What The Spirit Says … 08 Thyatira: Tolerating the Intolerable

(Reflections and notes on Jesus’ words to the church in Thyatira in Revelation 2:18-29. Explore the previous parts of this series.)

The words that Jesus has for the churches is that He is fair and just in His assessments. It is not about flattering anyone to make them feel better about themselves. It’s also not about unnecessarily crushing people with condemnation and criticism. It is about, however, recognising what He expects from His Bride and what needs to happen for that to take place.

This is particularly evident in His comments to the church in Thyatira. In our exploration we’ll look at how He presents Himself as the Judge and outlines the good and then the bad followed by the ugly about their situation. In that He also provides the remedy for the few, the reason for the many and words of assurance for the rest in that church. He ends His comments with a description of some of the rewards for the conquerors.

Let’s get a picture of Thyatira at the time. Unlike the other places that Jesus has referred to, this place was not significant politically. It was a location that was used to protect the main cities further west than itself like the other cities mentioned by Jesus so far. It is a place of trade and thought it wasn’t known for producing much, it did have a decent trade in pottery which included a role for a servant to identify any of the works that didn’t come out right. That servant would break up those pieces of pottery with a rod of iron. Thyatira is also known for dealing in purpole cloth and in Acts Lydia who dealt in purple came from this place.

Business in the city was dominated by the trade guilds. Those guilds were also known for their orgies and idolatrous activities. Those guilds helped those who were a part of them and if you were not a part of them you were less likely to survive let alone flourish. Failure to comply with those requirements could be devastating for anyone – for example the types that turned their back on idolatry and immorality to endeavour to live with integrity in the light of Jesus Christ.

Jesus the Judge (vs. 18) It is significant that Jesus introduces Himself to this church as the Son of God. That reference will not be made again in the letter of Revelation. Where Jesus would usually refer to Himself as the Son of Man, it’s got to say something when He straight out says that He is communicating in this capacity. The Son of God is not talking to the church in Thyatira with warm cuddles. Indeed His eyes are ablaze – that is the sign of someone who is not happy with all that He sees. When it comes to the description of His feet, He is not just about the looking, He is on the warpath to deal with those that oppose Him. The feet of bronze refer to someone who tends to trample enemies underfoot. As He will point out, He’s already given a time for people to change, He’s here to deal with the matter especially dealing with it at the source. Those are the acts of a judge – seeing and delivering judgement on the situation.

The Good (vs. 19) The church in Thyatira clearly are doing some things well. They’re not an inactive church. They’re not a church who sits and does nothing. What are these acts? Acts of faith, love, service and patient endurance. In fact they’re doing so well that Jesus remarks on how things are improving at least in terms of the things that they’re doing. There is clear evidence in the eyes of Jesus that progress has been made from where they were to where they are as He shares these words. If you were sitting listening to this, that can come across as very encouraging. Jesus is seeing change, development and growth – that’s a positive thing to take on board. It’s good to see that people can measure what was done before and see that as far as deeds are concerned.

The Bad (vs. 20-21) It’s important to point out that in as much as Jesus has a problem with the woman that He refers to as Jezebel, His issue is just as much with the church that allows her to carry on. That is to say, the church is aware of the woman and does nothing to stop her. They allow her. That toleration infects and corrupts the community. It’s not everyone that’s involved, but it’s enough for Jesus to talk to the community of their tolerance.

What’s the problem with this woman? She is clearly leading saints astray. She clearly had a voice of prominence among the church community – this voice was used, however, to promote and encourage indulging in the ways of the world around them. Not just words but actions. Actions where sexual immorality and engaging in matters linked to idolatry are actively promoted. Knowing the cultural context and the guilds which imposed such requirements for businesses to carry on, it’s no surprise to see these kind of teachings infiltrating the church.

The reference to Jezebel goes to the time in Israel, as recorded in 1 Kings 16, where Ahab was king and married Jezebel who took her idolatry and other practices with her to such a degree that she helped Ahab to become one of the worst kings of Israel on record. The people of Israel were indoctrinated with idolatry that promoted immorality. This woman in Thyatira was likewise clearly influential in leading others to be involved in the lifestyle of the idolatrous world around her. She was influential in this particularly by presenting the teaching as a ‘deeper truth’.

