Reading: Revelation chapter 2 verses 18-29:
Ill:
• There was a minister out taking a walk on a beautiful street.
• He noticed a small boy attempting to ring the doorbell on the porch of a house.
• The boy was short and the doorbell was higher than usual.
• The boy could not quite reach it.
• The minister stepped up to the porch beside the boy and reached up;
• And aggressively rang the doorbell for the boy.
• ‘AND NOW WHAT YOUNG MAN?’
• ‘NOW’, the boy said, ‘WE RUN LIKE CRAZY’!
• Things are not always as they appear;
• That was certainly true for the Church at Thyatira.
(A). Background:
Thyatira is the fourth of 7 churches mentioned in these opening chapters of Revelation:
• It’s worth noting that this is the longest letter and yet it’s addressed to the church;
• That was considered the least important city of the seven.
Ill:
• Biggest Church in the world is in South Korea (1 million people),
• Seoul, the capital, contained 11 of the world's 12 largest Christian congregations
• 1 in every 3 people in South Korea are evangelical Christians!
• Question: How did it start?
• Answer: A couple of hundred years a go;
• The Queen of Korea lost her little child by death,
• A slave girl in the palace told her of heaven where the child had gone,
• And the Saviour who would take her there.
• Thus the Gospel was first introduced to Korea by a little captive maid.
• What we think as of being insignificant;
• God often values and uses for his glory!
• So to this is the longest letter and yet it’s addressed to the church;
• That was considered the least important city of the seven.
(1). Geographically.
• If you were to look Thyatira up on a historical map;
• You would notice that it is located about sixty Kilometres southeast of Pergamum
• Which you looked at last week.
• There were no real distinguishing features about the city of Thyatira.
• It was not situated on a harbour like Ephesus or Smyrna,
• It was not on at prominent hill like Pergamum.
• In fact it was in the middle of a valley.
• Although it was situated well away from the Mediterranean Sea;
• It was on the road which connected the cities of Pergamum and Sardis.
• This was the road that the Imperial Post travelled;
• And so while it may not have been a large city it was a thriving city.
Ill:
• It was the ‘Watford Gap’ of its day or the ‘Crewe’ of its day.
• Not so much famous for itself,
• It was somewhere you passed through on the way to somewhere else.
• And so it was well known as a ‘pass through’ place.
Strategically the importance of Thyatira:
• Was that it was the gateway to Pergamum;
• Which was the Capital of the Roman Province of Asia Minor.
• And so there was an armed garrison placed in the city to protect the capital.
• However Thyatira wasn’t capable of a sustained defence because it lay in the middle of an open valley.
• Ill: So the very best that Thyatira could hope for was to be a speed bump;
• That would slow an advancing army down until Pergamum could prepare a defence.
(2). Commercially:
• Because of its location along trade routes,
• Thyatira became a prosperous commercial centre.
• Thyatira was a city full of merchants and manufacturing.
• Some of those major trades are mentioned; e.g. bronze and pottery workers.
Ill:
In verse 27 we are told:
• “He will rule them with an iron sceptre;
• He will dash them to pieces like pottery”.
• One of the jobs of the potters assistant;
• Was to smash the pottery with an iron rod.
• This was not blatant vandalism;
• He was to smash any pot that was not perfect. Any pot that was flawed, sub-standard.
• It was not to be traded or passed on (no second shops in those days);
• If it was faulty it was destroyed to save the name and reputation of the potter.
• That is what it means to ‘Rule with a rod of iron’;
• It means to break up everything that is not right.
Note:
• Archaeological discoveries have revealed;
• That the city had a large number of trade guilds,
• Which were the early equivalent of trade-unions,
• And so it could be said that Thyatira was a union town, a closed shop.
• That meant that no one was allowed to practice any trade;
• Unless he or she was a member of the local guild of that trade
(3). Religiously.
• Thyatira had no special significance,
• It was not a centre of Caesar worship like Pergamum, nor of Greek worship like Ephesus.
• The two notable things about the city from a religious perspective was;
• It had a local god by the name of Tyrimnus (Trim-us),
• Who was a warrior god and regarded as the patron of the guilds,
• As a result he was honoured at their social gatherings
Religious persecution was not an issue in Thyatira;
• It was very much live and let live.
• The Christians were allowed to openly practice their beliefs without any comeback.
BUT:
• But there was a type of economic persecution that came as a result of the trade guilds;
• That I mentioned earlier.
• These guilds represented different trades in the city;
• But they were much more then that,
• They differed from trade unions;
• 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.
Ill:
The guilds often held common meals,
• Which more often then not happened in the temple.
• These meetings would begin and end with a formal sacrifice to the various gods.
