The Church at Thyatira
Commentary on the Book of Revelation
By: Tom Lowe Date: 5-24-2015
Topic # II. Letters to the Seven Churches of Asia (2:1-3:22)
Lesson: II.D: The Church at Thyatira (Revelation 2:18-29)
Revelation 2:18-29 (KJV)
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;
19 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.
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.
21 And I gave her space to repent of her fornication; and she repented not.
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.
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.
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.
25 But that which ye have already hold fast till I come.
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.
29 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.
Introduction
When you leave Pergamos, you begin to move inland. Thyatira and the remaining three churches are inland. Thyatira was located in a long vale (valley) or pass. Thyatira was a city built for defense. However, most cities built for defense were situated upon an acropolis[1] or a promontory (outcrop, cliff) and walls were put around them. But Thyatira was different. It stood in the middle of that vale on a very slight rising ground. Its strength lay in the fact that Rome stationed the elite guard there. The name Thyatira means perpetual sacrifice or continual offering. Apollo, the sun god, was worshipped here as Tyrimnos.
This city became prosperous under the sponsorship of Vespasian, the Roman emperor. It was the headquarters for many ancient guilds: the potters’, weavers’, robe makers’, and dyers’ guilds (It was the center of the dyeing industry.); and each one had its own god, its own area of the city, and its own guild hall, which functioned as a center for the guild’s religious and civic activities. Usually the guild would hold a banquet at the hall once a week and these banquets would often be focused on idolatry—featuring meat sacrificed to idols and, most likely, some form of sexual license as part of the reverie. Jezebel was probably encouraging the believers, mostly tradespeople themselves, to continue to take part in their guild’s activities as their civic duty. In order to do business in the city a person had to go through a guild. Thus before business was transacted, one would have to perform the worship customs of the god of that particular guild. A refusal to join the guilds and take part in their activities would mean certain economic hardships. This is where the labor unions must have originated! Christ was pleased neither with this woman’s teaching nor with the fact that the church tolerated her.
Many speculate that the church at Thyatira was founded somehow through Paul’s ministry in Ephesus. At the time of the writing of Revelation, the city of Thyatira was in its greatest season of prosperity. As a Roman outpost city, it served the purpose of protecting the Roman Empire from invading forces from the north.
While the good works of the church at Thyatira are acknowledged, the church is also accused of tolerating Jezebel (2:19-20). This is probably an alias John uses for this troublesome woman, relating her to the wicked queen of the Old testament by the same name (1 Kings 16:30-31). This woman’s teaching pulls people away from the Word of God to immorality and idolatry. On one hand, this church has people who are serving God in a strong fashion. On the other hand, they had allowed a false teacher in their midst to lead them astray (2:20).
Paul’s first convert in Europe was a woman who lived in “Thyatira”—Lydia, who was a merchant, dealing in purple and fine linen (Acts 16:14[2]). It is, then, within the bounds of possibility that the church at Thyatira was founded through the testimony of a woman. At the time of her conversion, Lydia was living in Philippi, and was engaged in selling purple cloth. She came to Philippi on business, heard Paul preach the gospel there, and received the truth. Could it be that after her conversion she hurried home to Thyatira with the great news, or did she perhaps make converts of the dye salesmen who called on her? Or might she have written long letters home telling of the coming of Paul, of the demon-possessed girl, of the jailer, and of her own wholehearted conversion to Christ? We cannot say. But at least there is a possibility that the testimony of Lydia might have played a part in the founding of the church at Thyatira.
Be that as it may, one thing is sure. A woman played a prominent part in the BREAKDOWN of the church at Thyatira. This church made shipwreck over the preaching, the precepts, and the practices of a woman. Some versions render the phrase “that woman Jezebel” as “thy woman Jezebel.” If this reading is correct then the inference would be that this woman was the wife of a presiding elder at Thyatira. Significantly, too, she was painted with a particularly unpleasant and dirty brush. She is called Jezebel after the wickedest woman in Old Testament times. For a woman to be called a Jezebel is every bit as bad as for a man to be called a Judas.
So there she stood. She was probably a very attractive woman, no doubt possessed of a charming personality, a most persuasive tongue, forceful ideas, and great leadership qualities. She was, it would seem, a woman who put most men in the shade. Her husband and the board of Elders ate out of her hand. “That woman Jezebel!” It may not have been her real name, but it fit her like a glove.
