How Jesus feels about idolatry (Revelation 2:12-28)
Today, we will tackle two of Jesus' messages, to two of the seven churches. The first one, that I'll use as kind of skeleton and starting point, is to the angel and his church in Pergamum. About half way through, I'll add in the message to Thyatira. I'm going to do this because both churches have the same basic, overlapping problems, and Jesus judges the churches in a similar way. They also make more sense when we read them together. I think I'll be able to pull this off without it being too messy or confusing, but I just wanted to give you a heads up, so you have a feel for how this morning will go. Let's start today by simply reading Revelation 2:12-13:
(12) And to the angel of the church in Pergamum write:
"These things he says-- the one having the double-edged, sharp sword:
(13) 'I know where you live-- where the throne of satan [is]--
and you hold fast to my name,
and you didn't deny your faith in me, even in the days of Antipas, my faithful witness,
who was killed among you, where satan lives,
The thing that kind of pops off the pages at us in these verses is what Jesus says about "the throne of satan." What exactly is "the throne of satan"?
A clear majority of scholars connect this throne to the religious practices at Pergamum-- specifically, it's idolatry, and worship of Roman gods, and worship of the emperor. I think I've been persuaded that the majority view is wrong, but out of fairness to you, let me just briefly set out the argument:
Throughout the Roman empire, idolatry was a way of life. People worshipped lots of different gods. They did so, as a rule, without being exclusive. Different gods offer differ things, and maybe you'd pick which god you worshipped or prayed to, depending on what you needed. On top of all of that, emperor worship was a big deal in the Roman empire. The emperor was viewed, and treated, as a god. Perhaps some people knew that he was really just a human. But worshipping the emperor was a way to give the emperor respect, and honor. And temples were built to that purpose.
At Pergamum, in particular, there were lots of impressive temples, where you could worship lots of different gods (all of this is rehearsed in the commentaries, but I'm most closely following Craig Koester below). There, you would find what's called "The Great Altar of Zeus." This altar was part of a larger temple complex where you could worship Athena and Zeus. As far as emperor worship goes, Pergamum had the first provincial temple for emperor worship. The city viewed itself as the leading regional center for emperor worship. On top of these things, Pergamum also had a well-known sanctuary for Asclepius, the god of healing.
All of that's verifiably true. But is that why Jesus calls Pergamum "the throne of satan"? Did the city, through its strong pursuit of idolatrous, demonic things, end up creating a special kind of home for satan, or persuade satan to take up a more or less permanent residence there?
It's possible. But I think it's probably better to connect this throne of satan language to the death of Antipas. "What distinguishes Pergamum from the other cities is that Antipas was put to death there," and this is how you can see satan's presence (Koester, Revelation, 287). So like last week, we heard Jesus call a Jewish synagogue a "synagogue of satan," because it attacked the church. And in this passage, we hear a city called "the throne of satan" for the same reason-- because it attacked the church.
So one of the things we learn from these verses, then, is that you can tell where satan is active, and enthroned, based on where he is using people to persecute the church. You can tell which synagogues belong to satan, by how they respond to Jesus and his church. You can tell which cities belong to satan, by how they treat the churches within them. And all of this is basically the same idea as that of Paul, in Ephesians. Our struggle isn't with flesh and blood, but with the demonic forces behind humans who push them, and encourage them, to attack us.
And I should maybe add to this, too, that it's not like satan personally lives in lots of different cities (my youngest was reading my manuscript and asked about this, so I'm putting this in). Satan can only live in one place at one time. But satan has lots of minions underneath him, who can be in lots of different places. And the NT doesn't always clearly explain all of this. So when Jesus says that satan dwells in Pergamum, he probably means that demonic forces dwell there.
