In Revelation 2.18-29 we read of a Church located in the Turkish city of Akhisar, in the Manisa Province. Better known to us as: The Church of Thyatira.
Some people are just plain intimidating, and some circumstances make it so. When I read of the church of Thyatira, the first thing that the Spirit points out is… Jesus, and who He identifies Himself as. Just as with the other churches, here Jesus shows us who He is to this church, in particular. Verse 18 says— “These things saith the Son of God…” That is most definitely intimidating. The Son of God Himself is writing your church a letter. Whatever He is about to say, you better heed it; His position demands it! Who is talking here? Not a mid-level guy. Nope. This is the One and Only. Again, as always with these church letters, He expects you to change…now!
He continues His own introduction in verse 18 with something that needs explaining— “…who hath his eyes like unto a flame of fire, and his feet are like fine brass…” These two self-identifying descriptions: “eyes like unto a flame of fire” we’ll see that they will search the reins and the hearts (2.23). Of course God does not “see” as man sees, because He can “look” on the heart (1 Samuel 16.7). We also have the identifying: “feet are like fine brass” which will tread down the enemies, and smooth the path before them, who will have power over the nations (2.26-27). This is a letter for Thyatira and us. It is a letter with sweet commendation and some salty chastisement.
Besides those facts, let’s focus a little more closely at those eyes and feet for a minute. His eyes see so much more than we can comprehend. He is God. He is above all and everything is set out before Him at all times (Colossians 1.17). Since He sees all, He knows all. So when He said— “I know thy works…” in verse 19, He meant it. He knows. This is a reoccurring statement by the Savior to these churches, so it bears pointing out each time it’s mentioned. But why? Why would He need to say this? What member of any church then or now, doesn’t know that He knows? Two possibilities come to mind immediately…
A Reminder. Notice that the word here is “thy”. This is singular. It is this church specifically. He didn’t say ‘I know y’all’s works’. He isn’t lumping up multiple churches or a movement. He is focused on this church. He is reminding those who are within this church, that He indeed does know what’s going on and what isn’t. Some today in churches need to know that Jesus still does know what’s going on. I was saved relatively early in life and spent a majority of my young life and youth in church. I’ve seen the wake behind those who do not heed this reminder. They move about without any fear of consequence. They live the life of presumptuousness. They presume they are right. They presume to think they can do what they want without “submitting to one another” (Ephesians 5.21). They are presumptuous. They presume on God. They presume they can ‘get away with it’ since He hasn’t lowered the hammer yet. They forget His long-suffering and merciful nature does not mean He doesn’t “know”. It doesn’t matter what happens at that church down the street, or the last one you were involved in, He is focused on “thy” works. Good or bad, He knows your church’s works intimately. He knows not only what you cannot know, He knows the source. He knows the heart and the culprits. He knows.
Some Encouragement. Again, He didn’t say ‘I know y’all’s works’. He said ‘I know your works in particular‘. As to say— ‘I know your works; I know what you’ve been doing, and it’s good’. Who doesn’t need to hear that, especially from the Lord Himself? This particular verse (19) isn’t a depressing one at all. This is some good news for ol’ Thyatira church. Look at what He said He knows in relation to their “works”— “… and charity, and service, and faith, and thy patience, and thy works; and the last to be more than the first.” He sees their works. In fact, He used the word “works” twice. This is in reference to the last phrase— “…and the last to be more than the first.” It isn’t in retrograde like Ephesus or declined to death like Sardis. They have not flatlined like Laodicea either. Instead their “works” of: love (charity); “service” to others; “faith” in action; “patient” in tribulation… have all gotten better. They are progressing. They are following and growing. That is great news! Jesus makes it clear He is not unaware of their progression. He is commending them. I would not mind getting that letter my friends.
But there are some, who for some reason, cannot help but hate progress. They claim “change” is the enemy, and everyone caves immediately. ‘No one likes change’, they say. Which is not true at all. If your street is pot-holed and damaged beyond repair, and the county or state comes in and smooths it brand new, will you pitch a fit? You like that change, don’t you? Do you not like running water, or air-conditioning? I like power steering and power brakes. I like streaming the songs and shows I like, so I don’t have to deal with the commercials. I like that my kids don’t have to be the remote control I was growing up. I like change and so do you. But we are comparable to the nation of Israel in the book of Exodus and Numbers. Give us a chance to complain and we will have it. They were progressing physically, but spiritually on the decline. People among them continued to thwart the movement of God in their minds. They did so by speaking evil of what God was doing, and what God’s man was doing. This constant running-down of God’s progress eventually made a complete halt of what God was doing. And lo and behold… some didn’t mind that a bit! It took God showing up in some nasty ways and setting it straight, flat-out toasting some people over it. Why? Well, God was doing a thing for them and He was being magnified. Some cannot handle someone else getting the attention, even God. How did they do this? One, as stated, was constant and consistent complaining. Second was their pervertedness they brought with them from Egypt. The caravan was not all just the Hebrews. They were mixed in with others who continued to get them to want Egypt, Egyptian gods, and the ways of Egypt. The ‘ways’ of Egypt was a litany of gods, and with those, their own perversions.
In verse 20 the assembly at Thyatira also dealt with this— “Notwithstanding I have a few things against thee, because thou sufferest that woman Jezebel, which calleth herself a prophetess, to teach and to seduce my servants to commit fornication, and to eat things sacrificed unto idols.” If Jesus is against me, I want it fixed now! How about you? What were they doing? They were “suffering” a person. Suffer in scripture means: ‘to put up with or not deal with’. A deeper dive will show you that the word “aphiemi” is used 146 times in the New Testament scripture. It is to not ‘deal with’ when you ought to. To permit to happen, and then to permit them to walk away. To release them from their wrong or wrong doing. To permit or allow. Some may say, ‘I didn’t allow it per-se’, but the word means, in itself, that if you did not ‘hinder’ them, then you have in-fact allowed it. Your complacency is your complicity. You should be just as charged as they for what they did. A body is just that… a whole. A church is responsible for each other and has every means under heaven (Matthew 18) to ‘deal’ with it/them. Next post I plan to detail the charges against this “Jezebel”, but for now know this: Jesus said He is “against” the church who ‘permits’ this kind of person to continue unchecked and unconfronted. To avoid dealing with this person is to find your whole church perilous with Christ Himself.
Remember “his feet are like fine brass”. Fine polished brass is magnificent to look at. It is also heavy! It can be crushing in fact. This is spelled out in verses 21-23— “And I gave her space to repent of her fornication; and she repented not. Behold, I will cast her into a bed, and them that commit adultery with her into great tribulation, except they repent of their deeds. And I will kill her children with death; and all the churches shall know that I am he which searcheth the reins and hearts: and I will give unto every one of you according to your works.” More details to come next post, but suffice to say… He is not messing around! He knows. He sees. He is on the case and at the door.
Every church should think on the things He is commending and focus on them. Their “works” of: love (charity); “service” to others; “faith” in action; “patient” in tribulation. These should be focused upon. These should be what every church, that claims to be Jesus Christ’s church, wants. We should also not put up with, avoid, or else wise leave unchecked the insanity of those who would pervert and derail the cause itself.