REVELATION LESSON 8

    We will begin this lesson with the church at Thyatira in
Revelation 2:18.
    Revelation 2:18 "And unto the angel of the church in Thyatira
write; These things saith the Son of God, who hath his eyes like unto
a flame of fire, and his feet [are] like fine brass;"

    This Thyatira is the same as where Lydia lived.  In Acts 16:14
We read, "And a certain woman named Lydia, a seller of purple, of the
city of Thyatira, which worshipped God, heard [us]: whose heart the
Lord opened, that she attended unto the things which were spoken of
Paul."

    The church at Thyatira, many believe, is representative of the
Roman Catholic Church and the period of that churches' prominence.  I
would not belabor that point.

    We are looking at the spiritual and trying to see all of the seven
churches in our modern churches today.  Wherever possible, not
pointing fingers or calling names. We must examine ourselves before we
start pointing fingers.  The worship of the sun god was very prevalent
in this surrounding area; and, perhaps, that is why we see Jesus
offering the Morning Star to those who believe. Of course, Jesus is
symbolically the Bright and Morning star.  (I will give the scripture
covering this after V-28&29).

    Jesus shows this church His penetrating eyes which can even
discern the intents of the heart. With His feet of fine brass, He
shows them that He truly is the final Judge.

      Revelation 2:19 "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."

    It seems that this church here in Thyatira has great love and
compassion and is a working church trying to improve the condition of
the less fortunate around them.  This church is patient, which is
gained by much tribulation. This is not a stiff cold church, as some
of the other churches are, but is a loving caring church. It seems
that the works of this church improve as they go along, because the
last is more than the first. This is really a very nice statement that
Jesus made about them.

    Revelation 2:20 "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.

    This is one of the scriptures that is often used by certain
 denominations to say that women should not teach and preach.  If we
 carefully look at this, we will realize that Jezebel here is not a
 woman actually, but a system of evil, whether taught by men or women.
 Fornication is the issue here, not that there is a woman in the
 church. Just as the Nicolaitans were not really a particular country
 and Baal, also, was a symbol of evil and not a specific place and
 person.

    We need to look at fornication and see what it is.  Fornication is
incest or adultery of either sex.  Those who indulge in unlawful lust.
Everyone would agree that any minister of God who promoted any of
these sins would be a Jezebel to Jesus.  Men and women who are
believers in Christ are all the Bride of Christ.  I do not believe
that this Jezebel is all women who minister the Word of God, but just
those who teach evil lust.

    In Galatians 3:28, we read that with God there is no male and
female. "There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor
free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ
Jesus." The same Paul that wrote for women to be silent in church, in
I Corinthians 14:34, wrote this in Galatians.

    We also need to look at Acts 2:17-18.
    Acts 2:17 "And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God,
I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your
daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and
your old men shall dream dreams:" Acts 2:18 "And on my servants and on
my handmaidens I will pour out in those days of my Spirit; and they
shall prophesy:"

    There is something we are not understanding, or else the Bible
contradicts itself. We know the Bible does not contradict itself. We
must look more carefully at what the Scriptures mean. Let's look at
one more Scripture in Acts which should settle the fact that there is
nothing wrong with women preachers. The error comes in evil messages
that some women or men bring. The Jezebel here could be a woman, but
if she is, it is not the fact that she is a woman that is wrong, it is
an evil message that is wrong.

    Acts 21:8 "And the next [day] we that were of Paul's company
departed, and came unto Caesarea: and we entered into the house of
Philip the evangelist, which was [one] of the seven; and abode with
him." Acts 21:9 "And the same man had four daughters, virgins, which
did prophesy." There are many examples just like this of Philip's
daughters.

    We must all be careful about criticizing others in their
ministry. Look carefully at the context it is written in, before
speaking out against others.

    Jezebel calls herself a prophetess.  It appears, whoever this is
or whatever group this represents, they are promoting feelings of the
flesh not the Spirit.  Throughout the Bible we are warned not to eat
things sacrificed to idols knowingly.

    Revelation 2:21 "And I gave her space to repent of her
fornication; and she repented not."

    We must carefully look at what must be repented of.  The sin here
is fornication. She was not to repent of preaching, but repent of
fornication. In the days that John wrote this, there were evil
churches who even had harlots working in the church for the
convenience of the members.

    In our day the Satanic churches promote sex.  Some churches teach
that homosexuality and lesbianism are alternate life styles. My Bible
says they are an abomination to God, Leviticus 18:22.  You can easily
see spiritually this church in Thyatira in these churches. Not only
Thyatira needs to repent, but modern churches who teach this
abomination.

    Revelation 2:22 "Behold, I will cast her into a bed, and them that
commit adultery with her into great tribulation, except they repent of
their deeds."

    Here this could be both physical and spiritual adultery. The
people who get involved in these sex sins are guilty, also.  It is no
excuse to sin just because your minister tells you that you are not
guilty. Try every message you hear by what the Bible teaches.  Do not
be deceived by any false prophet, male or female.  Their repentance is
of their deeds, not whether they were male or female.

