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Revelation Bible Study Series: 8. The Epistle to Thyatira
 –
Revelation 2:18-29 1
8. REVELATION SERIES:The Epistle to Thyatira
–
Revelation 2:18-29
 
As we have previously seen, the angels of the various churches are to be recognized asthe elder or elders of the churches, who are protected by the Lord Jesus Christ (1:16,20).For the Christians in Thyatira this would have been a most comforting message,especially given that God
’
s judgment upon the professing church would be from Hishands. God knows the reality of each one
’
s state, and therefore He would judge arightand not make any mistakes.Please Read Revelation 2:18-29
Verse 18:
Thyatira was situated 65km southeast of Pergamos on the south bank of theLycus River. The large Lycus Valley was part of the main trade and war route through thearea. The city itself was founded by Seleucus I as a military outpost in order to guard theapproaches to his empire. It fell to the Romans in 190 BC.Being on the main trade route, Thyatira was an important trading city with varioustrades having been established there. These trades included wool workers, linenworkers, clothes makers, leather workers, potters, bakers, slave traders and so on. Eachof these trades had their own
‘
trade-guilds,
’
with their own guardian god and ritualisticrequirements. To be outside a trade-guild meant certain poverty and persecution. Eachguild meeting included a common meal dedicated to its particular god and frequentlyincluded immorality. Thyatira also had a temple to the sun god Apollo (Tyrimnes), whowas the patron of all the trade guilds.The beginnings of the church in Thyatira can probably be linked to Lydia (Acts 16:13ff),who was a trader in purple. This purple was a turkey-red dye obtained from the madderroot that is prolific in the Lycus Valley.The message sent to the church in Thyatira comes from the Son of God (1:6; 2:27;3:5,21; 14:1), who has true authority over the church, as opposed to the trade-guildsand false prophets. Within the local cultic worship of Apollo Tyrimnos was merged theworship of the emperor (identified as Apollo incarnate), so that both were seen as sons
 
 
Revelation Bible Study Series: 8. The Epistle to Thyatira
 –
Revelation 2:18-29 2
of Zeus. Here Christ is identifying Himself in clear contrast to the false claims of theemperor and Apollos.The Self-designation of Christ again comes from the initial vision (1:14,15; Dan 10:6) andis particularly relevant to the church at Thyatira. The flaming eyes represent thepenetrating power of Christ
’
s insight (1:14; 19:12; Heb 4:13) and the feet the idea of sovereign strength in judgment (1:15; 2:26ff).
Verse 19:
Of course the sovereign and omniscient Lord knows the real state of affairs inThyatira, and of the true and false works of those who profess His name. He knows thereal love of His people and how it issues in works of service. He also knows the faith of His people and how it endures the assaults of the world.The works of the Christians in Thyatira, which flow from right and proper motives, are of a progressive kind. Real spiritual growth is clearly evident among the
‘
remnant
’
of Thyatira (2:24), with an increase in both quality and quantity in their Christian works.
QUESTIONS:
How do people try to hide things from God? Why is this a useless pursuit?Explain how works of service and patience are evidence of love and faith?
Verse 20:
Christ
’
s condemnation of the church at Thyatira related to their toleration of the Nicolaitan heresy. By
‘
allowing
’
it to continue under the leadership of this
‘
Jezebel,
’
 the church displayed a spirit of leniency, a lack of discipline and a tendency towardcompromise. One variant reading of the text translates as
‘
your wife Jezebel,
’
suggestingthat this
‘
Jezebel
’
was the wife of the bishop in Thyatira.
‘
Jezebel
’
was a woman who professed to interpret God
’
s will and was obviously awoman of some influence in the church, being able to introduce a compromise withpaganism into the church at Thyatira. This woman was a first century parallel to the OldTestament Jezebel, who fostered idolatry and immorality in Israel (1 Kings 16:29ff; 2Kings 9:30ff). The name Jezebel has become synonymous with seduction to idolatry andimmorality (1 Kings 16:31; 18:4,13,19; 19:1,2).The teaching of this New Testament Jezebel was basically that of the Nicolaitan heresy(2:15), teaching the people that they didn
’
t need to separate themselves from theworld, and therefore idolatry and immorality, allowing the professing believers of Thyatira to continue in their trades and associated pagan feasts without the fear of poverty and persecution.
QUESTIONS:
 
Is there any indication in this verse of how important church discipline is toGod? Explain?
 
 
Revelation Bible Study Series: 8. The Epistle to Thyatira
 –
Revelation 2:18-29 3
Verse 21:
The Lord had shown grace and great longsuffering (Rom 2:4) toward this falseteacher, but this Jezebel despised His grace, refusing to turn from her falsehoods. Thetext suggests that the woman may already have been warned, perhaps by John himself and that now the opportunity for repentance had passed.
NOTE: INDIVIDUAL DISCOVERY QUESTION HERE:
 
Explain what verse 22 means by being cast
‘
into a sickbed?
’
 
Verse 22:
The Greek of this verse suggests a
‘
futuristic present,
’
thereby stressing boththe imminence and certainty of God
’
s coming judgment upon the Nicolaitans inThyatira.The
‘
Jezebel
’
of Thyatira would suffer a disease of some severe form (1 Cor 11:27-29)and her disciples great tribulation. The only way that these people could escape this judgment would be to repent.
Verse 23:
Those who had followed this
‘
Jezebel
’
into the Nicolaitan heresy will be killedwith death (cf LXX Ezek 33:27,
‘
I will kill with death,
’
i.e. pestilence; Rev 6:8).The motivation of the Nicolaitans appeared to be a way of escaping the persecution andpoverty that followed upon a true profession of salvation in Christ, but the imminent judgment of Christ upon them would clearly demonstrate that Christ truly sees theheart of the matter and that each person would receive the just reward for theirpractice (Jer 17:10; Mt 16:27; Rom 18:6; 20:12,13; 22:12).
QUESTIONS:
Explain the longsuffering of Christ? How should believers demonstrate thisquality in their lives?What does the omniscience of Christ in verses 2:20-23 teach us about motives andbehaviour before Him? What does this mean for you?
Verses 24,25:
This verse contains precious encouragement to the remnant that had notfallen into the Nicolaitan error, or into
‘
the depths of Satan, as they call them.
’
 The depths of Satan are either called so by the Nicolaitans themselves, or by
‘
the rest inThyatira,
’
according to the interpretation accepted. If called so by the remnant inThyatira, the depths of Satan are what the Nicolaitans call the deep things of God (1 Cor2:10), as if the experience of greater sin is an experience of greater gospel freedom. Butif they were so called by the Nicolaitans themselves, it would mean descending intogreater sin in order to appreciate more fully the grace of God in the gospel andtherefore bring more glory to God (Romans 4).
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