I. Introduction
A. Thyatira
1. The names means continual sacrifice
2. The city of Thyatira is about 35 Miles East of Pergamum
a. Coastal cities
(1) Ephesus
(2) Smyrna
(3) Pergamum
b. The rest of the seven churches were inland
3. The city of Thyatira once was situated in a idyllic setting
a. It was built at the mouth of a long vale
b. A stream flowed down through the vale
c. All in all it was a beautiful location
4. The city was built for defense
a. But, it was not on the high ground
b. Its strength was the Roman Elite guard stationed there
c. Turn to Acts 16:14
5. Thyatira was the headquarters for many guilds
a. Potter's guild
b. Tanner's guild
c. Weaver's guild
d. Robe Maker's guild
e. Dyer's guild
Acts 16:14
One of those listening was a woman named Lydia, a dealer in purple cloth from the city of Thyatira, who was a worshiper of God. The Lord opened her heart to respond to Paul's message.
6. Lydia was one of the first of Paul's converts in Europe on His second missionary journey
a. We shall see that the church at Thyatira had two characters
(1) These two characters may be typified by two different women
(a) Lydia
(b) Jezebel
B. In this morning's examination of Thyatira we shall see:
1. The commendation
2. The condemnation
3. The warning
4. And The Promise
II. Body
A. Again Christ's preamble gives us some insight to the Lord and to the church
Revelation 2:18
"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.
1. The first thing we see is Christ's assertion that He is the Son of God
a. The age of the church at Thyatira goes from about 590 to 1517 AD
(1) Some call this time the Middle ages
(2) Some call this time the Dark ages
(3) The age began when Pope Gregory I assumed secular power and was recognized by the governments of the time as the head of all Christianity
(a) During this time Maryism truly took hold
i) The deification of Mary
ii) And the subordination of Jesus to the status of the son of Mary
iii) Harry Ironsides gives us this illustration. A Catholic woman told Dr. Ironsides that she would much rather pray to Mary than to Jesus. The reason she gave was that if Jesus tended to be calloused toward her, He would still listen to His mother. After all, what good boy doesn't love his mother and listen to her.
(b) How sad that this woman would attach human failings to the Son of God
i) The one who's love and compassion caused Him to give Himself for our redemption
ii) Calloused?
iii) Jesus is very tender hearted and listens to our prayers with love and grace
b. At any rate, Jesus is saying, "I am not just the son of Mary, I am the Son of God.
(1) I am divine
(2) I am the one who has provided grace to the sinner
2. The second thing, Christ is portrayed as having blazing eyes and bronze feet
a. This symbolizes the all seeing, all knowing eyes of judgment
b. The bronze feet also symbolize judgment
c. Now let's look at Revelation 2:19
B. The commendation - the church is commended for six things
Revelation 2:19
I know your deeds, your love and faith, your service and perseverance, and that you are now doing more than you did at first.
a. Let's turn for a moment to James 2:18
2. First was works - the church had a ministry, a work, deeds, which proved its faith
James 2:18
But someone will say, "You have faith; I have deeds." Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by what I do.
a. During those days
(1) Monasteries and convents were hospitals
(2) The people were ministered to in many ways by the church
(a) They were housed if needed
(b) They were fed
(c) The church often served as a place of refuge
i) A safe place to rest at night
ii) Or a place were one could run for justice
(3) The church also preserved the Word of God
(a) Monks lovingly copied the Bible
b. The church was instrumental in the spread of the Christian faith
c. Turn to 1 John 3:17
3. The thing the church is commended for was her love - the church had a fellowship, a love, which proved its service
1 John 3:17
If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him?
a. The works of the church came out of faith, hope and love
4. So we see that the third thing the church was commended for was her faith
a. Many heros of the faith came out of the Middle ages
(1) John Wycliff - Translated the Bible into English - the original work of the King James Translation was based on Wycliff's work
(2) John Huss
(3) Peter Waldo
(4) Anselm
(5) Were all men of the Roman Catholic church
b. Many Nuns and Monks lost their lives in the defense of the faith
5. The fourth thing Christ commends the church for was her service
6. The fifth was her perseverance - the church stood as a beacon in those days of darkness
7. The last thing Christ says in His commendation is that these five things were greater than at the first, at the time of the first love.
a. The church's work, love, faith, service and patience were on the increase
b. It was like saying, your doing better and better all the time
8. The church at Thyatira and the church of the Middle ages was commended by the Son of God for her
a. Works
b. Love
c. Faith
d. Service
e. And patience
f. And for the fact that this was on the increase
g. Turn back to Acts 16:14 and following
9. The church was bastion, a refuge against a very hard cruel world
a. A world where human life meant very little
b. A very materialistic world
c. A very war loving world
Acts 16:14 & 15
One of those listening was a woman named Lydia, a dealer in purple cloth from the city of Thyatira, who was a worshiper of God. The Lord opened her heart to respond to Paul's message. (15) When she and the members of her household were baptized, she invited us to her home. "If you consider me a believer in the Lord," she said, "come and stay at my house." And she persuaded us.
