Thyatira – The Corrupt Church

Revelation 2:18-29
18 "And to the angel of the church in Thyatira write, 'These things says the Son of God, who has eyes like a flame of
fire, and His feet like fine brass:
19 I know your works, love, service, faith, and your patience; and as for your works, the last are more than the first.
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.
21 And I gave her time to repent of her sexual immorality, and she did not repent.
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.
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.
24 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.
25 But hold fast what you have till I come.
26 And he who overcomes, and keeps My works until the end, to him I will give power over the nations--
27 '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;
28 and I will give him the morning star.
29 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches."

Introduction:
If we are not careful, the God given gift of emotions can become a vehicle to misguide our
lives.

Thyatira experienced this problem. They were being led to follow their emotions and passion
rather than truth.

1. The City Of Thyatira

Thyatira was known for it’s creativity and artistry!

Acts 16:14 Now a certain woman named Lydia heard us. She was a seller of purple from
the city of Thyatira, who worshiped God. The Lord opened her heart to heed the things
spoken by Paul.

2. The Call To Thyatira.

Revelation 2:18 And to the angel of the church in Thyatira write, 'These things says the Son
of God, who has eyes like a flame of fire, and His feet like fine brass:

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.

3. The Condemnation Of Thyatira.

Revelation 2:20 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.

Their passion for people had actually created an interesting problem: They began loving the
sinner and accepting them “as they were” without dealing with their sin!

Revelation 2:21-23
21 And I gave her time to repent of her sexual immorality, and she did not repent.
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. 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.

4. The Challenge To Thyatira.

Revelation 2:24 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.

Revelation 2:25 But hold fast what you have till I come.

Revelation 2:26-27
26 And he who overcomes, and keeps My works until the end, to him I will give power over
the nations--
27 '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;

Psalm 2:7-9
7 "I will declare the decree: The Lord has said to Me, 'You are My Son, Today I have
begotten You.
8 Ask of Me, and I will give You The nations for Your inheritance, And the ends of the earth
for Your possession.
9 You shall break them with a rod of iron; You shall dash them to pieces like a potter's
vessel.' "

Revelation 2:28 and I will give him the morning star.

Conclusion:
Revelation 2:29 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.
 Sensationalism and emotionalism will not build the Kingdom of God ... Only deep
spirituality will grow God’s Church!

 When the Church cannot grow without entertainment that tickles the passions in us, it
is responding to sensationalism! – which is driven by emotions!

 It is easier to live by feelings than by faith - but not wiser!

Preaching Outline Follows

 Thyatira – The Corrupt Church
Revelation 2:18-29
18 "And to the angel of the church in Thyatira write, 'These things says the Son of God, who has eyes like a
flame of fire, and His feet like fine brass:
19 I know your works, love, service, faith, and your patience; and as for your works, the last are more than
the first.
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.
21 And I gave her time to repent of her sexual immorality, and she did not repent.
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.
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.
24 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.
25 But hold fast what you have till I come.
26 And he who overcomes, and keeps My works until the end, to him I will give power over the nations--
27 '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;
28 and I will give him the morning star.
29 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches."

Introduction:

 There must be a balance between mind and heart –between feelings and
fact…
 Psychologists tell us that human personality consist of roughly 80%
emotions and 20% intellect.
 Advertisers recognize this fact of life….
 If we are not careful, the God given gift of emotions can become a vehicle
to misguide our lives.
 We must have a ‘check and balance’ of truth or reality and emotions or
passion.
 The Church that ministers to the mind (facts, scriptural teachings, truth,
reality) but not the heart (feelings, circumstances in life, passion, emotions)
will fail to move people to be passionate in their faith.
 The Church that ministers to the heart (feelings, circumstances in life,
passion) but not the mind (facts, scriptural teachings, emotions) will drive
the flock of God toward misguided and frenzied emotions, where they end
up may be anyone's' guess!
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Thyatira experienced this problem. They were being led to follow their emotions
and passion rather than truth.

God said in v. 23 …I am He who searches the minds and hearts…

Our First Church – EPHESUS – had the opposite problem. They had lost their
passion and focused on mental, legal, and judgmental issues….

