The Message to Thyatira
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JEZEBEL...
This name has never been on the popular list of baby girl names, and for good reason! The name Jezebel carries with it the stigma and personification of evil, wickedness, and immorality.
We see Jezebel come to the pages of scripture in the Old Testament in 1 Kings 16:29-33
29 Now Ahab the son of Omri became king over Israel in the thirty-eighth year of Asa king of Judah, and Ahab the son of Omri reigned over Israel in Samaria twenty-two years. 30 Ahab the son of Omri did evil in the sight of the Lord more than all who were before him. 31 It came about, as though it had been a trivial thing for him to walk in the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, that he married Jezebel the daughter of Ethbaal king of the Sidonians, and went to serve Baal and worshiped him. 32 So he erected an altar for Baal in the house of Baal which he built in Samaria. 33 Ahab also made the Asherah. Thus Ahab did more to provoke the Lord God of Israel than all the kings of Israel who were before him.
This Queen Jezebel...
Was a murderer… killing God’s prophets and teachers
Daughter of a priest of Baal
Influenced her husband King Ahab and a nation to sin and do evil and seek immorality
Baal Worship horrific sacrifices and immoral acts
The scriptures referred to them as abominations before God
For a period of time even the great prophet Elijah fled from her and hid in fear!
Notice later in 1st Kings what God says about Ahab and this evil Queen Jezebel… 1 Kings 20:21-26
21 The king of Israel went out and struck the horses and chariots, and killed the Arameans with a great slaughter. 22 Then the prophet came near to the king of Israel and said to him, “Go, strengthen yourself and observe and see what you have to do; for at the turn of the year the king of Aram will come up against you.” 23 Now the servants of the king of Aram said to him, “Their gods are gods of the mountains, therefore they were stronger than we; but rather let us fight against them in the plain, and surely we will be stronger than they. 24 “Do this thing: remove the kings, each from his place, and put captains in their place, 25 and muster an army like the army that you have lost, horse for horse, and chariot for chariot. Then we will fight against them in the plain, and surely we will be stronger than they.” And he listened to their voice and did so. 26 At the turn of the year, Ben-hadad mustered the Arameans and went up to Aphek to fight against Israel.
One has to ask...
Israel… WHY? God had done so much for you and your ancestors!
Ahab… WHY? God gave you the throne, power, riches… God had even proved Himself to him at Mt Carmel
The lure of sin and evil when let into our lives even in the slightest is so very dangerous… Our church today in Thyatira is dealing with this issue.
We visit the longest message to the smallest of the churches in Revelation 2:18-29
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. 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. 21 ‘I gave her time to repent, and she does not want to repent of her immorality. 22 ‘Behold, I will throw her on a bed of sickness, and those who commit adultery with her into great tribulation, unless they repent of her deeds. 23 ‘And I will kill her children with pestilence, and all the churches will know that I am He who searches the minds and hearts; and I will give to each one of you according to your deeds. 24 ‘But I say to you, the rest who are in Thyatira, who do not hold this teaching, who have not known the deep things of Satan, as they call them—I place no other burden on you. 25 ‘Nevertheless what you have, hold fast until I come. 26 ‘He who overcomes, and he who keeps My deeds until the end, to him I will give authority over the nations; 27 and he shall rule them with a rod of iron, as the vessels of the potter are broken to pieces, as I also 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.’
Christ’s Greeting
Christ’s Greeting
“Authority and Power”
This was the smallest of the towns, a military town of sorts but better known for the many trade guilds that were in the town
This was a blue collar hard working class of people
They worshiped Apollo the sun god… Here Christ designates Himself as the “Son of God” the one who created the sun! That is authority and power wrapped up in One!
We also see Christ reference Chapter 1 as His unique identity to this church
“Eyes like a flame of fire” (Daniel)
He sees into the hearts and minds and search His church
He can see into the depths of your soul and mine (BEYOND the surface level)
The flame signifies He judges what He sees as well
“Feet like burnished bronze”
A picture of coming judgement
The power to crush sin and evil
Christ’s Approval
Christ’s Approval
“You are DOING good”
“Deeds” are mentioned more in this small section than any other
Here is a church most likely that 90% are doing the work rather than the typical 10% doing all the work
This is a blue collar church, working hard… IN FACT: they were doing more and better than even before! There is improvement
Love
Faith
Service
Perseverance
The church in Ephesus could take some lessons from this church!
