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 seduce My servants to commit sexual immorality and eat things sacrificed to idols.
And 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. I will kill her children with death, and all the churches shall know that I am He who searche the minds and hearts. And I will give to each one of you according to your works.
“Now to you I say, and to the rest in Thyatira, 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 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; they shall be dashed to pieces like the potter’s vessels’—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.” ’
The Church of Thyatira
The church of Thyatira is one of the seven churches in Revelation (Revelation 2:18-26). The origin and meaning of Thyatira is not clear. Some have suggested that Thyatira means “sweet savor of labor,” perhaps on the basis of the “works” of the church set forth in verse 19.
Although less notable than the other six cities, ancient Thyatira was nevertheless distinguished by the number and variety of trades and crafts that flourished there. It was famous for the dyeing of cloths (Acts 16:14). And it is probable that the Christians of Thyatira were employed in these local crafts.
When applied to Christian history, the message to Thyatira is applicable to the experience of the true church in the Dark Ages and the later Middle Ages. Trends that began in earlier periods became dominant during the Dark Ages. The Scriptures were not available to the ordinary Christian. Therefore, man-made traditions took hold of the people (Mark 7:13). Salvation by works was preached as a means of salvation which is contrary to the Word of God (Ephesians 2:8). And the priests took the place of the priesthood of Jesus who shed His blood for all humanity (Hebrews 4:14-16).
All those that rejected the traditions of men and the apostasy, faced great persecution, and the Thyatira period of church history is therefore, called the Age of Adversity. Because of the adversity, the light of the truth almost disappeared. The spiritual message of the Reformation was a call to change and to come back to the teachings of the scriptures. The reformers taught that people are saved only by faith in Christ, and to follow His Word, and that every man may come before the great High Priest, Jesus Christ, without a human intercessor (1 Timothy 2:5).
In His service,
BibleAsk Team
