This is the longest letter; written to the Church in the smallest, least important city of all the 7 in these 2 chapters of Revelation.
And, I think that’s important for us in particular to reflect upon and remember. Because Jesus doesn’t value things as the world does; and just because this church is in a small town doesn’t mean he is unconcerned with it or less concerned with it – he still knows what is going on in its midst, cares for it and encourages it, and calls it to repentance so that it would live up to his standard for what the church ought to be and to do.
Some people might call Chambersburg a city – and for South-Central PA it sort of is the center of a lot of smaller towns; but compared to some other places it’s not too large and may not seem too important – but it is important to Jesus because his Church is there, and lost people – whom he wants his church to present a vibrant and genuine witness to – live there; and so Jesus – just as at Thyatira – knows what’s going on in our midst – even though we’re not a mega-church – and he cares for us, and his word encourages us and his truth calls us to repentance so that we can be the kind of Church that Jesus wants us to be.
Here at the church in Thyatira, we see a couple points of contrast to the church in Ephesus.
First, Ephesus is condemned for lacking love; Thyatira – v19 – is commended for their love – not only love, but love, faith, service, and perseverance.
Second, Ephesus had started off strong with a zealous love for God and one another but they lost the love they had at first, and Jesus called them to return to it; but to Thyatira, they are the opposite – again in v19 – their love and faith and service had grown – such that they are now doing more than they did at first.
And so first of all, the Church at Thyatira has grown, whereas at Ephesus, they slid backwards. The Christian life, is a life of growth, because where life is growth happens; and if there’s no growth, usually it’s because there’s no life; and certainly growth is slow and sometimes it feels like your going backwards and there are setbacks and failures all along the way, but the overall direction is one of growth – from infancy to maturity.
Second: the Church at Ephesus had a strong start, whereas at Thyatira they are headed towards a strong finish.
A strong start that sputters out isn’t what Jesus wants the Christian life or the life of his Church to look like; and a strong start – anyone can start strong, but the hard part is pressing on to a strong finish;
A strong start isn’t as important as perseverance that leads to a strong finish.
And let’s take a moment to take stock of our own lives and our own Church. We don’t want to be content with where we are now; we certainly don’t want to move backwards; we want to press on; we want to finish well.
We want to keep pressing on remembering that Jesus is the one we are serving and that he is worth the effort;
Maybe in your life – in your walk with God – you are feeling like you’re sputtering out – we’ve all felt that way. I feel that way multiple times a week – but you see, if you feel that and see that – that’s much better than it happening but not recognizing when it happens – and so let that move you to look to Christ and his Spirit for strength; to think of the love of Christ displayed on the cross for motivation; to think of the glory of Jesus for perspective; and to long to enter into his glory so that you can keep persevering through the difficulty.
The final point of contrast is that while Ephesus is commended for it’s intolerance – back in 2:2 as part of the praise Jesus gives that church he says, “I know that you cannot tolerate wicked people…”; in contrast to that, Thyatira is condemned for it’s tolerance – v20: “Nevertheless, I have this against you: You tolerate that woman Jezebel.”
And as I mentioned a few weeks ago it might be odd to hear that Jesus praises intolerance and condemns tolerance.
And actually it is misleading to state it that way because Jesus doesn’t condemn all tolerance and praise all intolerance – but the important part is what these churches are tolerant and intolerant of:
and the reason Ephesus is praised for intolerance is because the are intolerant of false teaching which attacks & denies God’s truth; and the reason Thyatira is condemned for tolerance is because they are tolerant of false teaching which attacks & denies God’s truth and leads God’s people astray into deception.
They are tolerant of someone named Jezebel –
Who she was; What she taught:
Who she was: This seems to be a prominent woman in the church, and probably her actual name wasn’t Jezebel – not many people who were Jewish or had a familiarity with the Jewish scriptures would have named their daughter Jezebel – but Jesus calls her Jezebel to identify her with the infamous Jezebel of the OT.
