2:18 ¶ And unto the angel of the
church in Thyatira write; These things saith the Son of God, who hath his eyes
like unto a flame of fire, and his feet are like fine brass; 19 I know thy works, and charity, and service,
and faith, and thy patience, and thy works; and the last to be more than the
first. 20 Notwithstanding I have a few
things against thee, because thou sufferest that woman Jezebel, which calleth
herself a prophetess, to teach and to seduce my servants to commit fornication,
and to eat things sacrificed unto idols. 21
And I gave her space to repent of her fornication; and she repented not.
22 Behold, I will cast her into a bed,
and them that commit adultery with her into great tribulation, except they
repent of their deeds. 23 And I will
kill her children with death; and all the churches shall know that I am he
which searcheth the reins and hearts: and I will give unto every one of you
according to your works. 24 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. 25 But that which ye
have already hold fast till I come. 26
And he that overcometh, and keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I
give power over the nations: 27 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. 28 And I will give him the morning star. 29 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the
Spirit saith unto the churches.
One thing to note right away is
that although there is no period of time in the Bible called The Great
Tribulation but only a reference to a period of great tribulation I will be
using the popular name for the 3 ½ years of great tribulation as The Great
Tribulation.
For the church at Thyatira works
are mentioned twice and the last works are greater than the first so Thyatira’s
works were becoming greater. Christian works are defined very specifically in
the Bible as an expression of faith, not as a means of acquiring salvation or
keeping it.
James 1:27 Pure religion and
undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows
in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.
1Timothy 5: 9 Let not a widow be taken into the number
under threescore years old, having been the wife of one man, 10 Well reported of for good works; if she have
brought up children, if she have lodged strangers, if she have washed the
saints’ feet, if she have relieved the afflicted, if she have diligently
followed every good work.
Romans 12:13 Distributing to the
necessity of saints; given to hospitality.
The church at Thyatira, like many
modern, larger churches, probably had a number of ministries that ministered to
the hungry and sick and took care of the elders among them.
However, this church is criticized
for permitting either a physical person calling herself Jezebel to pollute
their faith or Jezebel is used
figuratively to describe their tendency to absorb pagan practices. Her punishment
is severe but the phrase to kill her
children with death suggests a plague of some sort, rather than just a
generic reference to death.
Revelation 6:8 And I looked, and
behold a pale horse: and his name that sat on him was Death, and Hell followed
with him. And power was given unto them over the fourth part of the earth, to
kill with sword, and with hunger, and with death, and with the beasts of the
earth.
2Samuel 24:13 So Gad came to
David, and told him, and said unto him, Shall seven years of famine come unto
thee in thy land? or wilt thou flee three months before thine enemies, while
they pursue thee? or that there be three days’ pestilence in thy land? now
advise, and see what answer I shall return to him that sent me….15 So the LORD sent a pestilence upon Israel
from the morning even to the time appointed: and there died of the people from
Dan even to Beersheba seventy thousand men.
Verse 24…Not everyone in the
church at Thyatira is to be judged like this and Christ tells them to hold on
until He returns. He that holds fast his faith until the end will be given rule
over the nations. This is clearly in Christ’s millennial reign when He returns
to rule which will become clearer later. Pottery broken to shivers, means to be
dashed to pieces.
The great Psalm about the
millennium of Christ’s reign on earth is important at this point.
Psalm 2:1 ¶ Why do the heathen
rage, and the people imagine a vain thing? 2
The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel
together, against the LORD, and against his anointed, saying, 3 Let us break their bands asunder, and cast
away their cords from us. 4 He that
sitteth in the heavens shall laugh: the Lord shall have them in derision.
5 Then shall he speak unto them in his
wrath, and vex them in his sore displeasure. 6
Yet have I set my king upon my holy hill of Zion.
7 ¶ I will declare the decree:
the LORD hath said unto me, Thou art my Son; this day have I begotten thee.
8 Ask of me, and I shall give thee the
heathen for thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for thy
possession. 9 Thou shalt break them with a rod of iron;
thou shalt dash them in pieces like a potter’s vessel.
10 ¶ Be wise now therefore, O ye
kings: be instructed, ye judges of the earth. 11 Serve the LORD with fear, and rejoice with
trembling. 12 Kiss the Son, lest he be
angry, and ye perish from the way, when his wrath is kindled but a little.
Blessed are all they that put their trust in him.
As Christ has all authority and
power over the nations so shall these, His faithful followers.
Matthew 28:18 And Jesus came and
spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.
He received this by His obedience
unto death, His submission to His own divine plan and will, even though Satan
offered it to Him if He would bow down to this created being.
Luke 4:5 And the devil, taking
him up into an high mountain, shewed unto him all the kingdoms of the world in
a moment of time. 6 And the devil said
unto him, All this power will I give thee, and the glory of them: for that is
delivered unto me; and to whomsoever I will I give it. 7 If thou therefore wilt worship me, all shall
be thine. 8 And Jesus answered and said
unto him, Get thee behind me, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the
Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.
And they will be given the morning
star, who is Christ.
Revelation 22:16 I Jesus have
sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches. I am the root
and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star.
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