The Churches of Asia Thyatira: The Church That Tolerated Jezebel

The Churches of Asia

Thyatira:

The Church That Tolerated Jezebel

The Text

“And to the angel of the church in Thyatira write, 'These things says the Son of God, who has eyes like a flame of fire, and His feet like fine brass: I know your works,

love, service, faith, and your patience; and as for your works, the last are more than

the first.”

Revelation 2:18,19

“Nevertheless I have a few things against you, because you allow that woman

Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess, to teach and seduce My servants to commit

sexual immorality and eat things sacrificed to idols. And I gave her time to repent of her sexual immorality, and she did not

repent.”

The Text

Revelation 2:20, 21

“Indeed I will cast her into a sickbed, and those who commit adultery with her into great tribulation, unless they repent of their deeds. I will kill her children with

death, and all the churches shall know that I am He who searches the minds and

hearts. And I will give to each one of you according to your works.”

The Text

Revelation 2:22, 23

“Now to you I say, and to the rest in Thyatira, as many as do not have this

doctrine, who have not known the depths of Satan, as they say, I will put on you no

other burden. But hold fast what you have till I come. And he who overcomes, and

keeps My works until the end, to him I will give power over the nations--”

The Text

Revelation 2:24-26

“He shall rule them with a rod of iron; they shall be dashed to pieces like the potter's vessels --as I also have received from My

Father; and I will give him the morning star. He who has an ear, let him hear what

the Spirit says to the churches.”

The Text

Revelation 2:27-29

ThyatiraThyatira was situated in a fertile valley through which trade routes passed. Although damaged by an earthquake during the reign of Augustus, Thyatira was rebuilt with Roman help

Thyatira (modern Akhisar) has population of ~ 74,000

(courtesy of www.holylandphotos.org)

http://www.holylandphotos.org/browse.asp?s=1,3,7,20,82&img=TWNATY01

Thyatira

“Thyatira (modern Akhisar) was a city in the province of Asia, on the boundary of Lydia and Mysia. Thyatira has no illustrious history, and is scarcely mentioned by ancient writers. . .”

http://www.inspirationsbyswain.com/thyatira.htm

Background

• Located 30-40 miles from Pergamos.• A wealthy city on the Lycus River.• Purple dye and dyed garments.• Many temples of idolatrous worship.• Apollo was the chief idol god.• Powerful trade guilds.• Meeting had meats sacrificed to idols, and all

manner of debauchery.

The Church at Thyatira

• The longest of the letters; written to the least-known and least-important city.

• Lydia, the first convert at Philippi was from Thyatira. She was a seller of purple (Acts 16:14).

Christ’s Description of Himself

• Son of God.– “Eyes like a flame of fire.”– “Feet like fine brass.”

• All-seeing eye—piercing!– Hebrews 4:13.

• Saw immorality and corruption!

Commendations

• “I know thy works.”• Faith is demonstrated by

works..• Motives• Done or left undone—He

knows!– James 2:18

“But someone will say, "You have faith, and I have works. Show me your faith without your works, and I will show

you my faith by my works.” (26)

• “Love”• Correct motive• Must be the reason

behind our service• Promotes true

obedience– 1 Corinthians 13:1-8

“And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and

though I give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing.”

Commendations

• “Service.”• Serving God• Serving mankind• Actively diligent• Not waiting for others– Matthew 5:13-16

“Let your light so shine before men, that they may see

your good works and glorify your Father in

heaven.”

Commendations

• “Faith.”

• Is a must!

• Is based on evidence.

• Faith and fidelity demonstrate commitment.– 1 Thessalonians 1:8

“For from you the word of the Lord has

sounded forth, not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but also in

every place. Your faith toward God has gone out, so that we do not need to say anything.”

Commendations

• “Patience.”• Putting on the divine

nature.• Persevering.• Keeping on.• Depends on the depth

of one’s faith.– Hebrews 10:32-39

“For you had compassion on me in

my chains, and joyfully accepted the plundering of your goods, knowing that you have a better

and an enduring possession for

yourselves in heaven.”

Commendations

• “The last are more than the first.”

• Brethren are making progress and moving forward.

• Not slacking off.– Hebrews 6:1

“Therefore, leaving the discussion of the

elementary principles of Christ, let us go on to perfection, not laying

again the foundation of repentance from dead

works and of faith toward God.”

Commendations

“But, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head--Christ.”

Commendations



• Not slacking off.– Ephesians 4:15

“Therefore, my beloved brethren,

be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain

in the Lord.”

