Issue 820 – Jezebel – Seven Churches Part 8 – August 8, 2022
Today we look at Thyatira as we move back to the Seven Churches of Revelation.
Thyatira (modern day Akhisar (white castle) Turkiye) was the fourth of the seven cities to receive their report card from Jesus in the form of the letter sent by the Apostle John from his place of exile on Patmos.
Unlike the extensive ruins of some other churches, Thyatira’s ruins are very small. The stone has long since been carted away and repurposed likely many times.
There is a small amount of commendation in the letter, but there is much more correction and very strong warnings about the wrath of God.
“And to the angel of the church in Thyatira write: ‘The words of the Son of God, who has eyes like a flame of fire, and whose feet are like burnished bronze. “‘I know your works, your love and faith and service and patient endurance, and that your latter works exceed the first. But I have this against you, that you tolerate that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess and is teaching and seducing my servants to practice sexual immorality and to eat food sacrificed to idols. I gave her time to repent, but she refuses to repent of her sexual immorality. Behold, I will throw her onto a sickbed, and those who commit adultery with her I will throw into great tribulation, unless they repent of her works, and I will strike her children dead. And all the churches will know that I am he who searches mind and heart, and I will give to each of you according to your works. But to the rest of you in Thyatira, who do not hold this teaching, who have not learned what some call the deep things of Satan, to you I say, I do not lay on you any other burden. Only hold fast what you have until I come. The one who conquers and who keeps my works until the end, to him I will give authority over the nations, and he will rule them with a rod of iron, as when earthen pots are broken in pieces, even as I myself have received authority from my Father. And I will give him the morning star. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’ Revelation 2:18-29
The Lord opens the letter with words of commendation, “‘I know your works, your love and faith and service and patient endurance, and that your latter works exceed the first.” He closes it with words of encouragement for the faithful, “The one who conquers and who keeps my works until the end, to him I will give authority over the nations, and he will rule them with a rod of iron, as when earthen pots are broken in pieces, even as I myself have received authority from my Father.”
The bulk of the letter condemns those versed in “the deep things of Satan.” We don’t know what those deep things are; the Greek suggests mysteries. We don’t need to know. Certainly, it includes the sexual immorality and evil of the teachings of “this Jezebel.” We don’t know if Jezebel was her name or simply that of a particular type of evil or spirit.
This Jezebel refuses to repent, and her teachings must be vile indeed because the Lord will bring great tribulation and suffering and strike her followers dead if they refuse to repent.
That is a pretty sobering threat from the Lord. We know from numerous places in Scripture that the Lord can and does, on occasion, step into time and supernaturally destroy people.
Did they repent and give up their evil ways? The Scriptures do not tell us. We know that hard-hearted people can and do refuse to repent of their evil and turn to God. Hell is full of rebels who refused to submit to the King of Glory.
Our culture makes fun of the pain and suffering of those in eternal torment, but there will be no joy there. Nor will there be any escaping or redemption to be found there.
God never takes sin lightly. He is perfectly holy, and all sin is both rebellion against Him and a personal affront to Him. All sin must be punished if God is truly righteous and just.
Knowing what awaits the unredeemed, give glory to the Lord for His sovereign call to bring you to salvation. Pray for those who have not yet turned to the Lord.
If you don’t yet know this Jesus, talk with one of your Christian friends about it or email me, and we can chat.
Hallelu Yah (Praise God)
Be blessed
Kevin.
Gleanings From The Word.
Experience an extraordinary God in ordinary life.
Soli Deo Gloria (for the glory of God alone.)
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