The Corrupt Church

Revelation 2:18–29 NKJV

18 “And to the angel of the church in Thyatira write, ‘These things says the Son of God, who has eyes like a flame of fire, and His feet like fine brass: 19 “I know your works, love, service, faith, and your patience; and as for your works, the last are more than the first. 20 Nevertheless I have a few things against you, because you allow that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess, to teach and seduce My servants to commit sexual immorality and eat things sacrificed to idols. 21 And I gave her time to repent of her sexual immorality, and she did not repent. 22 Indeed I will cast her into a sickbed, and those who commit adultery with her into great tribulation, unless they repent of their deeds. 23 I will kill her children with death, and all the churches shall know that I am He who searches the minds and hearts. And I will give to each one of you according to your works. 24 “Now to you I say, and to the rest in Thyatira, as many as do not have this doctrine, who have not known the depths of Satan, as they say, I will put on you no other burden. 25 But hold fast what you have till I come. 26 And he who overcomes, and keeps My works until the end, to him I will give power over the nations— 27 ‘He shall rule them with a rod of iron; They shall be dashed to pieces like the potter’s vessels’— as I also have received 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.” ’

The Revelation of Jesus Christ The Letter to Thyatira: The Church Tolerating Apostasy (2:18-29)

The fourth message of Christ was addressed to the angel of the church in Thyatira, a small thriving town located about forty miles southeast of Pergamos, The city had been established as a Macedonian colony by Alexander the Great after the destruction of the Persian empire. Located in a rich agricultural area, Thyatira was famous for the manufacture of purple dye, and numerous references are found in secular literature of the period to the trade guilds which manufactured cloth.25 It is remarkable that Christ should single out a very small church in a relatively obscure city for such an important letter. However, the message reaches far beyond the immediate circumstances in the church at Thyatira. One other mention of Thyatira is found in Acts 16:14–15 where the conversion of Lydia is recorded in these words: “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.”

Jesus begins with the personalized description of Himself:

First and only time He uses the “Son of God”.

Eyes like a flame of fire and feet like fine brass

Probably depicts His discernment over their works.

He then moves to their good qualities:

I know your works:

The Following are subordinate to this, thus the works He refers to are...

love

service

faith

patience

The last (patience) is more than the first (love).

I. The indictment!

“I have a few things against you…allow that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess to teach and seduce my servants...”

Now last week we briefly looked at this sin of sexual immorality and things sacrificed to idols in conjunction with Balaam.

That sin was no less egregious to God, but here I would like to probe a bit deeper.

This woman considered herself a prophetess and probably was sought after by those in the church. She no doubt had clout. But as you know when people of influence are not true to the word of God, great corruption emerges, and sin begins to fester.

The pagan religions of the time were saturated with certain rituals that included at it’s basic level, eating meat sacrificed to idols.

That in turn resulted in more debased practices of sexual promiscuity among the participants.

We know that for instance in Corinth, the practice of using prostitutes, both heterosexual and homosexual was common and most prevalent.

These were the issues with the church at Thyatira.

And as the church body trusted this woman, she exploited them and took them to a dark place spiritually speaking.

When people today say that God is not so concerned about their actions, and that He overlooks their similar indiscretions, they are fools!

II. The judgment!

Because the Lord gave her time to repent of this and she refused...

A. He will throw her into a sickbed (κλίνη)

The penalty is one that fits the crime, so to speak.

Here, the sickbed is used as a metaphor for the spiritual decay and rottenness produced by her adulteries.

This judgment could be in the final punishment that is coming for all who disobey the gospel, or it could also be the natural corruption that comes from a life of sin.

Galatians 6:7 NKJV

7 Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap.

B. Those who commit adultery with her will go into great tribulation, unless they repent.

So many in the church have been slain by the deception of sin!

Those that belong to Christ must watch for the error of those that would come in as wolves in sheep’s clothing!

Whether these are true believers or not is not the issue.

We are responsible for following Christ all our lives!

We must not give the enemy an inch lest he take a mile from us!

We must be ready to repent when God chastens us.

The fact that God chastens His own is without debate.

Hebrews 12:6 NKJV

6 For whom the Lord loves He chastens, And scourges every son whom He receives.”

And that He judges His people for unrepentant sin is also without debate.

1 Peter 4:17 NKJV

17 For the time has come for judgment to begin at the house of God; and if it begins with us first, what will be the end of those who do not obey the gospel of God?

C. He will kill her children.

Revelation 2:23 NKJV

23 I will kill her children with death, and all the churches shall know that I am He who searches the minds and hearts. And I will give to each one of you according to your works.

The text seems redundant but I think it is more emphatic.

Her children would most probably be those spiritual offspring of her sin, different than those who participated in her adulteries.

These are her disciples, that have her doctrine ingrained in their hearts.

They are wicked and have solidified their minds.

Jude 12–13 NKJV

12 These are spots in your love feasts, while they feast with you without fear, serving only themselves. They are clouds without water, carried about by the winds; late autumn trees without fruit, twice dead, pulled up by the roots; 13 raging waves of the sea, foaming up their own shame; wandering stars for whom is reserved the blackness of darkness forever.

The fact that sin is far worse than we believe and is indefensible before a holy God, should encourage us to part ways with it whenever it rears it’s ugly head.

“And I will give to each one of you according to his works.”

III. The Reward

For the rest who do not hold to these satanic doctrines, Christ puts no further burden upon them.

He says, “Hold fast to what you have until I come.”

And, the rewards for faithfulness ...

A. We will have authority over the nations.

This is a promise to rule with Christ over the nations,when He does so with a rod of iron.

Psalm 2:8–9 NKJV

8 Ask of Me, and I will give You The nations for Your inheritance, And the ends of the earth for Your possession. 9 You shall break them with a rod of iron; You shall dash them to pieces like a potter’s vessel.’ ”

Not just in judgment but during His earthly rule, giving substance to the literal reign of Christ.

B. He will give us the morning star.

That is, those who overcome this world by the faith of the Son of God, shall inherit Christ Himself, not a substitute or a figure of His truth, but the very essence of Him in every facet. The glory that shall be ours!

There may be a problem here for some.

I have a hunch that some would mock at these rewards, as though they fall short in some minds.

But the truth is, that for those who have been bought by the blood of the Lamb, there is no greater reward than Christ Himself!

Everything else falls short!

For He is:

Wonderful

Counselor

The mighty God

The everlasting Father

The Prince of peace

His name is Jesus - The name that is above every other name.