Thyatira—The Permissive Church (Revelation 2:18-29)

Revelation 2:18–29 KJV 1900

And unto the angel of the church in Thyatira write; These things saith the Son of God, who hath his eyes like unto a flame of fire, and his feet are like fine brass; I know thy works, and charity, and service, and faith, and thy patience, and thy works; and the last to be more than the first. Notwithstanding I have a few things against thee, because thou sufferest that woman Jezebel, which calleth herself a prophetess, to teach and to seduce my servants to commit fornication, and to eat things sacrificed unto idols. And I gave her space to repent of her fornication; and she repented not. Behold, I will cast her into a bed, and them that commit adultery with her into great tribulation, except they repent of their deeds. And I will kill her children with death; and all the churches shall know that I am he which searcheth the reins and hearts: and I will give unto every one of you according to your works. But unto you I say, and unto the rest in Thyatira, as many as have not this doctrine, and which have not known the depths of Satan, as they speak; I will put upon you none other burden. But that which ye have already hold fast till I come. And he that overcometh, and keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations: And he shall rule them with a rod of iron; as the vessels of a potter shall they be broken to shivers: even as I received of my Father. And I will give him the morning star. He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.

Thyatira is the fourth church in the tour of churches

Thyatira had a temple to apollos

Ancient Church

theatre

I. Christ’s Introduction v.18

And unto the angel of the church in Thyatira write; These things saith the Son of God, who hath his eyes like unto a flame of fire, and his feet are like fine brass;

A. The Son of God

· The emperors were said to be the adopted sons of Zeus, pretending to be in the family line of the gods.

· Jesus Christ introduced himself as “the Son of God,” because there is only one begotten of God.

Psalm 2:6–12 KJV 1900

Yet have I set my king Upon my holy hill of Zion. I will declare the decree: The Lord hath said unto me, Thou art my Son; This day have I begotten thee. Ask of me, And I shall give thee the heathen for thine inheritance, And the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession. Thou shalt break them with a rod of iron; Thou shalt dash them in pieces like a potter’s vessel. Be wise now therefore, O ye kings: Be instructed, ye judges of the earth. Serve the Lord with fear, And rejoice with trembling. Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, And ye perish from the way, When his wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed are all they that put their trust in him.

The local deity called TYRIMNOS, associated with Apollos, was the Sun God that was worshipped and stood in competition to Jesus Christ the Son of God

The emperor would be believed to be the incarnate Apollos

This church was reminded that Jesus Christ is alive and is the true Son of God, who is superior and worthy of worship.

1. The Son of God was with the boys in the furnace

Daniel 3:25 KJV 1900

He answered and said, Lo, I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire, and they have no hurt; and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God.

2. The Son of God endured all the temptations of the devil victoriously proving He truly was the Son of God.

The Old Testament sacrifice required a perfect sacrifice for sin, the lambs were without blemish as a picture,

Christ’s examination as the Son of God was to endure all the temptations that Satan could dish out, not to see if Jesus would sin, but to prove He was the Son of God.

Matthew 4:3–10 KJV 1900

And when the tempter came to him, he said, If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread. But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God. Then the devil taketh him up into the holy city, and setteth him on a pinnacle of the temple, And saith unto him, If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down: for it is written, He shall give his angels charge concerning thee: and in their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone. Jesus said unto him, It is written again, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God. Again, the devil taketh him up into an exceeding high mountain, and sheweth him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them; And saith unto him, All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me. Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.

3. the Son of God is The Word of God, declaring the Father to the world

John 1:14–18 KJV 1900

And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth. John bare witness of him, and cried, saying, This was he of whom I spake, He that cometh after me is preferred before me: for he was before me. And of his fulness have all we received, and grace for grace. For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ. No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him.

4. The Son of God is the Lamb that takes away sin.

John 1:29–33 KJV 1900

The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world. This is he of whom I said, After me cometh a man which is preferred before me: for he was before me. And I knew him not: but that he should be made manifest to Israel, therefore am I come baptizing with water. And John bare record, saying, I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and it abode upon him. And I knew him not: but he that sent me to baptize with water, the same said unto me, Upon whom thou shalt see the Spirit descending, and remaining on him, the same is he which baptizeth with the Holy Ghost.