Commentary
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;
“Thyatira,” located halfway between Pergamos and Sardis, had been under Roman rule for nearly three centuries. In that day the city was famous for its “guild of dyer’s,” and the goods used in many cities were dyed in Thyatira and shipped out from there. The industry of dying goods was the number one industry in the city, and even until this day the brilliant scarlet cloth died in Thyatira is largely used throughout Asia and parts of Europe. Today, Thyatira is a flourishing little town with a population of about 20,000.
In chapter one of our study, in the vision of the Lord Jesus in all of His Glory, His eyes were described as “a flame of fire,” and “his feet” “as if they burned in a furnace.” Remember, John has been describing his vision of Jesus and reporting the words he heard. The Spirit assures the assembly at Thyatira that He is the “Son of God,” the head of the Church, the One who stands in the midst of the assemblies, who is speaking and directing this message to them. This is the only church of the seven where a woman is mentioned—Jezebel, the wicked wife of the apostate King Ahab, who was nothing more than a tool in her hands. The king was king in name only. The ungodly idolatress and murderess ran the kingdom. She was a very clever and determined woman. She is the prominent person named in the address to Thyatira (20). In Acts 16 we learned of Lydia, whom we have already mentioned as Paul’s first convert. After Paul preached the Gospel to Lydia she was converted and invited Paul into her home and became a faithful friend and supporter of the Gospel. She was the direct opposite of Jezebel, who sought to destroy God’s prophet, Elijah.
The message to the assembly at Thyatira presents the hopeless, helpless, corrupt condition of the local assembly, a condition out of which the local church CANNOT and WILL NOT emerge, a condition that is absolutely incapable of being improved. The message here is to be distinguished from the three previous messages in that here corrupt teachers are permitted to teach corruption, and children are born . . . “her children” . . . The children of wicked, adulterous, murderous Jezebel. What a terrible commentary on this local assembly! Christ is judging this church, and there is more than enough error in this church to make the Lord’s eyes blaze with indignation. No human has ever yet escaped His all-knowing gaze (Hebrews 4:13). Let us then learn to walk in His presence, the presence of the One who knows all.
In the message to the first three churches, it is the church that is called to hear what the Spirit has to say; but in the last four churches, beginning with Thyatira, the message is in relation to individuals who hear the words and who overcome.
An outstanding feature of the message to the church at Thyatira is the introduction of the divine speaker by name—“The Son God.” This title of personal and divine relationship is used here for the first and last time in the book of Revelation. “These things saith the Son of God.” His deity and relationship to Almighty God are conveyed in the title “Son of God.”
In our present verse the Spirit further identifies the Speaker by saying, “the Son of God, who hath his eyes like unto a flame of fire, and his feet are like fine brass.” This is part of the detailed description of the glorified Son of Man in chapter 1:14, 15. We should always bear in mind that He to whom all judgment is committed, He who will execute His own judgment, is not only man (John 5:22-27), but He is God as well. He who will judge the quick and the dead is divine as well as human. “His eyes like unto a flame of fire” symbolize His moral hatred and intolerance of evil. He will search out sin and discover all hidden iniquity. Who would even entertain the idea of attempting to escape those eyes . . . which are like “a flame of fire?” What his eyes discover, “His feet which are like fine Brass” (burnished bronze[3], NIV) shall tread upon in judgment. Brass symbolizes judgment; judgement that will be strong and righteous. The serpent of Brass in Numbers 21:9 represented our Lord Jesus Christ who, under the divine judgment of Heaven, bore the penalty for our sins on the cross (John 3:14-15). As the Lord looks at Thyatira and sees what a harvest of wickedness will grow from this satanic seed being sown by the woman Jezebel, He shoes His feet with brass. Judgment must begin in the house of God. Every system of evil that bears the Christian name (22) must be utterly and totally destroyed. When the Lord Jesus comes in person to make good His sovereign right to the whole world, His feet are likened unto “pillars of fire” (Revelation 10:1-2). “Fire” is the symbol of judgment (Mark 9:43[4]; Luke 16:24; 2 Thessalonians 1:8).
The rise of Romanism made Jesus popular as “the son of Mary,” a position that robs Him of His essential deity and thereby degrades Him. While it was truly prophesied that “a virgin shall conceive and bare a son” (Isaiah 7:14), it is equally true that the Son was given before He was born of Mary (Isaiah 9:6).
Romanism teaches those under its power that they must pray to Mary in order to get through to God. This fallacy is nowhere hinted at in the Holy Scriptures. On the contrary, our Lord taught that the Father was to be approached in the Son’s name (John 14:13-14; 16:23-24). In anticipation of the claims of Rome, our Lord plainly refers to Himself as “the Son of God.” He knew that the day would come when His true followers would be hated for His name’s sake (Matthew 19:29).