• The meat served during the meals would have been meat offered to one god or another.
• The meals often became an excuse for excess and often degenerated into immorality.
• Not being part of these guilds;
• Could virtually guarantee economic ruin and commercial collapse.
• So the Church of Thyatira was facing great economic pressure.
• And they had some tough decisions to make concerning their employment.
As you can imagine:
• The Christians who lived and worked in Thyatira;
• Were torn between ‘a rock and a hard place’.
• On the one hand they needed to make living which meant having to be part of the guilds;
• And on the other hand they needed staying faithful to Christ and his standards.
• That was their dilemma;
• Let’s look at the passage and see how they got on!
(B). CHRIST portrayed (verse 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”.
As is the common pattern (structure) in these seven letters:
• Jesus Christ always reveals himself in a special way to the church he is addressing;
• I am sure you have had it pointes out over the last few weeks.
• That the description used is always relevant to the situation that the Church is in.
• So to with this description. In this description of Jesus, there are two things to note:
First:
• In verse 18 Jesus describes himself as the “Son of God.”
• This is the only place in the book of Revelation that this title is given to Christ,
• Though it is used often through out the gospels.
• This is the only place in the book of Revelation that this title is used.
Quote: It comes straight out of the Old Testament - Psalm 2 verse 7
“I have installed my King on Zion, my holy hill.”7I will proclaim the decree of the LORD:
He said to me, “You are my Son; today I have become your Father.
8Ask of me, and I will make the nations your inheritance, the ends of the earth your possession. 9You will rule them with an iron sceptre; you will dash them to pieces like pottery”.
• The context of this quotation in the Psalm is that;
• The kings and rulers of the earth are plotting against the Lord God and his anointed (Chosen one).
• Quote: ‘Men may win the battle but God will always win the war!’
• And God promises in this Psalm that his Son will have all authority over the world.
• God will make all nations His inheritance and the ends of the earth His possession.
• In other words: Despite the opposition their will only be one winner! Ill: Youth Group.
• So when the church in Thyatira heard the name “Son of God”:
• It would be an important reminder to them;
• That Jesus Christ has ultimate authority in a world which is hostile to him.
Second: “Has eyes are like a flame of fire”:
• The second part of his revelation is in a description about his appearance.
• It is a frightening image.
• The image is again straight out of the Old Testament.
• This time from the Old Testament book of Daniel (chapter 10 verse 6).
I looked up and saw a man dressed in linen clothing, with a belt of pure gold around his waist. 6His body looked like a dazzling gem. From his face came flashes like lightning, and his eyes were like flaming torches. His arms and feet shone like polished bronze, and his voice was like the roaring of a vast multitude of people.
• Here Daniel sees a vision of a man who tells him of kings and nations;
• That would terrorise and persecute the people of God.
• But Daniel was not to fear;
• Question: Why? Answer: God was on his side!
Note:
• The images of flaming eyes also reminds us that God’s eyes are penetrating,
• Seeing everything, knowing everything.
• He is aware of the circumstances of his people (both Thyatira & ours!);
• And he is not unable to help!
• In Revelation chapter 2 verse 18:
• Christ sees everything and here his eyes are flaming;
• Meaning he not only sees…..
• But that He is angry with what he sees.
Third: “And whose feet are like burnished bronze
• His feet are of polished bronze.
• Bronze was the hardest metal known of at that time.
• Metal shoes are related to armour;
• Feet in armour trample over their enemies.
• It is often used of to speak of judgment.
• Christ was therefore angry - so angry that he was preparing for judgment?
• We’ll talk of this more in a minute, but before we do,
• God recognised that there were some good things in this church.
(c). Christ commends:
• In verse 19:
• There are 4 commendations for the Church:
• (1). They were a loving church
• (2). They were a serving church
• (3). They were a faithful church
• (4). They were a growing church - their patience and works were more now than ever.
And to these four qualities Jesus adds a lovely concluding statement:
• “You are now doing more than you did at first”.
• In other words you are making progress
• You’ve grown, you’ve developed,
• You haven’t stood still, in fact you are better than you were.
• Sounds good doesn’t it: In some ways it sounds like an ideal church.
• Makes you wonder why Jesus could have been angry with it?
Question:
• What could have prompted him to use the name “Son of God”;
• And the images of fiery eyes and feet of bronze to a Church that seems this good?
The answer is in the next verse (vs 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.”
(d). Christ Condemns (vs 20-23)
(1). A false teacher (verse 20a):
“But I have this complaint against you. You are permitting that woman--that Jezebel who calls herself a prophet--to lead my servants astray.”