So satan, with his demons, is attacking the church of Pergamum through human forces. And Jesus praises the church for its faithful witness to Jesus, in the face of this persecution. There have been times, probably, when we've all had really awkward conversations with people about Jesus, where we were open about who Jesus is, and what he offers people, and what he wants from people. Depending on how that conversation went, we've worried about consequences to that-- that conversation might make its way back to our boss. We might get disciplined. At other times, in other situations, we might worry about losing big business accounts, or friendships. And every once in a while, even in the U.S., Jesus' disciples are killed for their faithful witness (Charlie Kirk).
These are all real possibilities. We're not just imagining that bad things can happen, when we are open about Jesus. Bad things do happen.
But what makes Jesus mark off the church at Pergamum as truly special, and praise-worthy, is that the Christians there saw firsthand what can happen when you tell people about Jesus. Antipas got killed. We don't know the specifics. Maybe it was something like an out of control mob, like the one that killed Stephen. Or maybe Antipas was executed by the Roman government. We don't know exactly how he was killed, but we know he died for Jesus. He was a faithful witness (like Jesus was a faithful witness). So Jesus starts his words to the angel, and the church he represents, with praise. This is something the church did well, and is doing well, in very difficult circumstances.
But, verses 14-15:
(14) but I have against you a few things--
that you have there ones holding fast to the teaching of Balaam,
who taught Balak to put a stumbling block before the sons of Israel,
by eating food sacrificed to idols,
and by committing sexual immorality. [Numbers 25:1-5; Numbers 31:16]
(15) In a similar way, you also have ones holding fast to the teaching of the Nicolaitans likewise.
In these two verses, Jesus calls out the church for a few things. He holds a few things against them, and these things are probably related. What we see here, is that Jesus' church is under attack from within. There are people within the church, members of the church, who teach two related things: (1) That it's okay to eat meat sacrificed to an idol, and (2) That sexual immorality is ok.
And notice Jesus' issue with this. He doesn't just hold it against the angel, with his church, that there are people teaching these things. He doesn't just hold it against the angel that there are people doing these things. What also bothers Jesus, is that the angel, with his church, tolerates all of this. These views, and activities, are public. They're not shameful, hidden secrets. This is tolerated, and even promoted.
Now, there's a couple things in these two verses here that probably jump out at us. The first, which I'll talk about in a second, is that Jesus' language is rooted in OT stories. Jesus is echoing the book of Numbers. The second, is that verse 14 tells us how to understand the Nicolaitans. Almost certainly, these Balaam people are the same group as the Nicolaitans ("In a similar way," "likewise"). And actually, if we bring in Jesus' words to the next church, we see all of this talked about a third way. Let's read Revelation 2:18-21:
(18) and to the angel of the church in Thyatira write:
"These things are what he says-- the Son of God, the one whose eyes [are] like a fiery flame, and his feet [are] like fine bronze--
'I know your (singular) works, and love, and faith(fulness), and service, and your steadfastness, and your last works [are] greater than the first ones,
but I have against you
that you tolerate the woman Jezebel-- the one calling herself a prophet--
and she teaches and she causes my slaves to wander
by committing sexual immorality
and by eating food sacrificed to idols,
(21) and I have given her time,
in order that she would repent,
and she doesn't want to repent from her sexual immorality.
[1 Kings 18:13, 19; 19:1-3; 21:1-24; 2 Kings 9:30-37]
Here, especially in verse 20, we see someone who Jesus calls Jezebel-- another evil person from the OT, this time a woman instead of a man (which maybe suggests something about the gender of the lead problem person in each church; a really cheeky person like me is tempted to use this passage to suggest that women can teach in churches)-- who teaches the church to do the same things-- commit sexual immorality, and eat food sacrificed to idols.
We can't press this language literally. This first century woman isn't named Jezebel. And she's not Jezebel, raised from the dead. Jesus calls her Jezebel, in the same way that we might be tempted to call an evil dictator "Hitler" today. The fact that she's called Jezebel, in fact, is a nice little reminder to us that Revelation speaks in images, and metaphors, often from the OT, and we need to be sophisticated enough readers to not press everything literally.
