The Message to the Church at Tyatira

Revelation 2:18-29

“And unto the angel of the church in Thyatira write; These things saith the Son of God, who hath his eyes like unto a flame of fire, and his feet are like fine brass; 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. “ (Revelation 2:18-19)

Christ introduces himself to the church at Thyatira as the Holy one, who cannot bear to look upon sin. Again this church sounds fabulous. They are doing great things. Love is a strong factor in the church. They serve. There is a lot of faith, and they have patience to keep going. This results in a strong outreach. Most pastors would love to have such a church. God is not so happy.

“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.” (Revelation 2:20)

Thyatira is allowing Jezebel to deliberately teach false doctrine. While Balaam was a prophet of God who got caught up in getting his own way, Jezebel was not of God. She was deliberately trying to turn people from the truth, to something else. Her story can be found in the interval between I Kings 16 and II Kings 9. In I Kings 18 we learn that she killed God’s prophets, while financing the prophets of Baal. She tried to kill Eiljah for destroying her prophets, and was destroyed by God in II Kings 9.

Jezebel is accused of deliberately truing to convince God’s people to accept sexual sin, and to participate in idolatry. These are not the only such doctrines, but examining them will help understand what these teachers do, deliberately trying to pass themselves off as messengers from God.

While most churches still oppose Homosexuality, there are two areas of sexual sin many accept today. The first is divorce and remarriage, and the second is so called “pre-marital” sex. I Corinthians 7:10-11 states, “And unto the married I command, yet not I, but the Lord, Let not the wife depart from her husband: But and if she depart, let her remain unmarried, or be reconciled to her husband: and let not the husband put away his wife.” While divorce is occasionally necessary, for example in cases of physical abuse, it is not to be taken lightly, and even in such cases remarriage is forbidden. Matthew 19::9 says that the remarriage is adultery, and the divorce exposes the mate to temptation to adultery. “And I say unto you, Whosoever shall put away his wife, except it be for fornication, and shall marry another, committeth adultery: and whoso marrieth her which is put away doth commit adultery.” Despite these scriptures, and many more, divorce and remarriage is widely accepted, or encouraged.

Sexual sin is often ignored in so called “premarital” situations for various excuses. Exodus 22:16-17 commands, “And if a man entice a maid that is not betrothed, and lie with her, he shall surely endow her to be his wife. If her father utterly refuse to give her unto him, he shall pay money according to the dowry of virgins.” The sex act obligates them to marry, although the parents may prevent the girl from living with the guy in some cases. This is clearly in line with I Corinthians 6:16. "What? know ye not that he which is joined to an harlot is one body? for two, saith he, shall be one flesh.” The sex act joins them. Failure to go ahead and marry is deliberate disobedience, yet many churches forbid such marriages or condone such sexual activity.

The second area Jezebel type teachers are described as encouraging sin is that of eating food offered to idols. Paul deals with the specifics in I Corinthians 8-10. As believers we recognize there is only one God, and any food comes from him. It is thus acceptable for us to eat the food. However it is sin to eat it in the attitude of worship to the God it was offered to. Some will not distinguish the eating from the worship and sin by their eating.

“As concerning therefore the eating of those things that are offered in sacrifice unto idols, we know that an idol is nothing in the world, and that there is none other God but one. For though there be that are called gods, whether in heaven or in earth, (as there be gods many, and lords many,) But to us there is but one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we in him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by him. Howbeit there is not in every man that knowledge: for some with conscience of the idol unto this hour eat it as a thing offered unto an idol; and their conscience being weak is defiled.” (I Corinthians 8:4-7)

False religions are Satanic in origin, and to participate in their worship is to worship Satan. As Christians, we are not to mock God by participating in Satanic activity. To participate in false religions implies that God is neither the almighty, nor the only God. I Corinthians 10:20-22 warns not to get involved. “But I say, that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice, they sacrifice to devils, and not to God: and I would not that ye should have fellowship with devils. Ye cannot drink the cup of the Lord, and the cup of devils: ye cannot be partakers of the Lord's table, and of the table of devils. Do we provoke the Lord to jealousy? are we stronger than he?”

Jezebel type teachers have no care for God, and thus can teach anything they choose. Balaam types, believing in God, must find some pretext to believe their actions are of God. Both are dangerous, but Jezebel is in open rebellion. Those who go along with and permit her teachings will suffer God’s judgment, and those who believe like her will suffer damnation.

“And I gave her space to repent of her fornication; and she repented not. Behold, I will cast her into a bed, and them that commit adultery with her into great tribulation, except they repent of their deeds. 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.” (Revelation 2:21-23)

The judgment on Jezebel will make the other churches know that Christ cannot be deceived, and that every person will be rewarded or punished for his own actions. Those who have not accepted the false doctrine in the Church, but continue in their faith will not be punished for the actions of the leaders, but those who have gone along will.

“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. But that which ye have already hold fast till I come.” (Revelation 2:24-25)

Those who have been faithful, serving Christ to the end will live and reign with Christ. We may never have much power on earth, but it will be ours for eternity. Those who turn their backs on Christ along the way were never part, according to I John 2:19. “They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us: but they went out, that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us.”

“And he that overcometh, and keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations: 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. And I will give him the morning star.” (Revelation 2:26-28)

“To emphasize the importance of these messages to the churches, for the fourth time Christ closes the message with the following words. “He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.” (Revelation 2:29)