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The Seven Churches Of Revelation Part 4: Thyatira

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The Seven Churches Of Revelation Part 4: Thyatira

Revelation 2:18-23
18 “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. 

20 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. 21 And I gave her time to repent of her sexual immorality, and she did not repent. 22 Indeed I will cast her into a sickbed, and those who commit adultery with her into great tribulation, unless they repent of their deeds. 23 I 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.”

Thyatira was an ancient Greek city first called, “Pelopia,” during the Hellenistic era.  It was renamed, “Thyateira,” by King Seliucus when he leaned tha his wife had givenh firth ta a daughter.  It comes from the Greek word, “Thugatera, ” which means, “Daughter.”

Seller Of Purple.

During the Roman era of the 1st century A.D., it was famous for its dying facilities and was the center of the purple cloth trade.  The first mention of the city of Thyatira in scripture is in Acts 16:14 when Paul and Silas met a woman of that city, “Lydia,” who was a seller of purple.

 “14 Now a certain woman named Lydia heard us. She was a seller of purple from the city of Thyatira, who worshiped God. The Lord opened her heart to heed the things spoken by Paul. 15 And when she and her household were baptized, she begged us, saying, “If you have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come to my house and stay.” So she persuaded us.”

Lydia was Paul’s first convert.  How far the Church had slipped from its founding.  Jesus, of course, commends them by saying, “I know your works, love, service, faith, and your patience; and as for your works, the last are more than the first.”  But the teachings of the woman, “Jezebel,” were not to be tolerated.

Eyes Like A Flame Of Fire.

Why did Jesus say to this Church that He has “Eyes like a flame of fire?” Because the people in this Church had begun to act like the pagan community around them.

Eyes speak of “Discernment,” something these Christians lacked. Jesus spoke to them like this as a way to give them what they needed.

You see, God’s people are to holy, which basically means, “Set apart.” For instance, if everyone around you swears and you don’t, you are different; set apart. Same thing if everyone drinks alcohol to excess and you do not. Perhaps they dress provocatively but you do not. You are set apart.

Sadly, this Church had begun to adopt the lifestyle and manners of the pagan culture around them. Jesus was calling them back to holiness: Separateness.

(For more on that topic, you may follow the link below:

The Opposite Of Holiness.
The Jezebel of Thyatira.

Jezebel Of Thyatira.

“20 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.”

What had begun to happen in Pergamos, was in full bloom in Thyatira.  That’s why Jesus warned them that it could happen to them.  Remember Jezebel, the wife of the evil king, Ahab?  She was a high priestess of Baal and actively sought not only to promote pagan worship of this idol, but to forbid worship of the Most High and kill all His priests.  She was stopped in her tracks, ultimately, through God’s prophet, Elijah.  

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Like a wolf in sheep’s clothing, this 1st century Jezebel, in the same spirit as her namesake, was promoting much the same idolatry in Thyatira.  Jesus was not pleased, warning them:

“Indeed I will cast her into a sickbed, and those who commit adultery with her into great tribulation, unless they repent of their deeds. 23 I 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.”

Notice the menorah in the picture above.  Thyatira is right in the center.  That means that the message to that Church is of CENTRAL IMPORTANCE. 

Jesus goes on to say…..”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. 25 But hold fast what you have till I come. 26 And 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; 28 and I will give him the morning star.29 “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.” ’

The morning star comes first before the sun rises.  This is a reference to the Raptured Church!  

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(For more on that topic, you may follow the link below:

https://emmausroadministries.international/2017/08/29/let-not-your-heart-be-troubled/

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Those who are truly born again and have been called home to the marriage supper of the Lamb will return with Jesus in His second coming and rule the world with Him during His millennial reign.  This is the heritage of the sons and daughters of God.  

–

29 “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.” ’

One response to “The Seven Churches Of Revelation Part 4: Thyatira”

  1. The Seven Churches Of Revelation Part 3: Pergamos – emmausroadministries Avatar
    The Seven Churches Of Revelation Part 3: Pergamos – emmausroadministries