I gave her time to repent, but she refuses to repent of her sexual immorality. (vs. 21) Listen to Jesus. It’s not as though this woman didn’t know. This woman had clearly been confronted about it. Ample opportunity to admit, acknowledge and renounce was given to her. Not only has she refused, but the church has continued to allow her to carry on with her teaching.

There is here a word of warning for those who hear what Jesus is saying. The warning to be aware of what’s being shared by influential people in the gathering of saints. Not just to be aware but to address where teaching is clearly more influenced by the world than by God’s word. Teaching influences thinking and behaviour. And when it comes to Christ, your integrity is compromised when you allow idolatry and immorality to infiltrate. The world today is more than apt to subtly influence saints to bring across teachings that lead God’s people astray.

The Ugly (vs. 22-23) Jesus is not here to make things pretty. He’s done the warning and now He’s going to do exactly what He said He will do. As the Son of God, He’s aware of the form that God has when it comes to dealing with His people when they refuse to obey what He has instructed.

There’s the story of Eli the priest, who was told on a number of times to correct his sons who were desecrating the tabernacle and engaging in sexual immorality as well as other corrupt practices. Eli’s refusal to act led to God fulfilling what He said He would do which had tragic consequences for everyone involved.

In Thyatira, the Son of God with His bronzed feet is looking to sort out Jezebel and those who continue to associate with her and indulge in the practices she promotes. Sickness and death will be ushered in by the Son of God. That’s heavy to consider – as heavy as it was to hear about the other deaths and bouts of sickness that occurred due to disobedience. Here, though, Jesus is clear that He’s referring to those in His church in that location who continue with this woman. This is what Jesus says He will do to this church. He’s not waiting for the end ot bring this about – this is something He’s looking to do soon to sort out His church. It’s a grim reminder that the reason why we are given warnings and prophetic admonitions is to give us every opportunity to change in the here and now or Jesus will act.

The Remedy (vs. 22) If you read this section quickly, you might miss out on the key word of remedy that Jesus offers in the midst of His judgement on Jezebel and her crew. The woman might be bound for the sickbed due to her rampant defiant behaviour. The crew still have a chance if they repent of her practices.

It’s easy for people to get caught up with the teaching of the influential – God can deal with the influential teachers when they lead others astray. Those that are led astray, however, can have access to a word that warns them to turn away from what’s being promoted by this woman.

The remedy is similar to what Jesus has advocated in the light of problems with other churches. The call to repentance to those in the Body of Christ is to recognise that our focus is away from Christ. Indulging in sexual immorality is us reverting to the focus on the flesh in self-gratification. Indulging in acts of idolatry is us going back to the world. Jesus in the call to repentance is calling on the saints to turn away from their flesh and away from the world and turn to Him. Change their mind from that which is worldly and promotes self to that which is heavenly and glorifies God. That turn and change is reflected in action. Quit sleeping with the woman and get into finding true intimacy in worship of God and saving the expression of the sexual appetite for its proper place in a marriage blessed by God. Stop indulging in idolatrous practices and get into godly practices through the Word of God and channelling this through acts that show to a watching world that Jesus Christ is Lord. Repentance isn’t sentimental, it’s not about evoking emotions that make you feel bad in a moment but doesn’t change your course of travel. Repentance as far as Jesus is concerned here is very practical.

The Reason (vs. 23) Jesus could have just left it there and said that anyone with an ear to hear should listen to what the Spirit says to the churches. However, Jesus takes sin in His church very seriously indeed. He is not just acting for the saints in Thyatira, it’s for all saints in the church to pay attention to just how seriously He takes sin. He has a zero tolerance policy on this issue. Not just that, though, that Jesus considers motive just as much as He considers practice and He will be the one that judges both.

Perhaps today we’re not as sensitive and aware of when Jesus is bringing in judgement for the defiant resistance to repent. Maybe we have such a tolerant and soft approach to things that we don’t even think that Jesus would judge people in His church in the here and now. Jesus wants us to wake up and realise that He is not a man that He should lie. He’s so concerned about the state of the Bride that reflects Him, that He is issuing the steps that He will take to ensure she is all that He died for her to become. He gives us every chance to take corrective measures ourselves, but with His name at stake do you really think He will tolerate what we do?

