Revelation 2:18-29

INTRO

The Book of Revelation D. Thyatira (2:18–29)

Hemer writes, ‘ ‘The longest and most difficult of the seven letters is addressed to the least known, least important, and least remarkable of the cities.”

Following the overland route from Pergamum to Sardis, travelers would head eastward along the south bank of the Caicus River, turn southward over a low-lying range of hills, and descend into the broad and fertile valley of the Lycus.

Their journey of about forty miles would take them just across the Mysian border to the city of Thyatira situated on the south bank of the Lycus in the long north-south valley that connected the Caicus and Hermus valleys

With the coming of stable conditions under Roman rule, Thyatira was destined for growth and prosperity as a center for manufacturing and marketing.

An outstanding characteristic of Thyatira was the large number of trade guilds that flourished there.

“woolworkers, linen-workers, makers of outer garments, dyers, leather-workers, tanners, potters, bakers, slave-dealers and bronze-smiths.”

In Acts 16:14ff. we meet “a woman named Lydia, a dealer in purple cloth from the city of Thyatira,” who also had a house at Philippi. It would appear that Thyatira’s market extended across the Aegean Sea into Macedonia.

Towns in the Roman world tended to be laid out in squares, with each guild controlling its section. These guilds also were at the heart of religious life, with each having a patron god and frequent feasts in honor of their god.

Scripture Reading By: Jason Deweerd

Revelation 2:18–29 ESV

18 “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. 19 “ ‘I know your works, your love and faith and service and patient endurance, and that your latter works exceed the first. 20 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. 21 I gave her time to repent, but she refuses to repent of her sexual immorality. 22 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, 23 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. 24 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. 25 Only hold fast what you have until I come. 26 The one who conquers and who keeps my works until the end, to him I will give authority over the nations, 27 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. 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.’

PRAYER

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MESSAGE

Conquer Series - June 5, 2023 - Jeremy Wiles

Over 40 million Americans are regular visitors to porn sites.

There are around 42 million porn websites, which totals around 370 million pages of porn.

The porn industry’s annual revenue is more than the NFL, NBA, and MLB combined. It is also more than the combined revenues of ABC, CBS, and NBC.

47% of families in the United States reported that pornography is a problem in their home.

Pornography use increases the marital infidelity rate by more than 300%.

11 is the average age that a child is first exposed to porn, and 94% of children will see porn by the age of 14.

56% of American divorces involve one party having an “obsessive interest” in pornographic websites.

70% of Christian youth pastors report that they have had at least one teen come to them for help in dealing with pornography in the past 12 months.

68% of church-going men and over 50% of pastors view porn on a regular basis. Of young Christian adults 18-24 years old, 76% actively search for porn.

59% of pastors said that married men seek their help for porn use.

33% of women aged 25 and under search for porn at least once per month.

Only 13% of self-identified Christian women say they never watch porn—87% of Christian women have watched porn.

55% of married men and 25% of married women say they watch porn at least once a month.

57% of pastors say porn addiction is the most damaging issue in their congregation. 69% say porn has adversely impacted the church.

Only 7% of pastors say their church has a program to help people struggling with pornography.

Porn Addiction Statistics - Dec 21, 2020 - John Thorington

The statistics for Christian men between 18 and 30 years old are particularly striking:

77 percent look at pornography at least monthly.

36 percent view pornography on a daily basis

32 percent admit being addicted to pornography (and another 12 percent think they may be).

The statistics for middle-aged Christian men (ages 31 to 49) are no less disturbing:

77 percent looked at pornography while at work in the past three months.

64 percent view pornography at least monthly.

18 percent admit being addicted to pornography (and another 8 percent think they may be).

Even married Christian men are falling prey to pornography and extramarital sexual affairs at alarming rates:

55 percent look at pornography at least monthly.

35 percent had an extramarital affair.

The Lords Description

Revelation 2:18–19 “18 “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. 19 “ ‘I know your works, your love and faith and service and patient endurance, and that your latter works exceed the first.”

Description of His Person

Son of God

Eyes / Feet

Description of His People

affection - love - agape

trust - faith

service - servanthood - deacon

patient endurance - steadfastness - longsuffering

works - deeds - increasing

The Lords Denunciation

Revelation 2:20–22 “20 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. 21 I gave her time to repent, but she refuses to repent of her sexual immorality. 22 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.

It’s Source

V20

Tolerance

Teacher

Teaching

It’s Stubbornness

V21

He gave time to repent, but they did not

It’s Suppression

V22

It will be dealt with

sickbed & tribulation

The Lords Discipline

Revelation 2:22–25 “22 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, 23 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. 24 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. 25 Only hold fast what you have until I come.”

It is Fearful

I will throw her onto a sickbed V22

I will throw into great tribulation V23

I will strike her children dead V23

It is Final

Title - V18

I … Statements !

It is Fair

I gave her time to repent V21

unless they repent V22

I will give to each according to your works V23

I do not lay on you any other burden, only hold fast V24-25

The Lords Desire

Revelation 2:26–29 “26 The one who conquers and who keeps my works until the end, to him I will give authority over the nations, 27 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. 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.’”

That You Conquer

That You Persevere

That You Are Rewarded

CLOSE

GROUP QUESTIONS

What does the description of Jesus tell us about His character? How does it prepare the church to hear what He is about to say to them?

Discuss the role that both truth and love play in the health of the church. Which of these do you find more difficult to hold on to? Which is easier?

What good works has the Lord called you to do in your life? How can you continue to grow in good works such that your “last works are greater than the first” (2:19)?

What does it mean for the church to be a community of repenting sinners? How does this play out in the life of the local church?

This church seems to be following Jezebel not Jesus… What are some of the warning signs that a personality cult is taking root in the church?

If false teachers do teach some true things, how can a church be on guard against being led astray by them?

In what situations might the decision to follow Christ in holiness and obedience lead to economic and social repercussions? How have you experienced this?

How are the mercy and patience of Christ seen in this passage, even in judgment?

Why is it that so often claims that promise a deeper and more profound spirituality often end up losing the biblical gospel in the process? How does Revelation 2:24–25 encourage us to respond?

How do those who persevere actually receive what the false teachers promise but can’t deliver?