Springs Of Life Bible Church - Thyatira

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		Thyatira - Part 2

LETTER TO THE CHURCH AT THYATIRA Part 2
Revelation 2:18-29

I. CHRIST’S CONDEMNATION TO THE CHURCH AT THYATIRA 2:20-23

In the midst of a growing and thriving church a poisonous weed was being allowed to grow. In that healthy body a malignant cancer had begun to form. It permitted one of its members, Jezebel, a self-proclaimed prophetess, to teach a false view of God, grace and sin.

The first failure of the leadership was that they were permitting a woman (Jezebel) to teach men in the church. 1 Timothy 2:12

The second failure of the leadership was that they allowed her to teach error. As a result, Jesus says, “she leads My bond-servants astray so that they commit acts of immorality and eat things sacrificed to idols.”

The Old Testament Jezebel was an unspeakably vile woman. Through her evil influence Baal worship, immorality, and witchcraft became widespread in Israel (1 Kings 16:30-31; 2 Kings 9:22).

It is bad enough even today that many professing Christians in churches all over the world are falling into sexual immorality and idolatry (worshiping a false view of God), but for teachers in the church to lead them into such sins is a far greater evil, meriting the most severe punishment. Matthew 18:6-7

Graciously the Lord gave Jezebel time to repent, but she did not want to repent of her false teaching, idolatry and immorality. Her blunt and final refusal to repent would lead to a terrible judgment: “behold I will throw her on a bed of sickness.”

Divine judgment was about to fall not only on Jezebel, but also on those who followed her into idolatry, immorality and witchcraft. The Lord threatened to cast them “into great tribulation.” Hebrews 10; 2 Peter 2

Christ goes on to say, “I will kill her children with pestilence” (a deadly disease). Jezebel’s children were her spiritual children who were following her teaching and practice and would not repent.

Christ judgment would be based on each person’s deeds. Those who were obedient and those who truly repented and were doing as Christ commanded would not be judged and punished along with the guilty.

Good works, though not the cause of one’s salvation, are a necessary proof of one’s salvation. They reveal the believer’s true spiritual condition.

II. CHRIST’S COMMAND TO THE CHURCH AT THYATIRA 2:24-25

Having warned those following false teaching to repent, Christ addressed words of comfort to the rest who were in Thyatira, who did not hold to Jezebel’s teaching.

The false teaching of Jezebel, as it came to be known by the early church fathers, stated among other things that only the spirit of a believer belongs to the Lord. 1 Corinthians 6:15-20

Christ called on those who hadn’t succumbed to Jezebel’s false teaching to “hold fast until I come.” The use of the strong Greek word krateō, meaning “hold fast,” indicates that it would not be easy.

The coming of Christ as it related to the Thyatira church was His coming to them in judgment.

III. CHRIST’S COUNSEL TO THE CHURCH AT THYATIRA 2:26-29

To the one “who overcomes” and “who keeps Christ’s deeds until the end,” Christ promises two things:

1. Christ will give them “authority over the nations, and he shall rule them with a rod of iron, as the vessels of the potter are broken to pieces.”

The promise is that those who overcome will join Christ in executing judgment on the nations at His return, as we see in Jude 14 & 15

2. Christ promised to give to His faithful followers “the morning star.”

While Christians will reflect Christ’s glory, it is better to see the morning star as Christ Himself, a title He assumes in Revelation 22:16.

As the morning star rules the heavens, so believers will rule with Christ; they will share in His royal splendor and dominion.

The concluding words, “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches,” are a charge to follow the message of the letter to the church at Thyatira.

Three important truths stand out in this letter:
1. This letter warns against the practicing and tolerating of sin and false teaching in the church.
2. A pattern of obedience marks true Christians.
3. God is not mocked; whatever a man sows, that he will also reap.

Those churches, like Thyatira, who fail to obey the word of Christ will receive divine judgment. Those who do obey the word of Christ will receive divine blessing.