LEARNING DAILY

 

Revelation 2:19-20, “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.”  Jesus

 

The city of Thyatira was not known for its culture, grandeur, or learning; it was known for its commerce.  That meant many different elements and types of people worked there or passed through the city.  This city was the smallest of the seven cities written to but it received the longest letter.  The church was a church that did a lot of good work in the city.  The Lord Jesus said it was a church with patience meaning it did not give up its good works when faced with adversity.  The church was a loving church but it lacked discernment.  Jesus said its works were greater than when it first began.  To me this means the church was growing and prosperous.

 

I hope you are going to your Bible and reading what the Lord Jesus said to each church as you read this blog.  I want you to pay close attention to how He describes Himself in each letter.  To Thyatira, He comes “with eyes like a flame of fire and His feet of fine brass”.  He also states clearly that He is the Son of God – the only time He does so in the book of The Revelation.  His eyes are able to pierce to the very heart of heart of this church (and your heart).  With feet of brass, He can step on sin and severely punish wrong doing.  Both are needed in the church at Thyatira! (Ray Stedman).  This a church where judgment is coming if it does not repent and change.

 

Jezebel was probably not the name of a woman who had risen to some degree of authority in this church.  The Lord was giving the name Jezebel to her due to her character.  In the Old Testament Jezebel was the evil wife of King Ahab; she was a strong worshipper of Baal.  Worship of Baal included immoral practices including both male and female prostitutes.  The woman “Jezebel” in Thyatira was a self-proclaimed prophetess that was teaching false things; she taught that it was all right for Christians to indulge in sexual immorality and idol worship.  She was a false prophet!

 

Thyatira was a city that consisted in many trade unions.  In order to work, Christians needed to join a union which was made up of a lot of unbelievers.  Often the union worshipped idols and was involved in all kinds of wickedness.  The pressure was on for Christians to be involved with this immorality; “Jezebel” was teaching that it was all right to indulge in these activities.  The Lord Jesus told this church that He had given her time to repent but she would not and the result was her false teaching had entered into the church. Thus, we see their lack of discernment.

 

It is pretty easy to relate this church to today.  The U.S. president has stated his desire to increase the growth of unions in this country.  Yes, the news is full of the actions taken by corrupt unions, the craziness of the Teacher’s Union for example.  They are causing their members to submit to their ideas, their immoral ways or get out.  They are preventing in person learning and teaching beliefs contrary to the Founding Fathers of the country.  Our churches are teaching immoral, ungodly doctrines that are contrary to God’s Word.  The Bible is outdated so get rid of it. Let’s fill the seats in the church by giving the people what they want – not what they need.  Ungodly lifestyles are accepted, even promoted.  Here is the warning for us today!  Don’t miss it!  Speaking to the church The Lord Jesus said you allow it; you tolerate it! Oh God forgive us for what we are allowing to happen!  He said He will bring to “Jezebel and her followers” great tribulation if they do not repent an “give to each one of you according to your works”.  Judgment is coming!

 

To all Christians Jesus said, “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 until I come.”  God knows who hold on to Christ’s Word and His righteousness, His moral standards.  His promise to them is that they will rule over the nations with Him.  Hold on to His words, His warnings, and His promises until He comes.   

 

If you receive this blog through email, you can go to the regular blog page by moving your cursor to the top of the page and click on LEARNING DAILY header.  Then you can see the archived articles and comment section. You can also leave a comment by clicking on the date in the Comment Section.