The Rest (vs. 24-25) Not everyone in the church in Thyatira is on board the Jezebel train. Their deeds are still reflecting the commendable qualities that Jesus highlighted in His opening remarks. These people have this encouragement from Jesus – Only hold fast what you have until I come (vs 25). That phrase ‘hold fast’ is one worth listening to and understanding. What do these people have? Love, faith, service and endurance. What should their grip on these things be? It reminds me of what Peter would encourage his readers in the last letter attributed to him in scripture when it comes to the qualities they need to build on.

Supplement your faith with a generous provision of moral excellence, and moral excellence with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with patient endurance, and patient endurance with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love for everyone.

The more you grow like this, the more productive and useful you will be in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

2 Peter 1:5-8 (NLT)

Jesus already commended these saints for being in a better position than they were previously, He is keen that their grip on the qualities He highlighted is maintained so growth can take place.

The Rewards (vs. 26-28) The enemy is keen to defeat the believer by a variety of means. Something that helps in his weaponry is if we become complacent and no longer place high value on Jesus and what matters to Him in teaching and pratice. When that happens we’re likely to be infiltrated by idolatry and immorality. Thankfully Jesus is rooting on those who see the opposition and will endure and persevere to overcome. He’s not just there with us through the battle, He awaits those who win the battle and He has two things to share with them on this occasion.

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.

Revelation 2:26-27 (ESV)

Look at that promise to those who remain meek under His control – truly they will inherit the earth just like He said they would. Those who may have been excluded from the economy and thriving financially because of their refusal to do what the local guilds demanded – these people on the fringes would one day be the rulers. Those who endure through the trials will get to rule. Not just get to rule, but also have the authority that the Son has from the Father. That type of authority is about ensuring that the state of society emerges as it should be crafted and shaped by the rule of God and anything that refuses to conform to that should not be tolerated but smashed up. The imagery of the rod of iron expresses strength that does not bend to the conditions around. The imagery of the rod of iron says much about how people will be led or shepherded. They will be led in a way that will not tolerate anything that goes against the rule of Christ on the earth. We’re in a position to exercise that with Jesus then, because we are careful to operate under that rule now. This is why we pursue operating in the rule of God now, taking sin seriously and taking the love, faith, service and perseverance in Christ just as seriously to be among the overcomers that have this reward to look forward to.

That’s not all, though, Jesus also offers this –  I will give him the morning star. (vs 28) What does this mean? This is a thing that Jesus will give. This is something splendid and maginificent. This is something of great worth and beauty. This is something so brilliant that Jesus might be related to it, but He is allowing the conqueror not just to have Him but receive from Him something as resplendent as Him. Something denoting the authority you share with the Son of God. Something that listeners at the time might have appreciated for the great worth.

That is something that as we hear should stir our hearts to be about the business of conquering. That is something that should get us all the more alert to the things that Jesus will not tolerate in His church and be so mindful to be about the deeds that will let the one who sees and knows respond with the words of welcome He extends to the faithful.

Questions based on the letter to the church in Thyatira

• What does this letter tell about the nature of Jesus?
• What does this letter tell you about the type of church Jesus is looking for?
• What does Jesus’ instructions tell you about how the saints are to rule with Him?
• If Jesus was to look at the gathering of believers to whom you belong, what would He see that might set His eyes ablaze?
• How would you deal with instances of the infiltration of immorality and idolatry in the gathering of believers to whom you belong?
• How should the knowledge that you will reign with Jesus later affect what you do with your life now?
• What is the morning star and why should it be of such significance to us?

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Recommended Sources

David Treybig on Thyatira as part of the series of seven churches for Life, Hope & Truth

Ray Stedman sermon on Thyatira: The Worldly Church

Wayne Jackson explores possible meanings for the Morning Star in Revelation 2:28 for Christian Courier

Drew Karschner’s sermon on The Tolerant Church – Thyatira for Northridge Church

The Bible Breakdown looks Thyatira as part of their sutdies on the seven churches in Revelation

David Pawson teaching on Thyatira in his series on the Letters of Jesus

For His Name’s Sake

Shalom

C. L. J. Dryden