Introduction – Last time we covered the material in the letter to the church at Pergamos.

· The next letter in our series is to the congregation in Thyatira.

· As we will see, their problems were similar to those in Pergamos but with a different form of pressure. Revelation:2:18-29 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 27 'He shall rule them with a rod of iron; They shall be dashed to pieces like the potter's vessels' as I also have received from My Father; 28 "and I will give him the morning star. 29 "He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches." ' “Thyatira was a great commercial centre, specially of the dyeing industry and of the trade in woolen goods. It was from Thyatira that Lydia, the seller of purple, came (Ac.16:14).

From inscriptions discovered we learn that it had an extraordinary number of trade guilds. These were associations for mutual profit and pleasure of people employed in certain trades. There were guilds of workers in wool, leather, linen and bronze, makers of outer garments, dyers, potters, bakers and slave-dealers…. To refuse to join one of these guilds would be much the same as to refuse to join a trade union today. It would mean to give up all prospect of commercial existence. Why should a Christian not join one of these guilds? They held common meals. These would very often be held in a temple and even if not, they would begin and end with a formal sacrifice to the gods, and the meat eaten would be meat which had already been offered to idols. Further, it often happened that these communal meals were occasions of drunken revelry and slack morality. Was it possible for a Christian to be part of such occasions? Here was the problem at Thyatira; the threat came from inside the Church. There was a strong movement, led by the woman addressed as Jezebel, which pled for compromise with the world's standards in the interests of business and commercial prosperity, maintaining, no doubt, that the Holy Spirit could preserve them from any harm. The answer of the Risen Christ is unequivocal. With such things the Christian must have nothing to do” (The Daily Study Bible by Barclay).

“It seems that we have here the same kind of problem as that with which Paul deals in 1 Corinthians 8, though the pressure on the Thyatiran Christians to conform would have been greater. The powerful trade guilds in this city would have made it very difficult for any Christian to earn a living without belonging to a guild. …If he did not conform he was out of a job. Jezebel apparently reasoned that an idol was of no consequence (cf. 1 Cor:8:4As 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.), and advised Christians to eat such meals. … some Christians would welcome a heresy of this kind. It enabled them to maintain a Christian profession while countenancing and even engaging in immoral heathen revels. That Jezebel was a prophetess gave their course some standing” (Tyndale Commentary). NKJ 1 Corinthians:8:4As 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. ¶ Therefore concerning the eating of things offered to idols, we know that an idol is nothing in the world, and that there is no other God but one. NLT 1 Corinthians:8:9But take heed lest by any means this liberty of your's become a stumbling block to them that are weak. But you must be careful so that your freedom does not cause others with a weaker conscience to stumble. 10 For if others see you -- with your "superior knowledge" -- eating in the temple of an idol, won't they be encouraged to violate their conscience by eating food that has been offered to an idol? 11 So because of your superior knowledge, a weak believer for whom Christ died will be destroyed.

NLT Romans:14:23 And he that doubteth is damned if he eat, because he eateth not of faith: for whatsoever is not of faith is sin. But if you have doubts about whether or not you should eat something, you are sinning if you go ahead and do it. For you are not following your convictions. If you do anything you believe is not right, you are sinning. NKJ 1 Corinthians:10:18-22[18]Behold Israel after the flesh: are not they which eat of the sacrifices partakers of the altar?[19]What say I then? that the idol is anything, or that which is offered in sacrifice to idols is anything?[20]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.[21]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.[22]Do we provoke the Lord to jealousy? are we stronger than he? 18 Observe Israel after the flesh: Are not those who eat of the sacrifices partakers of the altar? 19 What am I saying then? That an idol is anything, or what is offered to idols is anything? 20 Rather, that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice they sacrifice to demons and not to God, and I do not want you to have fellowship with demons. 21 You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons; you cannot partake of the Lord's table and of the table of demons. 22 Or do we provoke the Lord to jealousy? Are we stronger than He? · This church's main problem was in the person of prophetess "Jezebel." · This was probably not her real name, but the name Christ gave her to expose the nature of her deception · The congregation would have known who is being referred to.