• Despite the growth and the apparent faithfulness, love and ministry seen in the church,
• They were being misled doctrinally.
• There was a woman who was calling herself a prophetess,
• And who was misleading the people.
• The actual name of this false teacher isn’t mentioned;
• Instead, Jesus gives her the symbolic title "Jezebel",
Ill:
In 1848 Dr. John Geddie went to the South Pacific island of Aneityum (An-i-ti-um).
• And for the next 24 years he lived and worked there as a missionary for God.
• On the tablet erected to his memory these words are inscribed:
• “When he landed, in 1848, there were no Christians.
• When he left, in 1872, there were no heathen.”
Sadly in Thyatira the person mentioned:
• Was making all the wrong kind of noises;
• Instead of helping she was hindering.
• One person was corrupting the whole church;
• But left unopposed that is all it takes.
Ill:
• A bucket with a small hole in the bottom;
• Gets just as empty as a bucket that is deliberately kicked over.
• This woman was slowly draining the fellowship of truth;
• And refilling it with error.
Question: What is a prophet?
Answer: The simplest definition of a prophet is one who speaks for God.
• This can either be foretelling the future;
• Or forth-telling the Word of God.
• A true prophet has authority because their words come from God;
• Either through direct revelation or straight from the Word of God.
• A false prophet has mislaid authority which does not come from God.
• This so called prophetess in Thyatira was not a prophet at all.
• Because what she was proclaiming as coming from God;
• Was actually contrary to God’s word.
Ill:
• Like an apple with a worm in it.
• This church looked good on the outside, but inside it was rotten.
• Or like judging a book by its cover;
• The content is not always what is promised!
(2). A compromised Church (verse 20):
• Question: What was this wrong doctrine that this prophetess was teaching?
• Answer: Verse 20 – three things are mentioned:
“(1). She is encouraging them to worship idols,. eat food offered to idols, and (2). commit sexual sin.”
• She was encouraging God’s people to commit sexual sins and to worship idols.
• Both of which were clearly condemned in the Word of God.
• Yet she was claiming a special revelation from God;
• She was telling them that God had told her that it was okay for them to do it.
Of course she probably did not put it in such clear-cut terms:
• She was much more subtle and it is likely that this prophetess;
• Was teaching that it was alright to be part of the trade guilds:
“After all,” she’d say “you need to make a living and God doesn’t expect you to starve. Don’t be worried, - God has told me its alright - It is alright to go and be a part of the guilds and participate in the immoral and idolatrous worship that occurs in their meetings - after all we live by grace and are not under the law any more.” And who were the rest of the church to disagree with what was being said - they weren’t prophets were they?”
Further indication of what was going on is indicated in the fact that Christ called her Jezebel.
• Jezebel was a queen of Israel at the time Elijah was a prophet (1 Kings).
• She was a wicked woman.
• She was the pagan daughter of a pagan king;
• And had no business being married to Ahab, the King of Israel.
• When she became queen,
• She turned first the heart of her husband, then the hearts of Israel, to the worship of Baal.
• Her first official act, as recorded in the Bible:
• Was to kill the prophets of the Lord (1 Kings chapter 17 verse 4).
• She did away with God’s spiritual leaders and replaced them with the prophets of Baal.
• She was definitely not to be trifled with.
Ill:
• While Elijah was happy to face up to 850 prophets of Baal and Asherah on Mt Carmel,
• You might remember that he fled when he heard Jezebel was after him.
• Jezebel replaced God’s word as given through his prophets;
• With a counterfeit message given by the prophets of Baal and Asherah.
• She sought to replace the worship of the true God;
• And introduced idolatry once again to the people of Israel.
(SIMILARITY NO 1): Now do you see the similarities here:
• Between the Jezebel of Old Testament times and the prophetess in Thyatira?
• Both tried to replace God’s authoritative word with a poor substitute.
(SIMILARITY NO 2): There are also some other similarities between the two:
• Both were given opportunity to repent.
• Jezebel had Elijah proclaiming the truth about God, but she refused to listen.
• The prophetess of Thyatira also was given the chance to repent,
• But she refused.
• God is such a gracious God,
• That is seen even in the way he offers a way out to such vile offenders as these!
(SIMILARITY NO 3): Another similarity exists in their judgements.
• Jezebel of the Old Testament was condemned by God;
• Listen to it in 1 Kings chapter 22 verses 23-24:
“And also concerning Jezebel the LORD says:
‘Dogs will devour Jezebel by the wall of Jezreel.’ “Dogs will eat those belonging to Ahab who die in the city, and the birds of the air will feed on those who die in the country.”
• She was sentenced to death;
• And those who followed her and her husband were also condemned to die.
