The Church at Thyatira
Thyatira was the least important of the seven cities. It never became a metropolis, nor was it honored as a city of the emperors. It was a rich and busy commercial city and was known as a center for manufacture and dyeing of woolen goods. Lydia was of Thyatira and was a dealer in such goods.
This letter to the church in Thyatira begins the second group of messages to the churches of Asia.
Group one:
1. The church of Ephesus - characterized by loyalty to Christ which was lacking in love.
2. The church of Smyrna - their loyalty was tested by fire.
3. The church of Pergamum - their loyalty was lacking in moral passion.
All three churches were true to the faith, and had not yielded to the assaults of evil.
In the case of the church of Thyatira, as of the churches in Sardis and Laodicea, the situation was far more serious. Here not a small minority was indifferent, but large numbers had actually yielded to the demoralizing influences of false teaching.
This could be why Christ characterized himself as, "the Son of God, whose eyes are like blazing fire and whose feet are like burnished bronze." [Revelation 1:15]
He is able to penetrate into the secrets of all hearts [Hebrews 4:12] and has the power to punish and subdue.
Revelation 2:18-29 (NIV)
18 “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. 19 I know your deeds, your love and faith, your service and perseverance, and that you are now doing more than you did at first.
20 Nevertheless, 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. 21 I have given her time to repent of her immorality, but she is unwilling. 22 So 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. 23 I 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.
24 Now 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, 25 except to hold on to what you have until I come.’
26 To the one who is victorious and does my will to the end, I will give authority over the nations— 27 that one ‘will rule them with an iron scepter and will dash them to pieces like pottery]—just as I have received authority from my Father. 28 I will also give that one the morning star. 29 Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches.
Our LORD begins with words of praise. He commends the church:
There is also a severe rebuke: The church was tolerating a woman named "Jezebel" and was showing sympathy for her and allowing her and her followers to remain in its midst un-rebuked and unopposed.
Her name reveals her character as that which was of the imperious and indomitable Phoenician princess who centuries before had married Ahab, king of Israel. She was a fanatical worshiper of Baal [master; lord], and had seduced the nation from loyalty to Jehovah to the practice of the impure rites of the heathen cult.
Who Was Jezebel?
Ancient Baal Worship
She is described as one "who calls herself a prophetess.” That is, she was claiming inspiration and was pretending to disclose divine mysteries. Her influence was most pernicious [evil]: "She teaches and seduces my servants to commit fornication, and to eat things sacrificed to idols."
Her conduct was not only flagrantly immoral; it was obstinate and defiant. It abused the divine patience and despised the divine warnings: " I have given her time to repent of her immorality, but she is unwilling."
Evidently this corrupt and corrupting leader was teaching, as profound mysteries, doctrines which were destructive of Christian faith and subversive of morality.
Yet not the whole church at Thyatira has been deceived by this Jezebel. They have not accepted "this teaching"; they have not been shown "the deep things of Satan" of which the followers of Jezebel boast.
They must hold fast the faith and the purity so far maintained until Christ appears.
The following is from the Commentary from the Bible Alliance on Revelation 2 in The Full Life Study Bible by Donald C Stamps, New International Version, 9/1/92, Life Publishers/Zondervan. Liberty was taken to copy, paraphrase, and reformat the information to make points and present the information in an understandable manner.
We must reject all who put their own words above Biblical revelation.
The following is from John Gill's Exposition on the Bible on Revelation 2:24 at (http://www.biblestudytools.com/commentaries/gills-exposition-of-the-bible/). Liberty was taken to copy, paraphrase, and reformat the information to make points and present the information in an understandable manner.
