Revelation 2:18-29 * December 8, 2004 * Midweek Advent II * Pastor Pagels

In the name of Christ Jesus, dear friends:

As we come to the halfway point of our study of the letters to the churches in Revelation, it becomes apparent that these seven congregations had much in common. They were connected geographically, sometimes separated by less than a good day’s walk. They were connected politically as subjects of the emperor in Rome. Most importantly they were connected spiritually. No matter what their places of worship looked like on the outside, they were all built on the same foundation of faith in Jesus Christ.

A much as these churches had in common, each congregation was unique. Jesus praised the Ephesians as the champions of orthodox Christian teaching, but to their dishonor they had forsaken their first love. The church at Smyrna was about to come under attack and needed the encouragement to remain faithful even if it meant dying for what they believed. The Christians in Pergamum had already passed through the fires of persecution, but the flames of false teaching continued to burn in their midst.

This evening we travel to Thyatira, a city about twenty miles southeast of Pergamum, a city that was known for its trade guilds (today we might call them unions). We will soon see that the church in Thyatira was not a carbon copy of the other congregations in the province.

But there were also some similarities with the other churches in Asia Minor, similarities with any group of believers that worships God and battles Satan, similarities with any congregation that is made up of imperfect people, similarities with sinner/saints like you and me.

Therefore it is in our best interest to listen carefully and learn what our Lord has to say to us in…

ADVENT LETTER #4: TO THE CHURCH IN THYATIRA

“To the angel of the church in Thyatira write: These are the words of the Son of God, whose eyes are like blazing fire and whose feet are like burnished bronze. I know your deeds, your love and faith, your service and perseverance, and that you are now doing more than you did at first.

Nevertheless, I have this against you: You tolerate that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess. By her teaching she misleads my servants into sexual immorality and the eating of food sacrificed to idols. I have given her time to repent of her immorality, but she is unwilling. So I will cast her on a bed of suffering, and I will make those who commit adultery with her suffer intensely, unless they repent of her ways. I will strike her children dead. Then all the churches will know that I am he who searches hearts and minds, and I will repay each of you according to your deeds.

Now I say to the rest of you in Thyatira, to you who do not hold to her teaching and have not learned Satan’s so-called deep secrets (I will not impose any other burden on you): Only hold on to what you have until I come.

To him who overcomes and does my will to the end, I will give authority over the nations—‘He will rule them with an iron scepter; he will dash them to pieces like pottery’—just as I have received authority from my Father. I will also give him the morning star. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches” (Revelation 2:18-29).

Jesus identified himself as the author of the first three letters in Revelation, but not directly. Instead he described himself as the one who “holds the seven stars in his right hand” (2:1), “the First and the Last, who died and came to life again” (2:8), as the one “who has the sharp, double-edged sword” (2:18).

Jesus gets right to the point in the letter to the church in Thyatira. He says: “These are the words of the Son of God, whose eyes are like blazing fire and whose feet are like burnished bronze (2:18)” This is the only place in Revelation where Jesus refers to himself as the Son of God. His fiery eyes bring to mind his omniscience. Only God sees our deepest, darkest secrets. His feet of burnished bronze signify his omnipotence. Only God can destroy anyone or anything that stands in his way. With an introduction like this Jesus wants his readers to know that these words come from the almighty, all-knowing Son of God.

And what did he know about them? “I know your deeds, your love and faith, your service and perseverance, and that you are now doing more than you did at first” (2:19) This was a congregation that was moving forward. They had the proper motivation. They had a clear vision. And they were not afraid to put their faith into action. For the many things that were going well in Thyatira, the Lord gave them high praise.

All of the qualities Jesus mentions here (faith, love, service, perseverance) were modeled by a native of Thyatira, a woman by the name of Lydia. She was the dealer in purple cloth who met Paul by the river outside of Philippi (Acts 16). Luke tells us that the Lord opened her heart to respond to Paul’s message, and she in turn opened her home to Paul and his companions.

I wonder if Lydia ever made it back home. I wonder if the believers in Thyatira looked forward to her visits, if they gathered around to hear her words of encouragement, if they fed off of her gracious spirit. The congregation could have benefited from the presence of a strong Christian woman because another woman had become the source of all kinds of problems.

Her name was Jezebel, at least that is how Jesus refers to her, and she was a self-appointed prophetess. There is a reason why moms and dads don’t name their baby girls “Jezebel” anymore. Its one of those names in the Bible (like Judas or Barabbas) that we automatically associate with evil.

