The church of Thyatira is often called The Corrupt church. But as with several of the seven churches, they do a lot of things right. Jesus says they have good works, love, service, faith, and patience. Sounds like a good church, right? But behind closed doors, there is some false teaching and immorality going on. They are allowing a woman to not only teach lies but seduce men and practice idolatry. We as believers and the leaders of the church need to be careful to not allow sin and false teaching to infiltrate the church (especially in the leadership) or our lives. How often does Jesus say to watch and be ready? That should pertain to what is going on within the church as well as out in the world.
Revelation 2:18-29
“And to the angel of the church in Thyatira write, ‘These things says the Son of God, who has eyes like a flame of fire, and His feet like fine brass: “I know your works, love, service, faith, and your patience; and as for your works, the last are more than the first. Nevertheless I have a few things against you, because you allow that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess, to teach and seduce My servants to commit sexual immorality and eat things sacrificed to idols. And I gave her time to repent of her sexual immorality, and she did not repent. Indeed I will cast her into a sickbed, and those who commit adultery with her into great tribulation, unless they repent of their deeds. I will kill her children with death, and all the churches shall know that I am He who searches the minds and hearts. And I will give to each one of you according to your works.
“Now to you I say, and to the rest in Thyatira, as many as do not have this doctrine, who have not known the depths of Satan, as they say, I will put on you no other burden. But hold fast what you have till I come. And he who overcomes, and keeps My works until the end, to him I will give power over the nations—
‘HE SHALL RULE THEM WITH A ROD OF IRON; THEY SHALL BE DASHED TO PIECES LIKE THE POTTER’S VESSELS’—
as I also have received from My Father; and I will give him the morning star. “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.” ‘
It appears this church has done a lot of good things. But God is more concerned with our hearts than just our outward appearance. Jesus recognized the good service of the church in Thyatira, but He was more concerned with the corruption going on within the church. This church allowed a woman to come into the church and teach falsehood and practice immorality. Who is this woman? is “Jezebel” her actual name, or is it symbolic of the evil she brought into this church much like Jezebel, the wife of King Ahab in 1 Kings 16-21? This is the queen of Israel who brought Baal worship and sorcery in, set up idols for worship, brought in false prophets, tried to kill Elijah, God’s prophet, and influenced Ahab to kill a man so that he could acquire his vineyard.
1 Kings 16:29-33
In the thirty-eighth year of Asa king of Judah, Ahab the son of Omri became king over Israel; and Ahab the son of Omri reigned over Israel in Samaria twenty-two years. Now Ahab the son of Omri did evil in the sight of the LORD, more than all who were before him. And it came to pass, as though it had been a trivial thing for him to walk in the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, that he took as wife Jezebel the daughter of Ethbaal, king of the Sidonians; and he went and served Baal and worshiped him. Then he set up an altar for Baal in the temple of Baal, which he had built in Samaria. And Ahab made a wooden image. Ahab did more to provoke the LORD God of Israel to anger than all the kings of Israel who were before him.
Ahab was considered more evil than any other king in Israel. part of that was marrying Jezebel, a foreigner from the enemies of Israel. She was ruthless, and it seemed that she not only had power over the people of Israel, but over the king himself. Her influence turned the king and the country against God. No one was safe from her reach, except by the hand of God.
1 Kings 21:1-10
And it came to pass after these things that Naboth the Jezreelite had a vineyard which was in Jezreel, next to the palace of Ahab king of Samaria. So Ahab spoke to Naboth, saying, “Give me your vineyard, that I may have it for a vegetable garden, because it is near, next to my house; and for it I will give you a vineyard better than it. Or, if it seems good to you, I will give you its worth in money.”
But Naboth said to Ahab, “The LORD forbid that I should give the inheritance of my fathers to you!”
So Ahab went into his house sullen and displeased because of the word which Naboth the Jezreelite had spoken to him; for he had said, “I will not give you the inheritance of my fathers.” And he lay down on his bed, and turned away his face, and would eat no food. But Jezebel his wife came to him, and said to him, “Why is your spirit so sullen that you eat no food?”
He said to her, “Because I spoke to Naboth the Jezreelite, and said to him, ‘Give me your vineyard for money; or else, if it pleases you, I will give you another vineyard for it.’ And he answered, ‘I will not give you my vineyard.’ ”
Then Jezebel his wife said to him, “You now exercise authority over Israel! Arise, eat food, and let your heart be cheerful; I will give you the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite.”