1 Kings:16:29-33[29]And in the thirty and eighth year of Asa king of Judah began Ahab the son of Omri to reign over Israel: and Ahab the son of Omri reigned over Israel in Samaria twenty and two years.[30]And Ahab the son of Omri did evil in the sight of the LORD above all that were before him.[31]And it came to pass, as if it had been a light thing for him to walk in the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, that he took to wife Jezebel the daughter of Ethbaal king of the Zidonians, and went and served Baal, and worshipped him.[32]And he reared up an altar for Baal in the house of Baal, which he had built in Samaria.[33]And Ahab made a grove; and Ahab did more to provoke the LORD God of Israel to anger than all the kings of Israel that were before him. 29 ¶ In the thirty-eighth year of Asa king of Judah, Ahab the son of Omri became king over Israel; and Ahab the son of Omri reigned over Israel in Samaria twenty-two years. 30 Now Ahab the son of Omri did evil in the sight of the LORD, more than all who were before him. 31 And it came to pass, as though it had been a trivial thing for him to walk in the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, that he took as wife Jezebel the daughter of Ethbaal, king of the Sidonians; and he went and served Baal and worshiped him. 32 Then he set up an altar for Baal in the temple of Baal, which he had built in Samaria. 33 And Ahab made a wooden image. Ahab did more to provoke the LORD God of Israel to anger than all the kings of Israel who were before him. · Ahab, Jezebel's husband & king of Israel, meekly went along with his wife's sinful and idolatrous ways. · She promoted Ba'al worship in Israel, not instead of, but in addition to the worship of YHVH. · same concept as Gnosticism.

1 Kings:18:20-21[20]So Ahab sent unto all the children of Israel, and gathered the prophets together unto mount Carmel.[21]And Elijah came unto all the people, and said, How long halt ye between two opinions? if the LORD be God, follow him: but if Baal, then follow him. And the people answered him not a word. 20 ¶ So Ahab sent for all the children of Israel, and gathered the prophets together on Mount Carmel. 21 And Elijah came to all the people, and said, "How long will you falter between two opinions? If the LORD is God, follow Him; but if Baal, follow him." But the people answered him not a word. · Theme of compromise NLT Matthew:6:24No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon. ¶ "No one can serve two masters. For you will hate one and love the other; you will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money. Conclusions re. application to Thyatira church:

· "As this wicked and deceptive woman in the OT led Israel astray and persecuted the true prophets of God, so this woman at Thyatira was enticing the servants of God to abandon their exclusive loyalty to Christ." (The Expositors Bible Commentary, vol. 12, p 444)

· "Her teaching was undoubtedly similar to that of the Nicolaitans and Balaamites at Ephesus and Pergamum." (ibid)

· "All this must mean that Jezebel of Thyatira was an evil influence on the life and worship of the Christian Church. It must be clearly understood that she had no wish to destroy the Church; but she wished to bring into it new ways which were, in fact, destructive to the faith." (The Daily Study Bible by Barclay, page 106) Revelation:2:21 And I gave her time to repent of her sexual immorality, and she did not repent.

· Christ's main objection to her personally, even more than the evil she perpetrated, was her refusal to repent. · Although Christ has dealt with her over a period of time, she will not change her ways or her thinking. Revelation:2:22-23 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.

· Christ's main objection to her followers is also their reluctance to repent. NKJ Proverbs:29:1He, that being often reproved hardeneth his neck, shall suddenly be destroyed, and that without remedy. He who is often rebuked, and hardens his neck, Will suddenly be destroyed, and that without remedy.

· Christ's dealing with this heretical leader and her followers was to let them suffer the inevitable consequences of following their false teaching.

· Just as a person who practices sex outside marriage will ultimately contract a painful and perhaps fatal “socially transmitted” disease, so those who engage in spiritual adultery will suffer for their actions.

· Regarding sexual immorality or spiritual unfaithfulness, there can be no compromise! Revelation:2:24-25 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.

· “…the "deep secrets of Satan"(Revelation:2:18) is the actual phrase Jezebel used. But could she lure Christians by using such a term? The reasoning of some in the early church (the Nicolaitans) might have gone something like this: The only effective way to confront Satan was to enter into his strongholds; the real nature of sin could only be learned by experience, and therefore only those who had really experienced sin could truly appreciate grace. So by experiencing the depths of paganism ("the deep secrets of Satan"), one would better be equipped to serve Christ, or be an example of freedom to his brothers…. Thus the sin of Jezebel was deadly serious because of the depths of its deception. Only a few perceived where the teaching was leading” (The Expositor’s Bible Commentary).

· Apparently "only a small minority saw through her deception.

· Christ admonishes them to “hang in there”—remain steadfast without compromise.

