Last 5 Days
Be Careful of What You Tolerate
18 “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.
19 “‘I know your works, your love and faith and service, and patient endurance, and that your latter works exceed the first. 20 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. 21 I gave her time to repent, but she refuses to repent of her sexual immorality. 22 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, 23 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. 24 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. 25 Only hold fast what you have until I come. 26 The one who conquers and who keeps my works until the end, to him I will give authority over the nations, 27 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. 28 And I will give him the morning star. 29 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’
It must be shocking for them to hear Jesus’ rebuke since they were persevering in their faith.
Jesus praised the Thyatira church, but he also said, “I have this against you,” that is, for tolerating the false teachings of Jezebel. This letter was the longest of the seven letters addressed to the seven churches. The title, “Son of God”, stresses His authority as the Judge of the world while the title, “Son of Man” in verse 13 stresses His ability to empathize with us in our sufferings in this world.
His eyes were like “a flame of fire” able to see all things and purify them as fire is used in the Bible for purification purposes. His “burnished bronze” feet will trample on the wicked as further described in Revelation 19:15 as like treading grapes in the winepress. The titles that were given to Him, and the description of His eyes and feet illustrated His power to see all things and thus He was able to judge justly.
The land in Thyatira was flat without any natural defense unlike Pergamum, a hilly area. Thus, the city was repeatedly destroyed by enemies’ forces. But each time it would rebuild and be destroyed again. But in John’s time, Thyatira enjoyed peace and prosperity under Roman rule. It had a vibrant industry making and dying wool. Thus, the Thyatira people were mostly blue-collared workers. And if one wants to work, he must join a union, and each is associated with a deity. Even though the people were not religious, Apollo, the Greek god was worshipped here.
The Jews and Christians were the minorities and often could not find employment for refusing to worship the deities. Those who found work had to make compromises and ate the food offered to idols. They even indulged in their immoral practices. It was easier to compromise when the teachings of Jezebel abetted them to do so.
No one should make compromises because of fear of work. But unfortunately, it still happens today. Christians make compromises because of the deception by the “Jezebels” who are teaching in our churches today as even the servants of God can be deceived.
One of the reasons is the ignorance of scripture. Ignorance causes Christians to be susceptible to sin and to tolerate sin. Toleration on its own is a good virtue. However, when we tolerate what contradicts God’s word and will then is wrong. So, what we are tolerant of is important!
It appears Jezebel was warned but she did not heed the warning of the Lord. Thus, judgment was pronounced now, “I will throw her onto a sickbed.” “Sickbed” is not in the Greek text. But it is used to refer to death in the abyss. By warning them, Jesus was still giving them a chance to repent. The followers of Jezebel claimed to know “the deep things of Satan.” But Jesus told them to the faithful, but He also said, “I do not lay on you any other burden” as they had suffered enough. He empathized with their suffering in their persecution.
But His only request was they hold fast to the Lord. In Greek, “hold fast” is “karteo.” To hold fast with a great “force” like a species of plant known as “holdfast” in the way they clung to the rocks. If you were to try and pull it out, you will rip the roots to pieces. This is how they were to “hold fast” to Jesus when they are suffering in their hardships.
In verses 26-27, He quoted Psalm 2:7-9 to those persecuted that they will rule with Him in His kingdom if they persevered in their suffering. He promised them “the morning star.” Some said it refers to believers who reflect God’s glory as in Daniel 12:3 and Matthew 13:43. But here it seemed to be referring to Jesus as He is the One who assumed the title for Himself. To the faithful who hold fast, Jesus also promised the presence of His fullness. He ends with the same call He gave the other churches, “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches” to heed His call.
Jesus’ promises bring out three important things for us to heed:
1) The seriousness of sin in the warning of judgment.
2) The seriousness of disobeying Jesus.
3) The seriousness of trusting ourselves instead of Him.
Jesus’ message to the four churches thus far can be summed up like this: We must love God sincerely and honestly and not put up a show or think serving Him more all will be well for us. Rather, we must not deceive ourselves or be deceived by others but rather heed His words if we want to continue to be a lampstand for Him as a church.
This is a wake-up call for the church of Thyatira and all churches today. Do not think that all is well just because attendance is increasing and be oblivious to the sins in our midst. Do not be deceived or deceive ourselves into thinking everything is well when it is not. Do not tolerate any sin in our churches just as it was tolerated in the Church of Thyatira.