Thyatira And Sardis Series

February 03, 2024

Thyatira (2:18-29 – the longest message and is the chiastic center of the 7 messages)

Thyatira (modern-day Akhisar, Turkey) was located on the banks of the Hermus river, about 38 miles southeast of Pergamos.

The City

• Was the smallest and least important of the 7 cities listed in Revelation. It had no political importance or cultural significance. It was made up mostly of poor laborers and trades people.

• Its trade guilds were well known and far more organized than any other city in Asia Minor.

o Every artisan in Thyatira belonged to a guild. Guilds wielded a significant amount of power and influence. Two of the most powerful guilds were those of the coppersmiths and the dyers. In order to run a business or hold a job a person had to belong to a trade guild.

o Guild members were expected to attend the pagan festival associated with the guild’s patron god. Refusal resulted in expulsion from the guild.

• Was home of the worship of the god Apollo (son of Zeus).

• Was famous for its dyeing and was a center of the indigo trade. Lydia, the 1st Christian convert in Europe, was originally from Thyatira.

The Church

Danger to the Christians of Thyatira came directly from the trade guilds, because they could not join them without participating in the guild festivals. This resulted in social isolation and further economic hardship.

To the angel at the church in Thyatira write:

Jesus presents Himself as, “The Son of God,” “The One whose eyes are like flames of fire” and “Whose feet are like burnished bronze.”

• To the church in Thyatira, Jesus is the Son of God. Nothing is hidden from His penetrating gaze. He stands uncompromisingly against the pagan influences infecting the church.

Jesus’ appraisal:

• I know your love and faith, your service and your perseverance.

• I know your last works are greater than the former – in other words, unlike in Ephesus, the church in Thyatira was increasing in love and faithfulness.

BUT This I have against you:

• You tolerate the woman “Jezebel” who calls herself a prophetess and teaches false doctrines and leads my servants astray.

o The real-life Jezebel was the wife of King Ahab of Israel. She is considered one of the most evil people in all of Scripture (1 Kings 16:30-33; 18:4; 19:1-2; 21).

o In Thyatira, this woman claimed to be a prophetess with a direct message from God, stating that it was all right for Christians to go along with the requirements set by the guilds. Her seductive teachings caused many to commit spiritual adultery by compromising with paganism, which lead to apostasy. This caused a great divide within the church.

Jesus’ counsel and warning:

• I have given her time to repent of her immorality, but she is unwilling.

• I will cast her on a bed of suffering, and I will make those who commit adultery with her suffer intensely, unless they repent of her ways. I will strike her children dead. Then all the churches will know that I am he who searches hearts and minds, and I will repay each of you according to your deeds.

o Why did Jesus use such sever language? He wanted to impress upon the believers the gravity of their actions. If someone is walking dangerously close to a cliff, you do not whisper ---- you shout. Compromise with the world on any level is dangerous to the life and ministry of God’s people.

• Now I say to the rest of you in Thyatira, who do not hold to her teaching and have not known (to have experiential / intimate knowledge) the deep things of Satan; I do not lay on you any other burden, only, hold on to what you have until I come.

Appeal to hear what the Spirit says to the churches

Promises to the overcomers:

• Will be given authority over the nations.

• Will rule over the nations with iron scepter.

• Will dash nations into pieces.

• Will be given the Morning Star (Jesus Himself).

***** This message applies to the condition of the church at large during the Middle Ages (538-1517). The danger to the church came from the inside – from those who claimed authority from God. Tradition completely replaced the Bible as the basis for teaching and belief. A human priesthood and sacred relics replaced Christ’s priesthood, and works were regarded as the means to salvation. Those who rejected the corrupting influences of the institutional church experienced severe persecution and even death.

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Sardis (3:1-6)

Sardis (modern-day Sart, Turkey) was about 30 miles southeast of Thyatira.

The City

• Was noted for its wool, dyeing and garment-making industries.

• Was the ancient capital of the kingdom of Lydia and had been one of the greatest cities in the ancient world.