It\u2019s amazing how amazing our God is. He knows each of us individually. It\u2019s demonstrated clearly in His very strong letter to the church in Thyatira, normally entitled (via paragraph heading) \u201cThe Corrupt Church\u201d. Further amazing is how the policies of heaven are revealed throughout all of Scripture.<\/p>\n
Revelation 1:10-11<\/em><\/strong> Remember – all seven letters were written to those seven churches in particular and then told to be sent out, as one book, to all seven. They were specific, but public, letters. And those letters are also pointed to anyone, throughout the age, who would have ears to ear. We cannot wisely latch onto the promises without addressing the admonitions. We all rightly hope for the reward of verse 26. Eat the whole scroll.<\/p>\n Those with \u201cears to hear\u201d therefore ought to include us. All of the scripture for all of the people all of the time.<\/p>\n Revelation 2:18-29<\/em><\/strong> 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. <\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n God being perfect, He will affirm our good works, but has never turned a blind eye to sin. There\u2019s plenty of symbolism in the book of Revelation (\u201ceyes LIKE a flame of fire\u201d, etc.), but this does not appear to be symbolic. This woman Jezebel is presented as a real woman in the church. She is representing herself, and apparently being received as, a prophetess. Leadership is likely lacking discernment and knowledge. Jude tells us false teachers, prophets, etc. will continue throughout the age. Spots in our love feasts. They\u2019d be in the church, speaking things that many would like to hear, affirming and promoting sin as being OK with God.<\/p>\n 21 And I gave her time to repent of her sexual immorality, and she did not repent. <\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n Patient God deals with His people, and gives them time. He apparently had already dealt with this woman. Repentance does wonders to get things straight. Ignoring sin, and God\u2019s correction, is a lose-lose. God will escalate how He deals with unconfessed sin, but eventually it will destroy. Prov 29:1.<\/p>\n 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. <\/em><\/strong> 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.<\/em><\/strong> And now here\u2019s the amazing glory of our God. In the midst of so corrupt an atmosphere and environment, our God knows who is His. We\u2019re assured of that several times in Scripture. All the way to the end of the age, the saints will be here, admonished and encouraged to hold fast. I might add our Lord did not say \u201chold fast til I lift you out of here years before I come\u201d. There will be ones with ears to hear that will be needing to hold fast till He comes in the clouds.<\/p>\n (And here\u2019s a promise to us all) Jesus is pointing to Psalm 2. That which was ordained for Him is now promised to the ones who will overcome to reign with Him. Remember, this is in the letter to the \u201cCorrupt Church\u201d, and God has it loaded with a promise of ruling-reward for His faithful. How encouraging is that?<\/p>\n 27 \u201cHe shall rule them with a rod of iron;<\/em><\/strong> What a great God we serve. Each and every one of us has sufficient grace to rise above sin. To overcome. To receive our reward.<\/p>\n All scripture NKJV<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" It\u2019s amazing how amazing our God is. He knows each of us individually. It\u2019s demonstrated clearly in His very strong letter to the church in Thyatira, normally entitled (via paragraph heading) \u201cThe Corrupt Church\u201d. Further amazing is how the policies … Continue reading
\n10 I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s Day, and I heard behind me a loud voice, as of a trumpet, <\/em><\/strong>
\n 11 saying, \u201c I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last,\u201d and, \u201c What you see, write in a book and send it to the seven churches which are in Asia: to Ephesus, to Smyrna, to Pergamos, to Thyatira, to Sardis, to Philadelphia, and to Laodicea.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n
\n18 \u201c And to the angel of the church in Thyatira write,<\/em><\/strong>
\n\u2018 These things says the Son of God, who has eyes like a flame of fire, and His feet like fine brass:<\/em><\/strong>
\n19 \u201c I know your works, love, service, faith, and your patience; and as for your works, the last are more than the first. <\/em><\/strong>
\nThings start off good. The church is not inactive. It\u2019s a busy place, with good works, and faith, and service, and even acts of love.<\/p>\n
\n\u201cIndeed\u201d means \u201cdon\u2019t think otherwise\u201d, \u201cfor sure, this will happen\u201d. I believe this is a prophetic pre-emptive strike, by God, against the false doctrines of hyper-grace that both ravaged the Old Testament people, and continue to pervert the New Testament believer. Do not be deceived my beloved brethren. (I Cor 5:9 and 10, Gal 5:20 and 21).<\/em><\/p>\n
\nWould our good God actually do that? Did He do that in the Old Testament? Meanwhile, this is New Testament writing, so if you need to adjust your paradigm of how God might deal with unrepentant saints in this age, that would be profitable.<\/p>\n
\n24 \u201c 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. <\/em><\/strong>
\n25 But hold fast what you have till I come. <\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n
\n26 And he who overcomes, and keeps My works until the end, to him I will give power over the nations \u2014<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n
\nThey shall be dashed to pieces like the potter’s vessels \u2019 \u2014 as I also have received from My Father;<\/em><\/strong>
\n28 and I will give him the morning star.<\/em><\/strong>
\n29 \u201c He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.\u201d \u2019<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n
\nClarifier \u2013 If you find yourself in a corrupt church, perhaps with false prophets offering bad doctrines making room for sinful living, this letter does not automatically tell you to stay there. Back in the days of Thyatira in Asia Minor, this corrupt church may have been to only church in town. We\u2019re not living in Thyatira. You might want to pray about coming out and not touching the unclean thing. But if our Lord clearly calls you to stay there, have great hope \u2013 He sees us individually, and even the church-sin around you need not take you down. And He knows it is a burden to righteous saints, and to these good folks He promised no additional burden (verse 24).<\/p>\n