Suffer No Evil in the Church

Revelation 2:18-29

Verse 18:

To: the Angel of the Church of Thyatira

Thyatira is the hometown of Lydia (Acts 16:14 “And a certain woman named Lydia, a seller of purple, of the city of Thyatira, which worshipped God, heard us: whose heart the Lord opened, that she attended unto the things which were spoken of Paul.”

From: The Son of God who’s eyes are like a flame of fire and feet are like fine brass.

Son of God: that is the eternal, only begotten Son of God, of the same essence and nature as the Father. The only one who hath seen the Father and the one who has revealed the Father to those whom he wills. (Matt. 11:27, John 1:1, 1:14, 18, 6:46, 10:30, 14:9, 17:5-6, Col. 2:9, Heb. 1:3)

Eyes as a flame of fire: signifies his piercing, penetrating, perfect knowledge and thorough knowledge of all men’s heart, minds, souls even down to their intentions. (John 2:24-25) Even in this text he knows and tries the hearts and reins of men verse 23.

Feet like fine brass: Matthew Henry says that “ the outgoings of his providence are steady, awful, and all pure and holy. As he judges with perfect wisdom, so he acts with perfect strength and steadiness.”

Verse 19:

Again Christ knows their works, why? Because God sees all of men good and bad, and knows the hearts of men and the intentions of every person.

He starts with the honorable things they have well attended too.

Charity - how they do good to all men or the more special care of the household of faith.

Service - service to others, service to each other and service to Christ.

Faith - which is actually the grace that actuated all the rest on this list, both their charity and service. But also those things that follow in this list.

Patience - is need to exercise charity or service and everyone who would do either will be met with ample tests to exercise they patience.

Works - Good Works that all Christians should attend to, good works prepared for those who inherit salvation. Attending the sick, the imprisoned, feeding the hungry and thirsty, clothing the naked, giving aid to the widow and orphan to name just a few of the good works we are called to.

Note also that they have grown in their duties, their last works were better than the first. Unlike Ephesus who had left their first love, and lost their first zeal, this church was growing in this respect of works, charity, service, faith and patience.

Verse 20:

What’s the problem, what is amiss and why the reproof?

The charge is not directly at the church but at those wicked seducers who were among them.

So what is the church culpable for in this rebuke?

For allowing the seduction to go on.

For allowing this woman who is compared to Jezebel to call herself a prophetess, to teach and to seduce Christ’s servants to commit fornication and to eat food sacrificed to idols.

They are culpable for not practicing Church Discipline. (Matt. 18:15-17, 1Cor. 5:1-13, 2 Cor. 2:5-11, Gal. 6:1, 2Thess. 3:6, 14-15, 1 Tim. 5:19-20, Titus 3:10, Rom. 16:17, Rev. 2:2). They are culpable for not putting this woman out (excommunication), for not calling her to repentance and for not calling others she is seducing to repentance.

Christ takes the purity of His Church very seriously and will not suffer evil in the midst forever.

The Church should be just as concerned about the purity of the gathering as Christ is.

What does this mean for us? Church Discipline is necessary and expected of the Church by Christ. Christ is the head of the Church and we must do His will!

Verse 21:

Christ gave her space or time to repent of her fornication.

Concerning this space or time of repentance Henry says:

“First, Repentance is necessary to prevent a sinner's ruin. 

Secondly, Repentance requires time, a course of time, and time convenient; it is a great work, and a work of time.

Thirdly, Where God gives space for repentance, he expects fruits meet for repentance. 

Fourthly, Where the space for repentance is lost, the sinner perishes with a double destruction.”

What does this mean for us?

Calling false teachers and false prophets to repentance is good and right.

It is a duty of the Church to do so as much as service, charity, faith, works and patience.

The neglect of it bring the Church reproof or correction from Christ, for he does not want his Church to be a partaker with them of these sins by suffering it to continue.

Verse 23:

Christ will punish her finally, cast her into a bed and those who commit adultery with her into great tribulation.

Yet, he still gives opportunity for repentance, “except they repent”!

Verse 24:

Why will Christ kill her children with death?

Why will he punish this false prophetess, false prophets and false teachers?

Answer:

So that all the Churches will know that Christ is the one that searches the reins and hearts.

And that He will give to everyone according to your works.

He will punish them as an example and warning to His Church. So that they will not be deceived, but that He knows their hearts and will bring judgment and justice to every wrong doer.

On this same note, Church Discipline works in the same manner. It serves to make an example to the Church and a warning to the wrong doer. Yet, the end or hope of Church Discipline is reconciliation, that after being disciplined the offending party would be brought to repentance and restored to fellowship.

Verse 24:

Here Christ would add no more burden, no more law, to those who have not been deceived, who have not adopted this doctrine or the depths of Satan.

Here Christ shows his tender care for his faithful servants.

Christ compares this Jezebel and her doctrine as knowing the depths of Satan, as they speak them. “Satanical delusions and devices, diabolical mysteries; for there is a mystery of iniquity, as well and the great mystery of godliness. It is a dangerous thing to despise the mystery of God, and it is as dangerous to receive the mysteries of Satan.”

Verse 25:

What is Christ’s expectation of this church? Perseverance in the things that they have already. The doctrine that they have already, the charity, service, faith, patience and works that they have already grown in. Also implied earlier, that they should not suffer these sorts of things in the church any longer.

Persevere until He comes.

Verse 26-29:

To those who overcome and keep my works: power over the nations. This I believe is when the believers shall sit down with Christ when he judges the nations.

He will give them the morning star, which is indeed the promise of Christ himself. Communion with Him, fellowship with Him.

Notice that this message was written to Thyatira, but also to all the churches.

Application

Guard the Purity of Christ’s Church with courage and compassion.

Practice patient, persistent repentance, because Christ gives space for repentance, not permission to continue in evil.

Persevere in Faithfulness until Christ Comes, holding fast to what you already know.