Revelation 2:18-29 November 10, 2024

Congregational Scripture Reading

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.’

Introduction

Thyatira

So what was fire Thyatira? It was a small town on the circular road of Asia it was about 20 miles southeast to Perrelle and halfway between Perham and Sardis. It had been a military output for the kingdom of program and it came under Roman rule around 133 BC Today the Turkish town of Akishar is on the same location.

Most famously we know an early citizen of Thyatira is Lydia the seller of purple fabric who converted to Christ and is mentioned in

Acts 16:14 ESV

14 One who heard us was a woman named Lydia, from the city of Thyatira, a seller of purple goods, who was a worshiper of God. The Lord opened her heart to pay attention to what was said by Paul.

So they are Tyra was known for trade guilds coppersmith fabric Weavers and more. Interestingly this was a time when highly colored fabric is rare and expensive for thousands of years there was a pretty neutral color palette available because color dies especially the synthetic dies we have today we're simply nonexistent.

Says trade and commerce was such a big deal in the Tyra it's possible that the main criticism that Jesus has for them that of accepting the spirit of Jezebel is where they compromise their beliefs to fit in.

Jesus’ Message to Thyatira

Revelation 2:18 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.

Characteristic

It's fascinating how this passage and this letter is written to the smallest of the churches the smallest city of the seven cities mentioned here and it's the longest letter. It's important to note that this is the only place where Jesus tells the congregation that he is the son of God. It's the only time this title appears in revelation at all. That means that it appears 7 times in first John and eight times in John's gospel and then total of about 32 times in the New Testament.

He also reminds the church that he has eyes like fire and feet like bronze. And if you remember our introduction to symbolism fiery eyes means he sees everything it means he knows everything he is omniscient. And feet of bronze means he has power to defeat his enemies power over all. He's omnipotent. And so in this letter he's going to show his knowledge in how he will judge the city and he's going to show his power and how he will act to you have consequences to the sin of the Church.

We need to remember again that Jesus in every age is the one who sees all and acts with power. If we live with sin in our lives no matter how skillfully we keep it a secret from people around us Jesus sees. And Jesus protects his church

Compliment

Revelation 2:19 ESV

19 “ ‘I know your works, your love and faith and service and patient endurance, and that your latter works exceed the first.

So Jesus starts off reminding them that he knows their works he sees what they're doing. Let this be a reminder again to us as we journey through these letters that Jesus sees our works. Jesus continues here saying he sees your love faith and service and patient endurance. Of course this is actually pretty similar to the letter to ephesus earlier in the chapter with the exception of love. It's interesting when you look at these virtues they're meant to be paired. The 1st 2 are motives love and faith are what motivate us to do things it's what motivated them to do things. The next two are actions love for others produces service. Faith in Jesus assures perseverance in their commitment to him. In the same way God calls us to love and faith. Calls us to live with love for others inspiring us to serve others and perseverance inspired by our faith in a savior not a politician not money not our abilities... but a savior. He continues here they've grown he says your ladder works exceed what you had at first period the faithful love and perseverance they're living out has grown greater than it was before. And this is a powerful compliment. They have been faithful they've persevered they've grown. This is a compliment that any of us would want for our church. And yet we get into the next few verses.

Revelation 2:20–22 ESV

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,

Who was Jezebel? This isn't likely a specific person's name in the 1st century. In the Old Testament Jezebel was an individual who promoted the worship of the canaanite deity bail. She corrupted a number of kings and was judged by God meeting a violent death.

In the same way this modern just Jezebel was also leading people away from the one true God.

As one commentator outlines it:

This woman had:

Revelation D. Message to Thyatira: Be Morally Pure (2:18–29)

• called herself a prophetess (a spokesperson for God) to gullible Christians;

• established a reputation for teaching Thyatiran believers (see also v. 24);

• deliberately led Christians into sexual immorality;

• encouraged violation of conscience regarding food sacrificed to idols.

What this Jezebel was doing was encouraging Christians to get along with the society around them. To clear the old premise if you can't beat them join them. The Roman society was overwhelmingly sinful.

We don't know how this person became a teacher and leader in the church but the reality is go there were Christians who were openly practicing sexual immorality in the name of being tolerant.

This is still a temptation today. In the name of being tolerant it's tempting for us to compromise what the of God's teaching is about sexual right and wrong. God's word is clear when it comes to sexual morality. And throughout history Christians have found themselves living in cultures that in one way or another hold to different views that the Bible considers wrong.

The allure of cults has often been the idea that once you get in you'll have this secret knowledge. We see a reference to that in verse 24 where it talks about the deep things of Satan. Mr. Rick Holdsworth common at this time period promising special knowledge if you commit to a niche cult. That's the allure of cults today from the Mormons to the Jehovah's Witnesses and others that if you belong to this colt you'll experience something special that's being kept from you.

