Jesus’ Group Text: Thyatira (Corruption)

We are on our 4^th church addressed in the letter John wrote on behalf of Jesus.

We’ve looked at the church at Ephesus – the careless church because they had been careless with their first love for Jesus.

Then we discussed Smyrna – the crowned church. This was a church whose people were persecuted and suffered because of their steadfast faith.

Last week the church at Pergamos was highlighted. They are known as the compromising church because they welcomed various beliefs and doctrines into their fold. Although they had remained faithful to God, they allowed infiltrations of paganism.

Today, we are at the church at Thyatira – the corrupted church.

This is the smallest of the churches and cities, and yet, this is the longest message.

We are first introduced to Thyatira in Acts, specifically, a woman who came from Thyatira.

Acts 16:12 NIV “12 From there we traveled to Philippi, a Roman colony and the leading city of that district of Macedonia. And we stayed there several days.

13 On the Sabbath we went outside the city gate to the river, where we expected to find a place of prayer. We sat down and began to speak to the women who had gathered there.

14 One of those listening was a woman from the city of Thyatira named Lydia, a dealer in purple cloth. She was a worshiper of God. The Lord opened her heart to respond to Paul’s message.

15 When she and the members of her household were baptized, she invited us to her home. “If you consider me a believer in the Lord,” she said, “come and stay at my house.” And she persuaded us.”

Lydia is considered to be the first convert to Christianity. “Several Christian denominations have sanctioned her as a saint. She is regularly known as “St. Lydia” or simply “The Woman of Purple.” [i]

Lydia was known as a dealer in purple cloth which isn’t surprising seeing as Thyatira was known for being a “commercial center with many trade guilds”.[ii] It was a prosperous city made up of cloth dyers such as Lydia, as well as potters, tanners, and bronze workers. The name Thyatira means “sacrifice”.[iii]

Here is Jesus’ message:

Revelation 2:14 NIV v¹⁸“To the angel of the church in Thyatira write:

These are the words of the Son of God, whose eyes are like blazing fire and whose feet are like burnished bronze. ¹⁹I know your deeds, your love and faith, your service and perseverance, and that you are now doing more than you did at first.”

Jesus identifies Himself as the Son of God whose eyes are like blazing fire and whose feet are like burnished bronze. Look back to Revelation 1:13. John describes Jesus as who? “Someone like a son of man.” (This is the only time this phrase is used in the book of Revelation, by the way.) This is the first time that John is seeing His friend, Jesus, since He ascended to Heaven. John knew Jesus as a man but now John is seeing Jesus in a whole new light. In fact, look at Revelation 1:17. What is John’s reaction to seeing Jesus as the risen Savior? He falls like a dead man at His feet. John recognizes that there has been a significant change.

To the church at Thyatira, Jesus identifies as the Son of God rather than the Son of man. So, what’s the difference? Jesus, Son of Man, refers to His humanity and His role as Messiah. This is how John first sees Jesus in this vision. But Jesus now identifies Himself as the Son of God, referring to His deity and His authority to judge.

As we’ve discussed, Jesus identifies Himself to each church as someone or something unique and significant for that particular church. The city of Thyatira had a prominent temple dedicated to Apollo, their predominantly worshipped god, who was known as the sun god. So it’s no coincidence that Jesus proclaims Himself to be the true Son.

What were the good things Jesus had to say to the people of this congregation?

He knows their deeds, their love, their faith, service, and perseverance. He also states that they are doing more now than they did in the beginning. It’s safe to say that the members were active. “They were involved in sacrificial ministry for the sake of others. What’s more, their works were increasing and characterized by faith, love, and patience, so the church was not guilty of mere ‘religious activity.’.”ⁱⁱ

The other way Jesus describes Himself as One whose eyes are like blazing fire and whose feet are like burnished bronze. “Joseph A. Seiss said: ‘There is nothing more piercing than flaming fire. Everything yields and melts before it. It penetrates all things, consumes every opposition, sweeps down all obstructions, and presses its way with invincible power. And of this sort, are the eyes of Jesus. They look through everything; they pierce through all masks and coverings; they search the remotest recesses; they behold the most hidden things of the soul; and there is no escape from them.”[iv]

In other words, nothing is hidden from Jesus. Our thoughts, our desires, our intentions, and our motives – all completely exposed and known to Him. That’s worrisome, isn’t it?