5. The Son of God is the one we believe in for salvation

John 3:18 KJV 1900

He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.

Acts 8:37 KJV 1900

And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.

Romans 5:10 KJV 1900

For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.

1 John 5:5 KJV 1900

Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?

6. The Son of God is the omniscient king

John 1:48–49 KJV 1900

Nathanael saith unto him, Whence knowest thou me? Jesus answered and said unto him, Before that Philip called thee, when thou wast under the fig tree, I saw thee. Nathanael answered and saith unto him, Rabbi, thou art the Son of God; thou art the King of Israel.

Hebrews 1:6–8 KJV 1900

And again, when he bringeth in the firstbegotten into the world, he saith, And let all the angels of God worship him. And of the angels he saith, Who maketh his angels spirits, and his ministers a flame of fire. But unto the Son he saith, Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: a sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of thy kingdom.

Acts 9:20 KJV 1900

And straightway he preached Christ in the synagogues, that he is the Son of God.

Romans 1:3–6 KJV 1900

Concerning his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, which was made of the seed of David according to the flesh; And declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead: By whom we have received grace and apostleship, for obedience to the faith among all nations, for his name: Among whom are ye also the called of Jesus Christ:

7. We are called to the fellowship with the Son of God

1 Corinthians 1:9 KJV 1900

God is faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord.

Ephesians 4:13 KJV 1900

Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:

8. We live by the Faith of the Son of God

Galatians 2:20 KJV 1900

I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.

9. The Son of God was manifested to destroy the devil’s works.

1 John 3:8 KJV 1900

He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil.

B. Eyes like unto a flame of fire Feet are like fine brass

Revelation 2:14–15 KJV 1900

But I have a few things against thee, because thou hast there them that hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balac to cast a stumblingblock before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed unto idols, and to commit fornication. So hast thou also them that hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitans, which thing I hate.

Revelation 1:14 KJV 1900

His head and his hairs were white like wool, as white as snow; and his eyes were as a flame of fire;

1. Eyes like unto a flame of fire—omniscience

Hebrews 4:12 KJV 1900

For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

Revelation 19:11–16 KJV 1900

And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war. His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself. And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God. And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean. And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.

· to burn, shine as fire

· Literal fire

2. Feet are like fine brass—judgment

· Brass was the metal used in the altar where atonement was made by the death and burning of the sacrifices.

II. Christ’s Testimony

Revelation 2:19 KJV 1900

I know thy works, and charity, and service, and faith, and thy patience, and thy works; and the last to be more than the first.

A. Works

· to work. Work, performance, the result or object of employment, making or working.

He once again states that He knows what they are doing.

B. Charity

Colossians 3:14 KJV 1900

And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness.

They did not lack when it came to loving each other and sacrificing for each other.

1 Peter 4:8 KJV 1900

And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves: for charity shall cover the multitude of sins.

1 Timothy 1:5 KJV 1900

Now the end of the commandment is charity out of a pure heart, and of a good conscience, and of faith unfeigned:

2 Peter 1:7 KJV 1900

And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity.

Unlike Ephesus Thyatira continued in their love but became unbalanced on tolerance of error.

Ephesus did not tolerate error, but were lacking love, Thyatira had no lack of love but began to become permissive of those that were false

C. Service

Service—deacon, servant. Service, attendance, ministry. Verb, diakonéō (G1247), to minister, serve

Works talk about what you do, but service is the spirit of doing it.

Matthew 4:10 KJV 1900

Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.

Hebrews 9:14 KJV 1900

How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?

1 Thessalonians 1:9 KJV 1900

For they themselves shew of us what manner of entering in we had unto you, and how ye turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God;

John 12:26 KJV 1900

If any man serve me, let him follow me; and where I am, there shall also my servant be: if any man serve me, him will my Father honour.

Hebrews 12:28 KJV 1900

Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear:

Revelation 22:3 KJV 1900

And there shall be no more curse: but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it; and his servants shall serve him:

D. Faith

· Faith—to win over, persuade. Faith. Subjectively meaning firm persuasion, conviction, belief in the truth

Hebrews 11:6 KJV 1900

But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

1 Peter 5:9 KJV 1900

Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.

