LETTER TO THYATIRA
Reference (Rev. 2:18-29)
Introduction:
Thyatira means perpetual sacrifice or continual offering. It was a city that had obtained great wealth and was the major business/commercial road between Pergamus and Sardis. It was located in the northern part of Lydia on the river Lycus. It was noted most as an important trade and manufacturing center. Specifically, Thyatira was known for its purple dye and dyed cloths. Remember in Acts 16:13-15 Lydia, who was converted under the Apostle Paul at Philippi, was from Thyatira and was a seller of "purple". It was a genuinely wealthy city. The pagan god that Thyatira worshiped was named Tyrimnos, but was also known as Apollo the Greek sun god. The dispensational time frame for the church in Thyatira was 606 AD to 1520 AD. It was called the pagan church or the corrupt church,. Historians call this period "The Dark Ages".
(V18) "And unto the angel of the church in Thyatira write; These things saitheth the Son of God, who hath his eyes like unto a flame of fire, and his feet like fine brass;"
(V18) In this letter to the church of Thyatira the Son of God is described as having eyes like a flame of fire and feet comparable to brass. The eyes speak of penetrative vision, and the feet of brass speak of threatening judgment.
(V19) "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."
(V19) This church was prominent in many ways. It was not deficient in good works, such as love, service, faith, and persistent continuation. In reality, its good works augmented instead of diminishing.
(V20) 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."
(V20) However I have a handful of things against thee, because you permit that woman Jezebel who calls herself a prophetess to teach and seduce my servants to commit fornication and to eat things sacrificed to idols.
(V21) "And I gave her space to repent of her fornication; and she repented not."
(V21) Here it not only demonstrates God's great mercy, it also magnifies the length of the nail scarred hands and the unexplainable grace of God toward the sinner. I believe every person who dies and has lived long enough for their conscience to convict and register their sins has had at least one call from God to repent.
They may not have answered when the call came in, but many times on their death bed their feeble minds go searching back through the unprofitable years of long ago. Often times they try to remember when they went to Sunday School or church but their memory cannot find something that is not there. But like the man drowning in deep water and sliding over the slippery falls they will desperately grab onto a weed, a blade of grass, a rotten piece of wood or anything in a last ditch effort to extend life when it is ending.
(V22) "Behold, I will cast her into a bed, and them that commit adultery with her into great tribulation, except they repent of their deeds."
(V22) Because Jezebel refused to repent, the Lord planned to give her a sick bed of tribulation instead of a bed of lust. Those who committed adultery with her will be thrown into a bed of great tribulation and death unless they forsook her and escaped from her deeds. Then all the churches would know that the Lord is watching and He rewards according to man's deeds.
(V23) "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."
(V23) In this verse God warns that He would strike dead the very ones that committed adultery and fornication with her (not young innocent children).
(V24) "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."
(V24) There was a faithful remnant in Thyatira that did not have this evil doctrine, which had not been initiated into the secret doctrines and rites of Jezebel, otherwise known as the depths of Satan. God promises that He will put no other burden of responsibility upon them.
(V25) "But that which ye have already hold fast till I come."
(V25) Here He tells them to hold fast to the truth until the coming of Christ.
(V26) "And he that overcometh, and keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations:"
(V26) To the overcomer (the true believer who steadfastly perserved the true works of Christianity) in this church, the reward would be to reign with Christ during the Millennium. He would have authority over the nations and would rule them with a rod of iron. All sin and rebellion would be punished promptly and severely. The Lord also promised the overcomer that He would give him the morning star. The Lord Jesus is the Bright and Morning Star (Rev. 22:16). Just as the morning star appears in the heavens before the sunrise, so Christ will appear to rapture His church to heaven before He appears as the Sun of Righteousness to reign over the earth (I Thess. 4:13-18; Mal 4:2). So the overcomer is promised a part in the rapture. He does not earn this by his works, but his works demonstrate the reality of his faith. Because he is genuinely converted he will be given the morning star.
(V27) "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."
(V27) And He shall rule them with a rod of iron; as the vessels made of pottery they shall be shattered into fragments even as He received of His Father.
(V28) "And I will give him the morning star."
(V28) In Rev. 22:16 Jesus tells us that He is the root and offspring of David and the Bright and Morning Star.
(V29) "He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches."
(V29) The Holy Spirit gives His familiar call to all the churches.
Dear Reader,
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Are YOU Rapture Ready?
(V22)
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