“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; 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. 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. And I gave her space to repent of her fornication; and she repented not. Behold, I will cast her into a bed, and them that commit adultery with her into great tribulation, except they repent of their deeds. 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. 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. But that which ye have already hold fast till I come.” (Revelation 2:18-25).
Thyatira is a city ofAsia Minor, on the borders of Lydia and Mysia. Lydia, the seller of purple, or rather of cloth dyed with this color, was from this city (Acts 16:14). It was and still is famous for its dyeing.
Jesus is presented in this letter as, “…the Son of God, who hath his eyes like unto a flame of fire, and his feet are like fine brass.” The one who walked in their midst was like the Son of Man with penetrating, purifying eyes. Habakkuk 1:13 says of Him, “Thou art of purer eyes than to behold evil, and canst not look on iniquity…” It is our eyes that first behold evil and our feet are swift to take us to it. Eve’s sin resulted from what she saw. The same can be said of Achan, Lot, and King David.
The Son of God cannot look on sin with approval. His eyes are like unto a flame of fire. He sees and judges righteously. His is a walk of holiness. His feet, while on earth, were washed with water and tears. They were wiped with a towel and the hair of a woman. But now those feet are seen as bathed in a furnace of molten brass, purified seven times. His is a holy walk and so it must be of His followers.
Although there was much in this church to commend, there was also sin in the camp and it must be removed if that church was to remain (v.20). In each of the letters there is a sin connected to Israel’s past. At Ephesus, there was the sin of false “apostles.” At Smyrna, there were those who claimed to be “Jews” but were liars. At Pergamos, there were those who embraced the doctrines of Balaam and the Nicolaitanes. In Thyatira, there was a false prophetess like unto Israel’s Old Testament Jezebel.
The indictment on this church is that a woman, like unto, or whose name was Jezebel, was within their midst. There were false Jews within the church who committed immoralities similar to those of their fathers. Those who follow her pernicious ways will be destroyed if they do not repent. It is worthy to note that false doctrine and immorality are the two causes of God’s judgment on these churches. False doctrine leads to false living, which leads to God’s judgment.
“…as many as have not this doctrine, and which have not known the depths of Satan.” (v.24). The “doctrine” was the false teaching of Jezebel. Her teaching included deception and depravity. These two are the “depths” of Satan. This is his final objective. “And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him” (Revelation 12:9). Some in the remnant will not be deceived, nor will they enter into the temptations of immorality. The 144,000 are an example of this.
In verse 25, the believing remnant had the truth and had taken a stand for the coming Christ. They were encouraged to be faithful and patient. He who is to come, will come. “But that which ye have already hold fast till I come.” “And he that overcometh, and keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations: 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. And I will give him the morning star. He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.” (Revelation 2:26-29).
The reader cannot possibly miss the fact that overcoming and good works are imperative for kingdom citizenship and ministry (v. 26-27). These, to whom the Revelation is written, will rule and reign with Christ for 1000 years. These promises are seen in the Old Testament, throughout the Gospels, and in the Jewish epistles.
We should keep in mind that when God ruled in the Jewish kingdom of the past, He did so through a theocracy. This will be the form of government in the kingdom. Christ will rule through His overcoming remnant. Note the following: “Thou shalt break them with a rod of iron; thou shalt dash them in pieces like a potter’s vessel” (Psalm 2:9). “The Lord shall send the rod of thy strength out of Zion: rule thou in the midst of thine enemies” (Psalm 110:2). “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” (Revelation 2:27). “And she brought forth a man child, who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron: and her child was caught up unto God, and to his throne” (Revelation 12:5). “And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God” (Revelation 19:15).
“And I will give him the morning star” (v. 28). Jesus Christ is the morning star. This is clear from 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.” He is the “root,” the “offspring,” and the “star.”
Each of these titles is associated with David’s son through whom the Kingdom would be established. When Christ appears to Israel, He will bring righteousness, peace, and truth to His people. Those who wait and look for Him will enter into the glorious Kingdom with Him. They will receive what He receives and partake of all that is His. Thus, they are given the Morning Star.
In Numbers 24:17, Balaam prophesied of Him, “I shall see him, but not now: I shall behold him, but not nigh: there shall come a Star out of Jacob, and a Sceptre shall rise out of Israel, and shall smite the corners of Moab, and destroy all the children of Sheth.” One can see that a King and a Kingdom are in view here. When we come to the introduction of Matthew, we see the wise men of the east following His star and it leads them to the Christ. So, the promise is that the overcomers will rule and reign withChrist and receive all that is associated with His rule.
“He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches” (v. 29). This promise is to all the churches.
Pastor Ken Blue was born in Boswell, Ark. In 1955 he accepted Christ as his Savior. He and his wife Joyce were married in 1955. They have 5 children. He graduated from Midwestern Baptist Bible College in 1969 and started the Open Door Baptist Church in Lynnwood, Wa. where he pastored for 39 years. Because of health issues (ALS) he was forced to resign as pastor. It is his desire to continue to be used of God to help pastors and believers through this ministry.