E. Patience

· Patience—to persevere, remain under. A bearing up under, patience, endurance as to things or circumstances. This is in contrast to makrothumía (G3115), long-suffering or endurance toward people. Hupomonḗ is associated with hope (1 Thess. 1:3) and refers to that quality of character which does not allow one to surrender to circumstances or succumb under trial.

James 1:2–4 KJV 1900

My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.

Patience in trials will build us to maturity, but tolerance of error will have the opposite effect.

F. Works

Here he mentions works again, but with a clause “…and the last to be more than the first.”

Their church grew in charity, service, faith, patience and works.

III. Christ’s Rebuke

Revelation 2:20 KJV 1900

Notwithstanding I have a few things against thee, because thou sufferest that woman Jezebel, which calleth herself a prophetess, to teach and to seduce my servants to commit fornication, and to eat things sacrificed unto idols.

· Jezebel—chaste

1 Kings 16:31–32 KJV 1900

And it came to pass, as if it had been a light thing for him to walk in the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, that he took to wife Jezebel the daughter of Ethbaal king of the Zidonians, and went and served Baal, and worshipped him. And he reared up an altar for Baal in the house of Baal, which he had built in Samaria.

A. The church permitted her in the church

· Sufferest—To permit, to let be.

· This was the sin of the church—they were permissive. They let her be when they should have stopped her.

Weare not sure why they didnt stop her and gave her a platform to teach, but they did. Perhaps they were not wanting undue stress on the church.

Perhaps they did not see the damage that was beng done to the church

B. She called herself a prophetess

John 15:16 KJV 1900

Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you.

You do not call yourself. God calls you, but never you yourself.

She was self-exalting

She made herself a religious leader.

There are many women that call themselves to be leaders of churches when God makes clear that the pastoral office is a male office.

1. A true calling is always in line with Scripture and recogonized by the church.

Acts 13:2–3 KJV 1900

As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Ghost said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them. And when they had fasted and prayed, and laid their hands on them, they sent them away.

2. The office of a pastor can only be filled by a man.

1 Timothy 3:1 KJV 1900

This is a true saying, If a man desire the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work.

1 Timothy 3:2 KJV 1900

A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach;

3. The office of deacon must also be filled by a man.

1 Timothy 3:11–12 KJV 1900

Even so must their wives be grave, not slanderers, sober, faithful in all things. Let the deacons be the husbands of one wife, ruling their children and their own houses well.

C. She was allowed to teach Christ’s servants.

Teach—to know or teach. Teach, instruct by word of mouth

Here again we see that this woman was not living in submission to truth.

God gives men positions to teach others. They influence others. A person that is self called or takes a positon so they can teach their particular doctrine is a false prophet.

Jezebel claimed to be a prophetess so people would listen to her.

1. The Scriptures teach that a woman must not be allowed to teach in church.

1 Timothy 2:11–14 KJV 1900

Let the woman learn in silence with all subjection. But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence. For Adam was first formed, then Eve. And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived was in the transgression.

A woman can be used in teaching ministries, but her ministry must be under the leadership of a male pastor, and not exericising authority over the men of the church.

God chose from creation for men to lead.

The woman was deceived in the transgression not the man.

2. The husband is to be a teacher to his wife.

1 Corinthians 14:34–35 KJV 1900

Let your women keep silence in the churches: for it is not permitted unto them to speak; but they are commanded to be under obedience, as also saith the law. And if they will learn any thing, let them ask their husbands at home: for it is a shame for women to speak in the church.

If awife has a husband at home, she shoudl dicuss doctrine with him at home, and defer to her husband in the church.

3. Many cults gain hold on a home through the wives.

Jezebel led her husband.

There were women that founded cults of today, like the Shakers, Seventh Day Adventism, Christian science.

Agnes Ozman was the first to speak in tongues in 1901.

The Assemblies of God ordained women in 1914, by 1936 there was one woman ordained for every four men.

Modern day women are becoming prominent, though self called pastors, like Joyce Meyer, Jan Crouch, Gloria Copeland, Mariyln Hickey. Much of their doctrine is heretical, yet they are well received by Christendom.

