118. Beholding Christ | Studies in Revelation Part 13: Church #4 - Thyatira

Revelation 2:18-29

 

The church at Thyatira represents an age in history when the Christian church became mandatory, and that is not a good thing. In the letter to this church, Christ instructs them that He is the true Son of God, that they should not tolerate false teaching, and that we can look forward to the coming kingdom when the world will be made right. All of these things should encourage us today as we strive to live for the Lord.

 

Thyatira: the Licentious church

  I. The Location (literal local church)

• • This was a smaller city
  • Dominated by trade guilds and commerce
  • Religiously very pluralistic

 II. The Likeness of Christ

• • Son of God, establishing deity
  • Eyes of fire, depicting judgment
  • Feet of brass, depicting authority

III. The Letter to the church (merits and warnings)

• • Commends their works, charity, service, faith, patience, and works
  • Condemns their tolerance of false doctrine, they had an indifference towards truth, immoral mixing with the world, eating things sacrificed to idols
  • We need to be extremely careful with those who claim to be teachers of the Bible
  • It seems the self-proclaimed prophetess ‘Jezebel’ must have encouraged or justified participation in pagan associations and clubs
  • We must reference the Word of God to know how we ought to live - we must study and commit to God’s commands and principles
  • Not everyone had gone along with the undermining of Christian living
  • To these, Jesus offered encouragement to continue holding fast

IV. The Lineup in Church History (representative)

• • The Roman Catholic Church period was a time of mixing paganism with Christianity
  • Truth became secondary to works, ungodly sacraments, and rituals
  • Some in this time continued to guard and follow the truth 

 V. The Lesson for us (type of church)

• • Don’t justify or excuse living like the godless world
  • Those who remain committed to the Lord will rule with Him when He sets up His kingdom of righteousness, we will be able to fully embrace the world when the world is made right