Revelation 2:24
24 Now 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.. [ New International Version]
24 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. [King James Version]
…and which have not known the depths of Satan, as they speak - that is, had not approved of the doctrines of antichrist, which though his followers called deep things and mysteries of their holy religion, such as transubstan- tiation [see definition below] yet, to speak in the language of the pure and faithful professors of the Gospel, they are no other than the depths of Satan, or doctrines of devils…
[Transubstantiation: 1The Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox doctrine that the bread and wine of Communion become, in substance, but not appearance, the body and blood of Jesus Christ at consecration. 2 The process by which one substance changes into another.]
The following is from Matthew Henry Concise Commentary on Revelation 2:18-29. Liberty was taken to copy, paraphrase, and reformat the information to make points and present the information in an understandable manner.:
Even when the Lord knows the works of his people to be wrought in love, faith, zeal, and patience; yet if his eyes, which are as a flame of fire, observe them committing or allowing what is evil, he will rebuke, correct, or punish them.
Here is praise of the ministry and people of Thyatira, by One who knew the principles from which they acted. They grew wiser and better. All Christians should earnestly desire that their last works may be their best works. Yet this church connived [to pretend not to know about or do nothing to stop a wrongful or illegal act, thus showing encouragement of or consent to the act] at some wicked seducers.
God is known by the judgments he executes; and by this upon seducers, he shows his certain knowledge of the hearts of men, of their principles, designs, frame, and temper. Encouragement is given to those who kept themselves pure and undefiled.
It is dangerous to despise the mystery of God, and as dangerous to receive the mysteries of Satan. Let us beware of the depths of Satan, of which those who know the least are the most happy.
How tender Christ is of his faithful servants! He lays nothing upon his servants but what is for their good. There is promise of an ample reward to the persevering, victorious believer; also knowledge and wisdom, suitable to their power and dominion. Christ brings day with him into the soul, the light of grace and of glory, in the presence and enjoyment of him their Lord and Savior.
After every victory let us follow up our advantage against the enemy, that we may overcome and keep the works of Christ to the end.
… They perish because they refused to love the truth…
II Thessalonians 2:10
Click to Go to The Church of Sardis
Click to Return to the Index
This letter to the church in Thyatira begins the second group of messages to the churches of Asia.
Group one:
1. The church of Ephesus - characterized by loyalty to Christ which was lacking in love.
2. The church of Smyrna - their loyalty was tested by fire.
3. The church of Pergamum - their loyalty was lacking in moral passion.
All three churches were true to the faith, and had not yielded to the assaults of evil.
In the case of the church of Thyatira, as of the churches in Sardis and Laodicea, the situation was far more serious. Here not a small minority was indifferent, but large numbers had actually yielded to the demoralizing influences of false teaching.
This could be why Christ characterized himself as, "the Son of God, whose eyes are like blazing fire and whose feet are like burnished bronze." [Revelation 1:15]
He is able to penetrate into the secrets of all hearts [Hebrews 4:12] and has the power to punish and subdue.
Revelation 2:18-29 (NIV)
18 “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. 19 I know your deeds, your love and faith, your service and perseverance, and that you are now doing more than you did at first.
20 Nevertheless, 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. 21 I have given her time to repent of her immorality, but she is unwilling. 22 So 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. 23 I 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.
24 Now 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, 25 except to hold on to what you have until I come.’
26 To the one who is victorious and does my will to the end, I will give authority over the nations— 27 that one ‘will rule them with an iron scepter and will dash them to pieces like pottery]—just as I have received authority from my Father. 28 I will also give that one the morning star. 29 Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches.
Our LORD begins with words of praise. He commends the church:
- for its charity and faith.
- for helpful service.
- for constant steadfastness.
- for an actual increase in these virtues.
- for a marked growth to spiritual life and attainment.
There is also a severe rebuke: The church was tolerating a woman named "Jezebel" and was showing sympathy for her and allowing her and her followers to remain in its midst un-rebuked and unopposed.
Her name reveals her character as that which was of the imperious and indomitable Phoenician princess who centuries before had married Ahab, king of Israel. She was a fanatical worshiper of Baal [master; lord], and had seduced the nation from loyalty to Jehovah to the practice of the impure rites of the heathen cult.