“He could have helped himself up until the point where he said I commend my spirit into your hands, at that point he couldn’t do nothing for himself anymore. He had become sin, he was no longer the Son of God. He was sin.” Joyce Meyer

“Do you know something? The minute that blood sacrifice was accepted Jesus was the first human being that was ever born again. Now that was real it happened when he was in hell.” Joyce Meyer

“And in Luke 23:43 “Jesus said unto him, “I say unto you today you shall be in paradise with me. There is no punctuation in the original translations of the Bible. We have punctuated it and in this particular scripture it was punctuated wrong. They put in there I say unto you comma today you shall be in paradise with me. Making it appear that the minute Jesus died on the cross he went straight to paradise. No, no, no he did not. The way it should read is I say unto you today comma I am telling you this today. Today I am telling you that you are going to be in paradise with me. But he didn’t say you are going to be there today, he said I am telling you this today.” Joyce Meyer

"God's prosperity isn't just financial blessings. It also includes healing, protection, favor, wisdom, success, well-being and every good thing you could possibly need—all the good things Jesus paid for you to have." Gloria Copeland

D. She seduced Christ’s servants

Seduced—a wandering. To cause to wander, lead astray,

Christians were being led astray, seducedby the false doctrine she wasteaching.

· To function in business in Thyatira you needed to be a part of a guild. These guilds would eat meat that had been sacrificed to idols, they would worship false gods, and promote immorality.

Jezebel would teach and seduce God’s people as to...

1. To commit fornication

the teaching she taught made a way that those that followed her could committ fornication and at the same time pretend to be spiritual.

There is never a mixture between immorality and the Lord’s will for you.

1 Corinthians 5:1 KJV 1900

It is reported commonly that there is fornication among you, and such fornication as is not so much as named among the Gentiles, that one should have his father’s wife.

1 Corinthians 6:18 KJV 1900

Flee fornication. Every sin that a man doeth is without the body; but he that committeth fornication sinneth against his own body.

Ephesians 5:3 KJV 1900

But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints;

1 Thessalonians 4:3 KJV 1900

For this is the will of God, even your sanctification, that ye should abstain from fornication:

2. To eat meat offered to idols

Colossians 3:5 KJV 1900

Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry:

It was through covetousness that idolatry is seen in a believer’s life.

It was being taught that it was okay that to associate with teh guild since that is how you make money, buy and sell.

Idolatry entered quickly into teh early church through teh influence of Rome.

It started with pictures that were regarded as holy and now the Roman Catholics and others actually pray to these idols.

They tell you that they do not qorship teh idols, but whom they repsresent. This is whay idol worship has always done. It had given a visible image to wosrship representing teh invisible entity.

Christ is the only image of God that we worship. He declares teh invisible God to man.

III. Christ’s Judgement

A. Jesus Gives Time to Repent

Revelation 2:21 KJV 1900

And I gave her space to repent of her fornication; and she repented not.

a space is aseasonpftime. We must never think that because people seem to get away with it that they will. The Lord is gracious and is always willing to have people repent rather than destroyed.

B. Jesus will bring her into Great Tribulation

Revelation 2:22 KJV 1900

Behold, I will cast her into a bed, and them that commit adultery with her into great tribulation, except they repent of their deeds.

1. This points to the church of the last days, which because of their lost state, they will fall into the judgment of God.

Jezebel pretended to be religious but was in all points lost, sensual, sinful and full of wickedness. This will makeup the tribulation church of the antichrist. She will be teh harlot that will assocaite with Babylon, for the riches, teh power etc…bt utimately will be abandoned by those that embraced her.

This is characteristic of the last days, as women teaching false doctrines lead men and women into error.

The Tribulation church will have the charcteristics of this Jezebel and her followers. They will be immoral and worship idols, causing people to sin against the Lord.

This church will be covetous and immoral, being used to gratify the base desires of men while usingg religion to deceive the masses.

This church will join with teh political system and will be represented by Babylon

C. Jesus will judge her offspring

Revelation 2:23 KJV 1900

And I will kill her children with death; and all the churches shall know that I am he which searcheth the reins and hearts: and I will give unto every one of you according to your works.

