(TAB-Video Intro) The book of Revelation is a written record of (TAB -Video) a vision that the apostle John receives from Jesus. John is old and has been exiled to the Island of Patoms for his belief & worship of the ONE TRUE GOD. In the vision John sees 7 candles stands. Jesus is in the midst of them. John immediately falls to the ground. Jesus then tells John to write 7 letters to 7 church in Asia Minor. That there is a lot for us to learn from these 7 letters. Today we look at the 4th letter to the church of (TAB) Thyatira. Let’s open to Rev. 2.
Thyatira was the smallest of the 7 cities these letters went to. (TAB) The name Thyatira means “daughter”. Approx. 300 years before Jesus, Seleucus Nicator, a general for Alexander the Great, was at war, and had a garrison of soldiers stationed here as a defensive line. Then he learned that his wife had given birth to a daughter. So he called this place “daughter”. And it continued to be called that for 100’s of years.
By the 1st century Thyatira was known for its dyeing facilities. If you wanted to buy cloth or clothing that was a brilliant purple – this is where it was made. In (TAB) the ruins of the city, inscriptions have been found relating to guilds. There was the guild of the dyers, a guild for wool-workers, lenen-workers, leather workers, potters, bakers, bronze-smiths… the list goes on. Thyatira had more guilds than any other city in Asia Minor.
What’s a guild? Well, it was kind of like a union - but much more. They not only had political influence that served the interest of its members, but the whole social, religious and industrial structure of the city was built around these guilds. Every skilled trade had a guild. And if you wanted to work in that trade, you had to join a guild. (TAB) And every guild had a patron god – it’s members were expected to honor and worship. For most guilds in Thyatira that patron god was (TAB) Apollo – son of Zues. Several times throughout the year the guilds would throw a party, at the temple of Apollo, where everyone would be involved in the worship practices, eating meat that was sacrificed to him, sexual immorality – all associated with worship.
So imaging you’re a Christian & to have a job you have to be part of guild. What do you do when the party comes around? There’s a pressure to be there. If you aren’t, you’re seen as risk to the success of the guild. To not show meant you were expelled and you no longer have a job. How do you supported your family? Pay your bills?
So, this is the environment the church of Thyatira is in. Let’s look at what Jesus says to them, (TAB) Rev. 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.”
Jesus refers to himself as, “the son of God”. It’s the only reference to such in the entire book of Revelation. Many think the reason Jesus chose these words for Himself is because Thyatira had a temple to Apollo, the “son of Zues” “the son of god”. It’s like Jesus is saying, “I’m the real son of God.” Jesus also says His eyes are like fire. He’s saying, “I see you, all that you do and I see your motives.” He says His feet are like bronze. (TAB) Before the temple in Jerusalem was destroyed in 70 AD, (25 years earlier) their was an alter where animal sacrifices were burned, was covered in bronze, all the utensils were made of bronze. The animals were often sacrificed on the alter to atone for sin - The animal received the judgment of God so the person wouldn’t have too. So, with Jesus’ fiery eyes and bronze feet, He’s telling the church of Thyatira, that He comes in judgment.
But first Jesus shares commendation: (TAB) v. 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.
Remember back to the church of (TAB) Ephesus – they did a lot of good things, but for the wrong reasons, Jesus told them they had lost their 1st love (Him). So, while the church at Ephesus had shrinking love for Jesus, (TAB) Thyatira had growing love for Jesus. And note the word “service”… in the original language the word is regularly used when giving aid, support and contributing to the needy. So this church has growing love for Jesus and for the down-trodden. Thyatira is on the upswing, increasing in love, devotion and faith. So, Jesus commends them… but he also condemns them. (TAB)
v. 20 “Nevertheless, I have this against you; You tolerate that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess. By her teaching she mislead my servants into sexual immorality and the eating of food sacrificed to idols.”
Ut-oh…. A woman has somehow found her way into leadership of the church and is corrupting them with false teaching. She says she’s a prophetess - Jesus calls her a Jezebel. Jezebel was the wife of an Old Testament King in Israel – Ahab. She was evil. She work to replace worship of God with Baal worship. This woman in Thyatira was a self proclaimed prophetess, she supposedly spoke on behalf of God….. but her teachings were leading some in the church to be involved in the worship practices of other gods, like eating meat sacrificed to them and sexual immorality.
And we’re like “Christians in the church are doing what?” Yep. But remember, idol worship was mainstream in that culture. You weren’t weird if you did it, you were weird if you didn’t. And all the guilds had patron gods, the members were expected to take part in their worship parties.
“But this is a church! How could Christians take part in the exact opposite of what they believe in?”
Well, a belief is sweeping the land, a belief called (TAB) Gnosticism. (TAB) Gnosticism comes from the Greek word for “knowledge”. It advocated a “higher knowledge, higher than the scriptures. It taught that (TAB) “matter” was evil and “spirit” was good. And it led many to believe sin committed in the body had no effect on one’s spirit, therefore it didn’t matter. Because of this false belief, there were people who would profess Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior and then live as they pleased. They’d go to the guild parties involve themselves in the worship practices.
It’s possible Gnosticism is what this woman was teaching. It lines up. She’s misleading Christians in the church to eat meat sacrificed to idols, to practice sexual immorality.
And with the church NOT STOPPING her – it’s as if they condone it.
Back to the 1st church in Ephesus, they were weak in their love for Jesus, but strong in doctrine and strong against false teachers... The church of Thyatira was the opposite, strong in their love for Jesus but weak in doctrine and weak at fighting against false teachers. (TAB) The result: a corrupt church.