Who Was Jezebel?
Ancient Baal Worship
She is described as one "who calls herself a prophetess.” That is, she was claiming inspiration and was pretending to disclose divine mysteries. Her influence was most pernicious [evil]: "She teaches and seduces my servants to commit fornication, and to eat things sacrificed to idols."
Her conduct was not only flagrantly immoral; it was obstinate and defiant. It abused the divine patience and despised the divine warnings: " I have given her time to repent of her immorality, but she is unwilling."
Evidently this corrupt and corrupting leader was teaching, as profound mysteries, doctrines which were destructive of Christian faith and subversive of morality.
Yet not the whole church at Thyatira has been deceived by this Jezebel. They have not accepted "this teaching"; they have not been shown "the deep things of Satan" of which the followers of Jezebel boast.
They must hold fast the faith and the purity so far maintained until Christ appears.
The following is from the Commentary from the Bible Alliance on Revelation 2 in The Full Life Study Bible by Donald C Stamps, New International Version, 9/1/92, Life Publishers/Zondervan. Liberty was taken to copy, paraphrase, and reformat the information to make points and present the information in an understandable manner.
- Tendency to tolerate sin, unrighteousness or unbiblical teaching in its leaders. Some could accept false teachers because they claimed to speak for God and because they exhibited great charisma, success, and influence.
- Christ condemns this sin of tolerance.
We must reject all who put their own words above Biblical revelation.
The following is from John Gill's Exposition on the Bible on Revelation 2:24 at (http://www.biblestudytools.com/commentaries/gills-exposition-of-the-bible/). Liberty was taken to copy, paraphrase, and reformat the information to make points and present the information in an understandable manner.
Revelation 2:24
24 Now 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.. [ New International Version]
24 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. [King James Version]
…and which have not known the depths of Satan, as they speak - that is, had not approved of the doctrines of antichrist, which though his followers called deep things and mysteries of their holy religion, such as transubstan- tiation [see definition below] yet, to speak in the language of the pure and faithful professors of the Gospel, they are no other than the depths of Satan, or doctrines of devils…
[Transubstantiation: 1The Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox doctrine that the bread and wine of Communion become, in substance, but not appearance, the body and blood of Jesus Christ at consecration. 2 The process by which one substance changes into another.]
The following is from Matthew Henry Concise Commentary on Revelation 2:18-29. Liberty was taken to copy, paraphrase, and reformat the information to make points and present the information in an understandable manner.:
Even when the Lord knows the works of his people to be wrought in love, faith, zeal, and patience; yet if his eyes, which are as a flame of fire, observe them committing or allowing what is evil, he will rebuke, correct, or punish them.
Here is praise of the ministry and people of Thyatira, by One who knew the principles from which they acted. They grew wiser and better. All Christians should earnestly desire that their last works may be their best works. Yet this church connived [to pretend not to know about or do nothing to stop a wrongful or illegal act, thus showing encouragement of or consent to the act] at some wicked seducers.
God is known by the judgments he executes; and by this upon seducers, he shows his certain knowledge of the hearts of men, of their principles, designs, frame, and temper. Encouragement is given to those who kept themselves pure and undefiled.
It is dangerous to despise the mystery of God, and as dangerous to receive the mysteries of Satan. Let us beware of the depths of Satan, of which those who know the least are the most happy.
How tender Christ is of his faithful servants! He lays nothing upon his servants but what is for their good. There is promise of an ample reward to the persevering, victorious believer; also knowledge and wisdom, suitable to their power and dominion. Christ brings day with him into the soul, the light of grace and of glory, in the presence and enjoyment of him their Lord and Savior.
After every victory let us follow up our advantage against the enemy, that we may overcome and keep the works of Christ to the end.
… They perish because they refused to love the truth…
II Thessalonians 2:10
Click to Go to The Church of Sardis
Click to Return to the Index