19 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.
The faithful are commended for their “love” (“charity”), their “service,” their “faith,” and their “patience.” The darker the night, the more devoted and zealous were the godly people; their “last works were more than the first”—more numerous, and more pure. Love is mentioned first (Galatians 5:22) because love is the first and greatest of all Christian graces (1 Corinthians 13:13[5]) and the first manifestation of the ninefold fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22).
There were saints in Thyatira who were dwelling together in love because God was dwelling in them (1 John 4:16), and apparently their love for each other was increasing (2 Thessalonians 1:3).
Christ has six words for the church at Thyatira in which were many true believers who had a personal love of Christ which was manifested in works. Notice the emphasis on works. “Works” are well and good in their proper place, but they become a deadly peril when they come between the soul and Christ. Worship, in scripture, always comes before “service.” The Lord says “Come,” before he says “Go.” Works are actually credentials of true believers. James says, “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). God was pursuing this amazing quest for works at Thyatira, but in vain. All He could find was dead works.
The six words of commendation are:
“Works” were the credentials of real believers. There were many who lived spotless lives and by their good works “adorned the doctrine”
“Love” (charity). It was a church in which there was love, in spite of the fact that it had “gone all in” for ritualism. There were some wonderful saints of God during that period.
“Faith.” Though it is placed after works and love in this instance, it is the mainspring that turns the hands of works and love. The word used here for “faith” is pistos, suggesting the idea of faithfulness, fidelity, loyalty. These saints were dependable and reliable. Fickle and faltering saints are not faithful, but occasional and spasmodic. Some Christians run well at the beginning of the race but, like the Galatians, they tire quickly and fall by the wayside or else are led astray (Galatians 5:7; 6:9). But the tender, loving care of the Christians in Thyatira for others was carried on faithfully.
“Service” is “ministry”—love in action toward those in need.
“Patience” is endurance in those days of darkness. Think of Christ’s patience with sinners; with His blundering disciples; with those who tormented and tried Him unjustly and then crucified Him! There was always that readiness to endure and suffer. The word for patient is hupomone. We are to abide in Christ under tribulation (Romans 12:12) for it is through trial that patience grows (James 1:3), and this is acceptable with God (1 Peter 2:20). Moreover, patience perfects Christian character (James 1:4), so let us run the race with patience (Hebrews 12:1[6]).
“Thy last works are more than the first.” In this church, works increased rather than diminish, which is a highly commendable quality producing continued growth and development.
All six virtues are produced within the believer by the Holy Spirit.
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.
The Lord had a grave and serious indictment against the church at Thyatira. The church was permitting in its midst an evil more serious in character than any evil that had yet appeared in the local churches. There was, in this church, and indulgent permissiveness. He said, “Thou sufferest that woman Jezebel . . . to teach.” The church had in its midst a malignant heresy which struck at the vitals of all that was good and holy, yet indulgently tolerated it.
The general state and picture of the church in the middle ages is represented by Thyatira and the condoning of the evil that was present in the very assembly itself. Why do you suppose the Holy Spirit chose “Jezebel” to be used as an illustration concerning the doctrine that was being set up and taught in the church at Thyatira? The only way to know the right answer is to compare spiritual things with spiritual. Jezebel was a “woman,” Jezebel was a queen, Jezebel was an idolatress, Jezebel brought paganism into the northern kingdom of Israel, and she was considered the most evil woman who ever lived. She had led Israel’s king, Ahab, into Baal worship and eventually had spread that idolatry throughout all of Israel (see 1 Kings 16:31-33; 19:1-2; 21:1-15; 2 Kings 9:7-10, 30-37). She was a persecutor and she was the virtual ruler and director of the government of Israel. Her husband, King Ahab, was nothing more than a puppet in her hands. She was the notorious daughter of Ethball the pagan king of the Zidonians. She imported into Israel the very worst type of heathenism. The worship of God was swept aside and idolatry put in its place. Purity became a thing of the past, as every form of lasciviousness was exalted as a ritual of religion. Jezebel’s pagan priests were wicked sects pervert, and they came down on the land of Israel like a cloud of locusts. The saints were put to the sword. Read 1 Kings, chapters 18 through 21.
Evidently there was in the local church at Thyatira a woman who had a reputation as a teacher and prophetess who was the counterpart of Jezebel, the wife of Ahab. All that is said of her, can also be said of the Jezebel of the Revelation; and much, much more. The Jezebel of the Old Testament had been dead for almost a millennium, but the demon that had possessed her was now controlling another woman of the same name in order to corrupt the church at Thyatira with ethical and doctrinal errors. In allowing this woman to assume the leadership in their church, the believers at Thyatira exposed themselves to a threefold error.
