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“Hold Fast Till I Come” • 7.12.20 • Calvary
Christian Fellowship, Sunday Morning Service
Intro.
Text
• Revelation
2:18 : "And
to the angel of the church in Thyatira write," : As we come to this city, the Roman mail route has now turned
forty miles south east.
- The cities that we have seen thus far,
Ephesus, Smyrna and Pergamos, have all been exemplary, model cities, touched by
modernity and each famous in their own time for their beauty.
- They were cosmopolitan centers equipped with
the latest fashions and architecture. And then, you come to Thyatira. It's
significance historically is far less impressive.
- Thyatira, according to one commentator, means
the "Castle of Thya." According to the Blue Letter Bible lexicon, it
means "Odour of affliction!" I'd probably go with the castle
definition too!
- Among the cities that we've examined,
Thyatira holds the distinction of being the smallest city, which one
commentator believes existed primarily to act as a buffer city to Pergamos.
- According to that commentator, there was a
fairly good sized military presence in the city whose entire purpose was to
survive long enough for Pergamos to ready themselves for battle.
- Like the other cities, there were Temples in Thyatira,
though none of them were notable or incredible. They were much more pedestrian,
perhaps even practical in this city.
- That might be because of the blue collar work
ethic that was prevalent in Thyatira. This town was the home of the trade
guilds or as we might call them today, "Labor Unions."
- There was a union for wool, linen, and
leather workers, as well as unions for potters, bakers and brass or bronze smiths.
They all congregated here and adopted a god to represent them.
- The best known union belonged to those of the
textile industry, who found an incredibly creative way to bring a rare type of
dye to the market.
- They had mined this dye from the gland of a sea
snail, called the "Murex." It was a costly enterprise, as you had to
mine the Aegean sea and collect a large number of these snails.
- They are not easy to find, but once you do,
you break open their shells, remove this particular gland and as the gland's
contents are mixed with water and sunlight, a cloth is dyed purple.
- The expense of this dye was unbelieveable and
was one of a kind in that ancient world! Pliny, an ancient author, remarked
that a single pound was worth three years wages!
- Eventually, Thyatira found an imitation that
was close, manufactured from the "madder root," which was far easier
to find and produce. That was where "Turkey Red" was born!
- Their production costs significantly lowered
and their profit margin skyrocketed! Those that worked in this trade were
incredibly well off. You may remember one of this guilds members.
- Lydia had moved to Philippi where she met Paul
the Apostle by the riverside one Sabbath.
- She became the first convert to Christ on
European soil, the first of her city to embrace Christianity. Among this working
class group of creative people, the Lord had His church.
- Having looked high and low, I've been unable
to find how this church was lead. It doesn't seem that there were any leaders
that stood out. That might be important soon. Verse 18.
• Revelation
2:18 : "These
things says the Son of God, who has
eyes like a flame of fire, and His feet like fine brass:" : We've noted that most of the Lord's descriptions come from what
He revealed about Himself in chapter 1.
"The Son of God" distinction isn't there!
- Jesus is the divine Son of God. If a man has
a son, that son is a man. If God has a Son, that Son is God! Of course, God has
not procreated on His own, nor has Jesus ever come into being.
- The very term "Son" of God speaks
of a distinctive order within the Godhead, between the Father, Son and Holy
Spirit.
- The Divine One, in whom the church lives and
functions, has called upon them to hear Him!
- The very One whose life was imparted to these
people upon their conversion, whose church formed to bring glory to, calls
their attention to Himself! He is unique and all powerful.
- When they look at Him, they'll note His eyes
are like a flame of fire. We might even translate the phrase, "like a
flash of fire." Nothing impure stands before His eyes.
- Everything is tested through the prism of His
burning gaze. Everything is clear before Him and where He stands is final, His
judgments are throroughly established.
- Fine or burnished brass, the metal of
judgment, consisted of a mixture of copper and steel making it the most durable
and heavy metal of the ancient world!
- The Lord's feet will not be moved when He
makes His judgments regarding His church. If these are the characteristics that
He leads with, know that trouble lay ahead!
- But before that, Jesus wants them to hear His
commendation. It won't take long! Verse 19.
• Revelation
2:19 : "I
know your works, love, service,
faith, and your patience; and as for your works, the last are
more than the first." : In rapid succession, the
Lord commends the church's best qualities. As with the first three churches,
the Lord recognizes work.
- Work is the natural by-product of faith. The
presence of true faith brings forth works. Their works and ours, makes faith
visible, tangible to the watching world.
- Next, the Lord notes that His love is present
among them. The love of God is what fills our hearts. It is the love that
desires the best for it's object and works toward reaching that goal.