What Jesus is doing here, is pointing out that these two first century churches look an awful lot like the very worst of God's OT people. They've become Israel, at her very low point in history. They've let people-- who resemble Balaam and Jezebel-- they've let these people teach God's people to do the very worst of sins-- idolatry, and sexual immorality.
It's maybe been a while since some of us had the pleasure of reading Numbers, so let's read Balaam's story, starting in Numbers 31:13-16 (NRSV updated no reason):
13 Moses, Eleazar the priest, and all the leaders of the congregation went to meet them outside the camp. 14 Moses became angry with the officers of the army, the commanders of thousands and the commanders of hundreds, who had come from service in the war. 15 Moses said to them, “Have you allowed all the women to live? 16 These women here, on Balaam’s advice, made the Israelites act treacherously against the LORD in the affair of Peor, so that the plague came among the congregation of the LORD.
From God's perspective, and Moses,' everything that happened at Peor was the fruit, or result, of Balaam's advice. His teaching. Now, let's go to Numbers 25 (NRSV updated no reason):
25 While Israel was staying at Shittim, the people began to have sexual relations with the women of Moab. 2 These invited the people to the sacrifices of their gods, and the people ate and bowed down to their gods. 3 Thus Israel yoked itself to the Baal of Peor, and the LORD’s anger was kindled against Israel. 4 The LORD said to Moses, “Take all the chiefs of the people and impale them in the sun before the LORD, in order that the fierce anger of the LORD may turn away from Israel.” 5 And Moses said to the judges of Israel, “Each of you shall kill any of your people who have yoked themselves to the Baal of Peor.”
6 Just then one of the Israelites came and brought a Midianite woman into his family, in the sight of Moses and in the sight of the whole congregation of the Israelites, while they were weeping at the entrance of the tent of meeting. 7 When Phinehas son of Eleazar, son of Aaron the priest, saw it, he got up and left the congregation. Taking a spear in his hand, 8 he went after the Israelite man into the tent and pierced the two of them, the Israelite and the woman, through the belly. So the plague was stopped among the Israelites. 9 Nevertheless those who died by the plague were twenty-four thousand.
10 The LORD spoke to Moses, saying, 11 “Phinehas son of Eleazar, son of Aaron the priest, has turned back my wrath from the Israelites by manifesting such zeal among them on my behalf that in my jealousy I did not consume the Israelites. 12 Therefore say, ‘I hereby grant him my covenant of peace. 13 It shall be for him and for his descendants after him a covenant of perpetual priesthood, because he was zealous for his God and made atonement for the Israelites.’ ”
These two stories, of Balaam, and Jezebel, represent low points in Israel's history. They marked periods of God's wrath and judgment. They describe two of the very worst sinners in the OT.
So what Jesus is doing, then, is pointing at specific people in the church and saying, "That's Balaam. That's Jezebel."
Now, at this point, I think I should pause, and say two things. The first has to do with the language in these two passages about sexual immorality. There's a strong consensus among scholars, and I think I agree with them (for whatever it's worth), that the language here about sexual immorality in the Revelation churches is a metaphor, and not literal. I don't think there's a woman in the church who is actively making herself available sexually to every man in the church, as though she's some type of church prostitute. I don't think she's teaching Sunday school, encouraging men to bed her, and then offering herself after church. I don't think a number of men are actively accepting this invitation. Once we add in verse 22, a literal reading of the passage would suggest that she has lots of children from all of these men, and that Jesus is going to kill her children if she doesn't repent. I just don't think it works. I think this language about sexual immorality is symbolic language. And if we ask where this symbolism comes from, the answer is clear:
In many places in the OT, God describes himself as a husband to Israel, his wife. And when God uses this imagery, He tends to do so to emphasize Israel's unfaithfulness. God was the perfect husband to Israel, and Israel responded by prostituting herself, by turning to other gods, and other nations. She didn't stay loyal, and faithful, and committed, to the Husband who created her, and provides for her, and protects her, and who she has entered into a covenant relationship with. She didn't trust him. What she did, instead, is use every gift God gave her, and the status God gave her, to throw herself at every other god, and every other nation. She prostituted herself with anyone who would have her. The most famous examples are Hosea 2-3, and Ezekiel 16.