They were wrong in principle. The Lord said, “Thou sufferest that woman Jezebel, which calleth herself a prophetess, to teach.” The New Testament principle is clear on this matter. Paul says, “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.” (1 Timothy 2:12-14). The Scripture teaches the headship of the man over the woman, something which has its roots in the order of creation itself and which is mandatory for the church. Even though the Bible is clear that a woman is in subjection to the man and that a woman is never to usurp authority over the man (1 Timothy 2:11-12), Romanism has reversed this order and millions of Roman Catholic men worship an image of Mary and offer prayers to her.
The church at Thyatira was wrong in precept. The Lord said of this woman, she leads His servants astray. The thought is that of deception. It is interesting to observe how many of the false cults have been founded or promoted by women. Seventh Day Adventist, Spiritualism, Christian Science, and Theosophy have all been steered into error by women. That is not to say that men have not spawned false cults, because they have. But the Scripture teaches that a woman is much more susceptible to error in spiritual things than is a man, and for this reason the woman is refused permission to teach in the church.
The church in Thyatira was wrong in practice. The Lord says of the followers of Jezebel that they “commit fornication, and . . . eat things sacrificed unto idols.” In other words, they were guilty of the gravest sins against man and God. Both of these sins are soundly condemned in Scripture, and both bring with them the direst penalties. Our Lord said she “calleth herself a prophetess.” Just as Jezebel in Elijah’s day took the lead in changing the religious doctrines and deeds of the people, so the self-styled prophetess in Thyatira boldly taught her nefarious philosophy—that Christians could engage in these practices without sinning—with little or no opposition.
She (Jezebel) assumed the title “prophetess.” She professed in the assembly at Thyatira to teach with authority. And as she taught, she seduced[7] the minds of the people and trained them to follow her, instead of following Him who stands in the midst of the seven golden lampstands.
Rome professes to teach with authority, she claims to be the only church that cannot err in matters pertaining to faith and morals. The average Roman Catholic knows next to nothing about the meaning of Scripture. Taught to “hear mother church,” Roman Catholics know only what “the church teaches.” Rome dreads the light and fears the Bible. Here in Thyatira, her teaching, and her doctrine, is certainly the beginning of the Papal system (read carefully Revelation 17 and 18). At Thyatira, pagan practices and idolatry were mingled with Christian works and worship. Christ said that the method of Jezebel, the self-styled prophetess, was “to teach and seduce My servants.”
The papacy was elevated to a place of secular power under Gregory 1 (a.d. 590), and later by Gregory VII, better known as Hildebrand, (a.d. 1073-1085). The introduction of rituals and church doctrine supplanted personal faith in Jesus Christ. Worship of the Virgin and Child and the Mass were made a definite part of the church service. Purgatory became a positive doctrine, and Mass was said for the dead. The bogus documents labeled “Donation of Constantine and Decretals of Isidore” were circulated to give power and rulership to the pope.
In Revelation 2:20, the Spirit continues by saying, “(Jezebel) leads my servants astray. She teaches them, and seduces them “to commit fornication, and to eat things sacrificed unto idols.” This woman at Thyatira lured God’s “servants” by pretended utterances of inspiration to the same libertinism, fornication, and eating of idol meats, as the Balaamites and Nicolaitanes (6:14, 15). By a false spiritualism these seducers lead their victims into the grossest carnality, as though things done in the flesh were outside the true man, and were, therefore, indifferent. Today we know Rome has led a great mass of humanity to follow Mary instead of following Christ, to pray to Mary instead of to the one Mediator and Intercessor (1 Timothy 2:5; Romans 8:34[8]). Rome has led teeming millions to the Pope instead of to Christ. Those of us who read, believe, and accept the Bible as God’s final word to man, ask, “How can people be so blind?” There is but one God; there is but one Church; there is but one door to Heaven. Jesus said, “I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life. No man cometh unto the Father but by me.” Paul clearly teaches that Jesus is the “Mediator between God and men,” and John plainly tells us that “if we confess our sins (to Jesus) He is faithful and just to forgive our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” And yet millions confess their sins to men. God pity some poor religious leaders when they stand before the Righteous Judge, to receive their due reward!