The children pf Jezebel all teh way into the Great Tribulation will fall under judgment. Rev. 18 talks about teh fallof Babylon, teh harlot and the political system,

Revelation 18:2–9 KJV 1900

And he cried mightily with a strong voice, saying, Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, And is become the habitation of devils, And the hold of every foul spirit, And a cage of every unclean and hateful bird. For all nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornication, And the kings of the earth have committed fornication with her, And the merchants of the earth are waxed rich through the abundance of her delicacies. And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, my people, That ye be not partakers of her sins, And that ye receive not of her plagues. For her sins have reached unto heaven, And God hath remembered her iniquities. Reward her even as she rewarded you, And double unto her double according to her works: In the cup which she hath filled fill to her double. How much she hath glorified herself, and lived deliciously, So much torment and sorrow give her: For she saith in her heart, I sit a queen, And am no widow, and shall see no sorrow. Therefore shall her plagues come in one day, Death, and mourning, and famine; And she shall be utterly burned with fire: For strong is the Lord God who judgeth her. And the kings of the earth, who have committed fornication and lived deliciously with her, Shall bewail her, and lament for her, When they shall see the smoke of her burning,

D. Jesus will reveal His Justice

Revelation 2:23 KJV 1900

And I will kill her children with death; and all the churches shall know that I am he which searcheth the reins and hearts: and I will give unto every one of you according to your works.

1. He is the one that searches the heart

Hebrews 4:12–13 KJV 1900

For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do.

2. He justly judges in accordance to the works they produce.

Jesus will be revealed and will show the world that His judgment is always completed and will always come to vindicate.

D. Jesus wants those that are doing right to hold fast good doctrine.

Revelation 2:24–25 KJV 1900

But unto you I say, and unto the rest in Thyatira, as many as have not this doctrine, and which have not known the depths of Satan, as they speak; I will put upon you none other burden. But that which ye have already hold fast till I come.

Here is teh first direct reference toteh rapture of the church.There is not judgment for true believers like on Jezebel abd her followers. He offers words of comfort. There are always faithful people,even in a church that is full of Jezebels.

We are simply to hold fast

Hold fastTo take hold of, grasp, hold fast,

IV. Christ’s Promises

A. The overcomers that keep Christ’s works unto the end will rule in the Milennial reign

Revelation 2:26–27 KJV 1900

And he that overcometh, and keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations: And he shall rule them with a rod of iron; as the vessels of a potter shall they be broken to shivers: even as I received of my Father.

2 Timothy 2:12 KJV 1900

If we suffer, we shall also reign with him: if we deny him, he also will deny us:

Revelation 20:5–6 KJV 1900

But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection. Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.

Rod of Iron

Revelation 12:5 KJV 1900

And she brought forth a man child, who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron: and her child was caught up unto God, and to his throne.

The rod of iron still exists because there will still be lawlezsness in the millenial kingdom due to teh flesh. Sin will not be dealt with until after the earthly kingdom.

The rod is a Shepherd’s rod that must be used to chastise the sheep that are foolish.

2. Vessels broken to shivers

Psalm 2:7–9 KJV 1900

I will declare the decree: The Lord hath said unto me, Thou art my Son; This day have I begotten thee. Ask of me, And I shall give thee the heathen for thine inheritance, And the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession. Thou shalt break them with a rod of iron; Thou shalt dash them in pieces like a potter’s vessel.

In cooperation with tehLor we willrule with Christ and ultimately crush all rebellion atthe end of the age.

Revelation 20:9 KJV 1900

And they went up on the breadth of the earth, and compassed the camp of the saints about, and the beloved city: and fire came down from God out of heaven, and devoured them.

B. The overcomers will receive a morning star

Revelation 2:28 KJV 1900

And I will give him the morning star.

Revelation 22:16 KJV 1900

I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star.

We will Christ near us but we will also share His qualities of broghtness.

Daniel 12:3 KJV 1900

And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever.

Proverbs 4:18 KJV 1900

But the path of the just is as the shining light, That shineth more and more unto the perfect day.