Revelation 2:18-26
A MESSAGE TO THE CHURCH IN THYATIRA
December 11, 2022
The city of Thyatira was the smallest of the seven cities mentioned in the letters to the churches. Yet, Jesus sends His longest letter. The name Thyatira means “Unceasing Sacrifice”. Thyatira was known for its woolen industry, especially for the dyes produced there. They manufactured a very expensive purple dye that was valued by royalty and the wealthy of that era. This dye was obtained from a certain shellfish. This little snail was often boiled with the chemical composition of the water of Thyatira, made colors possible there that could not be reproduced anywhere else on earth. In Acts 16 We are told about a woman named Lydia who is called “a seller of purple, of the city of Thyatira…” v.14.
Jesus comes to this church in verse 18 and presents Himself in three ways. He comes as: 1. The Saving One – “The Son Of God” – He reminds the people that He is the Savior and that He alone is worthy of worship. 2. The Searching One – “eyes like unto a flame of fire” – He comes as one Who sees all. He sees the works of the hands and the motives and thoughts of the heart. 3. The Sovereign One – “feet like fine brass” – Brass, or bronze, in the Bible is symbolic of judgment. He is not only able to see all; He also comes as One able to judge all.
Remember, these letters can be views three ways: Practically – They are literal letters to real churches with real issues. Prophetically – They speak to the church in different periods of church history. Personally – These letters have a message for every believer who will hear and heed. A church with characteristics just like every one of these seven churches can still be found in the Body of Christ today.
I. v.19 HE COMMENDS THE CHURCH
A. He Commends Their Ministries – This was an active church. They were working within their own number and within the community around them. Jesus mentions that 1. They Work – This word means “deeds”. It speaks of them as being active in benevolence and outreach. 2. They Serve – This word means “ministry”. They serve their members and community their.
B. He Commends Their Motives – What was behind these works? What motivated them to do the things they were doing? Jesus says that 1. They Are Motivated By Their Love – 2. They Are Motivated By Their Faith – Too many times there is work to be done around the church and no one who wants to do that work. That was not a problem in Thyatira. There was work to do and plenty of people willing to do the work.
C. He Commends Their Mission; and the last to be more than the first – They were developing and progressing on their works. Their outreach and ministry to their fellow man was ever on the increase. We should be active in the Lord’s work; but, we should see that everything we do is motivated by either Encouraging the Saints; Equipping the Believer; and Empowering the Faithful. Those three tasks comprise the whole of our mission and we should be actively engaged in them for the glory of God. Ephesians 2:10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.
II. v.20-23 HE CONFRONTS THE CHURCH - The church at Thyatira looked good on the outside, but it was something corrupting its core. v. 20-23 He Confronts The Teaching Of This Church – The church in Thyatira was being led away from the Lord by the teachings of an influential woman in their congregation. Jesus exposes her, her teachings and her judgment in these verses. This woman is called “Jezebel”. She is called by the name of one of the most evil women in the entire Bible. Jezebel was the wife of wicked king Ahab, 1 Kings 16:31. She was the wicked daughter of a Gentile king. She was a devoted worshiper of the god Baal and she kept up some 850 prophets of that pornographic religion, 1 Kings 18:19. Baal was a fertility god and his prophets and priests were no more than temple prostitutes. When Jezebel came to Israel, she brought her perverted religion with her. She led her weak King Ahab to follow her gods and thus influenced Israel to seek Baal instead of Jehovah, 1 Kings 21:25 She threatened the Prophet Elijah and he ran away in fear, even after God showed His power on Mount Carmel 1 Kings 18. Jezebel was self-appointed prophetess and was guilty of leading the people away from the true worship of God. The word “seduce” means “to lead out of the right path”. She was leading them into immorality. The word “fornication” comes from the word “pornia”. We get the word “pornography” from it. It can refer to sexual sin, or it can be used as a metaphor for idol worship and the Lord calls it “the depths of Satan”, v. 24. Did you notice the reference to “her children” in verse 23? The young people are the ones who suffer the most when there is compromise and hypocrisy in the church. They see the inconsistency and they turn their backs on God and stumble off blindly toward Hell.
III. v.24-29 HE COMFORTS THE CHURCH - Not everyone in Thyatira had walked away from the Lord. The Lord has a few words of hope and comfort for them as they struggled to walk holy in an unholy congregation. He tells them that all He expects from them is that they stay the course, they will “hold fast”. He wants them to avoid being sucked into the vortex of evil that is swirling there in Thyatira. That is His will for us in these confusing days as well. He wants us to stay the course, hold fast and stand for the glory of God. Just because everyone around us is taking a new path does not mean that we have to. We can stand and be faithful until the Day of the Lord. In Ephesians 6:13 – We are told to “stand” three times! Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth…
He tells them that “I will give you power over the nations!” – The Lord Jesus promises them that if they will remain faithful to Him, they will rule with Him when He comes in His kingdom. This is not the end of the matter! One day, the King is coming! When He does, He is going to let His faithful servants reign with Him. We might seem weak today but when Jesus comes, we will reign with Him with power! Revelations 14 says that there are some saints that where not defiled the world and they come marching to Mount Zion with Jesus! And they sang a new song before the throne of God and no angel in heaven could learn that song because it was a redemption song and only we have been redeemed buy the Blood of the Lamb of God!
Thank You Professor Alan Carr! Your research was invaluable!