“Fornication” and idolatry were the two great sins in the assembly at Pergamos. These two satanic deadly evils were taught, practiced and condoned in the assembly at Thyatira. Fornication, as used here, symbolizes the professing Christian living in the world, condoning the world, fellowshipping in the world. This terrible sin began with the reign of Constantine, and grew into the Papacy. Constantine was the first to bring church and state together. He bestowed expensive Temples, crowns of gold and much wealth upon the professing church in his day, and the unholy union of church and state was perfected in the Papacy. Such union is spiritual fornication, and certainly brings judgment. In the end, it will bring horrible and final judgment upon the systems of spiritual fornication. The Roman system is one of baptized paganism. Most of its doctrines—its holy days, its rites, its dogmas, its ceremonies, its vestments, its titles—are definitely pagan in their origin. If you will study Bible history, you’ll find that statement to be one hundred percent true.
Jesus Christ is the head and the foundation of the New Testament Church. “Other foundations can no man lay than that which is already laid—Jesus Christ, the Lord.” All worship, all prayer, all service and all gifts are to be in His name, to His honor and glory, and they are to be given and performed out of a heart of love—not from fear or necessity. All religions on earth can be cataloged under two Headings: (1) fear, and (2) love. Under fear, you can list every religion on earth except one—Christianity. It can be listed only under love. It is sometimes referred to as “the Christian religion,” but Christianity is much, much more than a religion. Christ is not second to Mary. Christ is not second to any bishop, preacher, evangelist, pope, or what-have-you. He is the head of the Church. He will judge the “quick and the dead.” He pleases the Heavenly Father—and He is the One with whom we have to do. Through His shed blood and His broken body we enter boldly into the holy of holies. Through His death, burial and resurrection we are saved. Through His power we are kept. We are commanded to do all that we do to the glory of God in Jesus name.
Catholicism is certainly in the forefront of the message to the church at Thyatira. The supremacy of the Roman’s pope is simply the development in full of the dispute among the disciples as to “Who shall be the greatest” (Mark 9:33, 34). Of course, popery had a beginning—and it certainly did not begin with Peter, because Peter was not a pope; he was just an ordinary human being like all the rest of the disciples.
21 And I gave her space to repent of her fornication; and she repented not.
From this verse we may conclude that Jezebel had been warned earlier, but to no avail, either by John or by some other Christian leader. The Lord “gave her space to repent.” “Space” is time. There has been plenty of time and plenty of reasons for repentance, but there has been no repentance. As so often happens, the Lord’s longsuffering and patience was misconstrued. Because God does not strike down wickedness the moment it rears its head, men deceive themselves and imagine that He never well. “Not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance” is the way Paul puts it (Romans 2:4). God stays his hand in government for the sole reason that men might have the opportunity to repent. Apparently the woman who was causing the trouble at Thyatira, far from seeing God’s hand of mercy in the absence of judgment, simply congratulated herself on her apparent success. The wickedness she was spreading went on and on.
From its beginning, the Papacy reigned as queen for more than 1000 years. Rome never repented. The Reformation came along, and for 300 years now in many countries, Rome has been in the minority with Protestantism in the majority. But the Papacy is unchanged. It is as it was in the beginning. In fact, Rome boasts that she never changes—semper idem, always the same.
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.
In verses 22 and 23, three parties are named who will be judged. The first: Jezebel. The second: those who commit fornication with her. Third: her children . . . the offspring as a result of fornication. Jezebel will not “repent,” her judgment is certain; and those who ally with her will be judged unless they repent of their wickedness committed with Jezebel. The judgment would be so dramatic that all the churches would know that Christ is the One who searches hearts and minds. Having given this woman time to repent, God was to judge her upon “a bed” (lit., “sickbed,” RSV; “bed of pain” (NEB) of tribulation in place of her bed of lust. Since she used a luxurious bed to commit her immorality, and the reclining couch at the idol feasts to eat things offered to false gods, He was to give her a bed in hell where she would live forever. Her children will be killed with death (23) . . . and frankly, I believe that goes further than physical death. I believe it means that they will be tormented forever and ever in the lake of fire, and will die eternally.
One of the last acts of the Old Testament Jezebel was to paint her face in an attempt to conceal her identity, but she died a horrible death nevertheless (2 Kings 9:30-37). Rome has been pretending for centuries to be something other than what she is, but the Lord knows her and will finally judge her.
“Great Tribulation” could mean the Great Tribulation into which the apostate church will go.
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.
“Children” are those who were brought up under this corrupt church system. The church was about 40 years old as John wrote, and her teaching had produced a second generation, advocating this same depravity.
