Revelation 2:18 – “Write this letter to the angel of the church in Thyatira. This is the message from the Son of God, whose eyes are like flames of fire, whose feet are like polished bronze:

19 “I know all the things you do. I have seen your love, your faith, your service, and your patient endurance. And I can see your constant improvement in all these things.
20 “But I have this complaint against you. You are permitting that woman—that Jezebel who calls herself a prophet—to lead my servants astray. She teaches them to commit sexual sin and to eat food offered to idols. 21 I gave her time to repent, but she does not want to turn away from her immorality.
22 “Therefore, I will throw her on a bed of suffering, and those who commit adultery with her will suffer greatly unless they repent and turn away from her evil deeds. 23 I will strike her children dead. Then all the churches will know that I am the one who searches out the thoughts and intentions of every person. And I will give to each of you whatever you deserve.
24 “But I also have a message for the rest of you in Thyatira who have not followed this false teaching (‘deeper truths,’ as they call them—depths of Satan, actually). I will ask nothing more of you 25 except that you hold tightly to what you have until I come. 26 To all who are victorious, who obey me to the very end,

To them I will give authority over all the nations.
27 They will rule the nations with an iron rod
and smash them like clay pots.

28 They will have the same authority I received from my Father, and I will also give them the morning star!
29 “Anyone with ears to hear must listen to the Spirit and understand what he is saying to the churches. (NLT)

We return today to the Book of Revelation, and we examine Jesus’ words to the church in Thyatira, which is the longest of the seven letters.  At that time, Thyatira was a huge commercial center.  All religions were welcomed, and there was not currently any persecution of Christians in the city. So what was the problem?

Because Thyatira was a great commercial center, there were a great number of trade guilds, or unions, designed for the mutual profit and pleasure of people in like businesses. The culture of the society was reflected in the guild activities.  There would be a meal sacrificed to various gods, and the people would eat and drink. Often they would become drunk and they would indulge in immoral activities.  Christians had been warned to stay away from these guilds, but there was a movement led by a woman of the church (Jesus calls her Jezebel) which called for compromise. She was teaching Christians to compromise with worldly standards for the sake of commercial prosperity. 

Can you see how current and timely the teachings of this book are for us today?  How many Christians seek compromise with worldly standards for the sake of profit?

I think it’s important to note that there was much good going on in the church in Thyatira. On the surface all looked well.  If a Christian from another city visited the church in Thyatira, they would have probably thought that all was well. It was not until one looked into the personal lives of the individual Christians that one would come to learn that all was not well. This tells us that numbers at church don’t really mean a thing! It is possible to have a crowded service, but in fact what is going on is entertainment, and not worship or learning.

Today, let us continue to live out our faith in all that we do.  In every relationship, and with every person with whom we have contact, let us strive to be as Christ-like as we possibly can. Let us remember to continually call upon the Holy Spirit for this strength! 

Posted by Ramón Torres