• Now compare that with the judgements pronounced on the Jezebel of Thyatira;
• Verses 22-23:
21I gave her time to repent, but she would not turn away from her immorality. 22Therefore, I will throw her upon a sickbed, and she will suffer greatly with all who commit adultery with her, unless they turn away from all their evil deeds. 23I will strike her children dead. And all the churches will know that I am the one who searches out the thoughts and intentions of every person. And I will give to each of you whatever you deserve”.
The prophetess is condemned to sickness - some interpret this as death.
• Her children - those who grew up following this doctrine;
• Would eventually find punishment and death because they were following a false gospel.
• Serious stuff isn’t it?
• It reminds me of a little ditty ...
“A sailor on duty got frantic
when he fell into the briny Atlantic
After hours in the sea,
He was saved Yes-sirree
And was hoisted aboard the Titanic”
• It is no good getting saved by a ship that is bound to sink;
• And it is no good following teachers whose doctrines are bound to be condemned.
• That is why you and I must stick to the book;
• This is always our authority for what we believe.
Quote: Campbell Morgan:
• “The Christian does not believe it because it says; ‘it is written!’
• The Christian believes it because it says ‘it is written and again it is written’”.
• We need to handle this word correctly, systematically, & to read verses in their context;
• Ill: Remember: “A text without a context, is a con!”
(e). PROMISES TO THOSE THAT OVERCOME (vs 24-29):
• We have seen that Christ has condemned false prophets;
• And false teachers and those that follow them.
“But I also have a message for the rest of you in Thyatira who have not followed this false teaching (`deeper truths,' as they call them--depths of Satan, really). I will ask nothing more of you 25except that you hold tightly to what you have until I come.
26"To all who are victorious, who obey me to the very end, I will give authority over all the nations. 27They will rule the nations with an iron rod and smash them like clay pots. 28They will have the same authority I received from my Father, and I will also give them the morning star! 29Anyone who is willing to hear should listen to the Spirit and understand what the Spirit is saying to the churches”.
• To the over-comer, those who don’t get misled by false teaching,
• God promises two things:
(1). he will give authority over the nations.
• He says that he will give authority over the nations.
• This probably refers to the fact that God’s people will live & reign with Christ.
• This is significant because remember the introduction and description of Christ
• As the ‘Son of Man’ from Psalm 2 and having the traits of the Man Daniel saw.
• Both images remind us that God has given Christ ultimate authority over all nations;
• And now he says that he will give this authority to the church & we will reign with him.
This promise has a two-fold application:
• Future: We Christians will reign with Christ on the earth;
• What’s called the ‘millennium’; that is a ‘thousand year rein of Christ on earth’.
• Present: Think on this illustration.
• Which illustrates how Christ’s triumph presently benefits our lives:
Ill:
• The enemy that surrounds they city will not let anyone or anything leave.
• Supplies are running low, and the citizens are fearful.
• But in the dark of the night, a spy sneaks through the enemy lines.
• He has rushed to the city with important news.
• He wants to tell the people that in another place the main enemy force has been defeated;
• The leaders have already surrendered.
• The people do not need to be afraid.
• It is only a matter of time until the besieging troops receive the news &lay down their weapons.
Similarly:
• We may seem now to be surrounded by the forces of evil;
• Disease, injustice, oppression, death.
• But remember that the enemy has actually been defeated at the cross!
• Things are not the way they seem to be!
• It is only a matter of time;
• Until it becomes clear to all that the battle is really over.
(2). He will give them the Morning Star.
• A morning star appears just before dawn, when the night is darkest,
• It is the precursor to the new day.
Ill:
• Many people have caught sight of this star,
• Astronomers tell us it is actually the planet Venus.
• It appears just before the dawn;
• Reflecting the light of the day which is about to break.
• So a morning star appears just before dawn, when the night is darkest,
• It is the precursor to the new day.
Note:
• In Revelation chapter 22 verse 16,
• Jesus Christ himself is called ‘The Morning Star’.
• So John the apostle tells his readers oppressed by the darkness of this world;
• To look for Jesus!
• The over-comers are therefore promised Christ himself.
• This will be the greatest reward of all - more of Christ himself!
Quote: John Oxenham
Not what, but whom, I do believe
That in my darkest hour of need
Hath comforts that no mortal creed
To mortal man may give.
Not what but whom,
For Christ is more than all the creeds
And his full life of gentle deeds
Shall all the creeds outlive.
Not what I do believe but whom,
Who walks beside me in the gloom
Who shares the burden wearisome;
Who all the dim way doth illume
And bids me look beyond the tomb
The larger life to live.
Not what I do believe but whom.