Jezebel was the wife of King Ahab; And, she was a foreigner which meant that she brought foreign gods – idols – into the life of Israel; and she led the king – and the people after him – astray from the true & living God, into idolatry.
She killed the true prophets of God – who were messengers of God’s truth to his people; she was an enemy of God and an enemy of God’s truth.
her name became synonymous with wickedness.
And this woman in the NT church is called Jezebel to show that this woman was as dangerous to the church – and as much an enemy of God’s truth – as Jezebel had been in the OT.
v20 – She calls her self a prophet – but a true prophet bringing the truth of God she is not; and by her teaching she misleads my servants – her teaching doesn’t bring them closer to God and his truth but further away.
What she taught:
Similarly with what we’ve seen in the past – she is teaching the church that it’s ok to compromise with the sinful world around them.
Specifically – idolatry & sexual immorality; which in that time generally went together; we talked about that at length last week so I want to try to focus on what was more distinctive about the situation at Thyatira.
One of the few things that we know about Thyatira was that it wasn’t as politically important as other of the cities we’ve seen but it was commercially important – it was a center of manufacturing – woolworkers, linen-workers, clothing makers, fabric dyers, leather workers, tanners, potters, bakers, metal-workers, bronze-smiths, etc.
And if you remember from our study of Acts (ch16) – we met someone from Thyatira, in the city of Philippi – Lydia – who became a Christian while listening to the Apostle Paul’s teaching – who was from the city of Thyatira and a dealer in purple cloth.
And here’s the situation: Each trade had a guild of which everyone involved in that trade was a part of; each guild had a god which they believed prospered it’s trade and so they worshiped this god at their guild meetings; these meetings were usually pretty “festive” – and involved sexually immoral behavior.
Now, a Christian, couldn’t participate in that; but to not participate meant economic ostracism – it’s like – not being allowed into the chamber of commerce except with larger ramifications than that would have today.
And so to not participate meant economic loss and hardship. And so probably what Jezebel was teaching, was, that she had a divine “secret” (v24); some insight that normal Christians reading their bible and using common sense couldn’t get to on their own;
and that secret was that Christians didn’t need to bear such loss and didn’t need to endure such hardship;
Christian could compromise in that “small” way and it wouldn’t matter – in fact, she might have been claiming that it could somehow bring you closer to God by engaging in this idolatry and immorality;
but v24 – Jesus calls these “so-called” deep secrets, secrets not of God but of Satan.
2 quick applications:
first, sin does not, cannot, bring you closer to God. It only ever brings you further from him; separates you from him.
And it wasn’t isolated to the church in Thyatira where people thought that somehow, going along with sin would enable them to understand or appreciate God better.
God may use our sin or our past to help us understand his grace, but that is never an excuse to sin now – and those who use it as such should hear Jesus’ warning.
Second application: sometimes being a Christian, means bearing economic loss. Maybe you work in a field where everybody sins to get ahead. They lie; they steal; they cheat; they are dishonest; they cut corners around the law;
but if you’re a Christian, you don’t. And the worldly treasure that you gain in going along with what everyone else does isn’t worth the damage to your soul.
Jezebel was an enemy of God’s truth.
And so Jesus calls the church at Thyatira to resist her false teaching and evil influence – he calls them to hold to, and to live by, his Truth.
And to do anything else – is to live as spiritual adulterers. v22 – refers to Jezebels’ followers as “those who commit adultery with her”. Probably literal adultery going on, but here the reference is to sin. Sin is spiritual adultery
adultery is unfaithfulness to the person you should be most faithful; it’s betrayal of the highest degree.
Sin is spiritual adultery against God – unfaithfulness to the one we should be most faithful to because he’s been perfectly faithful to us; it’s betrayal of the highest degree.
Jesus calls the church at Thyatira to truth.
Ephesus lacked love but excelled in truth and discernment; and if you remember I described what the likely environment of that church…….
Ephesus lacked love but excelled in truth and discernment; Thyatira excelled in love but lacked truth and discernment.
