Sunday, October 5, 2003
Title: Thyatira
Text: Rev. 2:18-29
Introduction
1. Praise the LORD!
He hasn’t forgotten His churches!
He hasn’t forgotten His people!
He is still communicating...
He is still seeking a relationship...
He is still ministering...
He is still disciplining...
He is still chastizing...
He is still loving...
He is still encouraging...
2. I’m sure the Christians in John’s day were getting discouraged...
Those churches faced many challenges...
Just like the Churches of today faces many challenges...
but it encourages me to realize that God is still speaking to His churches...
He didn’t just ascend into heaven and then leave us to fend for ourselves...
He sent a Comforter...
His Holy Spirit...
And as a result, we can enjoy the sweet and blessed presence of the Lord...
Just like John did on the Isle of Patmos.
3. Let’s open our ears and our hearts and allow the Lord to speak to us through these letters...
just like He did about 1,900 years ago.
read text: Rev. 2:18-29
Body
1. Before we actually look at the Church in Thyatira, let’s look at the city..
A. Thyatira
Modern Akhisar, which means "white castle" after some of the artifacts that were found there.
42 mi. inland from the Aegean Sea.
4th of 7 churches addressed by John
Militarily important in its own right
At times, was used by Pergamum to protect from SE
Other times it was controlled by Sardis and used to protect from the North.
Known for guilds of bakers, bronze/copper smiths, wool workers, potters, linen weavers and tanners and dyers of cloth.
Lydia, converted by Paul in Philippi, was a dealer in purple cloth from Thyatira (Acts 16:11–15)
B. Some of the architexture indicates that this was a commercial town...
but not a huge metropolis
(show other pics)
C. Thyatira was considered a holy city, and, they worshiped Tyrimnos;
they held athletic games in his honor.
On the early coins of Thyatira have an image of Tyrimnos on it
He is shown as a horseman, carrying a double-headed battle-ax
They also worshiped a goddess who was associated with Tyrimnos
she was called Boreatene
These gods had temples in Thyatire where they were worshiped.
Another temple at Thyatira was dedicated to Sambethe,
and at this temple was a prophetess,
by many people suppose to represent the "Jezebel"
of our text.
Not that her real name was Jezebel...
just that she was evil and sinful like the Jezebel of the OT (ISBE)
Today, the city has a population of about 20,000
and the people there are mainly Greeks and Armenians.
2. Now let’s look at the Church
A. As you will remember, Jesus revealed Himself in a more complete way to John
in Revelation chapter 1.
And parts of those descriptions of Jesus Christ shows up as He reveals Himself in a particular way to each church.
To the Church of Thyatira, He reveals Himself as He "whose eyes are like blazing fire and whose feet are like burnished bronze. Rev 2:18 (NIV)
And as we have seen with the other churches,
there seems to be a reason why Jesus revealed Himself this way to this church.
which we will talk about in a minute.
B. After Jesus reveals Himself, He compliments this church.
He says, "I know your deeds,
I know about your love and faith,
I know about your service and your perseverance,
and I know that you are now doing more than you did at first." Rev 2:19 (NIV)
These are some strong words of commendation.
Jesus was aware of what they had done to build the church...
He knew about the love they had one for another and for the Lord...
He knew that their faith was strong...
He knew that they worked hard...
He knew that they was a growing, thriving church...
They hadn’t grown weary in all their labors...
they were working even harder...
and Jesus knew that
and He complimented their hard work.
You get the impression that Jesus was telling them that the best days were ahead for their church.
And that’s how I feel about OUR church...
There have been some good years in years gone by...
I’m sure many of you have fond memories of the wonderful things that have happened in our church.
but I am convinced that our best days are ahead...
I am convinced that our best work...
our best victory...
and our best growth is in front of us!
What will it take to become that Church?
Jesus tells us...
"love...
faith...
service...
perseverance"
If we aren’t a church where love...and faith...and service...
are cultivated...
