The Church of Thyatira

Today, we’re continuing our journey through a pow erful series called Seven—a deep dive into the seven letters Jesus Himself spoke to the churches in the book of Revelation. These letters weren’t just for the ancient churches of Asia Minor—they are a prophetic mirror for the Church today.

So far, we’ve walked through the letters to Ephesus, Pergamum, and Smyrna. Each one came with a challenge, a correction, and a call to rise. Ephesus reminded us to return to our first love. Pergamum called out passive leadership. Smyrna declared, do not fear.

And today, we turn the page to the church in Thyatira. The theme? Tolerance. The thing about tolerance is, it is often deceiving. The definition of tolerance is “the capacity to endure”. Meaning, it all looks good, but something is wrong deep inside.

STORY

Let’s begin today by reading the first two verses of this challenging letter to the church of Thyatira.

Jesus Depiction

Revelation 2:18–29 NASB95

18 “And to the angel of the church in Thyatira write: The Son of God, who has eyes like a flame of fire, and His feet are like burnished bronze, says this: 19 ‘I know your deeds, and your love and faith and service and perseverance, and that your deeds of late are greater than at first.

Again, as in the previous letters that Jesus writes to these churches, we open with Jesus revealing Himself in a very unique way. We don’t have time to go into this imagery in depth today, but we can look throughout Scriptures and find similar imagery.

Malachi 3, Revelation 2:23, and many more help us to understand that the “Eyes like a flame of fire” description of Jesus is saying is I am the one who searches the into the depths of your heart and and I refine without compromise. If you have built with impure motives, my eyes of fire will consume your works and you will have no reward from me.

Daniel 10:6, Numbers 21 even later in Revelation 2:26 help us to understand that the “feet like burnished bronze” description of Christ means that He walks in authority, and His judgments alway reflect truth. Romans 3:20 tells us “through the law we know sin”. Burnished bronze is bronze that is polished like a mirror. Jesus is ready to judge this church according to His righteous judgement, and his judgment will reveal the true motives of this church.

The Church’s Deeds

And as Jesus judges the works of this church, we find many impressive remarks.

Revelation 2:19 NASB95

19 ‘I know your deeds, and your love and faith and service and perseverance, and that your deeds of late are greater than at first.

Jesus has five distinct remarks for this church, deeds, love, faith, service, and perseverance. Then He notes, you have matured!

Yet, when Jesus looks into this church, and measures them according to them law of God, something is revealed that causes great concern. Such concern that we are told that for those who do not repent, Revelation 2:22 says, they will be “thrown into great tribulation”. What we find is that this church has “tolerance”. So, the question that we have to ask ourselves is this; what is this church tolerating?

Revelation 2:20 NASB95

20 ‘But I have this against you, that you tolerate the woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess, and she teaches and leads My bond-servants astray so that they commit acts of immorality and eat things sacrificed to idols.

Who Is Jezebel

The first question we must ask is: Who was Jezebel?

In 1 Kings 16:31, she’s introduced as the Sidonian wife of Ahab, king of Israel, and daughter of Ethbaal—whose name means “living under the favor of Baal.” Jezebel worshipped Asherah, also known as Ashtoreth, the pagan goddess of fertility and sex. Ahab, her husband, worshipped Baal—the male counterpart to this false deity.

So, from the start of Jesus’ letter, we see a direct confrontation: the church had not only tolerated sexual immorality, but was embodying a sexualized culture. And, Jesus calls it what it truly is—idolatry. The spirit of Jezebel wasn’t just affecting behavior—it was influencing lifestyle, beliefs and worship.

For Jezebel, sex was not a form of intimacy, or an expression of love. Sex was all about control. In his podcast on Religion and the Female Body - Geza Xeravits states:

It was believed they (Baal and Ashteroth) had an intense sexual relationship and liked to be worshipped by people having sex without any limitations. Uncovered ancient monuments to Asherah show her in lewd terms with large breasts. Asherah plaques uncovered by archaeologists explain, “She is always naked and her...[private anatomical part]...is always very well articulated.”

(Excerpt From: Religion and Female Body in Ancient Judaism and Its Environments Géza G. Xeravits https://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/ MZStore.woa/wa/viewBook?id=0)

1 Kings 16 tells us that Ahab built a temple to Baal and erected a sacred Asherah pole—a large phallic symbol. These poles towered over cities and, as one commentator notes, were “intended to eroticize the city’s atmosphere.” Under Queen Jezebel’s influence, Israel descended into a deep-rooted culture of sexual addiction.

