4 □ The Church at Thyatira... is the Medieval church... the corrupt church. This is the period referred to as the Dark Ages...
◇ Brief historical background...
▪︎ Thyatira means... "odour of affliction."
▪︎ Thyatira is representative of Romanism (The Papal church), which takes us into the Dark Ages from A.D. 590 to approximately A.D. 1000. It was indeed a very dark period.
▪︎ Thyatira lies inland.
▪︎ It is situated in a very beautiful location.
▪︎ Thyatira was situated in the mouth of a long vale which extends north and south connecting the Hermus and Caicos Valleys.
▪︎ Thyatira also lies on a river tributary, the Lycus.
▪︎ In ancient times one of the chief routes of Asia Minor passed through it.
▪︎ Thyatira was a city built for defence.
▪︎ Thyatira was built by Lysimachus and again by Seleucus I.
▪︎ It finally fell to the enemy. No city in that area was so completely destroyed and rebuilt as was Thyatira.
▪︎ This city became prosperous under the sponsorship of Vespasian, a Roman emperor.
▪︎ It was headquarters for many ancient guilds.
▪︎ It was the centre of the dyeing industry. Lydia in the book of Acts lived in this city.
▪︎ Apollo, the sun god, was worshiped here as Tyrimnos.
■ Christ's letter to the Church...
☆ Revelation 2:18-29...
"And unto the angel of the church in Thyatira write; These things says the Son of God, Who has His eyes like unto a flame of fire, and His feet are like fine brass;
I know your works, and charity, and service, and faith, and your patience, and your works; and the last to be more than the first.
However I have a few things against you, because you suffer that woman Jezebel, which calls herself a prophetess, to teach and to seduce my servants to commit fornication, and to eat things sacrificed unto idols.
And I gave her space to repent of her fornication; and she repented not.
Behold, I will cast her into a bed, and them that commit adultery with her into great tribulation, unless they repent of their deeds.
And I will kill her children with death; and all the churches shall know that I am He which searches the innermost thoughts and hearts: and I will give unto every one of you according to your works.
But unto you I say, and unto the rest in Thyatira, as many as have not this doctrine, and which have not known the depths of Satan, as they speak; I will put upon you none other burden.
But that which you have already hold fast till I come.
And he that overcomes, and keeps My works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations:
And he shall rule them with a rod of iron; as the vessels of a potter shall they be broken to shivers: even as I received of My Father.
And I will give him the morning star.
He that has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says unto the churches."
• Jesus is pictured here in judgement.
"Eyes like flames of fire"... He is searching them out.
"Feet like burnished brass"... which represent judgement. Jesus means business with His Church. He is not to be trifled with.
• Jesus has 6 words of commendation for Thyatira... there were many true believers in Thyatira who truly loved Jesus and this was shown by their good works.
1. "Works"... evidence of all true believers. Many lived spotless lives and good works adorned their doctrine.
2. "Love"... although this church had gone in for ritualism, there was love. Some great saints can be found during this era... Huss, Waldo, Wycliff, Savonarola, Anselm, Bernard of Clairvau.
3. "Faith"... the mainspring that turns the hands of love and good works.
4. "Ministry"... is service. Doing for others... servanthood.
5. "Patience"... is endurance. Running the race steadily. Hanging in there. Keep on keeping on.
6. "Your last works are more than the first"... their good works increased and did not diminish. All six virtues are produced by the Holy Spirit.
• Jesus' word of condemnation for this church is very serious and not to be taken lightly.
Jezebel brought paganism to the Northern Kingdom of Israel. Evidently at Thyatira was a woman who had the reputation as a teacher and prophetess... counterpart of Jezebel. The Jezebel Spirit... is also a spirit of control... a powerful unhealthy control.
• Pagan practises and idolatry were interwoven with Christian works and worship in the Church at Thyatira which represents the historical era of the Dark Ages.
• The papacy was elevated to a place of secular power under Gregory I and VII. Rituals, pomp and ceremony and corrupted church doctrine undermined personal faith in Jesus Christ.
• Worship of the virgin Mary, Child (heavily into statues -idolatry) and Mass became a huge part of the Church service. Purgatory became a positive doctrine and Mass was said for the dead.
• Power and rulership was given to the Pope... the Jezebel Spirit! The Pope has a vice like grip over the Catholic church.
• Jezebel persecuted God's prophets. The Papacy instituted the Inquisition during the Dark Ages. This Inquisition saw the persecution and death of many, many Christians who did not follow Romanism. A very Dark Period indeed.
• "Seduce"... is a fundamental departure from the truth. To seduce is to deceive into error... to purposely lead astray. This is very serious in the Lord's eyes!
• "Space"... is time. Jesus has shown immense patience with this corrupt system. Over the centuries there has been very little change... which in fact is Rome's boast... no change. There has been no repentance from this spiritual adultery!
• "Into great tribulation"... I believe this is the Great Tribulation which the apostate church will go through if she does not repent. All those that "flirt" (those that commit adultery with her) with this system will meet the same fate.
• "Children"... means all those brought up under this system. This is very sad... to see so many people duped into and by this false system.
• "And I will kill her children with death"... some say this is the second death. Obviously to go this way, without repentance, there is no turning back with God.
• "All the Churches"... refers to the Church of all ages.
• "He that searches the reins and hearts"... Jesus' eyes will miss nothing under His gaze... He searches our entire beings... body, soul and spirit... inside and out. How careful we need to be. ☆ Hebrews 4:12... He is able to discern our inner thoughts and the intents of the heart. Remember what Jeremiah said about the heart of man being desperately wicked?
• The actual Church at Thyatira had a very brief existence. It went down with the city when captured by the enemy.
• "The depths of Satan"... possibly refers to a Gnostic sect which worshipped the serpent. Whatever it is, it is Satanic... and can't get any lower.
• "Hold fast till I come"... Jesus is beginning to say to His true Church... "I'm coming to take all you who stand fast... out!" How important it is to be ready, watching and praying. In Thyatira there were those who did hold fast to the truth.
• The works of Christ are in direct contrast to the works of Jezebel. Christ's works are done by the Holy Spirit. We only overcome by faith... consistent faith... faith in the finished work of Christ on the Cross... never by works.
• "I give power over the nations"... Did you know that one day the saints will judge the world? ☆ 1 Corinthians 6:2.
• "And he shall rule them with a rod of iron; as the vessels of a potter shall they be broken to shivers: even as I received of my Father"... refers to the Millennial reign of Christ which the believers share.
• Jesus is the Bright and Morning star... the hope of the Church is Christ coming for His Bride the Church... that is, the Rapture. And what sort of Church is He coming for?
Read ☆ Ephesians 5:25-27.
• And once again Church (and I include myself here)... are you listening to the Spirit of God and are you hearing what He is saying?
The Holy Spirit has said a lot to the churches so far. Are you taking note of His commendations? What about the condemnations?
Warnings and encouragements galore! Where do you stand? Are you standing?