Now Jesus has shown grace… in v. 21 he says he’s given this woman time to repent but she’s unwilling. Look at v. 22
“So I will cast her on a bed of suffering, and I will make those who commit adultery with her suffer intensely, unless they repent of her ways.”
It sounds like she’s going to contract some kind of sexually transmitted disease – she’ll suffer and all who are involved with her suffer - unless they repent and choose not to be involved. Whether this is a physical or supernatural illness - they are clearly warned.
v. 23 “I will strike her children dead.” This isn’t talking about her kids, it’s the next generation of those believing her false teaching. Unless they repent, God will strike them dead. He brought them into the world, He can take them out. “But Vern isn’t that harsh? Why would God make this a matter of life and death?” The church’s teaching IS a matter of life and death.
Sin – is serious! Sin kills. (Rom.6:23 “For the wages of sin is _____” How we deal with sin determines whether we live or die. Remember, this is the only church in Thyatira. It’s the only hope the people of Thyatira have. God has put it here to reach this city – to save them from eternal death in hell.
Now, First Baptist isn’t the only church in Pekin, but we, also hold the hope of Christ - that 10’s of thousands in this city need. Only Jesus can forgive sins and restore us to God. Only Jesus can save us from God’s judgment to come.
The only hope is to (TAB)Repent, follow Jesus! This IS a matter of life and death!
Obviously Jesus doesn’t want to kill members of this church… that’s why He’s warning them…He says to Jezebel, to those believing her - REPENT!
God is good & just. He’s not going to allow the eternal lives of the people of this city to be compromised by a corrupted church. (TAB) 1 Peter 4:17 says, “For the time has come for judgment to begin at the house of God…”
Jesus calls them to (TAB) repent… and if they won’t – then He’ll clean the mess up Himself.
But there’s another dynamic. Jesus is thinking of the church at large. Look at all of v. 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.”
If God does nothing to the church of Thyatira, then what’s to keep other churches from watering down the message – from teaching lies. And the application reaches us today? It’s so important that churches today, you and I, evaluate our lives: Are we believing and teaching the truth? Are we living the truth?
OR are we getting wrapped up in a worldly culture’s message? We have to be careful that we’re not buying into the lies. Because WE hold the only hope for the people of Pekin. The people God’s called our church to reach. This is a matter of life and death for us, for Pekin and beyond. And do we need to repent and turn to Jesus.
This world and it’s teachings can sidetrack us from knowing and growing and going for Jesus. Are you being sidetracked by the stuff of this world?
Sports, work 24/7, family, friends and fun.
“But Vern those aren’t sinful” You’re right –but if we don’t keep them in proper balance – they’ll sidetrack us and before long we do the church thing on Sunday and little to nothing on (TAB) fulfilling the Great Commission and Great Commandment.
How about politics… it’s become a huge focus for Christians these days. Now in and of itself it’s not a sin. But be careful. It’s not what Jesus saved us to focus on. He’s called us to the Great Commission and Great Commandment.
Ya’ll, its’ getting late. Signs of the times are all around us. We need to be focused on HIM & the mission
He’s called us too.--------- Jesus then says V. 24 & 25:
“Now I say to the rest of you in Thyatira, to you who do not hold to her teachings and have not
learned Satan’s so-called deep secrets (I will not impose any other burden on you): Only hold on
to what you have until I come.”
To the faithful in the church that haven’t bought into her lies…. Jesus says, “Hold on to what you have… until I come.” And right here, is the first mention in the book - of Jesus coming for His church. We call it (TAB) the rapture - where Jesus comes to take the living and the dead who belong to Him. Other passages that point to this include (TAB)1 Cor. 15:52
“in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised, and we will be changed.”
Another is 1 Thess. 4:17 (TAB)
“After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever.”
Now, back in Revelation 1:7, there’s a mention of the “coming of Jesus”, but it says He will be seen by everyone and people will mourn when they see Him. That’s not the rapture. That’s the (TAB) second coming of Jesus to earth, when He comes to judge the earth and to set up His kingdom. That’s not what this is… Here Jesus is coming for the church. The church wont’ be on earth at his 2nd coming. We’ll be preparing to rule and reign with Him. We’ll talk more on the rapture in the coming weeks. Look at v. 26
(TAB), “To him who overcomes and does my will to the end, I will give authority over the nations – ‘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.”
Jesus has big plans for the future. As I just mentioned, He promises a physically Kingdom on earth. And those who are His and faithful will be given authority to rule with Him. And when rebellion occurs – they will be in charge of dealing with it. The faithful in Thyatira are included.
Then v. 28 says “I will also give him the morning star.”
What’s that? Well, Jesus tells us in (TAB) Rev. 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 and morning Star.”
So it seems He’s saying to those who are faithful, that they will be so close and so identified with Him that, He will be theirs, just as they are His.
Then Jesus finishes the letter to the church of Thyatira with words we’ve become familiar with v.29 “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.”
These messages of late have been challenging – they’re suppose to be. Jesus wants us prepared - He wants His church, you and me, ready. He wants us to be serious about His call for our lives. His judgment is coming. We need to get our house in order… to love Him, (the Great Commandment) to demonstrate our love for Him (the Great Commission). It’s a matter of life and death.
Let’s pray: We live in a world that easier perhaps than ever before to be sidetracked. Lord, you want better for us. You want better for the lost in this community. Right now by your Spirit, convict us Lord. So that you and your mission are our focus. It’s getting late – signs of the times are all around us. Lord, help us be faithful. (salvation)
