The Church of Thyatira
Randall LaVere II
1. Ephesus- get back to where you were at the beginning
2. Smyrna- Learn to trust God through your trials
3. Pergamos- Stick with the word of God, and study, do not be lead astray
The book is broken down into 3 sections, The things which thou hast seen, which are, and are to come. We are presently studying the things which are which is the church.
Remember the book of revelation is not a dispensational book, where each church represents a different era of time. But is a life applicable book. Every scripture in this bible is for us today.
There is a 3 fold application to the bible. It is meant for the church as a whole, for this particular congregation, and for you on an individual basis.
4. Thyatira Rev. 2:18-29
v.18-19 the son of God- Jesus said it, so it must be. This is no man made doctrine, but the word of God to stand upon. Jesus is the son of God. Jesus fulfilled hundreds of prophecies which were written thousands of years before his birth. There is no doubt on this earth that Jesus Christ is the son of God. Where he was born, what family line, when he was born……..
Eyes like unto a flame of fire- Eyes that shoot forth fire. And feet of fine brass. By saying that he has feet made of brass, this is showing that all judgement is under is feet, and he is in control. Like in every other letter, Jesus gives a description that could only be him.
19. I know thy works, and charity, and service, and faith, and thy patience, and thy works; the last to be more than the first.
James 2:17-Faith without works is dead, being alone. ………as the body without the spirit is dead, so is faith without works. And the word of God also tells us that faith works by love. And without faith it is impossible to please God.
In order to be in right standing with God, he tells us that we must have first and foremost love, faith , and works. For God is love, and without him it is impossible to love anyone.
And remember, he knows your intentions and motives.
V19 cont. the last to be more than the first. A naturally occurring thing in the life of a believer in Jesus. As you grow in the faith, you grow also in the works. The more that you realize how much Jesus truly loves you, the more that you want to do for him.
Remember we are to be distribution centers for the word of God. The reason that people can stay in a church for 20 years and not grow up, is because they are not working for Christ. They are literally unable to grasp the word of God. The bible says that if a man does not work, nether shall he eat. If you aren’t working, then you can’t eat. But the more that you give, the more that you get.
v.20 Notwithstanding, I have a few things against you, because you allow that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess, to teach and to seduce my servants to commit fornication, and to eat things sacrificed unto idols.
Jezebel in the old testament was a prominent worshipper of baal. 2 Kings 9:22 talks about the whoredoms of her witchcrafts. She was an evil woman who basically turned the entire nation of Israel into baal worshippers. We are not making this to be the same woman, that would be impossible, but we are making the comparison spiritually.
This woman Jezebel had stamped her name on history as a representative of all that was evil, crafty, malicious, revengeful, and cruel, and she was one of the first instigators of persecution of the saints of God.
The bible tells us in 1 Samuel that rebellion is as witchcraft. The spirit of Jezebel is the spirit of Rebellion. Rebellion in the websters dictionary is defined as resistance or defiance of any authority. The bible tells us that he that knows right from wrong, and still does it, to him it is sin.
The spirit of Jezebel is trying to make a run for it in these last days to take down and “seduce” as many as she can. Satan knows that his days are numbered, and he will use any means necessary to bring you down with him. Maybe even using people in the church to do it with.
Tit. 1:10-11 for there are many rebellious men, empty talkers, and deceivers, especially those of the circumcision, who must be silenced because they are upsetting whole families, teaching things that they ought not to teach, for the sake of sordid gain.
Especially of the circumcision – especially those who have been saved for a long time, and think that they know it all. …………..for filthy lucres sake. For money, or for personal gain. There are those who would try to get everyone else talking bad about you, just so it makes them look good. For their own personal gain and advantage. But a tree shall be known by his fruit.
Titus 1:16 they profess that they know God, but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate. There are those in the church who profess to know God, but you sure wouldn’t know it outside of the church house.
As a congregation, and as an individual, Satan will attack you the most when you start doing more works for the kingdom of God.
The jezebel spirit is trying to prevent you from growing in the knowledge of Christ Jesus.
21 and I gave her space to repent of her fornication, and she repented not.
Jesus is saying, I gave her a chance, but obviously she doesn’t care.