1. The City Of Thyatira

A. Thyatira was the Smallest City of the 7 Churches

B. Different from Ephesus, Smyrna, and Pergamos which were huge cities
full of universities and powerful commercial centers

C. Thyatira was known for it’s creativity and artistry:

 Thyatira today is the modern Turkish city of Ak-his-ar ("white

castle") which is in the far western part of Turkey.
 It was famous for its dyeing of materials and was a center of the
indigo trade.
 Thyatira was involved in more creative trades than any other city in
Asia. Inscriptions found indicate their involvement in: wool-
workers, linen-workers, makers of outer garments, dying of
materials, leather-workers, tanners, potters, bakers, and bronze-
smiths).

D. Lydia, the seller of purple was from Thyatira –

Acts 16:14 Now a certain woman named Lydia heard us. She was a seller of
purple from the city of Thyatira, who worshiped God. The Lord opened her heart
to heed the things spoken by Paul.

1) Lydia could have been the first pastor of the church?

2) This could explain the reference to another woman in the
text referred to as the ‘prophetess.’
Page 3

E. The church at Thyatira was being driven by ‘passion’ and not

Biblical doctrine.

1) Ephesus had great teaching and truth but lost it’s passion
and love.
2) Thyatira had great passion but it was not balanced with
teaching and truth.

2. The Call To Thyatira.

Revelation 2:18 And to the angel of the church in Thyatira write, 'These things
says the Son of God, who has eyes like a flame of fire, and His feet like fine
brass:

A. Jesus speaks with authority to this church:

“These things says the Son of God…”

B. Jesus speaks of His ability to see everything they did:

“…who has eyes like a flam of fire…
- He was watching, penetrating through their pretenses!

C. Jesus speaks of His strength and firm position:

“…His feet like fine brass.
- As refiners of brass, they were going to see what the
strength of real refined brass was like!

D. Jesus speaks of His knowledge of the church:

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.

1) He begins with praise in order to arouse their passions to want to

do right first!

2) He begins with their strong points:

Page 4

a. Their deeds: they were well known for their passion in service!

b. these were not cold hearted people, because of their passion - they
could and were moved emotionally to feel the needs of others.

Their "deeds" were not lacking because their motivation and passion were
not lacking! Show me people who are passionate about anything and I
will show you a successful cause – right or wrong!

Example = Tower of Babel in Genesis…..

3. The Condemnation Of Thyatira.

Revelation 2:20 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.

A. The influence of idol worship and sexual immorality was evident in

all of Asia. Every church dealt with it then – and we do now!

B. "Nevertheless…"

a. All was not well! Passion needs careful monitoring to keep it

moving in the right direction.

b. Their passion for people had actually created an interesting

problem: They began loving the sinner and accepting them “as they
were” without dealing with their sin!

C. “Jezebel”

a. They had come to tolerate a woman leader here called symbolically

"Jezebel"

1) it is unlikely that this was the woman's real name, Jews would have
honored the birth of a daughter with such a name!
Page 5
2) It was not so much that this leader was a woman, Lydia had
played a similar role in this Church's establishing, it was the
direction this woman had taken them in her leadership!

b. "Jezebel" in the Old Testament

1) She was Ahab's wife who encouraged Israel to be passionate

followers of Baal and to be passionate against the True God!

2) She took whatever pleased her, even killing a man named

Naboth just to give his vineyard to her whiney husband Ahab.

c. This ‘Jezebel’ was no different…

1) She was leading the church at Thyatira to ‘follow their

emotions and passion

d. This ‘Jezebel’ encouraged the Church to participate at the local

temples with the feasts celebrating demons so the people in town
would identify with them.

c. She told them not to worry what they do with their bodies as long
as they didn’t involve their heart, thus entrapping many of them
to wicked habits that they later couldn't break!

D. Satan still uses this lie - ‘Jezebel” is still in the church today! ……

 you can drink as much as you want, you won't become an alcoholic!
 you can break God's laws of morality by sleeping around and it won't hurt
you as long as you really love the person! (what a joke!)
 maybe God did make them that way – so same sex marriage is OK!
 we need to have "fun" in life - yet throw aside God's laws in the process!
 This is a “new day” with a new understanding?
 "these passions are normal.. we can't help it!"