- The presence of love is the greatest proof
that you and I are born again! Next, we find acts of service. Our word
"deacon" comes from this word.
- Someone who served in this capacity was
willing to do whatever was practically necessary for other members of the body
to be relieved. The Blue Letter Bible definition adds this:
• "The
ministration of those who render to others the offices of Christian affection
esp. those who help meet need by either collecting or distributing of
charities." : The church of Thyatira was a
practical, hands on fellowship. It makes sense doesn't it!? They themselves
were creative people who did well in their businesses.
- Their resource was used properly to bless the
people of God, which leads the Lord to mention their faith. This isn't
necessarily the presence of saving faith, though that was true.
- It would rather be the ability to believe and
trust God for the current needs of life. It's conviction and confidence in the
Lord as daily needs are presented. This is the positive side.
- The negative side is how much fought against
them. "Patience," as we have seen before, is the quality of a person
who continues their course in the face of recurring opposition!
- A great number of them had borne up under the
weight of following Christ in that overtly and overwhelmingly pagan society.
- We certainly get a taste of this as the days
grow darker, but nothing like it was in that first century! They were
determined to trust the Lord and just as determined to hold their views in
society.
- This church had some good things going for it
and the latter works were superior to the former. They were getting better at
each of these qualities. Shouldn't that be said of us?
- Shouldn't this be what we strive for? Lord,
may we not lean upon the laurels of old work, but look for greater and more effective
ways to serve you!
- These qualities are worth emulating and may
His grace give us the chance to see them made flesh through our church's life.
As usual, you wish the Lord stopped here, but He doesn't. Verse 20.
• Revelation
2:20-23 : " 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." : The word "nevertheless" doesn't necessarily cancel out
the good. Whatever is commendable must remain. However, if these next things
remained, nothing else would!
- Jesus leads off with the fact that this
church had allowed, given permission, tolerated, this self proclaimed prophetess
to exert authority in the church.
- It's highly unlikely that this woman's actual
name was Jezebel. That name is a by-word that represents an entire palette of
spiritual degeneracy.
- Jezebel was the wife of King Ahab, who was
the very worst King of the already corrupt line of northern Kingdom Kings! You
can read of their union beginning in I
Kings 16:31.
- Jezebel came into her relationship with Ahab,
an already ardent follower of Baal and her influence for Baal was felt
throughout the Northern Kingdom.
- Her influence singlehandedly drew Israel into
a state of complete apostasy, her husband essentially, turning the Kingdom over
to her for all practical purposes.
- This woman in the church of Thyatira, seems
to have been given a similar platform. Some have even proposed that she was the
Pastor's wife! Was the Pastor ill, imprisoned or not as gifted?
- Whatever the case, ignoring Biblical
precendent, the leadership of this church allowed this to take place. Consequently,
the failed in four ways.
- First,
they failed to protect the sanctity of the Lord's pulpit. They allowed her to
address the Lord's people apart from and without the Lord's Word!
- The language seems to indicate that her
"prophecies" took precedence over God's prescribed Word, which is
further indicated by the fruits that were produced.
- Second,
they failed to fully vet her credentials. Jesus says that she "calls
herself a prophetess." This was what she was calling herself.
- Whenever anyone asked her why she could speak,
she led with this designation. Nobody seemed to check in with God to see what
He thought of her, a much more important opinion to know!
- This "Jezebel" presumed to speak on
the authority of God, those things which God intended for the church to hear in
proclamation, as well as those things which referred to prediction.
- Her "prophecies" originated in her
own mind! God never called her or granted her special permission to excercise
her "gift," especially when it thoroughly contradicted His Word.
- Third,
they failed to correct her influence. She taught the church. Teaching is what we
want, but content is KING! Was she teaching God's Word? If she was, she was
hijacking it's meaning!
- How can we know this? Look at the fruit. Her
teaching issued in the seduction of God's people to indulge in sexual
immorality and to eat things sacrificed to idols!
- We've taken note of the word
"seduce" before. It refers to causing someone to roam away from
safety by deceptive means.
- Her teaching soothed their troubled hearts
about leaving known principles in exchange for more exciting and culturally
acceptable practices.
- As we noted earlier, the trade guilds in
Thyatira were "sponsored" by certain gods. It seems that these gods
required specific sacrifices and special worship from the members of it's
guild.
- If you wanted to remain in the guild, to
remain employed, you had to engage in a form of worship event where sexual
immorality and feasting upon idol meat was the norm.
- This "Jezebel" taught this church
to relax their standards and realize that their Christian life could co-exist
with these practices. She may have adopted a hybrid form of
"Gnosticism."
- "It doesn't matter what you do with your
body. God is only interested in your spirit!"
