0980. The Church at Thyatira

The Church at Thyatira

"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" (Rev_2:20).

As we study the Church at Thyatira we begin to see the far reaches of the defection from Christ which began at Ephesus, increased in Smyrna, and multiplied at Pergamos.

1. The Lord is still able to find marks of real spiritual life. There are in Thyatira opportunities for commendation. He says, "I know thy works, and charity, and service, and faith, and thy patience, and thy works; and the last to be more than the first" (Rev_2:19).

It is a matter of deep import that, as the apostasy grows blacker, the Lord is never blinded to the things that are to be praised. Let us learn a lesson just here. In our denunciations of error let us not fail to delight in the good.

In spite of the present great drift away from God there still remain those who are true to the faith, and zealous of good works.

2. The main part of the Spirit's message to Thyatira is all condemnation. Let us follow that message step by step:

(1) "Thou sufferest that woman Jezebel." In the Church at Pergamos the condemnatory words began: "Thou hast them there that hold the doctrine of Balaam," and "that hold the teaching of the Nicolaitanes;" in the Church at Thyatira, there is a darker picture. Not alone does Thyatira "have them there," but she suffers them to Seduce His servants.

The lesson to the Church is plain and imperative. First, we must not give shelter to those who hold error; second, we must not suffer those who hold error to teach, to usurp authority, and thus to seduce the saints.

This is a message that the denominations need to ponder. Not only are false teachers allowed fellowship in denominational gatherings, but they are allowed to teach and to seduce God's servants; yea, they are even placed in positions of wide influence, and they exert directive power over orthodox churches.

(2) "That woman Jezebel which calleth herself a prophetess." There is much in the Letters to the Churches which seems to give them a Jewish application. Without contending against that line of interpretation, still, we affirm that God is giving a message that has a very important application to church conditions which are pregnant today.

Jezebel was the wife of Ahab. She made herself a religious factor in the life of the Jews. She had her own prophets–four hundred of them, who ate at her table and who were supported by her bounty.

As wife of King Ahab, she used the power of the throne to press her religious idolatry. She even threatened God's faithful Prophet with death, using her husband's authority as her tool.

The fornication taught by Jezebel was the same as that taught by Balaam, but it was worse, in that Jezebel sought to enforce her demands with the whip of governmental authority.

The whole thing presents a mixture of church and state–the government laying rough hands upon the saints, and seeking to enforce her demands upon the church.

In all of this the papacy certainly falls under judgment. This apostate church has developed a system of civil and ecclesiastical authority that seeks governmental dominion.

The papacy has an ambition to lay hold on the government. She wants to possess the power to legally control the Church of the Lord Jesus Christ.

In this the papacy however is not alone. The same spirit moves apostate Protestantism. All the great denominations are more and more laying aside the idea of co-operative work among the churches, and assuming the idea of coercive lordship. They take to themselves governmental authority and dictate and demand what the churches shall do. They assume the administrative place of the Spirit of God, and send forth fiats to the churches which must be obeyed, under threat of ecclesiastical excommunication.

Such is the sin that marked the Church at Thyatira and such is the sin that has all but overwhelmed the churches of today.

Autor: R.E. NEIGHBOUR