Revelation 2:18-29

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.  “‘I know your works, your love and faith and service and patient endurance, and that your latter works exceed the first.  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, 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.  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.  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.’

In every congregation there will be a wide variety of people who live their lives and practice their faith in different ways.  Some of this simply has to do with personality, giftings, and opportunities that are afforded.  These differences are both understandable and essential to the functioning of the church.  However, there are times when the differences stem from deep seated doctrinal beliefs, sinful lifestyles, and passivity when it comes to dealing with sin in their private lives and the congregation.  Sin and false doctrine can never be tolerated in the name of promoting unity within the body.

COMMENDABLE SERVICE: Jesus describes Himself to this church as having eyes of flaming fire and feet of burnished bonze.  The wrath of God towards sin is just and He is fixed against false doctrine and sin.  He encourages the church by commending them for their works, love, faith, and service.  They are practicing these virtues in a context of suffering which they are enduring with patience.  Perhaps even more impressive is that they are continuing to grow in the sense that their latter works are exceeding their first.  This is to be the natural order of life for the believer.  As we walk in the truth of His Word and in fellowship with His Spirit, we should make progress in the process of being conformed to His image.  It is comforting to understand that He knows and loves us and commends us for the progress that ultimately is produced by His power, mercy, and grace.

CONTEMPTABLE TOLERANCE: Christ vehemently condemns the tolerance of idolatry and immorality that He calls that woman Jezebel.  She was a wicked queen in Israel that not only permitted idolatry and immorality in the people but promoted it.  Clearly, she was not present inside the church of Thyatira, but her messages and teachings had apparently been present in the church and the leadership did not step forward to expel this false teaching and sinful practice from the congregation.  Those who present themselves as leaders but are practicing seduction and striving to lead members of the church to practice immorality cannot be given space in the church.  They must be confronted, exposed, and called to repentance.  If there is no repentance, then they must be removed from fellowship and membership in the church.

COMPERABLE JUSTICE: Christ extended grace in allowing time for repentance to take place, but when it did not happen; she became ill.  Those who followed her teachings were also afflicted with tribulation.  Sin has consequences and it is a grace of God to allow for pain and illness to occur in the lives of those who rebel against Him.  The intent behind all consequences of sin is to lead people into repentance.  God longs for all men to turn from their sin and entrust themselves to the Lord Jesus Christ who died and rose again to forgive and free us from sin.  There is a path of forgiveness and righteousness forged by the Lord Jesus and purchased with His blood.  Those who reject Christ and insist on following their own sinful ways will experience eternal separation from God in the ultimate spiritual death.  God will judge rightly.  Because of His grace, that judgment may not be immediate or complete in hopes that people will respond to His love with repentance and faith.  He knows our hearts and our minds perfectly.  Those who have rejected this abominable teaching, Christ commends and calls to press on no matter what the cost.  He promises that He will return and set things right and those who respond to His love with faith and obedience will rejoice in the eternal pleasure of reigning with Christ.

APPLICATION: Seek to continually grow in our works, love, faith, and service even when the benefits of doing so are not readily evident.  Confront those who are in the church claiming to be believers but are practicing and promoting immorality and idolatry.  Trust the Lord to judge sin and reward obedience perfectly and use this confidence as a means of promoting hope and obedience.