It's humbling though in the same way that Jezebel was given the opportunity to repent and then struck down in the same way verse 22 talks about how God will make this Jezebel sick

Command

Revelation 2:22 ESV

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,

Revelation 2:23–25 ESV

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.

So there are three types of people associated with this congregation. First of all there are these people that committed adultery with Jezebel. It doesn't mean she's literally opened up a brothel or invited people to be intimate with her period but instead church members have been tempted to compromise their morals. Throughout history church members have faced persecution. In this moment this tribulation this suffering that they're experiencing is coming from God. It's meant to turn them back to God.

We need to see the same reality that sometimes the pain we're going to and what we are suffering should serve as a wake up call. Should serve to call us to repent and put our hope in God. And especially review our life and if we are believing that moral compromise is OK to repent of that.

The second group of people referred to are called her children and this is most likely people who have committed themselves to her doctrines essentially she's become their spiritual mother. And in the same way Christ warns them to repent or he will strike them dead.

That phrase at the end of verse 23 should always challenge us. Jesus is the one who searches the mind and heart he sees the intention and motivation behind our works and rewards us for that. Or punishes us. New line but of course the final group is the people that don't actually who will under her teaching bear him they're the faithful ones. They are the ones who hold on to the teachings of the rest of God's word and and staying faithful to follow Jesus

Throughout the New Testament believers are encouraged to hold on to the simple truths and the moral standards of the gospel. And throughout the New Testament people are trying to complicate things to look into deeper more complex truths that can give them an excuse for acting out their desires.

As followers of Christ throughout history we need to be both spirit lead and to keep it simple. We need to be led by the spirit enough to challenge things that need to be challenged around us. And not assume that we are always right.

But we also need to be simple enough to read God's word and accept that moral standards throughout God's word and the teachings about what is right and wrong have not been reinterpreted for thousands of years.

To be more clear. We live in a culture that is trying to find any excuse possible to live out their desires. And I've seen many approach God's word with the argument that if you just read it the right way and interpret it more deeply with better understanding you'll find out that this behavior or that behavior is really OK.

The truth is with no seminary education each one of you guys could study God's word and have a clear and accurate understanding of what is right and wrong. You could come to reasonably clear understandings of how Christians should live.

The only way people who claim to be Christian are able to make arguments for living sexually immoral lifestyles is by either discounting the inspiration of God's word by saying it's not actually inspired or by doing some really convoluted theology to try to understand and interpret what's being said in the Bible.

Don't get your theology from the Internet. Sit down with God's word ask God's spirit to lead you and shape how you live. If you have questions talk to another believer face to face and walk through those questions about moral right and wrong. Don't go fishing online to try and find people that will agree with what you want to do. Go to God's word and other real believers around you.

Commitment

Revelation 2:26–29 ESV

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.’

Jesus starts off with a encouragement to those who are faithful to the end. He says he will give them authority over the nations. We aren't sure exactly what this means except to be a reference for what will happen in eternal life. For Jesus to rule it will mean the forces of evil are subdued.

And we know God grants Chris the authority to rule that nations because of His sacrifice Phil 2:6-11

Philippians 2:6–11 ESV

6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. 9 Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, 10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

And Christ shares his rule with those who overcome The saints are also referred to as judges

Matthew 19:28 ESV

28 Jesus said to them, “Truly, I say to you, in the new world, when the Son of Man will sit on his glorious throne, you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.

Finally in verse 28 we see that Jesus will give the morning star. You will give Jesus to the one who overcomes. The reward for overcoming sin is Jesus.

Revelation 2:28 ESV

28 And I will give him the morning star.

Revelation 22:16 ESV

16 “I, Jesus, have sent my angel to testify to you about these things for the churches. I am the root and the descendant of David, the bright morning star.”

The final verse here reiterates the command to hear and heed Rev 2:29

Revelation 2:29 ESV

29 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’

Conclusion

Throughout each of these letters Jesus shows how much he knows the strengths and weaknesses of every church. Every church is part of one church but each churches have their own strengths and weaknesses what do you think Christ would say about our church?

Each one of these churches was challenged to repent. They were reminded that they were making crucial mistakes and Jesus would judge them for those sins they were allowing in. They needed to change. Each of these churches struggled with different sins. And they could probably look at other churches and judge them for the sins they struggled with but Jesus had challenging words for each church.

We need to be diligent to hold on to God's teachings period to not allow complicated arguments to give us excuses for moral failure and sin. We need to be humble and pay attention to our own weaknesses and where we need to change and not waste time looking out at other churches and other people.

Closing Community Prayer

Matthew 6:9–13 ESV

9 Pray then like this: “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. 10 Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. 11 Give us this day our daily bread, 12 and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. 13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.