seekeroftruth
Well-Known Member
Revelation 2:18 “To the angel of the church in Thyatira write:
These are the words of the Son of God, whose eyes are like blazing fire and whose feet are like burnished bronze. 19 I know your deeds, your love and faith, your service and perseverance, and that you are now doing more than you did at first.
20 Nevertheless, I have this against you: You tolerate that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophet. By her teaching she misleads my servants into sexual immorality and the eating of food sacrificed to idols. 21 I have given her time to repent of her immorality, but she is unwilling. 22 So I will cast her on a bed of suffering, and I will make those who commit adultery with her suffer intensely, unless they repent of her ways. 23 I will strike her children dead. Then all the churches will know that I am he who searches hearts and minds, and I will repay each of you according to your deeds.
24 Now I say to the rest of you in Thyatira, to you who do not hold to her teaching and have not learned Satan’s so-called deep secrets, ‘I will not impose any other burden on you, 25 except to hold on to what you have until I come.’
26 To the one who is victorious and does my will to the end, I will give authority over the nations— 27 that one ‘will rule them with an iron scepter and will dash them to pieces like pottery’—just as I have received authority from my Father. 28 I will also give that one the morning star. 29 Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches.
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Here's the link to the commentary I read. There is a lot more about Jezebel than I posted here. Please follow the link and find out how Jezebel's hubby got his garden! Then you'll see the kind of witch that Jezebel really was!
Thyatira: This was the smallest and least important of the seven cities Jesus addresses in Revelation 2 and 3. In history, we have no record that the Christians of Thyatira suffered any significant political or religious persecution.
Thyatira: Still, this city was a center of business and trade. It had many active trade guilds, each having their own patron deity from the Greek and Roman pantheon of gods.
I know your works: Thyatira was the least significant city among the seven cities Jesus addressed, yet they were not hidden to Jesus. Like each one of the churches, Jesus said to the church at Thyatira “I know your works.”
Love, service, faith, and your patience: In many ways, the church at Thyatira was a model church. They had four great essential qualities. They had love, both for the Lord and for one another. They knew service, and had faith and patience worth mentioning.
As for your works, the last are more than the first: This was another compliment to the church at Thyatira. Not only did they have these works, but they had them in increasing measure — they were growing in love, service, faith, and patience.
Nevertheless: Despite all the good Jesus saw in the church at Thyatira, there were significant problems. The problems were big enough for Jesus to say nevertheless, which meant “Despite all the good, I have a few things against you.”
Because you allow that woman Jezebel: The center of the corruption at the church at Thyatira was a woman Jesus called Jezebel. This may not have been her literal name, but a title that clearly represented a self-styled prophetess within the church, after the pattern of Jezebel in the Old Testament (1 Kings 16-21 and 2 Kings 9:30-37).
The name Jezebel had a powerful association. If we call someone a Judas or a Hitler it means something strong. It was also a strong thing to call this woman Jezebel. “She was one of the most evil characters of the Old Testament, who attempted to combine the worship of Israel with the worship of the idol Baal… Jezebel herself had a most unenviable record of evil.” (Walvoord)
Who calls herself a prophetess: This “Jezebel” at the church of Thyatira wasn’t really a prophetess, she only claimed to be one. Yet, it seems the Christians there received her as a prophetess, and that is why Jesus gave them this warning.
To teach and seduce My servants to commit sexual immorality and eat things sacrificed to idols: Here, Jesus described the specific sin of this woman “Jezebel.” Mainly, she was an immoral and ungodly influence on others, and led others into sin. Jezebel led others into immorality and idolatry.
Because of the strong trade guilds in Thyatira, the sexual immorality and the eating of things sacrificed to idols was probably connected with the mandatory social occasions of the guilds. Perhaps a Christian was invited to the monthly meeting of the goldsmith’s guild, and the meeting was held at the temple of Apollo. “Jezebel” would allow or encourage the man to go — perhaps even using a “prophetic” word — and when the man went, he fell into immorality and idolatry.
The draw to the guilds and their meetings was powerful. “No merchant or trader could hope to prosper or make money unless he was a member of his trade guild.” (Barclay) Nonetheless, Christians were expected to stand in the face of this kind of pressure. One ancient Christian named Tertullian wrote about Christians who made their living in trades connected to pagan idolatry. A painter might find work in pagan temples or a sculptor might be hired to make a statue of a pagan god. They would justify this by saying, “This is my living, and I must live.” Tertullian replied, Vivere ergo habes? “Must you live?”