Many people today think pornography is a modern, 21st-century issue. But Jezebel’s leadership embedded sexual perversion into Israel’s culture and worship. In fact, about a century later, the book of Ezekiel reveals just how far this corruption went. In Ezekiel 23, we’re told that women were gazing at pornographic images painted on walls. As shocking as that is, Ezekiel 8:10 takes it even further—those same explicit images were carved into the very walls of the temple, even in the Holy Place. Then verse twelve says:

Ezekiel 8:12 NASB95

12 Then He said to me, “Son of man, do you see what the elders of the house of Israel are committing in the dark, each man in the room of his carved images? For they say, ‘The Lord does not see us; the Lord has forsaken the land.’ ”

In other words, the spiritual leaders of the nation were engaged in sexual pornographic acts of adultery, even inside the temple, the house of God.

Jezebel and Ahab

But in order to understand the full effects of Jezebels leadership we must see more than just her immorality and sexual revolution, we have to look at her counterpart Ahab.

The name Jezebel means “without cohabitation” or “without a husband,” which fittingly reflects the nature of the Jezebel spirit. Though Jezebel was married in name, in practice her husband was merely a pawn—a figurehead used to conceal and carry out her true intentions. Let’s take a moment an analyze Ahab.

Ahab was Indecisive - Double Minded

In 1 Kings 18, Elijah the prophet has called a showdown of the 450 prophets of Baal and 400 prophets of Asherah at Mt. Carmel where he is going to showcase the power of Yahweh. And it is here where Ahab’s weakness is displayed.

1 Kings 18:20–21 NASB95

20 So Ahab sent a message among all the sons of Israel and brought the prophets together at Mount Carmel. 21 Elijah came near to all the people and said, “How long will you hesitate between two opinions? If the Lord is God, follow Him; but if Baal, follow him.” But the people did not answer him a word.

Jezebel has already killed all but 100 of Yahweh’s prophets. Yet, Ahab did not have the leadership backbone to lead Israel in a single direction, whether toward Baal, or Yahweh. We know from 1 Kings 16 that he personally worships Baal. But he is too insecure and indecisive to lead the people one way or the other. He let’s Jezebel do that part.

Ahab Was A Coward

1 Kings 21:7 paints the clearest picture for us of Ahab’s cowardice. The king desired the vineyard, Yet Naboth, the owner, did not desire to sell. Verses 4-6 tell us that Ahab was angry, cowardice, and found pouting, laying in bed feeling sorry for himself. They in verse seven:

1 Kings 21:7 NASB95

7 Jezebel his wife said to him, “Do you now reign over Israel? Arise, eat bread, and let your heart be joyful; I will give you the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite.”

The Effects of Jezebel on Men

The spirit of Jezebel that Jesus addresses in Revelation 2—the very influence the church in Thyatira had tolerated—is a demonic force. It reduces men to boys, intoxicated by sex, trapped in a state of eternal adolescence. Under its influence, men abdicate their God-ordained leadership, while women—under the sway of Asherah—use their bodies as instruments of manipulation and control.

This Jezebel spirit is nearly impossible to discern without “the fiery eyes of God” and “the burnished bronze feet” of His authority. It leads through deception, masquerading as love, all while pulling the strings from behind the scenes through its puppet—Ahab. Jezebel never acts directly; she hides behind his name. And Ahab, in turn, never leads—he hides behind her influence.

The Ahab & Jezebel Relationship

We often focus on Jezebel—understandably so, since Jesus uses her name in His letter to the church in Thyatira. But let’s not miss a crucial detail: for Jezebel to lead, there must be an Ahab willing to step aside.

If Jezebel’s sin is manipulation and sexual immorality, Ahab’s is abdication. Jezebel needs Ahab, and Ahab needs Jezebel—and it takes an Elijah to confront it.

In 1 Kings 18, Elijah boldly faces the prophets of Baal on Mount Carmel and defeats them—450 prophets of Baal and 400 of Asherah. But even after such a victory, the real power struggle between Jezebel and Ahab reveals how this spirit operates behind the scenes as Jezebel now threatens Elijah’s life.

1 Kings 19:2–3 NASB95

2 Then Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah, saying, “So may the gods do to me and even more, if I do not make your life as the life of one of them by tomorrow about this time.” 3 And he was afraid and arose and ran for his life and came to Beersheba, which belongs to Judah, and left his servant there.

