Revelation 2:18-29 — Thyatira

Now we get to Jesus' letter to the church in Thyatira.¶

"And to the angel of the church in Thyatira write: 'The words of the Son of God, who has eyes like a flame of fire, and whose feet are like burnished bronze.

Revelation 2:18 (ESV)¶

A few things from this introduction. Thyatira means "odour of affliction" — a distinctive smell, especially an unpleasant one. This church has something about it that is distinct and not pleasant; the aroma it gives off in this world is foul. And Jesus introduces himself as "the Son of God" — the only time he is called this in Revelation. He comes to them as the one in charge, the title above all titles, the name above all names. The Son of God is here, so listen up!¶

He also identifies himself as the one with eyes like a flame of fire and feet like burnished bronze. These represent judgment and refinement (Lamentations 2:3; Ezekiel 22:20). Bronze recalls the bronze serpent — judgment on Israel for their grumbling, yet a means of life for those who looked (Numbers 21:6-9) — and bronze was what most of the utensils for temple sacrifice were made of, made holy and cleansed by blood and water so that nothing in the temple was defiled. Jesus is here to remind this church what it means to be holy and undefiled — refined, set apart, clean and pure — and to judge those who refuse to be.¶

"I know your works"¶

"'I know your works, your love and faith and service and patient endurance, and that your latter works exceed the first.

Revelation 2:19 (ESV)¶

First he points out what is good in them: they have love and faith, service and patient endurance — and remarkably they are doing more for God now than when they began. This is a good reminder for any of us who feel that all Jesus wants is that we love and have faith and serve. But what Jesus actually wants is a clean and pure bride.¶

Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, so that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish.

Ephesians 5:25-27 (ESV)¶

This is what Christ desires — not just outward works and faith, but inward transformation and purity. Just as the bronze utensils in the temple were cleansed and made pure for true service, so Christ desires a pure church. And this church, as we will see, is not pure but rather is swimming in filth.¶

"You tolerate that woman Jezebel"¶

But I have this against you, that you tolerate that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess and is teaching and seducing my servants to practice sexual immorality and to eat food sacrificed to idols. I gave her time to repent, but she refuses to repent of her sexual immorality. Behold, I will throw her onto a sickbed, and those who commit adultery with her I will throw into great tribulation, unless they repent of her works,

Revelation 2:20-22 (ESV)¶

This church tolerates — allows, permits, condones, indulges in — Jezebel. The woman in this church probably was not actually named Jezebel, but we know who the Bible tells us Jezebel was: the wife of Ahab, the wickedest king of Israel up to his time (1 Kings 16-21). She led Ahab to worship Baal; she had the prophets of God killed and threatened Elijah; she was seductive and deceptive; she represents marriage to the world and to other gods. When we as the people of God tolerate impurity, sexual immorality, and idolatry, we are acting like this church.¶

But sexual immorality and all impurity or covetousness must not even be named among you, as is proper among saints.

Ephesians 5:3 (ESV)¶

Pornography, sexually explicit films, games, music, or jokes — these are the kinds of things Jesus is speaking of. Do we tolerate them? See them as not that big a deal? Indulge in them? Jesus says repent! And as for idolatry: do we tolerate things others use to worship other gods — tarot cards, the spiritual side of yoga, crystals, auras, chakras, astrology, horoscopes, palm readers, psychics, and the like? Are we claiming to follow Christ while adopting these into our lives?¶

Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.

Galatians 5:19-21 (ESV)¶

What some in this church have done is allow themselves to be seduced into mixing spirit with flesh — keep the Spirit for God over here, and get what you want in the flesh over there — which only leads to destruction. Christ warns this church, as he does us today, not to tolerate the woman Jezebel. We must reject her, cast her out.¶

Consider how Jehu, anointed king after Ahab, dealt with Jezebel:¶

And he lifted up his face to the window and said, "Who is on my side? Who?" Two or three eunuchs looked out at him. He said, "Throw her down." So they threw her down...

2 Kings 9:32-33 (ESV)¶

Those who are on Christ's side, like those eunuchs, must decide to throw her out the window of our minds and hearts. We must choose whose side we are on. If Christ's, then sexual immorality and idolatry must have no place in us. Jehu then gathered the prophets of Baal and removed them entirely — this is what "not even a hint" means: not even a little is okay for the follower of Christ. Search your own hearts, brothers and sisters.¶

"I am he who searches mind and heart"¶

and I will strike her children dead. And all the churches will know that I am he who searches mind and heart, and I will give to each of you according to your works.

Revelation 2:23 (ESV)¶

This church had love and faith and service, but in some of their minds was all sorts of wickedness — this was the "odour of affliction." They afflicted themselves with impurity and idolatry, and nothing stinks more than a hypocritical church. Jesus sees the secrets of men; he knows the depths of our hearts. But let us have the heart of David, a man after God's own heart:¶

Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting!

Psalm 139:23-24 (ESV)¶

There is hope: "Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded" (James 4:8). Let us repent and draw near; he is not far. I know from experience that walking in impurity as a believer makes you feel very far from God — but the reality is he is very close, and all we must do is repent, which means turn. Jesus promises, "Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God" (Matthew 5:8).¶

To the rest, and to the one who conquers¶

But to the rest of you in Thyatira, who do not hold this teaching, who have not learned what some call the deep things of Satan, to you I say, I do not lay on you any other burden. Only hold fast what you have until I come.

Revelation 2:24-25 (ESV)¶

There is no extra burden — the burden to walk in purity and to allow Christ's Spirit to sanctify us has always been there. The letter ends:¶

The one who conquers and who keeps my works until the end, to him I will give authority over the nations, and he will rule them with a rod of iron, as when earthen pots are broken in pieces, even as I myself have received authority 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.

Revelation 2:26-29 (ESV)¶

What does it mean to keep his works?¶

Then they said to him, "What must we do, to be doing the works of God?" Jesus answered them, "This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he has sent."

John 6:28-29 (ESV)¶

The work of God is to believe in Jesus, and the works of Jesus are to make disciples, teaching them to obey all he commanded. We as Christ's church must walk in purity; if we do not, we will have no authority to teach others to be Christ's disciples. Christ desires a pure, white bride — so let his Spirit cleanse and refine us, that we will not need to be judged by him.¶