And I gave her time to repent… and she did not repent: Jesus’ greatest accusation was that this “Jezebel” did not repent. She apparently rejected the work of the Holy Spirit in her heart, calling her to repentance.
Because you allow: This shows the sin of the church of Thyatira. On the outside, they were a model church, showing works, love, service, faith, and patience. Yet there was significant corruption inside the church. The sin of the church was that they allowed this corruption.
It wasn’t necessarily a large group following Jezebel. A little leaven affects a whole lump of dough, and a few in immorality and idolatry will corrupt the whole church — especially if they influence others the way this Jezebel did.
I will cast her into a sickbed: Before Jesus told the Christians in Thyatira what they must do, He first told them what He would do. Jesus would chastise this Jezebel, and cast her into a sickbed, along with those who commit adultery with her.
Unless they repent of their deeds: Jesus revealed the purpose for this chastening. First, it was to draw them to repent of their deeds. They wouldn’t listen to Jesus before, so He had to speak louder through the sickbed. Second, it was to give an example of holiness to other churches: and all the churches shall know that I am He who searches the minds and hearts.
I will kill her children with death: “All men die, but all are not killed with death… Oh, it is a woeful thing to be killed with death.” (Trapp)
Hold fast what you have till I come: There were many faithful, uncompromising Christians in Thyatira. To them, Jesus simply said, “hold fast.” They must not stop doing what is good. They must not become distracted or discouraged from what Jesus wants them to be and to do.
Jesus also told them how long to hold fast: till I come. We are to hang in there and stand strong for Jesus until He comes. It is only then that the battle will be over.
He who overcomes, and keeps My works until the end: Even when there is the immoral and idolatrous influence of a Jezebel, Christians can overcome and keep Jesus’ works until the end. We must not become overly discouraged at immorality and idolatry around us, even among Christians. God’s work will still go on through His overcomers.
To him I will give power over the nations: Jesus promised that His people will reign with Him. Here, there is a special promise to those who overcome the threat of immorality and idolatry. To them, Jesus offered a share in His own kingdom.
He who has an ear: This is a letter that applies to everyone. It applies to those who are like Jezebel, who lead others into sin. It applies to those who follow the teaching of a Jezebel, and follow others into sin. It applies to those who permit a Jezebel to work her wickedness. Finally, it applies to the faithful who must hold fast.
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The church at Thyatira was doing everything right... well almost everything. The majority of the membership were steadfastly holding onto good deeds, love, faith, service and perseverance. They were upright, trying really hard to encourage people to join the Family of God.
But then there was a Jezebel amongst them.
I've been through a few Bible Studies on the Book of Revelation. I've heard a lot of preachers who dwell on the fact the Christians actually had to join the guild in order to gain employment. So, the men in Thyatira had to work in Satan's temples or starve.
I know a lot of good men who left church services wondering if they were making the world a horrible place because they continue to work for a non-Christian.
I've also met a couple men who named their business Agape so the Christians will think they are more trustworthy even though they had to work in satan's temple. Jezebel liked that for their ingenuity!
I've rarely heard the preachers talk about Jezebel... the liar prophetess.
I'll bet just about every church has a Jezebel. She's the one who is leading all the studies. She's the one who plans the menu, delegates the kitchen jobs, and claims to "work for the Lord", not "taking the praise". [Yeah right]
The Jezebel in the church is the one who wants to be "all inclusive" as long as they pass her test of "worthy".
She wants to invite everyone in the world to take a bite of her apple pie. If they get a taste of her delicious pie, they will stay in the church, with their tithe, and their praise for her pot luck!
She's the one who would throw someone out of church if they smoke cigarettes on campus. She's the one who would label a woman a whore because she wears too much makeup. She's the one who would buy the perfect Bible Study books because they are benign, a perfected gospel, twisted just enough to allow the preacher's mom to have an abortion, because she just can't handle another baby. She's the one who would never tolerate a surgically modified person in her church. Got tats? She would not allow you in her church.
She preaches that Jesus has rules about who would join her church. She preaches that in order to be in her church you must be associated with the guilds in town because they would enjoy the Christian Witness.
Yep... the Church at Thyatira had quite a female Pew Warmer running the show. They used her recipes for pot luck. They were required to tithe or leave. They were required to do what she thought right!
The Church in Thyatira was plagued by the Jezebel!