If we aren’t a church that is willing to work even harder now...
than in days gone by...
well...then perhaps our best days ARE behind us.
C. And now, we come to the part for the reason that Jesus reveals Himself as He "whose eyes are like blazing fire Rev 2:18 (NIV)
The eyes of Jesus are like x-ray vision...
Superman has x-ray vision and it enables him to see through rocks and buildings to help him find the bad guys.
And Jesus’ eyes are blazing...
but He isn’t using His vision to see through solid rock...
Jesus is using His vision to see beneath the surface of this church...
beyond their good works...
beyond their love and faith...
He focuses on something that has become a problem in this church.
He sees what a certain woman is doing...
she is considered a prophetess by many people...
but Jesus calls her a "Jezebel"
the story of Jezebel is found in 1 and 2 Kings.
Jezebel was married to King Ahab...
Together, they managed to bring down the Kingdom of Israel.
This lady that is referred to as Jezebel in Revelation...
she was being successful in bring turmoil into the church at Thyatira...
She gave the appearance of being religious...
she was a major prophetess in an important temple...
She pretended to be inspired by God...
It seems that she had even gained a following from among the Christians in Thyatira.
She was seductive...
She enticed men to commit adultery with her...
She indicated that this adultery wasn’t really sin...
but it could even be considered a religious activity.
She was able to lead some men astray...
but the church, by and large, wasn’t convicted of duplicity in that matter...
Jesus accused the Church of TOLERATING those teachings...
They were negligent in speaking out against the sin that she was teaching...
They just had the attitude, "well, I don’t care what she is doing over there at that temple...
as long as she stays away from us"...
But the problem was, she was winning "converts" to her brand of "Christianity"
which wasn’t any kind of Christianity at all...
and it was severely detrimental to the Church...
and the work of the Gospel.
D. Jesus then mentions the punishment that will result ...
This prophetess was given plenty of opportunities to repent...
but she didn’t do it...
so Jesus indicates that she will deeply suffer...
not only that, but those who committed sin with her...
they would be given the opportunity to repent...
and if they refuse...
they will suffer and die as well.
to me, this paints the picture of why Jesus reveals Himself as "He whose feet are like burnished bronze"
It is because Jesus will stomp out the sin...if people refuse to repent.
E. Jesus then has a message for the Church...
to those who hadn’t be led astray...
He told them, "Only hold on to what you have until I come" Rev 2:25 (NIV)
Jesus is telling them to stick to what they know is true...
"You KNOW what I have done for you"
You KNOW the change that was made in your heart and life"
You KNOW these things...
so don’t be led astray by temptations...
hold fast...
steady the course...
nose to the grindstone...
F. Jesus concludes by saying...
To him who overcomes and does my will to the end, I will give authority over the nations Rev 2:26 (NIV)
I’m not sure, but perhaps this is a reference to what we referred to this morning...
during the millennium...
when Christ shall reign for 1,000
and how He will give authority to those who remain faithful...
to rule over those who don’t.
Jesus also said, "I will also give him the morning star Rev 2:28 (NIV)
The Morning Star is one of the titles that Jesus gives Himself in Rev. 22:16
"I am the Root and the Offspring of David, and the bright Morning Star." Rev 22:16 (NIV)
Perhaps Jesus is indicating that, in a way..He will give Himself to those who persevere...
That they will enjoy a special relationship with their Lord and Savior and soon coming King.
G. Jesus ends by saying, He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. Rev 2:29 (NIV)
Conclusion
1. Jesus is using His x-ray vision to look at OUR church...
He sees through the bricks and mortar...
He sees through our pretentions...
He sees through our facade...
and He sees what we are struggling with...
He sees where we are being led astray by false teachings...
He sees where we are being tempted by the sensuality of the world...
2. There are "Jezebels" today...
Men and women who would try to ruin the church...
to get us to accept false doctrine...
Jesus is telling His Church today...
"Only hold on to what you have until I come"
Hold on to the truth...
Hold on to what you know is right...
He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.
