Letters to the Seven Churches in Asia REVELATION

Letters to the Seven Churches in Asia REVELATION 2 – 3

Review Foundation – The Biblical Church ◦ Keep the unity of the Faith Ephesus ◦ Diligently working church, evangelism, must have love Smyrna ◦ Be faithful until death, live for Christ, Paul’s thoughts on our rights Pergamos ◦ Be on guard to not let the way of the world seep into our worship to God

The Letter to Thyatira REVELATION 2: 18 – 29 3

Consider the description of Jesus in Rev 2: 18. Do you see any connection with this description and the church at Thyatira? Who has eyes like a flame of fire, and His feet like fine brass He sees the truth of what Jezebel teaches and will punish her, her children, and all those who commit adultery with her 4

Who do we read about in Acts that is from Thyatira? Lydia ◦ Acts 16: 14 -15 ◦ Heard Paul speak outside of Philippi ◦ Her whole household was baptized Immediately after this, we read of the Philippian Jailer 5

What is positively called out for the church at Thyatira? Verse 19: Works ◦ Love, service, faith, and patience Notice that Jesus says “I know your works…” to all the churches ◦ So far, the initial association with works has been positive (as is the case with Thyatira) ◦ In the Sardis letter we will see an initial negative association to their works Jesus knows the works of all the churches ◦ It is important that the church is doing good works ◦ Example in Thyatira: Love, service, faith, and patience ◦ Works are things that can be seen ◦ Must show love, service, faith, patience by actions 6

What is positively called out for the church at Thyatira? What does it mean when it says service? Is this an example of the church taking care of the worldly needs of the poor in the community? ◦ Ministry ◦ ◦ Doesn’t specify how the word is being used Must be in agreement with the rest of the scriptures Either the ministry of the word Or the ministering to the needs of the poor saints 7

What does the last is more than the first mean in regards to their works? Their works (love, service, faith, patience) are in greater quantity or quality now than they had previously been They continued to grow in their service to God ◦ II Peter 3: 18 – Grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord… ◦ Hebrews 5: 12 -6: 1 – move beyond the elementary teachings about Christ ◦ I Peter 2: 2 -3 – desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby ◦ I Corinthians 15: 58 – abounding in the work of the Lord ◦ Philippians 1: 9 – that your love may abound still more and more in knowledge and discernment ◦ I Thessalonians 3: 12 – may the Lord make you increase and abound in love to one another and to all 8

What does Jesus have against the church at Thyatira? Vs. 20: They allow Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess, to teach and beguile His servants ◦ To commit sexual immorality To eat things sacrificed to idols ◦ Same problems as those in Pergamos ◦ 9

This is the second church to be condemned for sexual immorality and eating foods sacrificed to idols. What’s going on? Isn’t it true that food sacrificed to idols means nothing (I Cor 8: 4)? First problem: I Cor 8: 1 -13 ◦ I Cor 8: 7 – not everyone has the knowledge and can be emboldened to eat meat sacrificed to idols and violate their conscience (vs. 10) Second Problem: I Cor 10: 14 -33 ◦ Vs. 21 – cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons ◦ Our worship to God cannot be associated with anything to do with demons or false gods ◦ Vs. 27 -29 – for the sake of the non-believer’s conscience, don’t give the appearance that idol worship is fine 10

What did Jesus allow for Jezebel? What was He going to do after that? Rev 2: 21 – Jesus gave her time to repent, but she did not ◦ II Pet 3: 9 – not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance ◦ Rom 2: 3 -9 – His goodness, forbearance, and longsuffering…who render to each one according to his deeds Vs. 22 -23 cast her into a sickbed, kill her children with death ◦ Cast those who commit adultery with her into great tribulation, unless they repent Vs. 23 all the churches will know that Jesus is He who searches the minds and hearts ◦ This will be an example to all the churches as the example of Ananias and Saphira caused fear to come upon all the church and all who heard about it (Acts 5: 11) 11

What is the direction to those who don’t follow Jezebel? Vs. 24 -25 To those who do not have this doctrine, He puts no other burden on them Jesus calls out that He has a few things against the church (Jezebel and her followers) However, to the others, He puts no other burden on them It appear that there were those who did not have this doctrine and were possibly unable to cleanse Jezebel out from the church ◦ These people were pleasing to God Jesus required nothing else from them Jesus was going to cleanse the church of Jezebel and her followers ◦ Possibly, those with the power to stop her fell under her influence ◦ Jesus Himself was going to cleanse the church ◦ Possibly for the sake of the ones pleasing to Him ◦ He could have removed their lampstand as He says to the church in Ephesus ◦ This was going to be an example for all the other churches 12

How do we practically apply the Thyatira letter to make sure the church at Northside is pleasing to God? If Jesus wrote the church at Northside a letter, when He says “I know your works…”, what would follow? ◦ Would love, service, faith, and patience follow? Must be growing ◦ Can you teach someone the Gospel without notes (using just your Bible); what does it mean to teach someone the Gospel ◦ Can you explain how faith and works go together how does Ephesians 2: 8 -9 fit/agree with James 2: 24 -26 ◦ Can you tell describe the main points or theme of the New Testament epistles? ◦ When was the last time you opened your Bible other than on Sunday morning or Wednesday night ◦ Have you ever used a Bible tool to try and get a better understanding (concordance, commentary, etc. )

How do we practically apply the Thyatira letter to make sure the church at Northside is pleasing to God? Appearances to those around us are important ◦ Because of our declaration to be Christians, the world will hold us to a higher standard and use any mistake as a reason not to follow Jesus ◦ Remember I Cor 10: 27 -28 ◦ Don’t eat for the sake of the unbeliever’s conscience As in the Pergamos letter, we cannot let the influences of the world around us taint the way we worship God