Commendations



• Not slacking off.– 1 Corinthians 15:58

“But grow in the grace and

knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory

both now and forever. Amen.”

Commendations



• Not slacking off.– 2 Peter 3:18

Words of Condemnation

• “You allow Jezebel...to teach and beguile My servants.”

• Spiritual gifts existed in the first century.

• Laying on of the apostles’ hands– Acts 6:1-6

“Whom they set before the

apostles; and when they had

prayed, they laid hands on them.”


• Spiritual gifts existed in the first century.

• Laying on of the apostles’ hands– Acts 8:14-18

“Then they laid hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit. And when Simon saw that

through the laying on of the apostles' hands

the Holy Spirit was given...”



• At that time, the word was still being revealed.

• Other claims were false!– Acts 21:8,9

“…who was one of the seven, and stayed with him.

Now this man had four virgin daughters who prophesied.”



• Woman in Thyatira—”prophetess”

• Lord another name--Jezebel– 1 Kings 19:2

“Then Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah,

saying, ‘So let the gods do to me, and

more also, if I do not make your life as the life of one of them by tomorrow about this

time.’”



• The word EVIL personifies Her name.

• Shows the wickedness of this woman’s work!– Revelation 2:21

“And I gave her time to repent of

her sexual immorality, and

she did not repent.”


• The influence led God’s people to…

• Commit sexual immorality.

• Eat things sacrificed to idols.

• Refusal to repent-- impenitent hearts!– Hebrews 3:13

“But exhort one another daily,

while it is called Today, lest any of you be hardened

through the deceitfulness of

sin.”


The Warning!

• God does not make idle threats!

• Jezebel and her followers would be cast into tribulation.

• Dangers of tolerating error!– 1 Corinthians 5:11

“But now I have written to you not to keep

company with anyone named a brother, who is

sexually immoral, or covetous, or an idolater,

or a reviler, or a drunkard, or an

extortioner--not even to eat with such a person.”

“Who, knowing the righteous judgment of God, that those who practice such

things are deserving of death, not only do

the same but also approve of those who

practice them.”



• Dangers of tolerating error!– Romans 1:32

The Warning!

“Do not enter the path of the wicked, and do not walk in

the way of evil. Avoid it, do not travel on it; turn away from it and

pass on.”

The Warning!



• Dangers of tolerating error!– Proverbs 4:14, 15

Exhortation to the Faithful

• “Hold fast till I come!”• Put no more burden on

them.• God does not allow us to

be over-burdened.– 1 Corinthians 10:13

“No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to

man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the

temptation will also make a way of escape, that you may be able to

bear it.”

“For if there is first a willing mind, it is accepted according

to what one has, and not according

to what he does not have.”




be over-burdened.– 2 Corinthians 8:12

“And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in

due season we shall reap if we

do not lose heart.”




be over-burdened.– Galatians 6:9

“Do not fear any of those things which you are

about to suffer. Indeed, the devil is about to

throw some of you into prison, that you may be

tested, and you will have tribulation ten days. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown

of life.”




be over-burdened.– Revelation 2:10

Consolation to the Faithful

• “He will rule with a rod of iron!”

• “He will have power over the nations.”– Romans 5:17

“For if by the one man's offense death reigned through the one, much

more those who receive abundance of grace and

of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One,

Jesus Christ.”


• “He will have power over the nations.”– James 4:6,7

“But He gives more grace. Therefore He

says: God resists the proud, but gives

grace to the humble. Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from

you.”



• “He will have power over the nations.”– Romans 12:21

“Do not be overcome by

evil, but overcome evil

with good.”



• “He will have power over the nations.”– Hebrews 13:5,6

“…I will never leave you nor forsake you. So we may boldly say: ‘The

LORD is my helper; I will not fear. What

can man do to me?”


“The Bright and Morning Star”

• A new day arrives!• Only for those who

overcome.• “He that hath ears, let

him hear…”– Revelation 2:16

“I, Jesus, have sent My angel to testify to you these things in the churches. I am the Root and the

Offspring of David, the Bright and Morning Star.”

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,

who has blessed us with every spiritual

blessing in the heavenly places in

Christ.”



overcome.• “He that hath ears, let

him hear…”– Ephesians 1:3


overcome• “He that hath ears, let

him hear…”– Hebrews 6:18

“That by two immutable things, in

which it is impossible for God to lie, we

might have strong consolation, who have

fled for refuge to lay hold of the hope set

before us.”


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The Churches of Asia Thyatira: The Church That Tolerated Jezebel