    […] The Error Of Balaam. Numbers 23:19-21 “God is not a man, that He should lie, Nor a son of man, that He should repent. Has He said, and will He not do? Or has He spoken, and will He not make it good? Behold, I have received a command to bless; He has blessed, and I cannot reverse it. “He has not observed iniquity in Jacob, Nor has He seen wickedness in Israel. The Lord his God is with him, And the shout of a King is among them.” – How often do you hear the first part of this passage quoted:  “God is not a man that He should lie?”  Then (predictably) it is used in the context that God is a just God and therefore does not wink at sin, so you can expect to be punished by Him if you err.  The speaker is implying, of course, that once again, you have not measured up. Sound familiar? – The context in which Balaam said those words has nothing at all to do with God judging sin or punishing sinners.  What He said was, “God has blessed (the children of Israel) AND HE (Balaam) COULD NOT REVERSE IT.” It means, Church, that those whom God has blessed CANNOT BE CURSED. – That’s the real message in the story of Balaam.  Believers, you and I, fall into this category of those blessed by God by virtue of the fact that Jesus has FULLY taken upon Himself ALL our curse and ALL the punishment for sin that we deserve! – – Sin In The Camp? Do you think that there were people among the Israelites who were committing sins?  Of course there were.  Did they always obey God perfectly all the time?  Certainly not!  Yet God said He had not “Observed” iniquity in Jacob,  Nor has He “Seen” wickedness in Israel.” He didn’t say that there was none; simply that He has not “seen or observed” any.  Why?  Because the blood of an acceptable sacrifice had been sprinkled on top of the Mercy Seat on the last Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement.)  The blood reminded Him that, years in the future, His beloved Son would shed His blood for the sins of all men for all time and eternity. – Christians CANNOT Be Cursed.  Anyone, ANYONE…..I don’t care if they have a PhD…..who preaches or even HINTS that a Christian can either be cursed or under a curse, generational or otherwise, IS PREACHING A LIE.  – If you happen to be hearing this kind of message from the pulpit at your Church, I’m truly sorry.  But be assured of this:  It may be scripture you are hearing but IT IS NOT THE GOSPEL.   It is the Error of Balaam spoken about in Revelation chapter 2 in Jesus’ message to the Church at Ephesus. – – The Doctrine Of The Nicolaitans. Then, there is the not-so-little matter of the false teaching called “The doctrine of the Nicolaitans.”  Both are doctrines of demons. – (*The hidden manna no doubt is a reference to the years Jesus spent as a child which are “Hidden” from us.  We have only information about His birth and a line or two about the time in the temple when He was twelve.  Other than that, the Manna from heaven: Jesus, the Bread of Life,” was hidden from our eyes.”) –   – Salvation Kept By Works? Paul wrote about the doctrine of the Nicolaitans to the church in Galatia.  Galatianism, also known as “Mixture or balance,” is the false teaching which tells you that, though you are saved, you must also keep the Ten Commandments, ADDING your “Right doing” to Jesus’ finished work in order to keep your salvation.  – AS IF!!  Trying to do that not only avails NOTHING, sadly, it adds the curses below to those who try to follow that teaching, only to fail miserably. – Revelation 22:18 “For I testify to everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: If anyone ADDS to these things, God will ADD to him the plagues that are written in this book;” YIKES! – – I dare you:  Turn to Deuteronomy 28.  You can read all about those curses, if you like nightmares that is.  It’s an exhaustive, not to mention frightening, list. – No Balance Needed. Those who preach this error think that grace must be “Balanced” with the law.  Let me tell you something, Church:  God’s GRACE doesn’t need any so-called “Balancing.”  To go back to the law is to “FALL FROM GRACE.”  Galatians 5:4 makes it very clear: “You have become estranged from Christ, you who attempt to be justified by law; YOU HAVE FALLEN FROM GRACE.” – How do you fall from grace, according to this verse?  By committing some sin?  NO.  By trying to obey the Law to be acceptable to God. – Nicholas, Author Of This Heresy. Why is it called, “The doctrine of the Nicolaitans?”  Nicholas, for whom the error is named, was actually one of the deacons of the early church. He was taught the true gospel but then went off on a tangent, creating a whole satan-inspired movement.  It is still deceiving much of the Church to this day. – Well, FLUSH IT!  You and I, Church, can neither be cursed nor are we under the Ten Commandments because God has written His laws on our hearts.  Who needs the “Map,” when you have “The Man?”  (See Hebrews 10 and/or follow this link for more on that topic:  https://emmausroadministries.wordpress.com/2016/07/06/the-laws-of-the-new-covenant/) – Does that mean that we are “law-less?  Far from it!  We have The Holy Spirit leading us from within.  That’s a much better deal. – – Not Your Heritage. It is crystal clear that if you try to “do the WORKS of the law,” even though you are a Christian, YOU ARE UNDER A CURSE….but it was never meant to be your heritage.  God’s plan for us is PURE GRACE: No law mixed in…..PERIOD! Don’t take my word for it, though.  Read it for yourself in Hebrews 8.  The Sinaitic covenant, the Ten Commandments, HAS BEEN REPLACED, because Jesus fulfilled it ALL.  That’s what He meant when He cried out with a LOUD voice, “FINISHED.” – Remind yourself, LOUDLY AND OFTEN, that you are the righteousness of God in Christ, especially when you sin.  That way you won’t fall prey to either to the Error of Balaam or the Doctrine of the Nicolaitans. – Please follow the link below to part 4: https://emmausroadministries.international/2019/01/12/the-seven-churches-of-revelation-part-4-thyati… […]

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