In every moment, Jezebel is behind the puppet king, Ahab—manipulating, controlling from the shadows. But the moment Elijah stepped forward and confronted the very spirit of darkness that she had masked, the veil was torn away. God has given us this letter so that we will, like Elijah, stand and courageously confront the spirit of Jezebel controlling the Church, and our region.

How Does Jezebel Deceive The Church?

Jezebels primary form of deception is seduction.

In the last 60 seconds that I’ve been speaking 79,908 people have visited the most popular pornographic website on the internet

25% of all web searches are pornographic in nature

38% of all advertising uses sexual imagery to sell

The Gospel Coalition reported that within a single two year period 246 Christian leaders fell due sexual sin

1 in 5 christian marriages end due to pornography

35% of christian couples divorce due to adultery

How Does Jezebel Gain Control?

Jezebel Seduces, Jezebel Schemes, Jezebel Silences

Jezebel doesn’t waste time with middle management, she goes for the king.

Presidents

Pastors

Press

Performing Arts

Wherever there is a platform, there is a Jezebel waiting to sieze

1 Kings 18 Jezebel killed the prophets of Yahweh sending a sign to every Israelite- obey me or die!

50% of all pastors reported feeling fearful about addressing moral issues - silence the spiritual leaders

18.3 million (25%) of all children grow up without a father - silence manhood

Jezebel is not satisfied with being related to the king, she must usurp authority

How Does Jezebel Act When She Is Threatened?

Threaten, Isolate, Paralyze

3 times between 1 Kings 18 and 19 Elijah cries out to God “I alone am left…”

64% percent of all pastor report they feel alone.

We’ve all heard the reports of people being sued, fined, or losing their business for taking a Biblical stance of morality

I had a co-worker once who after being told she couldn’t pray at work, put a picture of Jesus in her pocket. She called Him her “Pocket Jesus”.

Yet, 1 Kings 19:18 reminds us, we are not alone!

We Must Deal With Jezebel

I can confidently conclude that every person in this room has been confronted by the spirit of Jezebel. It may be through the temptation of Porn, using sex to get your attention, a seducing co-worker, or neighbor (male or female), or flirtation and the spirit of intimidation to get you to change your views, silence your faith, or walk in compromise. The Jezebel spirit cannot be tolerated, tamed or dealt with tenderly. Elijah gives us the strategy - “call her out from the mountain tops”.

Elijah uses this phrase “The Lord of Hosts”. Hosts is a Hebrew word meaning “military campaign, troops, army”. Jezebel will intimidate and isolate, but it is only on the surface. This is the spirit controlling much of the cultural norms today causing believers to feel as if they must agree or be silent. Declare loudly like Joshua!

Joshua 24:15 NASB95

15 “If it is disagreeable in your sight to serve the Lord, choose for yourselves today whom you will serve: whether the gods which your fathers served which were beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you are living; but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”

You will have to get used to praying with fire, calling demons for what they are, and NEVER agree with the voice of Jezebel. Remember - Jezebel needs an Ahab to survive, don’t be Ahab, be Elijah!

Salvation Response

Jesus ends this letter with a promise. It is a promise that is in direct opposition to the lie of Jezebel. Jezebel wants us to believe that if we soften our stance, if we quiet our message, we can be more effective. Yet, this is what we read:

Revelation 2:26 NASB95

26 ‘He who overcomes, and he who keeps My deeds until the end, to him I will give authority over the nations;

There are two groups of people I want to pray for today. The first is the ones who have come here and do not know Jesus. There is not easier way to communicate Jesus love to than to tell you:

John 3:16 NASB95

16 “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.

He died so you can live. Your sins demand death in Satans eyes, but Jesus has already paid that price. The feeling that you have believed that you have to get better before Jesus will take you in is a lie. He has paid it all. We know that sin leads to death – you’ve felt the sting, and pain of sin. The good news is this, Paul calls God’s gift of life a “free gift”. I want to pray with you right now to receive this gift. If you would say, I want God’s forgiveness, I want to accept this gift of life, I want Jesus to live in my heart, raise your hand so I know who I am praying for.

KEEP YOUR HANDS RAISED HIGH - I HAVE A PRAYER PARTNER COMING TO PRAY WITH YOU

“Heavenly Father, I trust You to save me through Your Son, Jesus. Forgive me for all of my sins. Make me brand new. Because You died for me, I want to live for You. Fill me with Your Spirit, so I could follow You. Jesus, You’re now my Lord and the Savior of my life. Take my life. It is Yours. In Jesus’ name, I pray.”