“And I will kill her children with death” has been translated, “Let them be put to death with death,” and, “I will strike her children dead,” referring to the second death. This phrase, most likely, refers to Jezebel’s followers, her spiritual children, those whom she had convinced to compromise with the pagan world. God wanted the church to deal with Jezebel. This judgment would be an example so that all the churches would know that God can see the (with his “blazing eyes,” 2:18) the thoughts and intentions of every person. No matter how a person appears on the outside, God alone knows what is going on in that person’s heart. No one can hide from Christ; he knows what is in every person’s heart and mind. Those who work against Christ will be found out and will receive whatever they deserve.
“The reins” (mind) means literally the kidneys and refers to the total psychological makeup—the thoughts, the feelings, the purposes. The heart is the seat of the intellect. When He searches the reins and the hearts, it means that He searches our entire beings.
One day every knee will bow, and every tongue shall confess to God (Romans 14:11). In that day, the masses will learn who God’s Vicar is, and who the head of the Church is. They will learn who judges and who forgives. It is no secret that Rome claims to be the representative of God Almighty on this earth today. But friends, God has only one representative on earth today—the Holy Ghost—and He (the Holy Ghost) is in the world, calling out a people who will make up the Bride, the New Testament Church. We are convicted through the power of the Spirit (John 16:7-9). We are born of the Spirit (John 3:5-7). We are baptized into the body of Christ by the Holy Ghost (1 Corinthians 12:12, 13). We are led by the Holy Spirit (see Romans 8:14). We are assured by the Holy Spirit (Romans 8:16. He indwells every believer (Romans 8:9), and He seals every believer until the day of redemption (Ephesians 4:30). God’s Vicar on earth today is the Holy Ghost—not the pope. No man or woman is God’s representative on earth in this glorious Dispensation of the Church.
In Scripture, salvation is always according to faith; judgment is always according to works. The classic passage on this is Romans 2:1-16. But we are saved by God’s grace, through faith. Salvation is the gift of God—but all believers will be rewarded according to their works (1 Corinthians 3:11-15). The same is true concerning the wicked who die in their sin and open their eyes in hell. They will be judged according to their works (Revelation 20:11-15). Human works are always the basis for future judgment (20:12, 13; Matthew 16:27; Romans 2:6). Works do not save (Ephesians 2:8, 9), but they are evidence of salvation (James 2:14-26). Salvation depends upon whether or not we receive Jesus as Savior. If we receive Him we are saved; if we reject Him we are lost. But our eternal reward, weather in Heaven or hell, will be determined by our labors. There will be degrees of rewards in Heaven. There will be degrees of torment in hell. Every person will be judged righteously—God cannot judge any other way.
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.
He called the remnant of true believers the “rest in Thyatira” . . . those who “have not this doctrine, and which have not known the depths of Satan (“those who do not hold to her teaching and have not learned Satan’s so-called deep secrets,” NIV).”
The church in Thyatira, we know from history, had a very brief existence because it went down with the city when it was captured by the enemy.
Some commentators have suggested that “the depths of Satan” perhaps refers to a gnostic sect known as the Ophites who worshipped the serpent. They made a mockery of Paul’s words. All heresy boasts of superior spiritual perception, and that is what this group did. But let’s keep in mind who it is that Paul has been talking about; Jezebel. It is not likely that he would change his focus without revealing who it is that he is talking about. This teaching of “deep things” probably involve so-called sacred insights that were guaranteed to promote deeper spiritual life. If you want to get some idea of the “depths” of degradation to which jezebel led the children of Israel, read 2 Kings 23.
Not all at “Thyatira,” however, were a party to the wicked precepts and practices of Jezebel. The Lord distinguishes between the false and the true, His sheep and the goats, and the remnant and those who do not believe.
Apparently, things at “Thyatira” were too far gone for the remnant to be able to cope with the matter. The Lord does not ask the impossible. He tells the faithful remnant to keep clear of the cult with its satanic doctrines and depths and to maintain their testimony until such time as He Himself steps in. Like righteous Lot in the midst of ancient Sodom, the faithful ones vexed their righteous souls from day to day because of the conduct and conversation of the wicked one’s in their midst. They have not been able to stem the tide. Jezebel had been too cagy, too dynamic, and altogether too determined for them. But they had refused to follow the crowd. They held fast to the truth, although no doubt they were mocked, maligned, and misunderstood.
The Lord promised not to place upon them any other “burdens.” The additional burden that will not be added to them probably refers to anything further than the service they have already been called to as disciples of Jesus. You may rest assured that God will not permit more to come upon us than we are able to bear through His grace. He always furnishes sufficient grace for every trial.