Jezebel was the wicked wife of King Ahab. She was the one who encouraged her husband to set up altars to Baal in Israel (I Kings 16). She was the one who murdered Naboth so Ahab could take his vineyard (I Kings 21). And she was the one who met her end when she was thrown from a window and then dogs came and ate her flesh (II Kings 9).

The sins of the “Jezebel” in Thyatira were more subtle, but they were just as dangerous: “By her teaching she misleads my servants into sexual immorality and the eating of food sacrificed to idols” (20). The false teaching of Jezebel in Thyatira was similar to the false teaching of Balaam in Pergamum. She compromised the truth in order to accommodate evil. She put some wrapping paper and a shiny bow on something detestable and then tried to pass it off as something acceptable. And what is worse is that she was taking many good, God-fearing people down with her.

But even that was not her greatest sin. Jesus continues: “I have given her time to repent of her immorality, but she is unwilling” (21). The Lord gave Jezebel a chance to repent, but she refused. The Lord wanted her to come back, but she was already too far gone. She enjoyed the sex, the sacrifices, the status, but at what cost? According to Jesus, the price of apostasy is divine judgment:

“So I will cast her on a bed of suffering, and I will make those who commit adultery with her suffer intensely, unless they repent of her ways. I will strike her children dead. Then all the churches will know that I am he who searches hearts and minds, and I will repay each of you according to your deeds” (22,23).

The bed that gave Jezebel temporary gratification was to become the instrument of her eternal condemnation. Everyone who followed her was destined to die along side of her. And there is no escape from the One who sees and knows all.

As bad as the situation was in Thyatira, there were some who had not fallen into Jezebel’s trap. Maybe it was a silent majority. Maybe it was a guilty majority. Maybe they felt guilty because they had done nothing to stop her. Maybe they were beating themselves up on the inside because they didn’t stand up for the truth.

We will never know exactly what these Christians were feeling, but Jesus knew exactly how they felt. And he knew exactly what to say: “Now I say to the rest of you in Thyatira, to you who do not hold to her teaching and have not learned Satan’s so-called deep secrets (I will not impose any other burden on you): Only hold on to what you have until I come” (24, 25).

Was Jesus being too easy on them? Was he getting soft? Were you expecting stronger language? Are you still listening for the word we hear so often this time of year? Where is the call to repentance? If you are surprised, if you are confused, perhaps Isaiah can set the record straight: “A bruised reed he will not break, and a smoldering wick he will not snuff out” (42:3).

There were plenty of bruised reeds in Thyatira. They had faith, but that faith was fragile. They had problems, and at times those problems seemed overwhelming. Jesus didn’t want to discourage them. Jesus didn’t want their faith to be snuffed out. So he pleaded with them: “Hold on. Hold on to what you have. Hold on to me and I will get you through this. I promise.”

What a great comfort for Christians! What a comfort for any soul that feels weary and burdened! The message of the season is “Repent,” but that is only half the message. John the Baptist proclaimed: “Repent and believe the good news” (Mark 1:15)!

The good news is that Jesus did come…to live and die. The good news is that Jesus did come…to take away our sins. The good news is that Jesus will come…to put an end to all of our suffering. The good news is that Jesus will come…to take us to heaven.

How do we know that? How can we be so sure? Because we have God’s promise: “To him who overcomes and does my will to the end, I will give authority over the nations—‘He will rule them with an iron scepter; he will dash them to pieces like pottery’—just as I have received authority from my Father” (26,27).

“Through Jesus Christ, your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.” Those words provide a fitting conclusion to many of our Sunday morning prayers. And those words are very true. Our God rules! Right now the triune God is reigning over all things on his heavenly throne.

But our God is not a ruthless dictator. He doesn’t want to keep all the power for himself. Jesus has promised to give us the same authority God has given him. He wants to live with us in heaven. He wants to reign with us in heaven.

But that is not the only promise Jesus makes to the one who overcomes. Jesus says: “I will also give him the morning star” (28). If you are still looking for the perfect Christmas gift, have you considered buying that special someone his/her own star? For $54 (plus shipping and handling) you will receive an official certificate, a date of dedication, and the telescopic coordinates of your personal star. For more information, go to www.starregistry.com.

If you are on a budget, or if you are somewhat skeptical, here is another suggestion. Open up your Bible and read Luke 2. There you will find a better gift. There you will find the world’s greatest gift. There you will find Jesus, the bright morning star (Revelation 22:16). He is the light of the world. His love shines in our hearts. And one day we will bask in the radiance of his glory.

“He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches” (2:29). Amen.