Note: I used many sources to study this book, one of my favorites is Revelation: God’s Word for the Biblically-Inept by Daymond Duck and some out of different study bibles.
Title: Church of Rome
Theme: To understand the church of Thyatira and how to avoid the trap
Text: Revelation 2:18-29
Time period represented
¬Ephesus -Apostolic Age- to 100 AD Church OF the departed 1ove
Smyrna -Martyrdom Age-IOU to 314 AD Church of fiery persecution
Pergamos -World Alliance 314 to 590 AD Church of wor1d alliance
Thyatira Dark Ages 590 to 1000 AD Church of Rome
Revelation 2:18. And unto the angel of the church in Thyatira write: These things saith the Son of God, whose eyes like unto a flame of fire, and his feet [are] like fine brass:
two descriptions of Jesus speaking of Judgment
eyes like unto a, flame of fire-searching the hearts of man, able to penetrate the secrets of all hearts.
feet [are] like fine brass-symbol of judgement, brazen laver, stamping out those who are enemies of the truth
19 I know thy works (deeds), and charity (love), and service, and faith, and thy patience, and thy perseverance and the last [to be] more than the first.
Works important: Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works. (James 2:18 AV)
1. Works-the credentials of real believers. There were many who lived
spotless lives and by their good works "adorned the doctrine".
2. Love-it was a church in which there was love in spite of the fact that it had gone in ritualism. There were some wonderful saints of God during that period: Bernard of Clairvaux, Peter Waldo, John Wycliffe, John Huss, Savonarola, and Anseirn were all men in the Roman church. Love-agape
Remember what the Ephesian church lacked? Can you describe how Jesus put it?
3. Faith though it is placed after works and love in this instance, it is the
mainspring that turns the hands of works and love.
4. Ministry is service, voluntary for the needy
5. Patience is endurance in those days of darkness
6. Thy last works are more than the first-In this church, works increased
rather that diminished.
20 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.
Who was Jezebel? (1 Kings 16:3 l;19:1-3;21 :1-15;2 1:24)
Seems to be a lot of tolerance for sin among this community. Maybe even a person preaching tolerance for this sin. Probably someone who had a lot of talents power. position, success, and influence.
Let the prophets speak two or three, and let the other judge. (1 Corinthians 14:29 AV)
Condemnation toleration of Jezebel, which calleth herself a prophetess toleration of her teaching and seducing toleration of her causing people to commit fornication and eat meat sacrificed to idols-participation of this deed even though it may not be in the heart it was still seen
This is also contrasting the time that I told you about during the dark ages. There was a lot of mixing Christianity with the pagan world. During this time we see some doctrines that are still prevalent today such as Mary worship, Papacy elevation, church doctrine over scripture, Purgatory, and Mass said for the dead
21 And I gave her space (time) to repent of her fornication; and she repented not.
For over one thousand years Christ has been dealing with this type of ritualism. Even by causing the church to break under Martin Luther but still there is no repentance no change.
22 Behold, I will cast her into a bed, and them that commit adultery with her into great tribulation, except they repent of their deeds.
cast her into a bed-represented sickness, to weaken or cause to have disease. this happens first then it gets worse when she does not repent in this.
God will punish people in tribulation. It may not be instantaneous but it will happen. Look at Rome where is it now but under the ruin of communism. But the greatest of all will come on judgment day.
But God still leaves the door of mercy open. except they repent if their deeds
23 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.
Who would be the children of this age or church? Those who continue..
Jesus said they also will have judgement. He will search the reins every thoughts. feelings and purpose" and the hearts so the entire body and see who they follow if it doesn’t match up then he will kill them which we know as the second death.
24 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.
Depths of Satan-an even deeper walk with the serpent. Some religions claim to have superior knowledge about God. And unless it comes from the Word of God through the Trinity then where else but Satan
Satan has an attack on the Church. He uses all kinds of methods
1) Rev 2:9 slander and hyproicy
2) Rev 2:13 mytarydom
3) Rev 2:24 false prophets
25 But that which ye have [already] hold fast till I come.
Hold fast to the teaching that you know. The ones of Christ and his word and I will Come to take you home if you stand fast.
26 And he that overcometh, and keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations: 27 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. 28 And I will give him the morning star.
1 )Ephesian church "eat of the tree of life which is the in the midst of the
paradise of God”
2) Smyrna church "shall not be hurt of the second death"
3) Pergamos church "will I give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give
them a white stone, and in the stone a new name written,
which no man knoweth save he that receiveth it"
4) Thyatira "I give the power over 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”
power over nations
Do ye not know that the saints shall judge the world? and if the world shall be judged by you, are ye unworthy to judge the smallest matters? (1 Corinthians 6:2 AV)
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
The millennial reign of Christ with the believers to share.
Ask of me, and I shall give thee the heathen for thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession. (Psalms 2:8 AV)
Interpreted by the Jews as a Messianic passage when the Messiah would first one of the reason Christ was rejected because he did not establish the kingdom and put the Jews in charge.
And I will give him the morning star
The sailors when sailing before the sun rises would always look for the planet Venus. This was before the Sun. It was their guiding light. Their main marker. If you set your mark on it you can’t go wrong. As with Christ.
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. (Revelation 22:16 AV)
The Hope of the church is His coming
Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; (Titus 2:13 AV)
29 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches
Remember Jezebel, she would not listen but the children of God will listen because the spirit speaks.
What can we do to develop our spiritual ear?
