The Church in Thyatira Revelation 2:18-29 CLICK TITLE FOR AUDIO
Church in Thyatira
The identification of the speaker – 18 – Jesus Christ from what John saw in Revelation 1
- With Ephesus he was identified by the seven stars and seven golden candlesticks
- With Smyrna he was identified as the first and last and he who was dead and is now alive
- With Pergamos he was identified by his sharp two-edged sword
- With Thyatira he is identified as the Son of God [leaving no doubt who he is] and by his eyes which are a flame of fire [Revelation 1:14] and his feet which are like fine brass [Revelation 1:15]
The Compliments – 19 – I know:
Thy Works – Hebrews 4:9-11
Thy Charity – 1 Corinthians 13 – revealing the influence of the New Testament on the tribulation saints
Thy Service – because they are servants of God like Revelation 7:3, 15
Thy Faith – with Thy Patience, is a significant part of their salvation [Revelation 14:12, Hebrews 6:9-12]
Thy Works – like the first works, but something that they are doing at the end – so this may be what he means by the last [works] to be more than the first [works]
Note: the last to be more than the first may also be a reference to Luke 13:28-30, Romans 11:25-31, Philippians 2:3
The Criticisms – 20-24
Jezebel – a prophetess [that’s what she calls herself] – there have been some true prophetesses – Judges 4:4 Deborah – Luke 2:36 Anna – but Jezebel is not a God-called prophetess – she is a self-appointed prophetess [the world is being prepared for such a prophetess by churches today who have female pastors and prophetesses]
Historically, Jezebel was King Ahab’s wife [1 Kings 16:31-33] – she was a king’s daughter, therefore, high profile [compare Daniel 11:6] – she was a foreigner and joined by affinity to a Jew – she was an idolater – and under her influence, Ahab made an altar and a grove [compare Exodus 34:12-14] – 1 Kings 18:4, 13 she cut off and killed the prophets of the Lord – 1 Kings 19:2 she threatened to kill Elijah – 1 Kings 21 she caused Naboth [a type of Jesus] to be stoned to death after being falsely accused at a mock trial
She teaches and seduces the servants of God to commit fornication and to eat things sacrificed to idols [contrary to the clear commands of Acts 15:20]
In verse 21 – God gives her space [time] to repent but she refuses [compare Revelation 9:20-21]
In verse 22 – God promises to throw her into a bed and them that commit adultery with her into great tribulation – similar to Ezekiel 16:26, 28-29 – see Revelation 18:2-3 – like James 4:4 – the great tribulation is to get them right with God – many will get right and be saved [Revelation 7:9-14] – but many will not [Revelation 16:9-11] – by the time Armageddon comes around, halff the earth’s population will have already been destroyed
In verse 23 – God says he will kill her children with DEATH [Revelation 6:8] – the purpose is so that they will know that “I am he” (John 19:5-6, because they don’t believe in Jesus) [compare Ezekiel 20:26, 38, 42, 44] – he is the one who searches the reins [Jeremiah 17:10] – he is the one who gives them according to their works [Revelation 20:13]
In verse 24 – this doctrine is Jezebel’s doctrine – the depths of Satan show that the devil is the one who is behind all of this – no other burden matches Acts 15:28
The Admonition – 24b, 25
Hold fast [like a fastener] what they are doing in verse 19
The Conditions – 26-28
To those who overcome, they will
- Be given power over the nations [Isaiah 60:11-12] – Israel will be the ruling nation of the world
- Rule with a rod of iron [Psalms 2:8-9] – with Jesus
- Be given the morning star [Revelation 22:16] – Jesus