The other characteristic is the feet like burnished bronze. We talked about this in Revelation 1 as bronze is a symbol of judgment. Sacrificial altars were made of bronze. Jesus is saying that He knows all things and He has the authority to judge. “Sin must be judged. God can never remain silent and inactive where sin is present.”^iv

With eyes like blazing fire and feet like burnished bronze, Jesus points out what He finds displeasing.

“Sin must be judged. God can never remain silent and inactive where sin is present.”
Lehmann strauss

²⁰Nevertheless, I have this against you: You tolerate that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophet. By her teaching she misleads my servants into sexual immorality and the eating of food sacrificed to idols. ²¹I have given her time to repent of her immorality, but she is unwilling. ²²So I will cast her on a bed of suffering, and I will make those who commit adultery with her suffer intensely, unless they repent of her ways. ²³I will strike her children dead. Then all the churches will know that I am he who searches hearts and minds, and I will repay each of you according to your deeds.” (Revelation 2)

Look back at the church at Ephesus, specifically Revelation 2:6. “But you have this in your favor: You hate the practices of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate.” Nicolaitans had promoted sexual immorality and the eating of sacrificial food. The church at Ephesus didn’t tolerate this. But what had the people there lost? Look at Revelation 2:4. “^“But I have this complaint against you. You don’t love me or each other as you did at first.” Ephesus didn’t tolerate evil influences which was good; but they had lost their passion for Jesus and each other, which was bad.

The scales tipped the other way for the church at Thyatira. They had grown in love, faith, and works which was good; but they were permitting a false prophet to influence them.

When you think about churches and even people today, we still see that imbalance.

Some are “doctrinal perfectionists”^vi who lack grace and love only like-minded people. The Word of God is preached from the pulpit, but the love of God isn’t practiced. I know of a church not too far from here who have humiliated and condemned female members for wearing pants- not to a church service, but just to pick up their child. It’s a Baptist church, by the way.

Another local church was given this review on Yelp. “I notified this church that a member of their congregation was in ICU and was told last weekend that the Pastor would be in contact. No word. Another family member called the church twice and was told someone will contact us. Again, no word.
Our beloved brother passed away last Saturday after 6 days in ICU without so much as a callback or word from his Pastor at [redacted] where he loved hearing the word of God.
He was quiet and kept to himself quite a bit, but to not be acknowledged by his church in Christian love is appalling, hurtful and ungodly.
So I offer caution. This is a fake church who does not believe in the basic tenets of Christianity. Pray for the lost souls there but save your own by attending elsewhere.
Shame on y’all.” One of those churches is located in Stockbridge, the other in McDonough.

Other churches swing in the opposite direction. They love freely and accept all beliefs and doctrines regardless of what God’s Word says. This is an excerpt from a church in Atlanta that identifies as a Baptist Church. “There are no tricks, no half-measures, no false promises, no crossed fingers when it comes to our welcome, affirmation, and celebration of LGBTQ+ people. God is love is love, however and whoever expresses it.” Underneath there is a heading titled “Bible Criticism” and this is what they say about God’s Word.

“Most churches believe in and require strict interpretations of Biblical authority. We prefer the term and the practice of Bible Criticism because if the Bible is to be taken seriously it should be examined critically. We relate to the Bible as we would relate to ourselves, to our neighbors, and to God. We dialogue with the Bible; we uphold it as central, not sovereign; we do not idolize or worship the Bible. Aspects of the Bible that promote Greatest Commandment ideals are embraced at TFC. Aspects of the Bible that clearly contradict Greatest Commandment ideals are unapologetically rejected.”[v]

That shook me. How should we, as Christians, respond to the blatant butchery of God’s Word by others proclaiming to be Christians? How do we react to the decline of faithfulness to God’s Word?

These are modern-day churches in our own neighborhoods that represent the church at Ephesus and the church at Thyatira. The Bible tells us to love everyone, even our enemies, but it also warns us that righteousness has no fellowship or partnership with lawlessness or unrighteousness. (2 Corinthians 6:14) Finding that balance isn’t easy and only through God’s grace, the love of Jesus, and discernment of the Holy Spirit can we achieve that.

Now we can’t ignore this reference to Jezebel. Who was Jezebel in the Old Testament? She was the wife of King Ahab and as the queen, she was influential in promoting the worshipping of Baal and Asherah. She persecuted God’s prophets and did her best to silence those who opposed her. You may recall that Queen Jezebel was killed by an enemy who had her thrown from a window. As if that wasn’t brutal enough, her body became puppy chow to the point that there was little to nothing left to bury.