What we do is important and crucial in our Christian walk!
We have allowed a pendulum swing in the churches that teach Salvation by grace
We teach Christ did all necessary for salvation and salvation by faith (AND THIS IS TRUE!)
However, we have allowed this to trickle over into our daily lives and our walk and we say that works or deeds don’t matter
This is a lie from the devil!
Christ has set a standard to live by, we are called to Sanctification… may the churches called by Grace be also known and commended by God for our deeds!
There is a direct connection with what we do and what we believe!
Jesus Christ cares about what we do and wants us to improve and do more for Him!
This church may have been doing well in what they were doing, however there is a very strong admonition given...
Christ’s Admonition
Christ’s Admonition
“You Tolerate Evil”
There was a woman who had come into the church and was
Calling herself a prophetess (a false prophet)
Teaching (deep things of Satan)
Leading Astray… WHO? (My Bond-servants) believers/Christians
Her teaching was such that she is given the identifier “Jezebel” most likely not her name but God’s clear thought concerning her!
This is remember where Christ commended Ephesus!
Identifying false teachers and doctrine
Testing for false prophets
Holding to the purity of God’s Word
God is a God of balance!
What is taught and leading them to what? What are the deep things of Satan?
Immorality (pornero) sinful sexual acts 1 Thessalonians 4:3 and 1 Corinthians 6:18
3 For this is the will of God, your sanctification; that is, that you abstain from sexual immorality;
18 Flee immorality. Every other sin that a man commits is outside the body, but the immoral man sins against his own body.
Food to idols as well
She is basically teaching what Satan himself taught in the Garden
Do what is pleasing to you
Give into what FEELS good
taste, eat, be wise, … nothing new fulfill yourself rather than obey God
God is seeking repentance… he gave her time!
Consequence!
Death, sickness, tribulation… wanting repentance
This is a divine act of God that will come upon them
LOOK! as Christians when we do these things and fulfill self we are committing ADULTERY with God our Savior!
BUT GOD… look at what i am doing in the church, look at my deeds, look at the ministries i am a part of, I serve, love, I have faith...
But God searches the heart, the mind… cuts past the surface and sees the inner man and woman!
Repent of your deeds, or at least you will serve as an example to the other churches...
God repays according to our deeds...
Christ Instruction
Christ Instruction
“Repent / Steadfastness”
We continue to see God’s heart cry for man to repent (not point and blame)
Be steadfast…
In His deeds, in faith, love, service, perseverance… can only happen when we hold to sound teaching
The works and deeds will happen every day
There are two masters (Jesus Christ or Satan)
Joshua reminded the people of Israel… “Choose this day WHO you will serve”
The choice is not to serve but who
UNTIL?… Jesus Christ returns. This is worth it too! Look at
Christ’s Promise & Encouragement
Christ’s Promise & Encouragement
“Ruling With Him”
There is a reward!
Read verses 26-28 we will rule with Christ…there is a greater authority given in the Millennial Reign
We will be given authority to rule, responsibility
Hear this church… what you do here and now (“My Deeds”) matters and will impact eternity!
One last word of encouragement before we leave…
Where are you at today listening to this message Christ gave to Thyatira?
Are you living to impress other externally, yet sitting there realizing God is convicting your heart?
Is there sin/evil in your life God wants to deal with? Is He seeking a repentant heart from you?
I want to encourage you… it is never too late with God until it’s too late… 1 Kings 21:27-29
27 It came about when Ahab heard these words, that he tore his clothes and put on sackcloth and fasted, and he lay in sackcloth and went about despondently. 28 Then the word of the Lord came to Elijah the Tishbite, saying, 29 “Do you see how Ahab has humbled himself before Me? Because he has humbled himself before Me, I will not bring the evil in his days, but I will bring the evil upon his house in his son’s days.”
A humble, repentant heart… even for wicked Ahab can be forgiven by God. Let’s pray.