So all of this is the background to these two messages we are reading today. There are people in the church who are teaching Christians to worship other gods. They are promoting this, as something that's okay. And the angels of the churches, along with the churches as a whole, are tolerating this. What's being taught from the pulpit, and in Sunday school, and children's church, is the idea that God doesn't demand exclusive worship and service. God doesn't mind if you bow to other gods, or to the emperor. And Jesus, by calling these people Balaam and Jezebel, and by describing this sin as sexual immorality, makes it really obvious that this is all a lie. Jesus isn't okay with you committing sexual immorality. Jesus isn't okay with you sleeping around.
Now, this brings me to the second point I think I need to make. Sometimes you'll hear that God is a different God today than He was yesterday. That we live with God under a completely different type of covenant, that God would never be angry with us. That when we look at the OT, we see how God used to treat his people. So, for example, Jezebel was harshly judged by God. She was thrown from an upper story window and killed. Her body was trampled by horses, immediately afterward. And in a very short window of time, wild dogs made off with her entire body, with the exception of her skull, feet, and hands (2 Kings 9:30-37; h/t Koester). And all of this was God's judgment.
Now, the question is, does God view idolatry differently today, than yesterday? We've seen already that Jesus hasn't gotten the memo, that God has changed. The churches may tolerate this. The angels may tolerate this. But Jesus "holds against" the angels, with their churches, that they are allowing Balaam and Jezebel in the churches.
And what will Jesus do? Let's start with Jesus' words to the angel in Pergamum. Revelation 2:16:
(16) And so then, repent.
Now, if you don't, I am coming to you quickly,
and I will wage war with them with the sword of my mouth.
Jesus threatens here, in verse 16, that he will come to "you" quickly, and he will wage war with "them." We are used to the idea that we should look forward to, and celebrate, the day that Jesus returns. I said exactly that a couple weeks ago. But what we see in this passage, is two things: First, that Jesus returns more than once. And second, if people don't take advantage of the time Jesus gives to repent, that Jesus will come in judgment on "them." Who is the "them" here?
It includes the people who teach that it's okay to worship the emperor, or a different god, and that it's okay to eat meat offered to idols. It includes those who practice these sins. And it also includes those who tolerate these sins within the church. These two sins are not the kind of thing that Christians can let go, and be tolerant of. They aren't the kind where we can just live and let live, and agree to disagree about whether or not it's okay. These are the sins that bring Jesus' wrath on the church. That will make Jesus show up sooner than later, and bring judgment with the sword of his mouth.
So that's the threat Jesus brings against the angel in Pergamum. The sword that comes out Jesus' mouth isn't just for enemies of the church. Jesus uses that sword against the church, as well.
At this point, let's hop down to the second half of our passage today. How does Jesus threaten the angel in Thyatira? Let's read Revelation 2:22-24, verse by verse. In verse 22, Jesus starts with "Jezebel":
(22) LOOK! I am casting/throwing her onto a bed/stretcher,
and the ones committing adultery with her into great affliction/tribulation,
unless they repent from her works,
Whoever it is in the church who is actively promoting idolatry, (using the symbolism of sexual immorality and unfaithfulness), Jesus will throw onto a bed. Jesus will cause them to suffer severe tribulation (and this being the word, "tribulation," that rapture-Christians think they'll avoid, should give them pause. Here, Jesus promises "tribulation" to those who are unfaithful to their Husband).
What exactly is Jesus threatening?
