THE PERSEVERING SAVIOUR Thyatira

#225                                       THE PERSEVERING SAVIOUR

            Thyatira

Scripture  Revelation 2:18-29, NIV                                                                               Orig. 3/6/1989

Passage: 18 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. 19 I know your deeds, your love and faith, your service and perseverance, and that you are now doing more than you did at first. 20 Nevertheless, I have this against you: You tolerate that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophet. By her teaching she misleads my servants into sexual immorality and the eating of food sacrificed to idols. 21 I have given her time to repent of her immorality, but she is unwilling. 22 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. 23 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.  24 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, 25 except to hold on to what you have until I come.’

26 To the one who is victorious and does my will to the end, I will give authority over the nations— 27 that one ‘will rule them with an iron scepter and will dash them to pieces like pottery’[a]—just as I have received authority from my Father. 28 I will also give that one the morning star. 29 Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches.

Purpose:           Teaching a Bible study for adults from this material

Keywords:        Bible Study

Timeline/Series:           Revelation Letters Thyatira

Introduction

            We first encountered Thyatira as a small but important industrial city.  It was known for works in clay, leather, bronze, and for its dyes and dyeing.  I grew up in small, Southern, cotton-mill towns in Georgia, Alabama.  There were even trade guilds in Thyatira for these labor groups.

            We came upon this city in Acts 16:14.   Paul was in Philippi.  Lydia heard him preach. She believed, invited Paul [and] party, to her home, and this church may be the result.  Lydia was the first recorded convert to Christianity on European soil.

I.          Persevering Sovereignty.  V18 “These things saith the son of God, who hath his eyes like a flame of fire, and his feet are like fine brass.” 

            Qualifications of sovereignty.  The Son of God: see Luke 1:35 (birth); see Mark 9:7 (Annunciation); see John 19:7 (crucifixion); see I John 4:15 (faith/link); omniscience: See Proverbs 15:3 (eyes of the Lord); see Acts 1:24 (knoweth the hearts); see Hebrews 4:13 (all things). 

            The message delivered out of sovereignty.

·         He knows all the good being done.

·         He knows all of their failures.

·         He knows always when repentance is needed.

II.         Persevering Repentance.  V20f “Notwithstanding I have a few things against thee, . . . And I gave . . . space to repent . . . and she repented not.”

            Repentance demands God’s view of sin.  Uninitiated hear it sermonized, see sin in lives of loved ones, rationalize repentance.  Come to see sin as sophistication, overzealousness.

            We must understand that God’s sentence is on sin.  Sin has within itself its own punishment.  Jezebel: daughter of Ethbaal, Zidonian; married Ahab; I Kings 16:31f.  II Kings 23: RG Lee “Payday Someday”; in any sexual deviation it is the family that hurts.  Nothing shows God’s love like an offer to any Jezebel to repent.  Only unbelief can not be forgiven.  Rank heresies can be repented.

III.       Persevering Truth.  V23b “I am he which searcheth the reins and hearts: I will give unto every one of you according to  your works.”  “Reins”—nephros, kidney (nephritis)—seat of emotions, feelings.

            He refutes errant doctrine.  “You who do not hold her teaching, Satan’s depths”: Satanic influence, Failure to deal with error; No evidence of Lydia, name probably not Jezebel.  Jezebel didn’t try to stop Jehovah worship, she just wanted to add Baal worship.

            He refuses to add to their teaching.  V24b “I will put upon you no other burden.”  Báros. Acts 15:28 “For it seemed good . . . that we lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things.”

            Christ reaffirms His coming.  V25 “That which you have, hold fast till I come.”  They were to appraise the teaching.  It will make a difference for us.  I John 2:28, “. . . Abide in him, that when he shall appear, we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before him at his coming.”

            He ratifies a coming day of judgment.  V26 “He that overcometh and keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations.”  Satan promised Jesus “power over the nations.” Matthew 4:8.  It was a power not his to grant.  It is in the power of Jesus.

Conclusion

            Storm clouds are on the horizon.  Those who are wise will recognize the dangers and prepare themselves for what is before them.  People in Biloxi area threw “hurricane” parties.