Thyatira gets the longest letter, it is also the least important of the towns and cities that received letters. Man's assessment of what is of greatest importance often differs from God's view. Not that much is know about Thyatira except that it was a notable trading centre, indeed Lydia came from there (Acts 16:14). There were various trade guilds and one really had to be a member of a trade guild in order to run a business. Now these guilds would often have meetings that involved eating food offered to idols and would too easily descend into debauchery of various kinds. This is the backdrop to the letter.
This is the only place in Revelation where Jesus is referred to as the Son of God. He has eyes like fire and feet like burnished bronze. This emphasises that He sees everything and that He will be quick to act. We need to know that all that we do is done under His gaze.
First, the church receives praise. They are making progress, maturing and developing, as shown in their faith, love, service and perseverance.
However, they were also getting things wrong. There was a prophet Jezebel who was influencing the church. Now Charismatic preachers love nothing better than to preach on, or rather preach against, the Jezebel spirit! So what are we to make of this. Jezebel was the wife of Ahab, one of the worst kings of Israel (which took some doing). Jezebel was the real power behind the throne, promoting all kinds of evil. Jezebel is used as a representative name here (it is most unlikely that anyone was actually called Jezebel). So the concept of "Jezebel spirit" is not without foundation. She also called herself a prophet. We need to be sure that just because someone claims to be a prophet or an apostle, it does not make them so. Again, those of us in charismatic churches most need to heed this warning. The first question to ask is always "is what is being said consistent with the Bible and is it bringing glory to Christ".
Her teaching was leading to sexual immorality and eating food offered to idols. Sexual immorality is a most serious sin and always has most serious consequences. That is why the Bible mentions it frequently. Some say the church focused too much on sexual immorality. It does not, and if you say that it does you are wrong. We should focus on it as much as the Bible focuses on it, and follow the Bible's teaching.
Food offered to idols arose at various times, and is mentioned in Paul in Romans 14 and 1 Cor 8. The advice can seem contradictory. The people would need to be part of a guild to trade, so would have to go to some meetings. That would be OK, but if they then got involved in idol worship and immorality that was definitely wrong. Daniel gives us the best example to follow.
Jezebel would be judged, and severely so. Severe judgement of sin is as much part of the New Testament as it is of the Old, in fact more so.
However, there were those who were not taken in by supposedly clever teachings.
To those who overcame Jesus would give authority over nations. Jesus said many who are last will be first.
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