Probably, the idea is something like a sick bed. Jezebel loves her bed-- loves being unfaithful toward God in her bed-- so Jesus will punish her in a way that fits her crime. Jesus will strike her, and those unfaithful with her, with some type of illness, or plague, that keeps her bed-ridden.
Now, we should notice that all of this isn't set in stone. Jesus shows his love for the church here, by giving everyone involved time to repent. But if they don't, they are without excuse.
Verse 23:
(23) and her children I will kill with death,
and all the churches will know
that I am The One Searching kidneys (=minds?) and hearts,
and I will give to each one of you in accordance with your works.
What Jesus says here about "her children" is probably a metaphor, and not literal. "Her children" aren't people who came from her womb. It's another way of describing those who follow Jezebel and her teaching. The same people are Jezebel's lovers, and her children.
So just like we are God's children, because we depend on him, and follow him, and obey him, so too Jezebel has children who follow their mom. And Jesus says that Jezebel's children, Jesus will kill with death.
When this happens, Jesus says that all the churches will know who Jesus is. Jesus is the one who searches kidneys and minds. There are no secrets from Jesus. There is no secret, private life. And when you see Jesus blow through a church in judgment, killing lots of people, striking down a lot of people with this or that, you'll realize the truth about who Jesus is. Jesus is the one who sees everything. And Jesus is the one who gives to each person, in accordance with their works.
What does "in accordance with their works" mean? Above all else, it means, Jesus is the one gives to people, in accordance with their faithfulness to God, and to the Lamb. We don't worship other idols or gods. We don't bow down to the emperor. We pledge our allegiance to God, and to the Lamb.
Verse 24:
(24) Now, to you (plural) I say--
to the rest of the ones in Thyatira,
all of those not having/holding to this teaching,
who haven't known the "deep things of satan," as they say--
I don't cast/throw (same verb as 22, "throw") upon you any other burden.
There's a lot of debate in her about what Jesus means by "the deep things of satan." I think it has to be connected to the language about idolatry (it's an elaboration on the preceding line about "this teaching"), but beyond that, I'm just not sure.
The main thing I want you to see in this verse, is that Jesus really just has one thing he wants the angel, with the faithful part of his church, to change. Get rid of this bad teaching from the church. That's it. Don't let people say it's okay to bow down to the emperor, or any other god. Don't let Christians think it's okay to be an unfaithful bride.
At this point, we are ready to read the two promises Jesus gives to the two churches. Let's start with verse 17:
(17) The one having ears should hear what the Spirit says to the churches.
To the one conquering/overcoming I will give to him from the hidden manna,
and I will give to him a white stone,
and upon the stone a new name having been written,
which no one knows, except only the one receiving [it].
And now let's add on Revelation 2:25-29:
(25) Nevertheless, what you have/hold (same verb as 24), adhere strongly to until I come,
and the one conquering/overcoming and the one keeping/obeying my works until the end, I will give to him authority over the nations,
(27) and he/she will shepherd them with an iron rod.
Like clay jars, he will shatter [them],
(28) as I also have received from my Father,
and I will give him/her the morning star.
(29) The one having ears should hear what the Spirit says to the churches.
In these verses, we see Jesus offer a number of blessings to those who conquer, and overcome. We will receive hidden manna and a stone with a new name on it. We will also receive authority over the nations, to shepherd them, and rule over them. Jesus also promises to give us the morning star.
This past week, I was listening to a podcast by Michael Heiser on all of this, and he talked about how people reading Revelation tend to read the promises in isolation from one another. They're often read-- and this is me, not him-- as though it's one of the toy vending machines, where you put in 25 cents, and you get a random toy. Some people get a name, other people get manna, some people get to eat from the tree of life. Some people get a morning star. If we stop and think about it, this is obviously wrong. Why would you get to eat from the tree of life, and I get a name? Is that fair? Is that right? Does that mean I got ripped off, and I should find another quarter? I think it's better to say, everyone who has ears to hear, is invited to hear each of these blessings as something that's offered to each of us.
