Book of Revelation – Part 08

1. Background on the Church of Thyatira
Lying on a plain about 52 miles northeast of Smyrna and 40 miles southeast of Pergamum, Thyatira was an industrial and commercial city. At that time it was an important city for dye production and copper industry.

The city of Thyatira belongs to present-day Turkey, and today its name is Akhisre. It means ‘White City’ and it is due to the fact that many ‘white stone’ mines are located there.

2. Jesus introducing himself to the church in Thyatira.

-Revelation 2:18-

“To the angel of the church in Thyatira write:

i. Eyes like fire
By introducing himself in this way, Jesus is reminding us as well as the congregations in Thyatira that he is transparent to him who is going to return as ‘judge’.

Child of God, none of us can deceive God. If we try to do that, we are fooled.

All our hidden sins are clearly visible to Him. He knows our hearts, minds and minds very well.

ii. Feet like shining brass
This shows that Jesus goes around the church to evaluate the work of the church. And further we see here, that the burning gall in a furnace, because it is so holy and pure, it clearly manifests what is impure in the future. Or that before the holiness of Jesus, our mistakes, weaknesses, sins and disobedience are clearly revealed.

iii. Son of God.
Jesus declares that He is our Lord, the Son of Almighty God. Therefore, He is our judge who has the right to judge us, who has knowledge, who has power.

3. Jesus’ appreciation of the good qualities of the church in Thyatira.

-Revelation 2:19- 

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.

From the words of Jesus, we see that the church in Thyatira was a very active church that had many precious qualities.

i. I also know your works.
Jesus means by this that He knew the good works that were being done in the church.

ii. I also know your love
Jesus says here that the most noble quality of love was also present in the church in Thyatira. Children of God, is Jesus pleased with the love of the church you worship, for God and for each other? Ask yourself.

iii. I also know your faith
Child of God, you must always believe in God. How strong is your faith? How wide? Think for yourself how deep.

iv. I know your service
Child of God, our Lord was not born to be served, but to serve. Therefore, all of us who are his followers, faithfully serve him in every opportunity we get.

v. I know your patience.
Jesus said that it is very important for all of us who are engaged in God’s service to do so with faith and patience, and the church in Thyatira had all these qualities.

vi. I also know that your last deeds are more than your first deeds
What Jesus is saying here is very important. That is, the work and service of the church in Thyatira was growing.
Child of God, do not fall for the devil’s lies and always make it your goal to grow spiritually and move forward.

4. What Jesus said against the church.

-Revelation 2:20-

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.

i. You give space to Jezebel.
It is mentioned here that the woman named Jezebel was a “false prophetess” who claimed to be a prophetess. But she was given a place in the church of Thyatira.

Children of God, this is a very serious mistake. God’s word has said about such a prophet, “He shall be killed.”

5. Jesus giving the original sinner the opportunity to repent

-Revelation 2:21-

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

Since God’s will is that every man should come to repentance, He is longsuffering toward us sinners. He also gives us time to repent. But children of God, understand this, God says that He will be patient for a long time, not that He will be patient forever. Therefore, when we know that we have sinned, let us repent without delay and seek forgiveness from God.

6. Jesus’ most serious warning, judgment

– Revelation 2:22,23-

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.

Here we see the most severe judgment that Jesus mentions in these seven letters.

i. I threw her on the couch
From these words, we see that He is going to bring the results of Jezebel’s corrupt actions to her sooner or later.

ii. If those who commit adultery with her do not repent of their deeds, I will also put them to great distress.
Here Jesus is giving warnings, perhaps to those who followed a silent practice in the midst of Jezebel’s corrupt practices.

iii. I will kill her children with the plague.
Those who are called her children here are her followers. Jesus says that He is going to kill them with a plague.

7. Jesus’ instructions and promises to others

– Revelation 2:24,25 –

²⁴ 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.

²⁵ But that which ye have already hold fast till I come.

i. But I will not put any other burden on those of you who are left without these teachings.
Almost every church has people like this. They do not know the faults of the congregation. They innocently worship God and go home.

ii. Hold fast what you have until I come

8. Jesus’ promise to the overcomer

-Revelation 2:26-28-

²⁶ And he that overcometh, and keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations:

²⁷ 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.

²⁸ And I will give him the morning star.

The promises that Jesus gave to the overcomers of the church in Thyatira are amazing. That is because those promises are very similar to the promises He has received from God.

i. Power over nations
(Read Revelation 20:3-4, Psalm 2:7)
ii. He rules them with a rod.
(Read Revelation 12:5, 19:5)
iii. I will give him the lamp star
(Read Revelation 22:16)