Some compare Thyatira to believers in the Middle Ages when Protestantism separated from Roman Catholicism and attempted a return to purity in doctrine and life. The prominence of Jezebel as a woman prophetess is sometimes compared to the unscriptural exultation of Mary. The participation in idolatrous feasts can illustrate the false teaching that the Lord’s Supper is another sacrifice of Christ.
25 But that which ye have already hold fast till I come.
These dear people were not to surrender what they had. They were to hang on regardless of the wickedness and immorality of all others. They were to stand fast, they were to refuse to compromise, resting assured that one day Jesus would deliver them from the trials and suffering through which they were passing. The admonition to all believers is to “hold fast till I come!” Always bear in mind, Christian, we are Pilgrims and strangers in a strange land. This world is not our home, and we cannot feel at home in this world. We are not of the world, as Jesus was not of the world. If they hated Him they will hate us. If they persecuted Him they will persecute us. If they crucified Him do not be surprised if they nailed us to a cross. But we have the promise that one day the moment of deliverance will come—He will come “in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye.” We are to stand fast, occupy, and be faithful until He comes. This might seem to be a small thing, but in the midst of infidelity it means much to Him. He reminds the true children of His Kingdom that He is coming. This is a strong incentive to carry on with courage until the end. Our Lord is coming back for His own, and nothing will please Him more than to find us loving His appearing and looking for Him (1 John 2:28[9]). Then we will receive a full reward for our faithful labor of love in the Lord.
26 And he that overcometh, and keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations:
The works of Christ are in contrast to the works of Jezebel. The works of Christ are wrought by the Holy Spirit. We overcome by faith and not by effort.
It is clearly taught in verse 26 that it is not enough to deny Jezebel, and refuse to fellowship with her and her works, doctrines and dogmas—but that we should go further: “he that keepeth my works unto the end.” That is the person (the overcomer[10]) who will be crowned. That is the person who will have “power over the nations,” and who will reign and rule with Jesus . . . some over five cities, some over 10 cities. Certainly the true doctrine of the difference in rewards is taught here. All will be rewarded—but each one will receive the reward for his own labors. The reward for their perseverance, though, will be authority in Jesus’ name. Earlier, Christ had given this promise concerning those who obey to the very end: “those who endure to the end will be saved” (Matthew 24:13, NLT). The “end” refers to Christ’s second coming.
Again we see that it is Jesus—not Mary, not the pope, not the priest, not the pastor, not the evangelist. I have just as much respect for the popery of Rome as I have for popery as practiced in the protestant denominations of the land. You need not travel to Rome to find a pope. We have popes in some of the protestant churches in the United States. Some preachers dare not preach anything that is not sanctioned by the church bosses in many of the big denominations of our land. When I refer to “popery” I am not only speaking of Rome—I’m also talking about religious dictators in any religion, regardless of the brandname stamped on the group.
It has always been the ambition of Rome to rule the world—politically and religiously. That ambition will be realized for a short season, but her reign will be brief. The very instruments of Rome’s tyranny will become the means of her destruction. Study carefully Revelation 17:16, 17.
The authority of the saints over the nations here on this earth will occur during the Millennium. Jesus will sit on the throne of David, and we will reign with Him for a period of one thousand glorious years. The overcomer shall rule and reign over the angry and rebellious nations with a rod of iron. Their stubborn will shall be broken, their pride shall be humbled, and their glory shall be brought to the dust of the earth. All nations and all people will know that God is God, and that God places in power and authority whom He will. One day all will accept the eternal truth that God is sovereign. I am looking forward to that glorious day when evil will be put down forever and righteousness will rule forever.
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.
This is a reference to the millennial reign of Christ in which believers are to share. Greater than the privilege of ruling for Christ will be the unhindered enjoyment of His fellowship. The verb translated “rule” means shepherd.
The promised authority over all the nations fulfills Psalm 2, a messianic psalm describing how God will hand the nations of the world over to Christ: “Only ask, and I will give you the nations as your inheritance, the ends of the earth as your possession. You will break them with an iron rod and smashed them like clay pots” (Psalm 2:8-9, NLT). The “iron rod” probably refers to a shepherd’s staff with a metal tip. While a shepherd is a gentle leader, he maintains ultimate control over his flock. During the millennial kingdom, Christ will enforce His will and protect His sheep with His iron scepter from any who would seek to harm them (Psalm 2:9). This image coupled with the image of the clay jars broken into pieces implies judgment. This may mean that the authority given to the faithful will be participation in Jesus’ final judgment. This warning was being given to the cults. Believers dare not take a light view of heresy, because heresies will destroy people for eternity. Those who stay true, however, will rule with Christ. This promise must have been a great encouragement to the believers in Thyatira who were facing difficulties because of their faith in Christ.
