7 Churches of Revelation: Thyatira   

Rev. Lonnie C. Crowe 

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 beguile My servants to commit sexual immorality and to eat things sacrificed to idols. 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. And 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. But to you I say, and to the rest in Thyatira, as many as do not have this doctrine, and who have not known the depths of Satan, as they call them, 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; as the potter's vessels shall be broken to pieces' 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.'' '  

Thyatira was a wealthy trading town. The temple to the god Apollo (son of Zeus). Apollo was the god of the sun, healing and music. The city was famous for its purple dye. Lydia was from Thyatira. Acts 16: 14-15: “Now a certain woman named Lydia heard us. She was a seller of purple from the city of Thyatira, who worshiped God. The Lord opened her heart to heed the things spoken by Paul. And when she and her household were baptized, she begged us, saying, "If you have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come to my house and stay.'' And she constrained us.” 

God criticizes this church in the city for allowing a woman, who is given the symbolic name Jezebel, to teach false doctrine to believers (Revelation 2:20 - 23).  Thyatira was famous for its textiles, especially the production of purple dye and its trade guilds. Every worker in the textile industry was supposed to join a trade guild.  Each trade guild was dedicated to a pagan god. Joining meant participation in the guild feasts that included eating food dedicated to the various gods, immoral acts and the worship of idols. 

 The real life Jezebel was the wife of King Ahab, considered the most evil king of ancient Israel. Jezebel herself is considered one of the most evil people in all of Scripture. Her sins ultimately caught up with her when, years after her husband's death, King Jehu of Israel commanded that she be killed by being tossed out of a window (2Kings 9:30 -33)! Her notorious life earned her the spot as the fifth most mentioned woman in the entirety of the Bible and symbolic of the sins committed in Thyatira! 

Sometimes the pressure of “fitting in” with the world is overwhelming, but we are to stand firm in our faith, trusting God to provide and to take care of us. We are also to stand firm on the truth of God’s Word and not tolerate those who disregard and distort it. The weapon the distorters most often use is fear. 

We see the mercy of God in this passage.  God gives the one who is teaching false doctrine time to repent.  If the false teacher does not repent, he or she and all those who are following the false doctrine will suffer the consequences of the false teaching. 

 

The spirit of Jezebel is not confined to women. Among the idols of today are: money, popularity, possessions, the universe, nature, Buddhism, Hinduism, self. 

 

Revelation 22: 16.  "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.'' 

When we hold fast to truth, all the promises of God are ours through the covenant we have with the Father through the sacrifice of His Son.