THE CHURCH AT THYATIRA ICU Notes

SEVEN KEYS: Living in Uncertain Times

ICU Group Notes

Session 4: February 4, 2018

"The Key of Integrity"

Revelation 2:18–29 (NKJV) 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: ¹⁹“I know your works, love, service, faith, and your patience; and as for your works, the last are more than the first. ²⁰Nevertheless 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. ²¹And I gave her time to repent of her sexual immorality, and she did not repent. ²²Indeed I will cast her into a sickbed, and those who commit adultery with her into great tribulation, unless they repent of their deeds. ²³I 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. ²⁴“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. ²⁵But hold fast what you have till I come. ²⁶And he who overcomes, and keeps My works until the end, to him I will give power over the nations— ²⁷‘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; ²⁸and I will give him the morning star. ²⁹“He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.”

Thyatira was a city with a large military detachment about 30 miles southeast of Pergamos. Recognized for its wool and dye industries, the city was also noted for its trade guilds.

The church at Thyatira allowed itself to be deceived by a prophetess who was called (or called herself) Jezebel, bringing to mind the great conflicts of Elijah’s day (1 Kings 16; 2 Kings 9). She and her followers advocated radical paganism and were warned by God to repent. If they did not, judgment awaited them, as well as those who wanted to pry into “Satan’s so-called deep secrets,” that is, occult practices (2:24), which were a particular temptation in antiquity and condemned by the New Testament (Gal. 5:20; Rev. 21:8; 22:15). God who knows the depths of our hearts and minds (2:23) will treat everyone with care and fairness, and the victorious believer will rule with Christ (2:26, 28).

1. What was the problem in Thyatira?

a. False teaching

b. Corruption

2. What is the key, the process that will fix the problem?

a. Integrity

b. Hold fast

3.  What prize is promised?

a. Power

b. "The Daystar"

To aid in your study and discussion, I am providing some additional material by Charlie Wolcott. The material has been adapted from Charlie's articles on the seven churches found on the "Worldview Warriors" webpage, and has been edited for our purposes. You can read the entire article at: http://worldviewwarriors.blogspot.com/2018/01/to-church-at-thyatira.html

To the Church at Thyatira

In continuing this series about the letters to the seven churches of Revelation 2-3, the fourth letter is to the church at Thyatira. They claimed to follow Christ but had allowed false teachings to the pulpit as well. With Thyatira, it was not mere allowance of other teachings in their midst, it was allowing false teachers as the leadership. Thyatira’s problem was the result of Pergamos’ problem: going from compromise to corruption.

With Thyatira, Jesus describes his eyes like a flame of fire and feet like fine brass. Jesus’ eyes are blazing and more often than not, fire and eyes together is the image of wrath. He is kind and gentle, but he is a raging fire and he will consume all who are not under his protection. He is coming with a rod of iron to crush and dash the nations to pieces (verse 27). He is not to be trifled with and too many of us (yes, that includes me) are guilty of doing so.

Jesus started with a few positive notes. He recognizes their works, love, service, faith, and patience. However, I get the sense that he just wants to get that part out of the way and get to the issue that has caused his eyes to burn with fire: Jezebel. Many know who Jezebel is and her marriage to Ahab and her defiance of Elijah the prophet, however by this time, Jezebel’s name had become synonymous with false teaching. Thyatira had been corrupted enough to where they allowed the spirit of Jezebel into their pulpits and leadership. Jesus specifically pointed out the sins of sexual immorality and eating food sacrificed to idols, however do not be fooled that this is the only area this applies.

Jesus let the false teachers go for a while so they might repent (verse 21), but they would not. Jesus does not want to carry out his judgment upon man. He longs for them to repent. However, there comes a point where the person will not repent and any hint towards it has to do with getting caught and losing out on self, not a recognition of their rebellion against God. Jesus said he will judge her, make her sick. Those who lie with her will be cast into a great tribulation unless they repent. Her children will die and he will give according to their works.

Jesus offers hope for those who have not submitted to the false teacher. I do believe that in every congregation, no matter how blatantly false the teachings are, there is a group of solid, true believers in and among them. Jesus is not going to put an extra burden on them. Jesus’ command to them is to hold on to the truth they know and to not let it go.

Are you in a Thyatiran church? Take a firm hold of the truth and do not let go of it. False teachings act like a poisonous miasma, like yeast, seeking to infiltrate anything it can.