And she wrote letters in Ahab’s name, sealed them with his seal, and sent the letters to the elders and the nobles who were dwelling in the city with Naboth. She wrote in the letters, saying, Proclaim a fast, and seat Naboth with high honor among the people; and seat two men, scoundrels, before him to bear witness against him, saying, You have blasphemed God and the king. Then take him out, and stone him, that he may die.
Sometimes it seemed like the king was Jezebel’s puppet. Perhaps that was similar to the men in Thyatira. She had this man killed so Ahab could have his land and tried to kill Elijah the prophet as well. Years later king Jehu, who followed the Lord, believed she was a threat and was not going to allow evil to remain in the land.
2 Kings 9:22
Now it happened, when Joram saw Jehu, that he said, “Is it peace, Jehu?” So he answered, “What peace, as long as the harlotries of your mother Jezebel and her witchcraft are so many?”
Jehu knew of the evil that Jezebel brought to the land. Perhaps this (and what he saw going on in other churches) is why Paul forbidded women to teach men and have authority over them. I don’t know. I think we can learn a lot from women. I surely have. But each church needs to be careful in choosing its leadership as Paul taught Timothy in his letters.
1 Timothy 2:12-14
And I do not permit a woman to teach or to have authority over a man, but to be in silence. For Adam was formed first, then Eve. And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived, fell into transgression.
It is possible that his point was that the women in the church were spreading gossip and that men need to stand up and take responsibility as Adam should have stood up and lead his wife away from sin. Ahab should have done the same thing. Both men neglected their responsibilities. We all have a role to play and each of us have responsibilities in the church and in God’s kingdom. What are we going to do with what God has given us?
Matthew 25:14-30
“For the kingdom of heaven is like a man traveling to a far country, who called his own servants and delivered his goods to them. And to one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one, to each according to his own ability; and immediately he went on a journey. Then he who had received the five talents went and traded with them, and made another five talents. And likewise he who had received two gained two more also. But he who had received one went and dug in the ground, and hid his lord’s money. After a long time the lord of those servants came and settled accounts with them.
“So he who had received five talents came and brought five other talents, saying, ‘Lord, you delivered to me five talents; look, I have gained five more talents besides them.’ His lord said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.’ He also who had received two talents came and said, ‘Lord, you delivered to me two talents; look, I have gained two more talents besides them.’ His lord said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.’
“Then he who had received the one talent came and said, ‘Lord, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you have not sown, and gathering where you have not scattered seed. And I was afraid, and went and hid your talent in the ground. Look, there you have what is yours.’
“But his lord answered and said to him, ‘You wicked and lazy servant, you knew that I reap where I have not sown, and gather where I have not scattered seed. So you ought to have deposited my money with the bankers, and at my coming I would have received back my own with interest. So take the talent from him, and give it to him who has ten talents.
‘For to everyone who has, more will be given, and he will have abundance; but from him who does not have, even what he has will be taken away. And cast the unprofitable servant into the outer darkness. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’
This popular parable teaches us that if we are faithful, much will be gained. The joy in serving the LORD is beyond what we imagine. I think we all hope to hear, “well done, good and faithful servant,” A true believer would be happy to serve the Lord and help expand His kingdom. God expects us to serve and help our fellow man or woman and not be lazy. After what He did for us, why wouldn’t we? He expects us to show love and share the gospel. We as a church have a responsibility to serve others and help each other grow. Part of that is discerning and not allowing false teaching and sinful lifestyles to come into the church, especially within the leadership. We should always welcome all who come in, but we need to be an example. We need to shine our light to those around us. The good news is God has offered each of us salvation through His Son, that whoever believes will have eternal life with Him. He has provided us the Holy Spirit living in us as a guarantee and as a guide.
2 Corinthians 5:5-10
Now He who has prepared us for this very thing is God, who also has given us the Spirit as a guarantee. So we are always confident, knowing that while we are at home in the body we are absent from the Lord. For we walk by faith, not by sight. We are confident, yes, well pleased rather to be absent from the body and to be present with the Lord. Therefore we make it our aim, whether present or absent, to be well pleasing to Him. For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad.
As believers, we will not face judgement as to whether we are saved or not (The Great White Throne judgement). Our salvation is a done deal through the blood of Christ. Our judgement is for the rewards or crowns we receive in heaven.
Revelation 22:12-16
“And behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to give to every one according to his work. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End, the First and the Last.”
Blessed are those who do His commandments, that they may have the right to the tree of life, and may enter through the gates into the city. But outside are dogs and sorcerers and sexually immoral and murderers and idolaters, and whoever loves and practices a lie.
“I, Jesus, have sent My angel to testify to you these things in the churches. I am the Root and the Offspring of David, the Bright and Morning Star.”
My Daily Scriptures 