I could probably spend the whole morning talking about these four promises. But let me just offer you a sketch of each of them, and I'll try to make that sketch complete enough that you find yourself really wanting what Jesus offers.
In Revelation 2:17, the first thing promised to those who conquer, and overcome, is hidden manna. When Israel was in the wilderness, God miraculously fed them every day with a type of bread called "manna." When the people entered the promised land, that stopped. A sample of that manna was then hidden in the ark of the covenant. And the ark of covenant, at some point, was lost. It's one of the great mysteries-- what happened to the ark, and the manna within it. Wouldn't it be great to see the ark? Wouldn't it be great to taste the manna that God perfectly, miraculously preserved?
That much is in the Bible. Later Jewish tradition elaborated on the manna in two ways. In one tradition, the manna is still hidden somewhere in a cave, and no one knows where (2 Maccabees 2:4-8; see the bottom of this manuscript for that passage). In another tradition, associated with the coming of the Messiah, the day is coming when God will once again miraculously provide for his people with manna. Farming will come to an end; manna from heaven will return (2 Baruch 29:1-8; 30:1). Jesus' words seem to play off these Jewish expectations. If you are faithful to the end, Jesus will give you the most special of all foods, in the history of the world. He will do so, at the dawn of his coming. And when Jesus gives this manna, it's perhaps also a symbolic way of talking about how Jesus will provide for us, in an ongoing way, forever.
The second thing Jesus offers in these verses, Revelation 2:17, is a white stone with a new name on it, which no one else knows, except only the one receiving it. There's some uncertainty here about how to understand this. But I think the idea is something like in Native American tribes, where you have your birth name, and then later on in life you might be given a second name, based on who you are, and what you've done. Jesus renamed one of his disciples. Cephas, became "Peter," or "Rocky." There's a strength to Peter. That's my best guess. Jesus will look at you, and the unique way that you served him, and your unique character, and he will give you a name that reflects that. And there's something about the fact that it's hidden, and only known to the two of you, that makes it more special.
The third thing Jesus offers in these verses, Revelation 2:27, builds on Psalm 2 in a way that surprises us. Originally, this psalm was probably proclaimed by Davidic kings ("I have set my king on Zion, my holy hill). In this psalm, the king talks about how God has declared him to be his own son, and how God has made him an offer in Psalm 2:8. If the king asks, God will make the nations his heritage. God will give the whole world, up to the ends of the earth, to him. And the king will break them with a rod of iron, and dash them to pieces like a potter's vessel. In the NT, this psalm is usually applied to Jesus. Jesus is the anointed, enthroned king, who has received all power and authority. But what we see here in Revelation, is that Jesus takes from what he's been given, and he offers it to those of you who overcome, and conquer. If you're victorious, and faithful, Jesus will give you authority over the nations. The whole earth will belong to you, and you will rule over it. God originally set it up so that we humans would rule over the world. God gave the earth to people. What Jesus does here, is narrow it down. The earth will belong to you who conquer.
The last thing Jesus offers in these verses, Revelation 2:28, is the morning star. This probably links to two verses. The first is Revelation 22:16. Jesus calls himself the root and descendant of David, The Bright Morning Star.
Jesus calling himself this ties back in to Numbers 24:15-19. So we are officially having a good morning, because we get to read from Numbers twice:
15 So he uttered his oracle, saying,
“The oracle of Balaam son of Beor,
the oracle of the man whose eye is clear,[d]
16 the oracle of one who hears the words of God
and knows the knowledge of the Most High,[e]
who sees the vision of the Almighty,[f]
who falls down but with eyes uncovered:
17 I see him but not now;
I behold him but not near—
a star shall come out of Jacob,
and a scepter shall rise out of Israel;
it shall crush the foreheads[g] of Moab
and the heads[h] of all the Shethites.
18 Edom will become a possession,
Seir a possession of its enemies,
while Israel does valiantly.
19 One out of Jacob shall rule
and destroy the survivors of Ir.”