- Her teaching was practical, because it taught
a way to worship God and remain in favor with the world and it was popular,
because it didn't require death to self. God thinks differently! Verse 21.
• Revelation
2:21-23 : "And I gave her time to repent of her sexual immorality, and she did not repent. Indeed I will cast her into a sickbed, and those who commit
adultery with her into great tribulation, unless they repent of their deeds. 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." : The church was failing to protect their pulpit, failing to vet
this person's credentials and failing to correct her influence. Fourth, they failed to examine her
life!
- This woman was dedicated to a life of
"porneia." This word is connected to idol worship prostitution,
sexual licentiousness of an extreme nature and metaphorically, unfaithfulness
to God.
- Take note of that final part of the
definition, as it will become applicable in a few moments. The word is a
"catch all" that has the widest meaning among New Testament words.
- The Lord knew that this woman was sexually
immoral and in His mercy, He had given her time to repent. Keep this in mind.
Listen to this thought again.
- The Lord saw her true condition, even though
the church was ignorant of it. Jesus could simply have thought her out of
existence, but He gave her time.
- Today, you might believe that the Lord's
inaction toward your sin, means that He is neither powerful, nor interested in
seeing you change. You are wrong! The Lord is giving you time to repent!
- You have heard plenty of messages. You know
in your heart that God is calling you to be right with Him. The time you have
should be used wisely!
- This woman had been given time and she would
not repent. The language indicates that this was her repeated response and
would be her response if she was alive today!
- Every time she thought of what she should do,
she merely shook her head in disgust, refusing to hear the Lord's call. The
Lord will now act in accordance to her actions.
- Jesus says, "Indeed." I prefer the
KJV's translation, "Behold." It's usually a word calling for
attention. He wants the church to closely follow His next steps. "I will
cast her into a sickbed."
- Jesus is will toss this woman onto her deathbed,
as one throws out a disgusting pile of garbage. She wouldn't be alone. All of
her adherants, guilty of committing adultery, would join her!
- In this context, it may be that they were
literally involving themselves with sexual activities outside of marriage. That
being the case, I'd suggest this is more spiritual.
- These people were meant to be Christ's bride
and had been stepping out on Him to indulge their false notions. Thee would be
thrown into great tribulation, some even suggest the Tribulation!
- At the least, their sinful lives would lead
them into a profound period of difficulty and the weight of their pressure
would be crushing to them! Why would God allow it? That they might repent!
- God is not being mean or vindictive. These
people have pledged their lives to Him and He has pledged His life to them! Jesus
is fighting for His marriage and the purity of His bride!
- He wants them to return to Him. He will allow
them to experience whatever it takes to sour their love of the world, in order
that they might come back to the only fountain that satisfies!
- We did a study on this in Leviticus 25 and 26, where God
tells His people Israel of all the woes that will come upon them, should they
choose to walk away from Him.
- Jesus is no less serious as He addresses His
church. Some of them would experience great trouble and some would die! Jesus
would kill her children with death! What a statement to make!
- The Lord is referring here, not to physical
children, but spiritual children, ie. people who had committed themselves to
this false doctrine.
- Jesus would "kill," the word refers
to slaying a person. In this case, the offspring of those that followed this
pernicious doctrine with death. It almost always speaks of the death of the
body.
- That wouldn't be without precedent. One need
only review Acts 5 and I Corinthians 11:20 to see that there
were those who had died for their foolish beliefs, for stepping out from
safety.
- Why would Jesus do this? So that the rest of
the churches will know who He is! Jesus is not a deaf and dumb idol. He
investigates hearts and minds. He doesn't look with superficiality.
- He is always thoroughly looking into the
inner man, aware to the most minute detail of their motives and desires. He's
aware and He's powerful to reward faithfulness or punish adultery!
- Every person will have what they deserve from
their works! Jezebel may have promised "understanding" and leaned
heavy upon God's grace and love.
- Jesus reminds them, and by proxy you and I,
that He is also holy and just! Verse 24.
• Revelation
2:24,25 : "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. But hold fast what you
have till I come." : Jesus has been dealing with
the source of the problem within the church of Thyatira. Some have not been
involved. Some did not hold to or take part in this doctrine. What is the
explanation of this?
- There are several possibilities that present
themselves. Some people come to church and are not paying much attention to
what is being taught. They are awake, but only barely!
- Some attach themselves to personalities
without any regard for their message. In Thyatira, I can imagine people being
absent for a season due to work related travel.
- It's also reasonable that this faction came
about as the church met in several different locations. Church buildings and
corporate meetings were still yet future to this time.
