VII. THYATIRA
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Introduction
Introduction
9 I, John, both your brother and companion in the tribulation and kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ, was on the island that is called Patmos for the word of God and for the testimony of Jesus Christ. 10 I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s Day, and I heard behind me a loud voice, as of a trumpet, 11 saying, “I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last,” and, “What you see, write in a book and send it to the seven churches which are in Asia: to Ephesus, to Smyrna, to Pergamos, to Thyatira, to Sardis, to Philadelphia, and to Laodicea.” 12 Then I turned to see the voice that spoke with me. And having turned I saw seven golden lampstands, 13 and in the midst of the seven lampstands One like the Son of Man, clothed with a garment down to the feet and girded about the chest with a golden band. 14 His head and hair were white like wool, as white as snow, and His eyes like a flame of fire; 15 His feet were like fine brass, as if refined in a furnace, and His voice as the sound of many waters; 16 He had in His right hand seven stars, out of His mouth went a sharp two-edged sword, and His countenance was like the sun shining in its strength. 17 And when I saw Him, I fell at His feet as dead. But He laid His right hand on me, saying to me, “Do not be afraid; I am the First and the Last. 18 I am He who lives, and was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore. Amen. And I have the keys of Hades and of Death. 19 Write the things which you have seen, and the things which are, and the things which will take place after this. 20 The mystery of the seven stars which you saw in My right hand, and the seven golden lampstands: The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches, and the seven lampstands which you saw are the seven churches.
Pray
What if I told you God will not suffer a fortune tellers to masquerade as prophets
What if I told you God will not suffer a fortune tellers to masquerade as prophets
Background on Thyatira:
Background on Thyatira:
"Thyatira, a seemingly unremarkable city, founded in 290 BC by king Seleucis I Nicator, faced challenges unique to its position and nature. Founded around 290 BC, it gained significance for its production of purple textiles. Positioned at a crucial road junction, Thyatira served as a link between Sardis and Pergamum, becoming a vital point along the imperial road. The city's social fabric was woven with trade guilds, banquets, and economic implications, setting the backdrop for the longest and most intricate letter among the seven."
"Thyatira, a seemingly unremarkable city, founded in 290 BC by king Seleucis I Nicator, faced challenges unique to its position and nature. Founded around 290 BC, it gained significance for its production of purple textiles. Positioned at a crucial road junction, Thyatira served as a link between Sardis and Pergamum, becoming a vital point along the imperial road. The city's social fabric was woven with trade guilds, banquets, and economic implications, setting the backdrop for the longest and most intricate letter among the seven."
Social Implications
The Thyatiran message is the central letter of the seven and the longest. It is also the only letter to refer to the other six churches (Rev 2:23). Three allusions—Jezebel (Rev 2:20; compare 1 Kgs 16:31–21:25 passim), rod of iron (Rev 2:27; compare Ps 2:8–9), and morning star (Rev 2:28; compare Num 24:17)—presumed a background in the Jewish Scriptures to interpret. The command not to eat food sacrificed to idols (Rev 2:20) required compromised Christians to forgo banquets at pagan temples where such food was served. Trade guilds also gathered for festive banquets, so to withdraw from such dining occasions invited economic ostracization.
What is interesting is that this is the longest and most complex letter written to probably the least remarkable of all of the cities. Yet in this letter the others are mentioned. Is there a reason?
Point 1: I KNOW YOUR WORKS
Point 1: I KNOW YOUR WORKS
18 “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: 19 “I know your works, love, service, faith, and your patience; and as for your works, the last are more than the first. 20 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. 21 And I gave her time to repent of her sexual immorality, and she did not repent. 22 Indeed I will cast her into a sickbed, and those who commit adultery with her into great tribulation, unless they repent of their deeds. 23 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. 24 “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. 25 But hold fast what you have till I come. 26 And he who overcomes, and keeps My works until the end, to him I will give power over the nations—
Jesus addresses Thyatira, acknowledging their commendable works, love, service, faith, and patience. However, a critical concern arises – the allowance of Jezebel, a self-proclaimed prophetess, leading believers into sexual immorality and idolatry. Despite warnings and opportunities for repentance, consequences loom for those embracing this compromise. The call echoes: Hold fast until His return, and the overcomer shall inherit power over the nations.