It's a mysterious promise. But in verse 17, a star will come out of Jacob, and a scepter will rise out of Israel, and this star scepter (linking the two parallel lines together) will rule over the nations. Normally, we'd want to call this a messianic prophecy, like we often want to call Psalm 2. But here again, in Revelation, what Jesus has, in terms of authority and power, he offers to those of you who conquer.
So we live in a world where Christians are often at the mercy of non-Christians. We are treated better in some parts of the world than others. We are less hated, in some parts of the world than others. And we have more control-- more of a voice-- in some places than others. The day will come when God's people are no longer at the mercy of the nations. We will rule. That day will come, when Jesus comes, and when Jesus makes it happen. It's something Jesus does. It's not something we do.
This promise maybe doesn't grab us the way it should in the United States. But I guarantee you that promise is heard exactly right in places like Syria, where Christians go to bed at night, not knowing if they'll wake up in the morning. One day, the constant threat of persecution and death will be replaced with us holding an iron rod, and a morning star, and a scepter.
So when we read these two letters together, it's clear that Jesus offers really cool stuff to people who overcome the temptation to be unfaithful. Jesus expects us to be faithful to himself, and to God. That's really the very simple message we should hear today. Your relationship with Jesus, and the Father, is like a marriage. It's not an open marriage, where you are free to mess around. It's a marriage marked by commitment, and loyalty, and faithfulness. Jesus promises terrible judgment on people who sleep around. And he promises amazing blessings, to those who overcome. So if you have idols in your own lives-- things you worship, things you serve, things you live for, throw them out. Love the Lord your God with the entirety of your being, and commit yourself totally to Him. And may this church be the type of church, that clearly steers people away from idolatry, and the judgment that comes out from Jesus' mouth.
Translation:
(12) And to the angel of the church in Pergamum write:
"These things he says-- the one having the double-edged, sharp sword:
(13) 'I know where you live-- where the throne of satan [is]--
and you hold fast to my name,
and you didn't deny your faith in me, even in the days of Antipas, my faithful witness,
who was killed among you, where satan lives,
(14) but I have against you a few things--
that you have there ones holding fast to the teaching of Balaam,
who taught Balak to put a stumbling block before the sons of Israel,
to eat food sacrificed to idols,
and to commit sexual immorality.
(15) In a similar way, you also have ones holding fast to the teaching of the Nicolaitans likewise.
(16) And so then, repent.
Now, if you don't, I am coming to you quickly,
and I will wage war with them with the sword of my mouth.
(17) The one having ears should hear what the Spirit says to the churches.
To the one conquering/overcoming I will give to him from the hidden manna, [2 Baruch 29:1-8; Sib. Or. 7.149; see below]
and I will give to him a white stone,
and upon the stone a new name having been written,
which no one knows, except only the one receiving [it].
(18) and to the angel of the church in Thyatira write:
"These things are what he says-- the Son of God, the one whose eyes [are] like a fiery flame, and his feet [are] like fine bronze--
'I know your (singular) works, and love, and faith(fulness), and service, and your steadfastness, and your last works [are] greater than the first ones,
but I have against you
that you tolerate the woman Jezebel-- the one calling herself a prophet--
and she teaches and she causes my slaves to wander
by committing sexual immorality
and by eating food sacrificed to idols,
(21) and I have given her time,
in order that she would repent,
and she doesn't want to repent from her sexual immorality.
(22) LOOK! I am casting/throwing her onto a bed/stretcher,
and the ones committing adultery with her into great affliction/tribulation,
unless they repent from her works,
(23) and her children I will kill with death,
and all the churches will know
that I am The One Searching kidneys (=minds?) and hearts,
and I will give to each one of you in accordance with your works.
(24) Now, to you (plural) I say--
to the rest of the ones in Thyatira,
all of those not having/holding to this teaching,
who haven't known the "deep things of satan," as they say--
I don't cast/throw (same verb as 22, "throw") upon you any other burden.