· The rest either followed her or ignored her views without objecting to her presence in the church." (cp The Expositor's Bible Commentary, p 444) NLT Ephesians:5:6-13[6]Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience.[7]Be not ye therefore partakers with them.[8]For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light:[9](For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth;)[10]Proving what is acceptable unto the Lord.[11]And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them.[12]For it is a shame even to speak of those things which are done of them in secret.[13]But all things that are reproved are made manifest by the light: for whatsoever doth make manifest is light. 6 Don't be fooled by those who try to excuse these sins, for the anger of God will fall on all who disobey him. 7 Don't participate in the things these people do. 8 For once you were full of darkness, but now you have light from the Lord. So live as people of light! 9 For this light within you produces only what is good and right and true. 10 Carefully determine what pleases the Lord. 11 Take no part in the worthless deeds of evil and darkness; instead, expose them. 12 It is shameful even to talk about the things that ungodly people do in secret. 13 But their evil intentions will be exposed when the light shines on them...

· Is this why Jesus introduces himself to the church in Thyatira as “the Son of God, who has eyes like a flame of fire, and His feet like fine brass?” · “The description is taken from that of the angelic messenger in Dn.10:6: "His face was like the appearance of lightning, and his eyes like flaming torches, his arms and legs like the gleam of burnished bronze." The flaming eyes must stand for two things, blazing anger against sin and the awful penetration of that gaze which strips the disguises away and sees into a man's inmost heart. The brazen feet must stand for the immovable power of the Risen Christ” (The Daily Study Bible by Barclay).

· “immovable” = no compromise The main point is that not only must we forsake sin and evil, but also it should never be the focus of God’s people.

· Human nature tends to focus on negatives, so this is an area of vulnerability that we must be aware of and avoid. NKJ Romans:12:21Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good. Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. NLT Philippians:4:8Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. ¶ And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.

· Don’t get involved in lengthy studies about demons, the occult, paganism or other false doctrines.

· Don’t feel the need to read and disprove what detractors write or say about us.

· Spend your time studying and meditating on the truth of God. This principle of avoiding evil also applies to what we think about others.

· The tendency of human nature is to focus on negatives—qualities that we dislike about other people instead of their positive qualities.

· Instead of that negative approach, how about thinking about what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable about other people.

· Praise them instead of saying negative things about them. Revelation:2:26 "And he who overcomes, and keeps My works until the end, to him I will give power over the nations….”

· This would be encouraging to those who are holding fast without compromise, despite the pressures of the world around them—to know that their reward is to be given power over the nations instead of being powerless against the world.

· It should be encouraging to us as well. NLT John:16:33These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world. I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world." Revelation:2:28 and I will give him the morning star. NKJ 2 Peter:1:19We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts: And so we have the prophetic word confirmed, which you do well to heed as a light that shines in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts. NKJ Revelation:22:16 ¶ "I, Jesus, have sent My angel to testify to you these things in the churches. I am the Root and the Offspring of David, the Bright and Morning Star."

· Jesus Christ is the morning star.

· The promise of power over the nations will be given to God’s faithful when Jesus Christ, the morning star, returns to establish the kingdom of God on earth.

· In the meantime we must be lights to this darkened world by standing firm on our convictions without compromise. NLT Philippians:2:14Do all things without murmurings and disputings: ¶ Do everything without complaining and arguing, 15 so that no one can criticize you. Live clean, innocent lives as children of God, shining like bright lights in a world full of crooked and perverse people.

Conclusion – We should not minimize the importance of the question at issue, nor the difficulty some first-century Christians must have had in seeing the right course. Nor should we dismiss the problem as only of academic interest since it does not concern us. Every generation of Christians must face the question, ‘How far should I accept and adopt contemporary standards and practices?’ On the one hand, Christians must not deny the faith. On the other, they must not deny their membership of society. The cause of Christ is not served if Christians appear as a group of old-fashioned people always trying to retreat from the real world. Christians live in the same world as their neighbours and face the same problems. They must find Christian solutions. The prophetess and her followers had been so ready to conform to the practices of their heathen neighbours that they had lost sight of the essential Christian position. They had exalted expediency over principle. Had Christianity taken this way it must surely have become just another of the eastern cults which had their little day and perished. The risen Lord points to the very essence of Christian living when he urges high standards of moral conduct” (Tyndale Commentary). Revelation:2:29 “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.”