Revelation 2:18-29

To the Corrupted Church

Forty miles southeast of Pergamum was the city of Thyatira. The city was famous for its purple dye, which Lydia sold (Acts 16:11-15). It was the home of numerous trade guilds, the ancient forerunner of modern day unions. Each guild had its own god and worshiped it. One was expected to be a guild member, to keep his job, and attend its functions, which would include feasts in honor of the god that would end with grossly immoral acts. This was the smallest of the towns whose churches were written to, but its church received the longest letter. The chief deity of the city was Apollo, the Greek sun god, which may account for Jesus identifying himself as the Son of God. Also, this designation calls to one's minds the fact that He was God incarnate and resurrected from the dead (John 1:14; Romans 1:4). Jesus' eyes burn through all of the outward show and excuses for one's actions and see to the real heart of his reasons for acting (Hebrews 4:13). A discussion of brass can be found in 1:15 (Revelation 2:18).

Jesus was aware of their works, which were greater at the time of this writing than they had been at the beginning of the church. They had grown in works. One of their works was love, which would be needed for brethren, enemies and the lost (John 13:34-35; Matthew 5:43-48; John 3:16). Next, they were involved in the work of service or ministering as their Lord had been (John 13:1-17). Faith is a belief in God and a diligent seeking to please him (Hebrews 11:6). Patience describes endurance and may refer to persecution, though this would be the only reference to it in this letter (Revelation 2:19).

Jezebel is likely not the woman's actual name but symbolically tells us what kind of woman she was. 1 Kings 16:30-33; 1 Kings 18:4; 1 Kings 18:19 tells us Jezebel cut off true prophets through persecution and put in their place 400 false prophets. She divorced morality from religion (2 Kings 9:22). The church allowed, or did not restrain, their Jezebel. She claimed to be a spokesman for God and led the church away from truth and into error through deception. It is possible she said the pagan feasts and immoral practices of the trade guilds could be participated in by Christians without violating God's will. Of course, Christians cannot tolerate sin (Revelation 2:20; Ephesians 5:8-11; 1 Thessalonians 5:21-22; 1 Corinthians 5:1-6).

Somehow Jezebel had been warned and given time to turn from her sin, but she had not changed. She had been leading God's people to a bed of adultery, so God was going to put her on a bed of pain and suffering and affliction. Her children would be those who took on her doctrines and attitudes. The expression "the minds and hearts" is used to describe the deepest seat of the emotion, actually the bowels. Jesus wanted all the churches to know he was watching and observing even their deepest feelings and they would be rewarded according to how they had sown (Revelation 2:20-23).

The Lord was proud of those who had remained faithful in this matter and would place no other burden on them than being faithful. Some had been talking 697about knowing the "depths of Satan." It may be that Jezebel and her followers said one had to experience all the evils of Satan in order to combat him. Those who overcame, are faithful to keep the Lord's works until the end, were promised power over the nations (Revelation 2:24-26).

When the potter gets through making pottery at the end of the day, he goes back and examines his works. Those that are flawed are taken out and smashed with a rod of iron. Christians have this power, it seems, because they are part of Christ's body and He will judge and punish the wicked of all nations. The morning star comes out not long before daylight and is a very bright star. It is a symbol of hope. Though the night had been dark and long and treacherous, this star heralds the coming of a new day. Revelation 22:16 tells us Jesus is the bright and morning star. Thus, we can say those who overcome will be in heaven with Jesus. The Lord urged His readers to listen to what He said so they could be rewarded (Revelation 2:27-29; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18).