22 –23 behold I will cast her into a bed, and them that commit adultery with her into great tribulation, EXEPT THEY REPENT of their deeds. And I will kill her children with death, and all the churches shall know that I am he which searches the reins and hearts, and I will give unto every one of you according to your works.
Sin eventually will be cast into hell for eternity, and those who do not repent, will be cast into great tribulation.
There is an underlying theme to what Jesus is teaching this church here. He says those who commit adultery with her will be thrown into great tribulation, unless they repent of their deeds. He is warning the church of the rapture, which is to come. Only those who have repented for their sins and trust in him for salvation will escape the tribulation. The rapture of the church occurs before the tribulation, therefore those who are cleansed of their sins will not have to go through the great tribulation. In a moment in the twinkling of an eye. No man knows the hour In which the son of man will return. But it will happen quickly. He said that I will give unto everyone of you according to your works.
It really intrigues me the language that Christ used here to explain this woman. How she seduces his servants to commit fornication, and them that commit adultery with her.
The goal of a seductress is to make what they have seem more appealing than others. They want for everyone to want them, and no one else.
This is the goal of the world around us. They spend millions of dollars a year promoting and advertising things that lead to death. Alcohol companies spend millions of dollars for 30 second commercials during the super bowl, to try and convince you that their poison is better than the others. You see commercials with a bunch of guys sitting around on a boat drinking beer saying it just doesn’t get any better than this. The reason for this is because they have never humbled themselves at the foot of an old rugged cross, and been filled with true love.
The church has got to take a stand, and decide to live holy lives. Remember last week we established that we are to come out from among them and be ye separate. Christ wants for us to be holy. Eph. 5:25-27 Husbands love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it. That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word. V27 that he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, nor wrinkle or any such thing, but that it should be holy and without blemish.
Pastor Jim talked Wednesday night about the wedding supper of the bride and groom, and what a great celebration it will be at that time. And we know that the church is the bride of Christ.
We are the bride of Christ, the ones who he loved so much that he laid down his life for us. He was mocked, and laughed at. He was beaten, and spit upon, he was pushed to the very limit, yet he pushed on for us.
If we are the bride, then whenever we rebel, and do things that we know we should not be doing, not only are we sinning, but we are also committing adultery with the world. We are having an affair with the very life that we left behind. Do not allow the ways of this world, no matter how attractive they look seduce you back into a lifestyle that you have been delivered from.
The bible calls doing this casting your pearls before the swine, or being like a dog returning to its own vomit. If you have been delivered from something in life, do not go back and have an affair with it, we have already been down that path once. Jesus said it would be better for them not to ever have known me, than to know me and walk away.
v.24 those of you who have not been partakers of this rebellion, or let false doctrines enter in, I will put none other burden on you. 25 but that which you have already, hold fast till I come. 26 he that overcometh and keeps my works until the end, to him will I give power over the nations, 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.
v28 and I will give him the morning star. He that hath an ear, let him hear what the spirit saith unto the churches. Rev. 22:16 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. We can know him in his fullness, if we can overcomers in this life.
Bow your heads: You are just outside the city of Jerusalem, and your eyes strain to see what is ahead in the morning fog.The hazy image looks more like an animal than a man. His hair is matted, and soaked in blood, his eyes are swollen, slowly he lifts his head as he strains to see through the blood and sweat on his way to the flogging post. He stumbles and falls again and again under the weight of the cross. You hear the hiss and the whip of the cat of nine tails as it whistles through the air, and with its claws it reaches and tear the flesh from off of his back. He was doing this for you. His flesh hangs like ribbons around his legs. he is walking the path called the way of sorrows up to Golgotha. The ringing of the hammer is heard as nails part the sinews and flesh. His muscles jerk in spasms of horror. You turn your head away, but turn back, as you hear him speaking to the thief hanging on the cross next to him. Today you will be with me in paradise. Tears well up in your eyes as you witness the power of love in action. Eli Eli lama sabachtani, My God, My God, why has thou forsaken me. Jesus cries out. The story doesn’t end here, when the veil was split in the temple, his love gave us each access to be intimate with the father, God almighty. Three days later Jesus arose from the grave, and was seen by more than 500 witnesses. His entire life was God’s attempt to get to have a relationship with you.
Find out more about Evangelist Lavere www.rwlavere.org