- One important aspect here is that you will
find churches that are led by heretics, but whose people may be caught in a
position of ignorance.
- There were those that did not possess or
confess this doctrine and they did not have any personal knowledge or
experience in "the depths of Satan!"
- It's hard to imagine anyone wanting to
comprehend the deepest truths, the profundity of Satan. Jesus isn't reporting
what they called their study. He is mocking their intent.
- Satan's strategies against us are straightforward.
He doesn't need much to work against us! The same attack has worked since Eden!
Whatever depth they thought they were in was not Godly!
- For these people, Jesus makes a distinction.
He won't put any more heaviness upon these who had refrained. This is a part of
God's vision, to see clearly the hearts of each individual person.
- He does not simply wipe out the entire
congregation or accuse every member. He sees with perfect clarity the ones that
are disobedient and the ones who are unknowingly caught up with them.
- He is able to distinguish one over the other.
He simply commands them to use what strength they had to secure what they had
in Him.
- They had love, service, faith and patience.
Keep these things! Hold them securely. Commit yourself to them until He comes!
There is no retirement in the Kingdom of God!
- Our call as a fellowship is to continue doing
the things that He has given us to do until He arrives! Think about this: What
do I want to be doing when the rapture occurs?
- I want to be doing what He commanded me to
do! I certainly don't want to be caught doing anything else! Live your life
with that in mind! Consider that He could come at any time!
- If you don't want Him to come, I'd suggest
you have some serious housecleaning to take care of! Verse 26.
•
Revelation 2:26-28 : "And he
who overcomes, and keeps My works
until the end, to him I will give power over the nations—‘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; and I will give him the morning star." : To the conqueror will come authority. God will give Him
authority over people groups. What an interesting promise to make.
-
What did Satan promise Jesus when he tempted the Lord? Authority over nations.
-
He promised the short cut method, the one that bypassed the cross, where Jesus
would receive this from His Father. Jezebel was offering much the same.
-
"Go to the Temple of Zeus. Do as they do. Keep your job and use the good
influence you have to change the world!" God's Word would have been the
exact opposite!
-
Paul had already written to the church in Corinth years earlier, to abstain
from eating things sacrificed to idols, if the other person's conscience was
compromised! (I Corinthians 10:23-33)
-
This clear teaching, in addition to the Biblical prohibition regarding women
teachers in mixed company (I Timothy
2:11,12), would have meant giving up everything.
-
Some of the Thyatirans would listen and would lose all that they had. That's
why Jesus quotes Psalm 2:9. He
reminds them that He will shepherd the nations with a rod of iron.
-
This is indicative of an unbending, unyielding, unending rule. For those that
follow, there will be comfort. Those that resist Him will be obliterated like
so much pottery!
-
When the Lord rules there won't be any to stand against Him and He will allow His
people to share in His authority forever.
-
What is mocked, persecuted and subverted now, will one day be the eternal
standard! Which would you rather live for: Power in what is passing away or
power that will last for eternity?
-
Additionally, the overcomer will be given the morning or dawning star. What is
this? Some have believed that the "morning star" is Jesus, because of
the Lord's own designation.
-
In Revelation 22:16, Jesus calls
Himself the "Bright and Morning Star." That is a good possibility and
one that is worth considering. Jesus Christ alone is a reward of unparallelled
value!
-
Others comment that this is the signal of the dawning of the Millenial age,
when Jesus will begin His reign upon the Earth. I think that either way, it's
going to be good! Verse 29.
•
Revelation 2:29 : "He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit
says to the churches.'" : As usual, Jesus closes with
this invitation. If you have an ear, then you must listen to what the Spirit is
saying to the church! Certainly, as a church, we have instant application.
-
Our church must never roam from the safety of God's Word. His Word must remain
the supreme, unchallenged authority in our midst.
-
Our leadership must maintain that position and guard any area where any person
in our fellowship will be exposed to teaching. May He grant us the strength to
do that.
-
On an individual level, the church must do what is necessary to guard their own
hearts from tolerating influence that is not Biblically sound.
-
We must each be continually discerning about who we allow to influence our
hearts and what qualifies as that which is instructive to our minds! We would
be wise to check and re-check our filters!
-
Of course, we might also heed the warning to never allow ourselves to fill the
role of Jezebel. What environment breeds such a person?
-
It begins with holding your own spiritual ideas as equal in authority to scripture.
It continues as one bends their interpretation to accomodate culture.
-
Soon, you will find yourself blaspeming the Holy Spirit and leading others away
from a trust in the living God that can save them, to a trust in a functional
god that will damn them!
-
Ultimately, you find yourself on the opposite side of God and that isn't where
want to be!
Conclusion
Let's pray!
Let's pray!
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