Ephesus, I think, is probably the danger for churches like ours – reformed churches who believe in the importance of truth and doctrine; Thyatira, however, I believe is more the danger or reality of the church in our culture at large.
The liberal church largely doesn’t care about sin; largely doesn’t believe in sin;
The so-called “affirming church” doesn’t just welcome all people; but affirms people who engage in all kinds of sexually immoral behaviors and lifestyles – doesn’t even just tolerate, but celebrates those behaviors as though they are God’s will for the lives of his children;
here at Redeemer, we want to be a welcoming church – we want to welcome anyone who walks through the doors – no matter their past or their present sins or lifestyles or beliefs or attitudes;
but to welcome someone, and to affirm every & all of their behaviors, attitudes, desires, are two different things and Jesus didn’t equate them. I could list endless examples – but just two – the woman at the well and the woman caught in adultery – Jesus welcomed them in grace but called them to repentance by his truth.
and Churches like those I described are modern-day Jezebel’s – false prophets who only lead people astray and further into the enslavement and death that Jesus wants to redeem them out of.
Does this sound like the Jesus we see here in Revelation, confronting and speaking with authority to his Churches and calling them to truth & holiness?
I think that people who think that the church is called to be affirming of all lifestyles – if they read the NT – would be very surprised about what they find there and would have to change their conclusions of what Jesus’ wants his Church to be or would have to cut out the majority of their NT.
Because Jesus is full of love; and Jesus is full of truth; and his truth is loving truth and his love is truth-filled love – such that truth without love isn’t truth at all and love without truth isn’t love at all!
Just as a Church can’t be cold; neither can a church be mush.
And our own denominational history is the fruit of resisting the church becoming a pile of mush – no conviction, no backbone, and no courage to stand for the truth of God’s word but trading it in for weak man-pleasing feel-good mush.
Stott: “Truth becomes harsh if it is not softened and sweetened by love. Love becomes sentimental and weak if it is not strengthened by truth.”
Most people know intuitively that granting every desire a child has isn’t loving for the child – even though instinctively love for the child makes us want to grant their desires, we know intuitively that the desire to grant that child’s desires has to be guided and tempered by parental wisdom – truth – discerning the right desires, which granting will lead to the child’s ultimate and long-term well-being.
But, then, when it comes to the Church, many people think that love is simply affirming – granting – every desire that someone has without any guidance from God’s truth – as though we know better than Him as to how to live for his glory and our ultimate spiritual well-being.
But if he is our Maker; if he is our Lord; if he is our Savior; if he is our Judge; if you believe anything about who Jesus claims to be; then certainly he has the authority to speak truth into our lives which isn’t optional take-it-or-leave-it advice; which sometimes may not make us feel good; which always – although in different ways for different people but always in some way for all of us – challenge us even in the deepest of ways – in the ways most close to our identity and desires and actions and habits and values;
because a God who doesn’t challenge us isn’t a real God – an all-tolerant God who only every affirms us is only a reflection of us – a figure of our imagination – an idol – which we’ve carved to contribute to our own self-worship and deification.
not a god at all but a tool we use to ease our guilty conscience or enable and excuse our sin so that we can live as our own gods – so that we can be our own maker and lords and saviors and judge.
Jesus is the Christ who knows all; and speaks with authority over his church; and he judges his church:
Knows all:
v18 – eyes like blazing fire – interpreted for us in v23 – 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.
Do you think you can escape the judgment of such a one as this? He knows all your secret thoughts; all your attitudes; all your motives; all your desires; all those things that you wouldn’t want another person to know; they aren’t hidden from your maker and judge;
speaks with authority:
“Thus says” – OT prophet formula – except instead of “Thus says the Lord”, “Thus says the one with the …. – Jesus himself. He speaks with authority because he is the Lord and Judge of his church – and so we ought to be particularly concerned that we as the church be not what the world wants us to be, not even what we want to be, but what Jesus wants us to be.
and in his speaking with authority, he calls his people to repentance.