10. I have said that the church at Thyatira had two characters which may be typified by two different women
a. The character which Christ commends is typified by Lydia
(1) Lydia began immediately by ministering to Paul and his fellows
(2) Opening her home
(3) And serving
(4) Because of her faith and love
b. The second character is typified by Jezebel
c. Turn to Revelation 2:20
C. The condemnation
Revelation 2:20
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.
1. The prophetess of Thyatira probably was not named Jezebel - the name stands for her character
a. This is a reference to Jezebel the wife of King Ahab
b. Jezebel brought the worship of Baal to Israel
(1) She supported the priests of Baal
(2) She had the prophets of God hunted down and killed
c. She had an innocent man murdered so that she could give his vineyard to Ahab
2. The character of Jezebel also fits the church of the dark ages
a. The inquisition was instituted by the church during this time
(1) Many who would not hold to the Catholic's heresy were martyred
b. During that period, the worship of the mother and child became part of the rituals
c. The Mass, too, became common
(1) Illustration: A Catholic Priest was once asked what actual priestly functions he performed and he replied that it was his privilege to offer Christ as sacrifice on the occasion of Mass.
(2) The celebration of the Mass is in essence is sacrificing Christ again
(3) During the Mass the sacrament of the eucharist is celebrated - communion - the Lord's table
(4) During the Mass, the bread becomes Christ's body
(5) And the wine becomes Christ's blood
d. If we turn to Hebrews 7:27
(1) We shall see that such a concept is heresy
Hebrews 7:27
Unlike the other high priests, he does not need to offer sacrifices day after day, first for his own sins, and then for the sins of the people. He sacrificed for their sins once for all when he offered himself.
(2) Notice, unlike other high priests
(a) There is no need for sacrifice day after day
(3) Once for all is the sufficiency of Christ's sacrifice
(a) Power to redeem men, women, boys and girls to Himself over the entire world
i) Every continent
ii) Every island
iii) Every country
iv) Every village
(b) Power to redeem men, women, boys and girls to Himself over all of time
i) Before the cross
ii) And after the cross
e. Turn with me to Revelation 17:1 - 5
3. The prophetess of Thyatira, this Jezebel, had seduced many to her heretical teachings
a. Corrupting them with idolatry and witchcraft
b. But, she is only a fore shadowing of the great whore
(1) The apostate religious system of the Tribulation period
Revelation 17:1-5
One of the seven angels who had the seven bowls came and said to me, "Come, I will show you the punishment of the great prostitute, who sits on many waters. (2) With her the kings of the earth committed adultery and the inhabitants of the earth were intoxicated with the wine of her adulteries." (3) Then the angel carried me away in the Spirit into a desert. There I saw a woman sitting on a scarlet beast that was covered with blasphemous names and had seven heads and ten horns. (4) The woman was dressed in purple and scarlet, and was glittering with gold, precious stones and pearls. She held a golden cup in her hand, filled with abominable things and the filth of her adulteries. (5) This title was written on her forehead: MYSTERY BABYLON THE GREAT THE MOTHER OF PROSTITUTES AND OF THE ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH.
(2) This is the religious system of the end times
(a) The purple and scarlet are symbols of a religion
(b) The cup of the beauty of the church's rituals that is filled with the filth of false teachings and witchcraft
(c) The beast upon which the whore rides is Satan
(3) It is not difficult to tell where this great abomination of a church comes from - just drop down to verse 9 in that 17th chapter
Revelation 17:9
This calls for a mind with wisdom. The seven heads are seven hills on which the woman sits.
(a) The city of seven hills is Rome
4. Now look at Revelation 2:21
Revelation 2:21
I have given her time to repent of her immorality, but she is unwilling.
a. Christ is gracious
b. He has sent a warning
c. And He has given Jezebel time to repent
d. But, she is unwilling
5. Now look at verses 22 & 23
Revelation 2:22 & 23
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.
