The Seven Churches of Asia Thyatira Revelation 2

The Seven Churches of Asia Thyatira Revelation 2: 18 -29 NT Church 2017 -18

Letters to the churches • 7 letters to 7 congregations – symbolic of the church as a whole. Common conditions found in every church • Thus we can ask, “How does this apply to us? Thyatira

Letters to the churches • The 7 Churches • Ephesus – Left their first love Smyrna – Persecuted (poor-rich) Thyatira – Compromise (tolerating) Pergamos – Corrupt (immorality) Sardis – Dead (or dying) Philadelphia – An open door Laodicea – lukewarm (rich-poor) Thyatira

The city of Thyatira • Located 40 miles east, southeast of Pergamos. • A small city and politically least important of the 7 cities. Main purpose was as an outpost for Pergamos in case of invasion • Known for its purple dye – Acts 16: 14 - Lydia Thyatira

The city of Thyatira • A city with many trade guilds – dyes, wool, leather, bronze, pottery, etc. • Idolatry – temples to Apollo, Artemis, Askeplios and a shrine to Sambethe – an oriental spiritual (Sybil) • Trade guilds had their patron gods to which one would need to pay tribute to work. Christians might suffer for refusing to participate. Thyatira

The Letter to Thyatira – 2: 18 -29 • Christ identified The Son of God 2: 18 Oft used description of Jesus Matthew 8: 29, 14: 33, John 20: 31 Thyatira Don Mc. Clain, w 65 stchurchofchrist. com

The Letter to Thyatira – 2: 18 -29 • Christ identified Eyes like flames of fire 2: 18, 1: 14 He sees all and pierces through with his eyes Proverbs 5: 21, 15: 3 Hebrews 4: 13 Thyatira Don Mc. Clain, w 65 stchurchofchrist. com

The Letter to Thyatira – 2: 18 -29 • Christ identified Feet of fine brass 2: 18, 1: 15 Firmly established and strength Thyatira Don Mc. Clain, w 65 stchurchofchrist. com

The Letter to Thyatira – 2: 18 -29 • Their strengths • “I know your works” • Your love – Christian love for one another and for the Lord. They cared • Your service – ministering. They were generous and helped each other and others Thyatira

The Letter to Thyatira – 2: 18 -29 • Their strengths • Faith – or faithfulness. They believed and trusted – Hebrews 11: 6 • Patience – longsuffering, steadfast endurance. The power to withstand hardships or stress • As for works, the last are more than the first - growing Thyatira

The Letter to Thyatira – 2: 18 -29 • Their Condemnations • You allow that woman Jezebel – wife of Ahab, a Sidonian who helped turn Israel to the Baals Persecuted God’s prophets including Elijah. Had Naboth murdered, etc. 1 Kings 21: 25 Thyatira

The Letter to Thyatira – 2: 18 -29 • Their Condemnations • Who calls herself a prophetess – She professed to be a prophet of God, yet she taught things clearly contradictory to His will 1 John 4: 1, cf. Deuteronomy 18: 22, 13: 1 -5 Thyatira

The Letter to Thyatira – 2: 18 -29 • Their Condemnations • To teach and seduce My servants to commit fornication and eat things offered to idols – possibly for the sake of maintaining their jobs or harmony within the community • And the congregation ALLOWED her to teach and seduce Thyatira

The Letter to Thyatira – 2: 18 -29 • Their Condemnations • I gave her time to repent – the Lord gives us time 2 Peter 3: 9 • But she had not! • There is a time for patience while we teach and try to correct someone in error. Give them adequate time! We are NOT God! • BUT this cannot be forever – Romans 16: 17, 2 Thessalonians 3: 6 Thyatira

The Letter to Thyatira – 2: 18 -29 • Their Condemnations • Judgment – I will cast her into a sickbed, and those who committed adultery with her…– UNLESS they repent of their deeds • All the churches shall know that I am He who searches the minds and hearts – you CANNOT deceive God, nor can you win an argument against Him! Thyatira

The Letter to Thyatira – 2: 18 -29 • Call to action • Repent! The call to change was clear – Luke 13: 3 & 5 • I will give to each one according to His works – we will all stand in judgment before Him – Romans 2: 6, 14: 10 -12 Thyatira

The Letter to Thyatira – 2: 18 -29 • Call to action • To the rest in Thyatira, as many as do not have this doctrine, who have not known the depths of Satan…I will put on you no other burden • His promise to protect those faithful to Him. 1 Corinthians 10: 12 Thyatira

The Letter to Thyatira – 2: 18 -29 • Call to action • NOTE: The depts of Satan – somehow related to the teachings and practices of “Jezebel”. This was the influence of Satan. • FOR those who advocate tolerance of error (to “just get along”, etc. ) I ask, Is it EVER acceptable to tolerate “the works of Satan”? 1 Peter 5: 8 -9, Ephesians 4: 27, 6: 11 Thyatira

The Letter to Thyatira – 2: 18 -29 • Call to action • Hold fast what you have till I come – don’t give up and don’t give in! Revelation 2: 10, 14: 13, Romans 2: 7 • He who overcomes • And keeps my word to the end. . . Hebrews 10: 38 -39, Luke 9: 62 Thyatira

The Letter to Thyatira – 2: 18 -29 • Promised reward • To him I will give the power over the nations – in the sense that our righteousness will judge the ungodly cf. Romans 1: 20 – without excuse • He shall rule them with a rod of iron – from Psalm 2: 8 -9 where God ultimately judges the ungodly Thyatira nations

The Letter to Thyatira – 2: 18 -29 • Promised reward • He will be given the morning star – a new beginning, cf. 2 Peter 3: 13 a reward greater than this life! • Revelation 22: 16, Jesus is the “bright and morning star” 1 Thessalonians 4: 17 • He who has an ear, let him hear… Thyatira

Does this apply to us? • A congregation that teaches fundamental truths (e. g. plan of salvation, What is the church? , proper worship, etc. ) A congregation filled with many good works • BUT they allow error (doctrinal and moral) to be taught and practiced Thyatira by some.

Does this apply to us? • Their faith is shallow! They compromise the truth in given areas – possibly for “the sake of unity” or “to get along”. • Worldliness around them has influenced and weakened them Thyatira

Does this apply to us? • Those who DO teach the “whole counsel of God” may remain silent and hope it goes away, OR they may be ignored • That RARELY happens! • The Bible is clear – we CANNOT tolerate such! Ephesians 5: 11, 2 John 9 -11, etc. Thyatira

Does this apply to us? • NOTE: In this congregation are faithful brethren. • This is a challenge to understand takes wisdom to apply! • On the day of judgment, we will stand as individuals. Does this mean it doesn’t matter what a church teaches and does? • Absolutely NOT! Thyatira

Does this apply to us? • Concerning the faithful in this situation: • What are they doing to remedy and resist the unsound teaching? • How much time do we take to try and keep the church pure? • As long as there is hope? • Realize that we are IS important! • At some point, an unpleasant decision Thyatira needs to be made

Are we like the church at Thyatira?