May 25th, 2010 by Kristi Stephens

Photo from www.HolyLandPhotos.org

Our next stop on the tour through the letters to the churches in Revelation is Thyatira.  Thyatira differs from the other cities we have discussed in that it was not known as a major center of worship to deities or emperors.   Thyatira was a hard-working city known for its trade guilds – the 1st century version of labor unions.

The letter to the church in Thyatira in Revelation 2:18-29 is sobering.  Jesus’ introduction in verse 18 gives a hint of what is to come:

These are the words of the Son of God, whose eyes are like blazing fire and whose feet are like burnished bronze.

Jesus, the Son of God, is worthy and able to judge His Church.  His blazing eyes cut through reputation and appearances, piercing to the heart of each individual and the church as a whole.  As we stated at the beginning of this series, a king’s feet symbolized authority in ancient times.  The fact that Jesus’ feet are red-hot shows His authority to judge and discipline.  This introduction sets the stage for the letter to come.  The issues in Thyatira are deep, serious, and will be judged rightly from the one who sees it all.

Verse 19 begins on a positive note -

I know your deeds, your love and faith, your service and perseverance, and that you are now doing more than you did at first.

I am so struck by the mercy of our God.  Not only does He see all of our sin, all of our twisted motives, all of our junk… but He also sees what is good.  He sees it all.  The good AND the bad.  His merciful commendation does not last long, however.

Nevertheless, I have this against you… (v. 20)

If you read through the letter to Thyatira, you will notice that their problems do not originate from outside the church walls – this church was being eaten from within as they tolerated deep sin and doctrinal error.  Unlike Pergamum, however, the issue was not localized to a small minority in the church.

Most of the church at Thyatira seems to be culpable in this situation… and much of the issue stemmed back to one female teacher in the church.  One woman who has taken on an inappropriate role in the body.  One woman whose influence was leading many around her into destructive sin.  One woman who refused to repent.

You tolerate that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess. By her teaching she misleads my servants into sexual immorality and the eating of food sacrificed to idols. I have given her time to repent of her immorality, but she is unwilling. 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. 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.

Revelation 1:20-23

Sobering words.  Words that strike me to the core as a female teacher in the church!

To be continued…

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