(25) Nevertheless, what you have/hold (same verb as 24), adhere strongly to until I come,
and the one conquering/overcoming and the one keeping/obeying my works until the end, I will give to him authority over the nations,
and he/she will shepherd them with an iron rod. [God's offer in Psalm 2, becomes Jesus' offer to us]
Like clay jars, he will shatter [them],
as I also have received from my Father,
and I will give him/her the morning star. [Numbers 24:17; Rev. 22:16]
(29) The one having ears should hear what the Spirit says to the churches.
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On the hidden manna:
2 Maccabees 2:4-8 describes Jeremiah hiding the ark, and thus the manna (RSV):
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2%20Maccabees%202&version=RSV
2 One finds in the records that Jeremiah the prophet ordered those who were being deported to take some of the fire, as has been told, 2 and that the prophet after giving them the law instructed those who were being deported not to forget the commandments of the Lord, nor to be led astray in their thoughts upon seeing the gold and silver statues and their adornment. 3 And with other similar words he exhorted them that the law should not depart from their hearts.
4 It was also in the writing that the prophet, having received an oracle, ordered that the tent and the ark should follow with him, and that he went out to the mountain where Moses had gone up and had seen the inheritance of God. 5 And Jeremiah came and found a cave, and he brought there the tent and the ark and the altar of incense, and he sealed up the entrance. 6 Some of those who followed him came up to mark the way, but could not find it. 7 When Jeremiah learned of it, he rebuked them and declared: “The place shall be unknown until God gathers his people together again and shows his mercy. 8 And then the Lord will disclose these things, and the glory of the Lord and the cloud will appear, as they were shown in the case of Moses, and as Solomon asked that the place should be specially consecrated.”
2 Baruch 29:1-8; 30:1. Translation is from Robert Henry Charles, ed., Pseudepigrapha of the Old Testament, vol. 2 (Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1913), 497–498:
291 And He answered and said unto me: ‘Whatever will then befall (will befall) the whole earth; therefore all who live will experience (them). 2 For at that time I will protect only those who are found in those self-same days in this land. 3 And it shall come to pass when all is accomplished that was to come to pass in those parts, that the Messiah shall then begin to be revealed. 4 And Behemoth shall be revealed from his place and Leviathan shall ascend from the sea, those two great monsters which I created on the fifth day of creation, and shall have kept until that time; and then they shall be for food for all that are left. 5 The earth also shall yield its fruit ten thousandfold and on each (?) vine there shall be a thousand branches, and each branch shall produce a thousand clusters, and each cluster produce a thousand grapes, and each grape produce a cor of wine. 6 And those who have hungered shall rejoice: moreover, also, they shall behold marvels every day. 7 For winds shall go forth from before Me to bring every morning the fragrance of aromatic fruits, and at the close of the day clouds distilling the dew of health. 8 And it shall come to pass at that self-same time that the treasury of manna shall again descend from on high, and they will eat of it in those years, because these are they who have come to the consummation of time.
301 ‘And it shall come to pass after these things, when the time of the advent of the Messiah is fulfilled, that He shall return in glory.
In Sib. Or. 7:149, the future is pictured as being one where no one farms anymore, but instead, everyone eats manna every day. Translation is from James H. Charlesworth, The Old Testament Pseudepigrapha, vol. 1 (New York; London: Yale University Press, 1983), 413.:
Restoration of the world
* In the third lot of circling years,
140 of the first ogdoad, another world is seen again.
All will be night, long and unyielding,
and then a terrible smell of brimstone will extend
announcing murders, when those men perish
by night and famine. Then he will beget a pure mind
145* of men and will set up your race as it was before for you.
No longer will anyone cut a deep furrow with a crooked plow;
no oxen will plunge down the guiding iron.
There will be no vine branches or ear of corn, but all, at once,
will eat the dewy manna with white teeth.