D. The warning
1. Turn to 2 Kings 9:10
2. God declared the end of the Jezebel of the Old Testament
2 Kings 9:10
As for Jezebel, dogs will devour her on the plot of ground at Jezreel, and no one will bury her.'"
a. Jezebel was thrown from her window and she died on the plot of ground that she murdered to get for Ahab
b. When the men went to collect her for burial, there was only her skull, feet and hands left
c. The horses had trampled the body and the dogs had eaten it
3. And God has also declared the end of the Jezebel, the great whore in the tribulation period - turn to Revelation 17:16
Revelation 17:16
The beast and the ten horns you saw will hate the prostitute. They will bring her to ruin and leave her naked; they will eat her flesh and burn her with fire.
4. Just as God declared the end of the Jezebel at Thyatira
a. It is unknown what happened to her
b. The entire city of Thyatira was destroyed and no more than a block of rubble exists where the city once was
c. The children the Lord talks about are probably the disciples she gathered
d. As for the church of the age of Thyatira, it still exits today.
(1) The children of that church are the adherents
(2) The children of that church are the other churches which came from the Catholic church; but, still hold to the mass of Catholic doctrine
(a) Such as the Greek & Russian Orthodox church
(b) The Church of England
(c) The Episcopal church
(d) Even some aspects of the Lutheran, Methodist, and Presbyterian churches
5. Now, let's look at verses 24 & 25
a. This is the rest of the warning
(1) The first part of the warning was for Jezebel and those who followed her
(2) This second part is for those who, well, let's read
Revelation 2:24-25
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.
(3) Those who have stayed away from the false teachings
b. During the Middle ages, there were true believers both inside and outside the Catholic church
(1) These people believed the Word of God
(2) And they kept themselves away from the mainstream of false doctrine
c. The Lord says, "I will not impose any other burden on you."
(1) But, Christ has already commended the church for its works, love, faith, service, and patience
6. Christ has given warning and space to those who teach and follow heresy
a. He has told them that He will utterly destroy them when the time is ripe
b. But, to those who hold fast His truth, there will be no other burden
7. Now, Let's look at verses 26 thru 28
Revelation 2:26-28
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.
E. The Promise
1. The overcomer (again)
2. Will rule with Christ
Revelation 20:6
Blessed and holy are those who have part in the first resurrection. The second death has no power over them, but they will be priests of God and of Christ and will reign with him for a thousand years.
a. The morning star - Christ Himself - what a gift
Revelation 22:16
"I, Jesus, have sent my angel to give you this testimony for the churches. I am the Root and the Offspring of David, and the bright Morning Star."
III. Summary
A. This is probably the most interesting of the churches so far
1. A church with two characters
a. The character of Lydia
b. And the character of Jezebel
2. We have looked into:
a. The commendation - 6 things
(1) works
(2) love
(3) faith
(4) service
(5) patience
(6) in increasing measure
b. The condemnation
(1) for Jezebel and her followers
c. The warning
(1) for Jezebel and her followers to repent
(2) And an admonition for the others to hold on to what they have
d. And The Promise
(1) To rule with Christ
(2) And to be given Christ Himself
(a) He is, after all, our bridegroom
B. The church is a precious gift of God to His Son
1. She has a character that is unique
2. The people of the church make up that character
3. We know that in our time there is a large amount of the character of Thyatira
a. False teachings abound on all sides
b. Some outside the mainstream of the Church
(1) Such as Jehovah's Witness
(2) Mormons
(3) Elizabeth Prophet
(4) The Branch Davidian
c. But, some within the mainstream of the church
(1) The health and wealth doctrine
(2) Name it and claim it
(3) Order God and demand of Him
d. What we must remember is Christ wants our heart
(1) Our love
(2) What He brings into our lives is for our benefit
C. Where do we stand today?
1. Is Grace a Thyatiran church?
2. Are we to be commended for our
a. Work
b. Love
c. Faith
d. Service
e. Patience
f. In increasing measure
3. Where are we today?
IV. Prayer
A. Gracious Lord, you have shown you light upon the churches so that we might see. Open our eyes to where our church might be and to where we might be. It is our desire to be the people of God you wish us to be. It is our aspiration to be the church you want and deserve. Lead each of us by the power and person of your Holy Spirit into your truth. Now, Lord, we pray your guidance through out this coming week, bring each of us into submission to yourself, fill us with your Holy Spirit, remove from us the spirit of fear and meakness, fill us with boldness and wisdom; then Lord send us to those who need you. Help us to be faithful in our service and grant us your peace. These things we ask in the name of our Lord and saviour Jesus Christ. Amen.