So, obviously, this isn’t the same Jezebel. Who is she? Here are a few theories. One is that there was a prophetess who was very much like Jezebel from the Old Testament. She was influential and encouraged people to compromise their faith, beliefs, and morals. While it’s unlikely that this prophetess was actually named Jezebel because the name itself has such negative connotations, there still remains a slight possibility that that was her actual name. It’s more likely that this was a woman who shared many of the same characteristics as the original Jezebel rather than sharing the same name.

Another thought is that the reference to Jezebel wasn’t specifying an actual person, but rather, a “form of false doctrine personified.”[vi]

A third and quite interesting conjecture is that “The Jezebel of the Old Testament had been dead for almost a millennium, but the demon that had possessed her was now controlling another woman of the same name in order to corrupt the church at Thyatira with ethical and doctrinal errors.”^iv

Some subscribe to a belief in something known as the Jezebel Spirit. It’s defined as “A disposition, or demonic influence, that causes to create rifts in the church and in marriages through cunning, deception, and seduction.”[vii] Basically, a destructive troublemaker. Let’s be candid. We all know at least one person like this. One who loves trouble and doesn’t hesitate to stir up more trouble if life gets too boring for them.

Notice that Revelation 2:20 identifies a couple of things this woman did. First, she calls herself a prophetess. She’s self-proclaimed. Secondly, she teaches to mislead and seduce followers of Jesus. She’s self-promoting. We have to be careful and wary of self-proclaiming and self-promoting people because often, they want to be the object of praise rather than focusing on Jesus.

The congregation at Thyatira was so kind and welcoming that they tolerated even Jezebel. She most likely had morsels of truth in what she taught – just enough to make herself believable and credible. But that’s where compromising and corruption begin, isn’t it?

One of the most remarkable things that jumps out is Revelation 2:21 CEV “I gave her a chance to turn from her sins, but she did not want to stop doing these immoral things.”

The destructive troublemaker who was self-proclaiming and self-promoting was shown mercy and given an opportunity to change her life. The one who was misleading others and corrupting the church experienced God’s patience. Doesn’t that demonstrate to us the love He has for us?

However, New Testament Jezebel wasn’t interested. The consequences are given in Revelation 2:22 “Therefore, I will throw her on a bed of suffering.”

Interestingly, Jezebel was promoting sexual immorality. Sexual immorality often involves a bed. “The spot of the sin shall be the scene of punishment.”[viii] That same threat was given to the followers of Jezebel who also refused to repent. “Jezebel and her children (followers) would be sentenced to tribulation and death! Idolatry and compromise are, in the Bible, pictured as fornication and unfaithfulness to the marriage vows.”¹¹

Jesus recognizes that not everyone has subscribed to Jezebel’s teachings and for those He offers hope.

“²⁴Now I say to the rest of you in Thyatira, to you who do not hold to her teaching and have not learned Satan’s so-called deep secrets, ‘I will not impose any other burden on you, ²⁵except to hold on to what you have until I come.’

²⁶To the one who is victorious and does my will to the end, I will give authority over the nations— ²⁷that one ‘will rule them with an iron scepter and will dash them to pieces like pottery’^[^b^]—just as I have received authority from my Father. ²⁸I will also give that one the morning star. ²⁹Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches.” (Revelation 2:18 NIV)

Some had not joined in and did not tolerate the teachings of Jezebel. They had set themselves apart from the distorted doctrine that was being taught. Jesus tells them to continue resisting the evil that was around them. Don’t give in. Don’t compromise. Don’t be corrupted. And for the first time in Revelation, the rapture is mentioned. Jesus tells them to “hold on…until I come.”

For those who are faithful and victorious to the end, a promise is given. “I will give authority over the nations”. This more than likely indicates that we will live and reign with Christ during the thousand-year period following His second coming. But we’re given more than just authority.

Revelation 2:26 CEV “²⁶ I will give power over the nations to everyone who wins the victory and keeps on obeying me until the end. ^27-28I will give each of them the same power my Father has given me. They will rule the nations with an iron rod and smash those nations to pieces like clay pots.”

Listen to King David’s words in Psalm 2.