    Revelation 2:23 "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."

    The word translated reins means "the inner most mind", perhaps the
subconscious mind. The heart will be judged.  The motive behind our
deeds is just as important as the deed.

    In the Scripture above, we see that God will not always overlook
sin in the church. When His judgement falls, it will begin in the
church. Punishment will be swift and so severe that other churches
will look and tremble at the punishment.

    The works spoken of here are the works of the heart and mind which
come to maturity in actual deeds.  Good or evil actually begins in the
mind and heart. Just as beautiful words cannot come from an evil
heart, beautiful deeds cannot either.  What we are inside will show in
what we do for God.

    Revelation 2:24 "But unto you I say, and unto the rest in
Thyatira, as many as have not this doctrine, and which have not known
the depths of Satan, as they speak; I will put upon you none other
burden."
    Revelation 2:25 "But that which ye have [already] hold fast till I
come."

    What doctrine is spoken of here?  The doctrine of fleshly lust and
fornication. The doctrine that says you can do what you please as long
as you are baptized. Jesus wants a chaste virgin for a bride.  Jesus
wants us to be holy as He is holy.  Sin must not be practiced, if we
are Christians.

    Jesus will forgive us of our sins if we ask Him, but we must not
go back into that sin over and over.  Our heart must desire to live
above sin.

     Notice here, also, that even though this particular church spoken
 of is promoting sin, an individual can repent and be saved even in
 this situation. God does not judge groups. Jesus judges us one at a
 time. It would be a terrible burden to have no other church to go to
 than one that taught fornication. He tells them to hold fast to sound
 doctrine until He comes.

     Revelation 2:26 "And he that overcometh, and keepeth my works
unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations:"
    Revelation 2:27 "And he shall rule them with a rod of iron; as the
vessels of a potter shall they be broken to shivers: even as I
received of my Father."

    You see here that Jesus specifies His works are what is to be
done. It also means that we should not just do a little and get self
satisfied, but stay with the Lord's work to the very end.  Just as
Jesus told the parable of the good servant in Luke chapter 19, we must
be a good servant and bring the fruits of our labor to Jesus.

    Jesus says, the servant, in Luke, was to rule over ten cities.  In
 V-27 He also promises that His faithful will rule.  Remember the
 power is Jesus'. He gives us our power. This power is to do His will
 as we rule.  We are working under Jesus' direction.  He is our
 leader. The "...rod of iron..." means the rule will be strong,
 unbending.  The rule will be as a shepherd leads if they follow
 Jesus, but if not, they shall be broken to pieces.  This rod spoken
 of could be a shepherd's or a king's.  Whichever it is, the rod of
 correction will be used in love. Jesus was given all power on earth,
 under the earth, and in heaven by the Father.

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

    Jesus is the Bright and Morning Star.  He promises to give Himself
to those who will follow Him.

    Revelation 2:29 "He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit
saith unto the churches."

    Notice again this message is not just given to this one church of
Thyatira, but to churches, plural. We must take heed to the warnings.
Open the ears of our heart and receive Jesus in His fullness.

    Additional scriptures to read: 1 Corinthians 6:2, Romans 1:4,
Hebrews 1:2-8, 1 Corinthians 7:29, Job 14:14.

    Memorize Galatians 3:28 and Acts 2:17-18.

                     REVELATION QUESTIONS 8


1.  Who did Jesus call Himself to the church at Thyatira?
2.  What do the eyes of fire mean?
3.  What do His feet of brass indicate?
4.  In Acts we read about a woman of Thyatira, who was she?
5.  What do many believe this church at Thyatira is symbolic for
   today?
6.  We must not point fingers at others, but -------  -------.
7.  What false god did most of the heathen here worship?
8.  Jesus' penetrating eyes can even discern the --------of the -----.
9.  What five things did Jesus praise them for?
10. What brings patience?
11. What did Jesus have against them?
12. What was this evil one teaching?
13. What is fornication?
14. Who wrote Galatians?
15. Who wrote Corinthians?
16. Do these two opposite teachings mean that there is an error in the
    Bible?
17. What does it mean?
18. Who will prophesy in the end times?
19. What evangelist's four daughters prophesied?
20. Where is the Scripture found?
21. This Jezebel church was promoting what?
22. When God gave time to repent, what happened?
23. What was to be repented of?
24. How should we try every message?
25. In V-23 what does reins mean?
26. What is just as important as our deeds?
27. Where does good and evil actually start?
28. Is this whole church lost?  Explain.
29. The doctrine in V-24 is what?
30. What does Jesus promise to the overcomers?
31. How long should we work for Jesus?
32. What does the rod of iron mean?
33. Where is Jesus' power?
34. Who is the Bright and Morning Star?
35. Why does it say churches instead of the church at Thyatira in V-
    29?
36. Write Galatians 3:28.
37. Write Acts 2:17-18.
38. What do you think God is saying to our church in this church at
    Thyatira?