan: I will place no further burden upon you.
25 Nevertheless, hold fast to what you have until I come.
24 But I say to the rest of you in Thyatira, who do not hold to her teaching and have not learned the so-called deep things of Satan: I will place no further burden upon you.
Many in the church were not being led astray by this false teaching (which comes from the devil himself), and maybe they had tried to practice church discipline or do something about the problem but had failed or didn’t know what to do.
The “burden” he has placed on them is to get rid of this Jezebel, to excommunicate her from their church
25 Nevertheless, hold fast to what you have until I come.
To these ones who had remained faithful, he calls them to do what He has told them and continue holding fast to their love and commitment to the truth.
His promise for overcomers
26 And to the one who overcomes and continues in My work until the end, I will give authority over the nations.
27 He will rule them with an iron scepter and shatter them like pottery —just as I have received authority from My Father.
28 And I will give him the morning star.
*The last 2 elements are switched in the final four message (promise for overcomers comes before call to listen)
And to the one who overcomes and continues in My work until the end,
Overcoming means persevering in faith, love, and faithful service to the Lord until the end of your life - never give up, never stop trusting Him, loving Him, and serving Him.
I will give authority over the nations.
Jesus is the appointed heir of all things according to Hebrews 1:2
2 But in these last days He has spoken to us by His Son, whom He appointed heir of all things, and through whom He made the universe.
This is in fulfillment of the Messianic prophecy in Psalm 2:8 where God the Father says to the Son,
8 Ask Me, and I will make the nations Your inheritance, the ends of the earth Your possession.
Jesus told His disciples at the end of His ministry in Matthew 28:18
Matthew 28:18 (BSB)
18 … “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Me.
This authority, which Jesus has as the King, He now bestows also on His faithful followers. Similar to what He promises in Revelation 3:21,
21 To the one who overcomes, I will grant the right to sit with Me on My throne, just as I overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne.
Believers will reign with Christ for all eternity. In this way, Christ restores us to God’s original purpose for humanity.
28 God blessed them and said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth and subdue it; rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air and every creature that crawls upon the earth.”
27 He will rule them with an iron scepter and shatter them like pottery — just as I have received authority from My Father.
This quote from Psalm 2:9 tells us of the Messiah’s worldwide rule and dominion, in which He tells us that we also will share by faith in Him.
9 You will break them with an iron scepter; You will shatter them like pottery.”
God the Father gave this authority to the Son, and in turn the Son gives it to His people, everyone who truly trusts in Him. We will rule the world under His authority.
28 And I will give him the morning star.
The morning star is Jesus. (see Luke 1:78-79; 2 Peter 1:19; Revelation 22:16)
Jesus will give us Himself - eternal unending happiness in His presence.
16 “I, Jesus, have sent My angel to give you this testimony for the churches. I am the Root and the Offspring of David, the bright Morning Star.”
11 You have made known to me the path of life; You will fill me with joy in Your presence, with eternal pleasures at Your right hand.
This is the greatest gift of the Gospel - we get God Himself, in the person of Jesus Christ - forever and ever. It’s what eternal life is all about.
His call to listen
29 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.
He who has an ear, let him hear
A call and warning to pay attention, to listen and obey the message
What the Spirit says to the churches
Though Jesus is the One speaking, giving this message, He says that the Spirit is saying these things to the churches
This is a message for the churches (plural), not only for Thyatira
The present tense indicates that it is a timeless message (not only for the first century but for us today also); even now the Spirit is saying these things to the churches
Summary of Thyatira
They were a warm and friendly church, known for their love. But their love was misguided and led them to ignore serious sin in their midst.
Jesus cares deeply about the purity of His bride, the church, and though we might sometimes tolerate sin in our midst, He will not. He warns us to fight for purity in our worship and in our lives.
Conclusion of Ephesus, Pergamum, and Thyatira:
From Grant Osborne’s commentary:
Revelation: Verse by Verse Challenge to Overcome and Call to Listen (2:26–29)
In the letters to the churches of Ephesus, Pergamum, and Thyatira, the message is clear. God demands that his communities exemplify two characteristics to be a truly biblical church: a deep, abiding love in the relationships in the church (contra Ephesus) and a deep commitment to biblical and doctrinal truth (contra Pergamum and Thyatira). Failure to exemplify either one will bring divine displeasure down upon the church. However, when both are at the heart of a church, it is already successful, whatever its size and influence, for then it pleases God deeply. A truly biblical church will be faithful to Christ both in terms of love among the brothers and sisters in the congregation (see 1 Pet 1:22) and in terms of adherence to biblically taught Christian doctrines. For God to be pleased with our churches, they must be equally strong in both areas.
Application
1. Both individually and as a church, we must focus on both love and truth. Love separated from truth will be misguided, and truth separated from love will be cold. God wants us to love deeply and to be deeply rooted in the truth. We need both.
2. Sin in the church must be dealt with properly. It never just affects one person, but the whole body. When sin is exposed, there must be repentance, otherwise there must be separation for the sake of purity.
3. Ask yourself if there is any sin in your life that you are tolerating. What sin is in your life, and what are you doing about it? Any sin that we do not fight against will grow. It is our personal responsibility to fight sin in our own lives by the power of the Spirit, and then we’ll be able to properly deal with sin in the context of the church.