“⁷I will proclaim the Lord’s decree:

He said to me, “You are my son;
    today I have become your father.
⁸Ask me,
    and I will make the nations your inheritance,
    the ends of the earth your possession.
⁹You will break them with a rod of iron^[^b^];
    you will dash them to pieces like pottery.” (Psalm 2:7 CEV )

Very similar wording and the wording seems to indicate harshness. We have the words “rule, iron rod, smash, pieces, possession, break, dash.” However, this is a promise of hope, not a promise of violence. The original word for “rule or possession” actually meant “shepherd”. Adding credence to this is the reference to a rod, as in a shepherd’s rod or staff. But notice that the rod is made of iron. In the Bible, iron usually symbolizes strength and endurance.[ix]

Jeremiah 1:18 NIV “Today I have made you a fortified city, an iron pillar and a bronze wall to stand against the whole land—against the kings of Judah, its officials, its priests and the people of the land.” Deuteronomy 33:25 ESV “Your bars shall be iron and bronze, and as your days, so shall your strength be.”

So the authority given by Jesus uses a shepherd’s rod made of iron that will not be bent, and will not be compromised. The pottery or clay pots represent those leaders or rulers of nations who don’t willingly submit to Jesus’ authority. A clay piece of pottery is no match for an iron rod. Furthermore, iron and clay don’t mix or compromise with each other. The prophecy given to Daniel very much mirrors the prophecy given to John. In Daniel 2:43 ESV “As you saw the iron mixed with soft clay, so they will mix with one another in marriage, but they will not hold together, just as iron does not mix with clay.”

The final promise to those who hold firm to Jesus is that they will be given the morning star. There are a few theories about the meaning of the morning star, although one seems to be more prevalent than the others.

The first theory is that it means to receive “a promise of the glorious future, an affirmation of great good yet to come.” “In short, to anyone with the ultimate faithfulness and perseverance of the overcomer Jesus promises to give a glorious future. They will share it with and in Christ Himself.”[x]

That theory does fit the narrative.

The second theory comes from Isaiah 14:12 CSB “Shining morning star, how you have fallen from the heavens! You destroyer of nations, you have been cut down to the ground.”

In this verse, morning star refers to Lucifer and the idea is that the promise in Revelation 2 means that we would share with Jesus the authority over Satan, death, and darkness.

The third theory comes from 2 Peter 1:19 CSB “We also have the prophetic word strongly confirmed, and you will do well to pay attention to it, as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts” as well as Revelation 22:16 CSB “I, Jesus, have sent my angel to attest these things to you for the churches. I am the Root and descendant of David, the bright morning star.” This clearly defines Jesus as the morning star.

It’s troubling and confusing to think that the term morning star is used to describe both Lucifer and Jesus. Here’s an explanation for that. “In ancient times the idea of a morning star was one of a bright star that outshines others. In Isaiah, the poetic structure of chapter 14 uses the phrase to describe the greatness of Satan prior to his fall in contrast with his evil in rebelling against the Lord.

With Jesus, the concept of the morning star is used to also note His greatness. This is clear from the other title used of Him in the same verse, “the root and descendant of David.” Of great importance is the fact that Jesus is noted as the bright morning star.”[xi] This one word clearly sets Jesus apart from any others.

To add some credibility to the theory that Revelation 2:28 is referring to Jesus, I went back and researched the original Greek language. In Isaiah 14:12, morning star used to describe Lucifer was originally “phosphoros”. In Revelation 22:16 where Jesus calls Himself the morning star, the Greek phrase is “proinos aster”. In Revelation 2:28 from our scripture today, the Greek phrase is “proinos aster”, indicating that the morning star refers to Jesus.

phosphoros vs. proinos aster

In closing, the church at Thyatira was active, they were loving, and they were doing a lot of things right. But morally, they were weak. How do we keep ourselves and our church from tolerating evil?

This is what Paul says in 1 Corinthians 5:9 ERV. “I wrote to you in my letter that you should not associate with people who sin sexually. ¹⁰But I did not mean the people of this world. You would have to leave the world to get away from all the people who sin sexually, or who are greedy and cheat each other, or who worship idols. ¹¹I meant you must not associate with people who claim to be believers but continue to live in sin. Don’t even eat with a brother or sister who sins sexually, is greedy, worships idols, abuses others with insults, gets drunk, or cheats people.

^12-13It is not my business to judge those who are not part of the group of believers. God will judge them, but you must judge those who are part of your group. The Scriptures say, “Make the evil person leave your group.”