The Tolerate Church

THE TOLERATE CHURCH

(Revelation 2:18-29) And unto the angel of the church in Thyatira write; These things saith the Son of God, who hath his eyes like unto a flame of fire, and his feet are like fine brass; I know thy works, and charity, and service, and faith, and thy patience, and thy works; and the last to be more than the first. Notwithstanding I have a few things against thee, because thou sufferest that woman Jezebel, which calleth herself a prophetess, to teach and to seduce my servants to commit fornication, and to eat things sacrificed unto idols. And I gave her space to repent of her fornication; and she repented not. Behold, I will cast her into a bed, and them that commit adultery with her into great tribulation, except they repent of their deeds. And I will kill her children with death; and all the churches shall know that I am he which searcheth the reins and hearts: and I will give unto every one of you according to your works. But unto you I say, and unto the rest in Thyatira, as many as have not this doctrine, and which have not known the depths of Satan, as they speak; I will put upon you none other burden. But that which ye have already hold fast till I come. And he that overcometh, and keepeth my works unto 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. And I will give him the morning star. He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches. (KJV)

I. THE LORD COMMENDS THIS CHURCH vv. 18,19

A. HE COMMENDS THEM FOR THEIR FAITHFULNESS.

1. The Lord requires faithfulness.

“Hold fast till I come.”

2. The Lord rewards faithfulness.

“He that overcometh, and keepeth my works unto the

end, to him will I give power over the nations.”

B. HE COMMENDS THEM FOR THEIR FRUITFULNESS.

“The last to be more than the first.”

1. Not only were they producing…

a. These people were unselfish.

b. These people were untiring.

2. They were making progress.

II. THE LORD CRITICISES THIS CHURCH vv. 20-23

A. NOTE HIS INFALLIBLE WISDOM

1. How complacent they had become.

“I have a few things against thee, because thou sufferest that woman Jezebel, which calleth herself a prophetess, to teach and to seduce my servants to commit fornication, and to eat things sacrificed unto idols.”

a. She was a woman of very considerable importance.

b. She was a woman of very considerable influence.

1. She called herself a “prophetess”.

2. She was causing problems for the church.

a. She was teaching immorality.

b. She was teaching idolatry.

2. How compassionate he had been.

“I gave her space to repent of her fornication; and she

repented not.”

B. NOTE HIS IMPARTIAL JUSTICE

Behold, I will cast her into a bed, and them that commit adultery with her into great tribulation, except they repent of their deeds. And I will kill her children with death; and all the churches shall know that I am he which searcheth the reins and hearts: and I will give unto every one of you according to your works.

1. He knows the measure of your service.

2. He knows the motive of your service.

III. CHRIST CHALLENGES THE CHURCH vv. 24-29

A. ENDURANCE IS REQUIRED.

1. There is coming a day when there will be no more

difficulties.

2. There is coming a day when there will be no more

dangers.

B. ENCOURAGEMENT IS RENDERED.

“I will put upon you none other burden.”

Rev. Robert W. Travis, October 24, 2001, Mt. Olive Free Will Baptist Church, Plymouth, North Carolina