E. When passion becomes more important than what's right, we are on

dangerous ground!
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Revelation 2:21-23
21 And I gave her time to repent of her sexual immorality, and she did not repent.

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. 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.

E. Jezebel was given opportunity to repent – but she refused!

How Sad – many today are given opportunity to repent and refuse also!

F. The bed of suffering mentioned here is the consequences of refusing to

repent. - If you make your bed hard you still have to sleep in it!

H. Judgment is pronounced to those who follow “Jezebel.”

 This judgment is for Thyatira AND future judgment….
 Those who follow her will go into ‘great tribulation’ – Sickness? Disease?
 Kill her children – those who follow her – with the second death = lake of
fire….

I. “…all the churches shall know that I am He who searches the minds
and hearts…”
 The Sickness and Disease will show His power….

J. “…And I will give to each one of you according to your works.”

 Sin has its consequences….
 He rewards by our works – what we do – not what we ‘think’ is OK

4. The Challenge To Thyatira

A. Not everyone in Thyatira followed ‘Jezebel.’

Revelation 2:24 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.

Page 7

1) Thank God for those who do not give in to sin!

2) There are those who remain faithful!

B. “Hold on – until He comes!”

Revelation 2:25 But hold fast what you have till I come.

1) What a message!

2) Don’t let your emotions and passion drive you!

3) Find balance in your life.

C. Those Who Overcome Will Be Rewarded:

Revelation 2:26-29
26 And he who overcomes, and keeps My works until the end, to him I will give
power over the nations--
27 '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;

1) Jesus is referring to David’s prophetic vision in Psalm 2:

Psalm 2:7-9
7 "I will declare the decree: The Lord has said to Me, 'You are My Son, Today I
have begotten You.
8 Ask of Me, and I will give You The nations for Your inheritance, And the ends
of the earth for Your possession.
9 You shall break them with a rod of iron; You shall dash them to pieces like a
potter's vessel.' "

2) Jesus is saying, “you want to be a powerful church like Ephesus,

Smyrna or Pergamum… just be faithful… ask Me and I will give
you the Nations for your inheritance…
Page 8

Revelation 2:28 and I will give him the morning star.

- As people of creativity – I will give you the brightest revelation

ever…

- The morning star – is Jesus Himself. Jesus will be in their heart and
not the sinful emotional desires put there by Satan!

Conclusion:

Revelation 2:29 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the
churches.

1. This Church had passion, but lacked direction!

2. Zeal without proper knowledge can lead into emotional frenzy.

3. God didn’t tell this church to stop its ‘works’ but He did expect them to not be
driven by emotions.

 Sensationalism and emotionalism will not build the Kingdom of God ... Only deep
spirituality will grow God’s Church!

 When the Church cannot grow without entertainment that tickles the passions in us, it
is responding to sensationalism! – which is driven by emotions!

 It is easier to live by feelings than by faith - but not wiser!

4. When I judge God on the basis of what I feel or don't feel I'm in trouble!
Page 9

We must rise above the sin which can so easily beset us!

Handley Page was a pioneer in aviation. Once he was forced down in an

isolated area during a flight. Alone, he made some repairs and took off again,
quite relieved.
Unknown to him, a rat got aboard the plane on the ground, soon he heard
the sounds of gnawing and he figured out what must have happened. His heart be-
gan to pound as he knew what would happen if the rat continued to gnaw away at
the lines of his controls. He didn't know where the rat was, nor could he leave the
controls.
He remembered hearing that rats cannot survive at high altitudes, so he
pulled back on the stick and climbed higher and higher until he himself found it
difficult to breathe. He listened intently and soon the gnawing stopped.
When he arrived at his destination (with a sigh of relief!) he found the dead
rat laying behind the cockpit!

When Satan is allowed to gnaw away at the controls of your life

- certain destruction is assured, what do you do?

LIFT YOURSELF UPWARD TO HEAVEN,

Like a dirty rat, Satan can't survive that close to God and you
will arrive at your destination and drive Satan out of your life!