And we see here – that a Jesus who doesn’t call his church and his people to repentance isn’t the real Jesus.
And a church or a Christian who doesn’t take up that call to repentance isn’t being a true church or a true Christian.
When Jesus called people to follow him, it was a call to faith and repentance – because you can’t turn to Jesus without turning away from sin.
And if Jesus calls us to believe and live his truth; to repent of sin and error; then Churches who don’t preach about turning from sin and error and turning to truth and righteousness aren’t representing Jesus’ truth.
And we can talk a lot about figuring out how God can make my life better and more peaceful and more joyful and whatever else; or getting to some next level with God or finding his guidance and blessing; but there’s a vital problem if we never talk about sin and repentance and holiness;
because the primary way we find peace and joy and blessing in life is through repentance because sin is the primary thing that robs us of peace and joy and blessing in life and so we can’t have those things unless we deal honestly with the enemy of those things even if dealing honestly with those things is uncomfortable and unpopular.
Judges:
And when Jesus comes to the Church at Thyatira – he calls them to repentance and warns them of judgment. And they are uncomfortable and probably unpopular words. Probably no one ever picked Revelation 2:22-23 as their life verse.
But at the same time, we see how Jesus’ call to truth is filled with love; because his coming in judgment is characterized by patience.
He who is infinitely holy; who can’t tolerate sin; nevertheless is patient with sinners – even sinners as wicked as Jezebel.
He gives time to repent – v21 – “I have given her time to repent of her immorality, but she is unwilling.”
The problem, according to Jesus, was not the clarity of his call or the time given to respond – the problem was the unwillingness of the sinner to depart from sin.
And we need to recognize that – that sinners love to sin – especially so for unredeemed sinners, but even as God’s redeemed people we in this life still have the remnants of that love for sin in us and we need God’s Spirit to restore to us the proper hatred of sin and love of what is good and right; but that isn’t always going to come easily – and Jesus gives time, and grace, and help, to those who are willing to receive it and reach out for it.
2 Peter “He is patient, not wanting anyone to perish, but wanting everyone to come to repentance.”
He gives time to repent not because he tolerates sin but because he loves sinners; and he wants them to repent so that they can know that love.
he gives time to repent; he gives warning to repent;
during his patience, he doesn’t just wait around, but he lovingly disciplines those he loves to bring them to repentance.
v22-23 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. I will strike her children dead.
“Those who commit adultery with her” – are certainly those who have bought into her teaching – the same as “her children” – not her physical children but her “spiritual children” – those who follow in her path of wickedness and sin.
For those who try to convince themselves that God doesn’t see their sin or care about their sin: Jesus promises that “her bed of sin will become a bed of suffering; the pleasures of sin will give place to the pains of affliction”.
This is always the true ultimate end of sin. We think it will be pleasure but it becomes affliction and brings death.
he gives time; warning; but his patience comes to an end:
Just because Jesus’ judgment is delayed, doesn’t mean it’s not definite. And so don’t take advantage of Jesus’ patience.
And to those who persevere, who resist the sinful compromise of Jezebel; Jesus gives a promise. First, to reign with him.
v18 – “feet of burnished bronze” – strength; inevitable conquering of his enemies – and that we who are redeemed by him will share in that victory v26 – we will reign with him (ps 2 – Jesus’ definitive final victory over all his enemies)
Morning star: Rev 22:16 – Jesus calls himself the morning star. and there it’s a reference to his royalty – that he is the king
just as the stars rule in the heavens, so believers will rule with Jesus the King.
And why is that such a consolation to these people?
because it’s a turning of the tables.
In their experience, the world oppresses and rejects the one who is faithful to Jesus – he loses out, those who compromise with the world seem to win;
but Jesus is giving a glimpse into the true winners and losers – not what the judgment of this world shows – but what his judgment will reveal to be true.
By being faithful to Jesus, we may lose out in this life; but we will gain Him for eternity.