Revelation 2, Part Three

The church in Thyatira (vs. 18-29)—Thyatira was on the border of the regions of Lydia and Mysia. It exists today under the name of Ak-hissar, or “white castle.” Lydia, the seller of purple (Acts 16:14), was from Thyatira and was converted by Paul and Silas when they were in Philippi. So it’s possible the church in Thyatira got its beginning from that source. It was famous in ancient times for its dyes, and it still is.

The author (v. 18)—“the Son of God, who has eyes like a flame of fire, and His feet like fine brass.” He sees all and has the power to crush all opposition.,

The good (vs. 19, 24, 25)—They had some good works, love, service, faith, and patience, and “as for your works, the last are more than the first” (v. 19). There were some serious problems in the church, as we shall see, but there were those who did not give in (v. 24). It must have been a severe disturbance, because Jesus told the faithful group, “I will put on you no other burden” (v. 24). And He also tells them “but hold fast what you have till I come” (v. 25). The “but” there might imply a weakening that could lead to succumbing to the error in the church.

The bad (vs. 20-23)—There was apparently a very powerful, influential woman in the church at Thyatira who was seducing many of the members to sin. Jesus calls her “Jezebel,” which was almost assuredly not her true name, but a reference to Ahab’s wife in the Old Testament, the woman who might have been the most wicked to ever plague Israel. So calling her by that name indicates serious iniquity. She “calls herself a prophetess,” and obviously many of the members in Thyatira believed her. But her “prophesy” was ”to teach and seduce My servants to commit sexual immorality and eat things sacrificed to idols” (v. 20). And this is probably literal, not figurative. Jesus gave her time to repent, but she failed to do so (v. 22). She and her followers would suffer “great tribulation” unless they repented (v. 22). Jesus also says “I will kill her children with death” (v. 23). There will be nothing left of her and her spiritual offspring. It will be a lesson to “all the churches,” who need to know that the Lord “searches the minds and hearts.” Nothing is hidden from Him, “and I will give to each one of you according to your works” (v. 23).

The blessing (vs. 26-28)—To the one who overcomes “I will give power over the nations—he shall rule with a rod of iron” (vs. 26-27). Victory in the end. “And I will give him the morning star” (v. 28)—an inheritance in the brightest and most glorious empire ever. The blessings keep adding up for “him who overcomes.”