The Good, The Bad, And The Overcomers Series

The Good, the Bad, and the Overcomers

Revelation 2:18-29 18 "To the angel of the church in Thyatira write: These are the words of the Son of God, whose eyes are like blazing fire and whose feet are like burnished bronze. 19 I know your deeds, your love and faith, your service and perseverance, and that you are now doing more than you did at first. 20 Nevertheless, I have this against you: You tolerate that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess. By her teaching she misleads my servants into sexual immorality and the eating of food sacrificed to idols. 21 I have given her time to repent of her immorality, but she is unwilling. 22 So I will cast her on a bed of suffering, and I will make those who commit adultery with her suffer intensely, unless they repent of her ways. 23 I will strike her children dead. Then all the churches will know that I am he who searches hearts and minds, and I will repay each of you according to your deeds. 24 Now I say to the rest of you in Thyatira, to you who do not hold to her teaching and have not learned Satan's so-called deep secrets (I will not impose any other burden on you): 25 Only hold on to what you have until I come. 26 To him who overcomes and does my will to the end, I will give authority over the nations-- 27 'He will rule them with an iron scepter; he will dash them to pieces like pottery'--just as I have received authority from my Father. 28 I will also give him the morning star. 29 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.

THE CITY OF THYATIRA

Before having a look at what Christ is saying to the church in Thyatira, let’s take a quick tour of the city itself. Thyatira was located in a valley that connected two other valleys. It had no natural fortification at all. A Roman garrison was stationed there, but their aim was not to defend Thyatira, only to delay the invaders long enough for Pergamum, the capital up the road to be prepared for the coming attack. Thyatira was dispensable in the economy of the day.

Though not easily fortified, Thyatira was on a major trade route and was well known for its trade guilds - there were carpenters, dyers, sellers of goods, tanners, weavers, tent makers, etc all making a living from their trade. Lydia in Philippi was a trader of fine cloth and came from Thyatira. She was one of Paul’s first converts when he visited Thyatira on his second missionary journey (Acts 16).

Now these guilds were somewhat similar to our trade unions in years past. It was very difficult for the blue collar tradesmen and women to make a living unless they were a part of one of these guilds. They differed from trade unions, however, in that they were linked with the worship of other gods. Each guild had its particular guardian god and as a member, you would be expected to attend all its functions and participate in its activities which included offerings, feasts and often immoral behaviour. The members of the church in Thyatira weres torn between making a living on the one hand which meant having to be part of the guilds and on the other hand staying faithful to Christ and his standards.

Read Rev 2:18-29

1. The Good

A. The Picture of Christ (vs 18)

As always, Christ reveals himself in a special way to each church being addressed. His description is always relevant to the situation they are in. Here, Christ’s description of himself has 2 parts.

“Son of God”

In verse 18 he describes himself as the “Son of God.” This is the only place in Revelation that this title is given to Christ, though it is used often throughout the gospels. It comes straight out of Psalm 2:7

“I have installed my King on Zion, my holy hill.” 7 I will proclaim the decree of the LORD: He said to me, “You are my Son; today I have become your Father. 8 Ask of me, and I will make the nations your inheritance, the ends of the earth your possession. 9 You will rule them with an iron scepter; you will dash them to pieces like pottery.”

The context of this Psalm is that kings and rulers of the earth plot against the Lord and his anointed. It is Satanic rebellion against God. However God promises that God’s Son has authority over the world. God will make all nations His inheritance and the ends of the earth His possession. When the church in Thyatira heard the name “Son of God”, they would be reminded that Christ has ultimate authority in a world which is hostile to him. Matt 28:18 Christ states “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.” Christ has authority whether we like it or not.