Church in Thyatira
Notes
Transcript
To the Church in Thyatira
To the Church in Thyatira
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.’
Thyatira was halfway between Pergamos and Sardis, and had been controlled by the Romans for nearly 3 centuries. Because of its position in a long valley, there were no natural defenses and it had a long history of repeatedly being destroyed and rebuilt. It was literally nothing more than a military outpost.
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.
Again, see the angel reference - the minister is responsible for the church, and the letter is addressed to him.
words of the Son of God - speaking of Christ - He is the author of these words
eyes like a flame of fire - eyes that can penetrate and see through to reality
feet like burnished bronze - glowing hot, brass feet are a reference to divine judgment
19 “ ‘I know your works, your love and faith and service and patient endurance, and that your latter works exceed the first.
I know your works - notice the NASB “I know your deeds, and your love and faith and service and perseverance, and that your deeds of late are greater than at first. “
“love and faith, service and perseverance” Love and faith lead to service and perseverance/patience as they endure the tribulation. The ministries conducted at the church were beneficial and had happened as s result of strong faith and endurance to carry them forward.
your latter works exceed the first - There has been a change in the church of Thyatira - their growth is showing, and it signifies a living faith and church. The church is being praised for its pressing onward during difficult times.
Think of the kind of church being described: dynamic, vibrant, alive—meeting all the social needs of the community—having all the ministries that ranged all the way from a clothes and food closet over to reaching out to the lost in a regular visitation program. The church was full of activity and energy and crowded with people. Yet, the church was a far cry from what it should have been. It was a compromising and corrupted church.
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.
But I have this against you - while the church was praised, it was also criticized for their lack of staying true to the Word - they had backslidden.
you tolerate Jezebel - this is probably not referring to a specific person, but the attributes and traits shown. They had left this person alone, allowed them to remain in a wicked state without being addressed, and as a result the church was sinning against God.
calls herself a prophetess and is teaching and seducing my servants to practice sexual immorality and eat food sacrificed to idols - definitely a false prophet, and was teaching things contrary to God, and the church was allowing it to occur without being addressed. She claimed herself that God had called her to teach and proclaim the Gospel, and the church appointed her a teacher and gave her the opportunity and responsibility of teaching.
She was teaching that immoral acts were acceptable. What was not addressed in her teaching was this:
Believers should separate themselves from the world
They should be sensible in dealing with worldly function without sinning
They could reach the world by associating and fellowshipping with others WITHOUT compromising their faith
Idolatry was also being tolerated as they were allowing the believers to eat the sacrifices from the idol sacrifices.
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.
There is a warning to Jezebel. She is to be cast upon a bed of sickness.
There is the warning to those who gave in to her seduction and life-style, to those who refused to turn to Christ and to separate themselves from the world. They were to suffer great tribulation.
There is the warning to the children of Jezebel.
It could mean the chastising hand of God such as fell upon some of the Corinthian believers
It could mean the second death, the judgment of eternal death when we stand face to face with Christ in the final judgment day.
BUT There was still time for all of these to repent
Note why Christ is going to judge those who compromise with the world and corrupt the church.
so that all the churches may know and acknowledge that He is the Christ
so that every person will be treated fairly and justly
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.’