Notice the last words in verse 27: “. . . even as I received of my Father.” It is very interesting to note that the grant of authority and power over the nations is given to Christ, for Him to give to whomever He pleases. God’s people shall be so closely identified with Christ that He will “belong” to them—read all of the second Psalm. But this authority to reign with Him will be given only to the overcomer.
Tough ends and one
28 And I will give him the morning star.
Not only will the Son of God give to the overcomer the authority to rule and reign over the nations, but a greater richer promise is made to the overcomer . . . “I will give him the morning star,” a promise that God’s people shall be so closely identified with Christ that He will “belong” to them—they will have a personal interest in Christ Himself—also a reward given to the faithful BY Jesus, the power of a new life, the resurrection life that Christ had shown when he rose from the dead. Christ is the Bright and “Morning Star” (see Revelation 22:16[1]). Christ will appear as the “Morning Star” to rapture His church to heaven before He appears as the Son of Righteousness to reign over the earth (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; Malachi 4:2). Thus the overcomer is promised a part in the Rapture. He does not earn this by his works, but his works demonstrate the reality of his faith. Christ’s coming for his own at the Rapture is the hope of the church. “Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Savior Jesus Christ” (Titus 2:13). In the natural world, a “morning star” appears just before dawn, when the night is its coldest and darkest. When the world is at its bleakest point, Christ will burst onto the scene, exposing evil with his light of truth and bringing his promised reward. The morning star may also picture the authority given to the saints because of their faithfulness (see Numbers 24:17).
Hear these precious words: “For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God. The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.” The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory” (Romans 8:14-17).
The Lord promises the “overcomer” power in heaven. He says, “And I will give him the morning star. He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.” Heaven itself owns the authority of the man who stands for God. Joseph’s family had to learn that the 12 stars and the 12 sheaves would bow down before Joseph. The “morning star,” of course, is none other than the Lord Jesus Himself. Possessing Him, we possess all.
Here Paul reveals to us, through the Spirit, that we are the sons of God the Father, we are the children of God, we are heirs of God and joint-heirs with Christ . . . that is, “if so be that we suffer with Him, that we may be glorified together.” If we suffer with Jesus—if we overcome, if we “bear the cross,” we will “share the crown.” But if we deny the cross we will be ashamed at His coming. Read Revelation 2:28, 22:16, and Malachi 4:2, and compare these verses. It will bless your heart.
The compromising people in Thyatira were following “the depths of Satan,” which would lead to darkness and death. Jezebel, herself, would end her life on a bed of sickness. God’s overcomers, on the other hand, would share the “Morning Star!”
29 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.
The conclusion that marks each of these messages to the churches implores everyone to listen and understand what the spirit is saying to the churches. All these letters would be read to all the churches. The message included in each letter was for more than just the church to whom it had been written. The other churches would listen and hear, as would churches of the present day. WE, TOO, ARE CALLED TO LISTEN AND UNDERSTAND WHAT THE SPIRIT IS SAYING TO US.
Special Notes and Referenced Scripture
[1] Acropolis: the citadel or high fortified area of an ancient Greek city.
[2] (Acts 16:14, NIV) “One of those listening was a woman from the city of Thyatira named Lydia, a dealer in purple cloth. She was a worshiper of God. The Lord opened her heart to respond to Paul’s message.”
[3] “Burnished bronze” seems to have been an alloy of a number of metals characterized by brilliance when polished.
[4] (Mark 9:43, KJV) “And if thy hand offend thee, cut it off: it is better for thee to enter into life maimed, than having two hands to go into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched.”
[5] (1 Corinthians 13:13, KJV) “And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.” By charity is meant love.
[6] (Hebrews 12:1, KJV) “Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us.” This is one of my favorite verses.
[7] “Seduce” means a fundamental departure from the truth.
[8] (Romans 8:34, NLT) “Who then will condemn us? No one—for Christ Jesus died for us and was raised to life for us, and he is sitting in the place of honor at God’s right hand, pleading for us.”
[9] (1 John 2:28, KJV) “And now, little children, abide in him; that, when he shall appear, we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before him at his coming.
[10] The “overcomer” in Thyatira was the true believer who steadfastly maintained the works of genuine Christianity.
[11] (Revelation 22:16, KJV) “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.)