Jezebel was the wife of King Ahab, who ruled the kingdom of Israel. By interfering with the exclusive worship of the Hebrew God, Yahweh, by disregarding the rights of the common people, and by defying the great prophets Elijah and Elisha, she provoked the strife that enfeebled Israel for decades. She has come to be known as an archetype of the wicked woman. Jezebel was the daughter of the priest-king Ethbaal, ruler of the coastal Phoenician cities (now in Lebanon) of Tyre and Sidon. When Jezebel married Ahab (ruled c. 874–c. 853 BCE), she persuaded him to introduce the worship of the Tyrian god Baal-Melkart, a nature god. A woman of fierce energy, she tried to destroy those who opposed her; most of the prophets of Yahweh were killed at her command. These cruel and despotic actions provoked the righteous wrath of Elijah;
What do you think the works of the individuals in the church were? It says they had works, love, service, faith, and patience and in the end it was more than the first, but the fact that they allowed false prophets put them at the risk of spiritual death.
Question:
Are you allowing false prophets to speak in your life? In Jeremiah’s time, he was trying to tell them of captivity but all of the so-called “prophets” at the time were telling the people, “This will not happen to us, we are God’s people.”
12 They have lied about the Lord, And said, “It is not He. Neither will evil come upon us, Nor shall we see sword or famine. 13 And the prophets become wind, For the word is not in them. Thus shall it be done to them.”
7 “They sow the wind, And reap the whirlwind. The stalk has no bud; It shall never produce meal. If it should produce, Aliens would swallow it up.
Are we allowing the Jezebel spirit to go forth in our generaton?
The Bible says:
12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.
Describe what you mean by this.
Point 2: THE NATURE OF COMPROMISE
Point 2: THE NATURE OF COMPROMISE
When looking at the last church, we saw their sin was compromise. They allowed things to creep in and erode their spirituality. We can see that the church of Thyatira is given basically the same complaint as Pergamum. However, there is a key difference. You see, the church of Pergamum tolerated it, but the church of Thyatira ALLOWED IT TO BE TAUGHT.
What Pergamum did was passive compromise. What Thyatira has done is active disobedience.
20 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.
Jesus tells us this woman calls herself a prophetess, but how long do you think the Lord is going to suffer a fortune teller to sit behind the desk of a prophet? As we delve into the nature of compromise, Thyatira stands distinct. Unlike Pergamum's passive tolerance, Thyatira actively allows false teachings to permeate. It's a lesson in active disobedience, a reminder that our faith demands vigilant protection. The danger lies not only in what we tolerate but in what we permit to be taught within our spiritual community and our walls. We cannot stand passively by as so-called Christians proclaim that it is okay to go to bars as we talked about in last week’s sermon or that it is okay to have sex before marriage.
14 Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness?
19 Nevertheless the solid foundation of God stands, having this seal: “The Lord knows those who are His,” and, “Let everyone who names the name of Christ depart from iniquity.”
Do you remember when I spoke of the responsibility that comes with being redeemed? Look here, it says let everyone who names the name of Christ DEPART FROM INIQUITY.
They had actively allowed a false prophet to teach.
Point 3: HOLD FAST
Point 3: HOLD FAST
In the face of compromise, the charge remains: Hold fast. The call to steadfastness echoes through the ages, urging us to anchor our beliefs in the unshakable truth of Christ. Thyatira teaches us that fidelity to God's Word is not negotiable; it is the bedrock of enduring faith."
1 Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,
Conclusion
Conclusion
Altar Call.