GOD’S WARNING TO HIS CHURCH
Revelation 2:1–29; 3:1–22; Hebrews 12:1–29; 1 Peter 4:17, 18; Galatians 5:19–21; John 3:17–21; 15:1–6; 1 John 2:12–17.
- GOD’S ADMONITION TO AN UPWARDLY CONSISTENT BUT EXCESSIVELY TOLERANT CHURCH.
Revelation 2:18–29.
The Christian congregation at Thyatira is the fourth church to receive Jesus Christ’s message of commendation and/or warning. The message to this church’s spiritual leader began on a very pleasant note.
“I know thy works, and charity, and service, and faith and thy patience, and thy works, and the last (or current) to be more than the first (previous) ” Revelation 2:19.
The church was upwardly consistent in her services to God, her charity towards others (1 Corinthians 13:4–8), her faith in God’s ability to fulfil the promises of His Word (Romans 4:18–21; Hebrew 11:6), and her patience in waiting for the fruit of these labours or services. These virtues were untiring (Hebrews 10:35, 36). The combination of these virtues of the congregation made the church in Thyatira a model of Christian conduct and displayed the true essence of the Christian faith as portrayed in Romans 12:10, 11:
“Be kindly affectionate one to another with brotherly love; in honor preferring one another; Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord…”
What, though, was Jesus Christ’s dissatisfaction with this church?
“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” Revelation 2:20.
The charge against the church at Thyatira is similar to that against the church at Pergamos, in that both were associated with fornication and idolatrous pollution. However, there is a distinction in the nature and extent of their involvement with those vices, as can be seen from a careful reading of both letters to the churches.
Whereas the congregation at Pergamos was infiltrated by brethren who practised those vices through their adherence to particular teachings (Revelation 2:14, 15), the congregation at Thyatira was particularly guilty of tolerating the wrong teachings of a backslidden, self-professed prophetess (Revelation 2:20), who had apparently established a following of her own.
Whether this woman was an actual member of the congregation or an outside religious personality whose teachings had gained acceptance among some members, the central issue remains the same: the church was held responsible for tolerating teachings and practices which Jesus Christ condemned.
The following three verses provide further insight into the nature of her influence and the distinction between her adherents and the faithful members of the congregation.
Verse 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”.
This warning is mainly for the false prophetess’s associates in that immoral and idolatrous practice or doctrine. This gives us the understanding that she runs a religious entity of her own, albeit one not recognised by Jesus Christ, as His words, “Which calleth herself a Prophetess….”, infer. Compare this with Hebrews 5:4–6.
Verse 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.”
This impending judgment was targeted at her spiritual (not biological) children. Compare with Revelation 12:17; Galatians 4:19; 1 Corinthians 4:15. This gives us the understanding that the self-professed prophetess (nicknamed Jezebel) had a following, or a congregation. Her nickname, Jezebel, encapsulates her lifestyle, which was heavily immoral and idolatrous, like that of her biblical predecessor. See 2 Kings 9:22, 30; 1 Kings 16:30, 31; 18:13, 19.
Verse 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”.
The verse above creates a distinction between God’s congregation in Thyatira, which did not practise the Jezebellic doctrine, and her adherents, who did. The distinction suggests that she may have operated a religious following separate from the congregation at Thyatira.
The phrase “I will put upon you none other burden” clearly shows that the church had nothing to repent of besides their tolerance of that Jezebel.
Tolerance is a virtue only when it is exercised within the limits of God’s Word. Beyond these limits, it is a vice which every true Christian must shun.
“And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them” Ephesians 5:11.
The phrase “The depth of Satan” refers to all the vices shrouded in secrecy and subtly championed by Satan through willing agents parading themselves in religious garbs.
True Christians whose lives are free of such deceptive practices were referred to by Jesus Christ as those “… who have not known the depths of Satan…..”.
And to them, He promises to give two things, namely:
- “Power over the nations” during His millennial reign on earth with the saints. Revelation 2:24–27; 20:4–6; Matthew 19:27–29.
- He promised to give them “the morning star…” Revelation 2:28.
In astronomy, the expression “morning star” is popularly used to describe the appearance of certain luminous celestial bodies in the eastern sky before sunrise, particularly the planets Venus and Mercury.
Venus is especially prominent in this regard and is popularly known as the Morning Star. Mercury can also appear in the eastern sky before sunrise at certain periods. Sirius, although a star rather than a planet, can likewise be seen in the sky before sunrise during certain seasons.
These celestial bodies are visible before sunrise because of their positions relative to the rising sun and the earth. Their brightness and prominence in the early morning sky, unlike the other obscured distant stars, provide a useful illustration of the expression “morning star”.
Jesus also called Himself “…the bright and morning star” (Revelation 22:16) because He is unsurpassed in glory, splendour, and majesty by any of God’s creations.
So, the expression “morning star” is a metaphor depicting the glory of Jesus Christ, which He also promises to give to all who overcome the world and hold on to His Word until the time of the end. See Daniel 12:3; 1 John 3:2, 3; Revelation 2:26–29.
“And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness, as the stars forever and ever”. Daniel 12:3.
- GOD’S WARNING TO A PHYSICALLY ACTIVE BUT SPIRITUALLY DEAD CHURCH.
Revelation 3:1–6; 2 Timothy 3:1–5; Matthew 23:1–28; Luke 18:9–14.
The church at Sardis had the reputation of being physically active in the observance of religious rites and/or obligations. Jesus’ words to them that “…I know thy works, that thou hast a name that thou livest, and art dead…” suggest that the church had made a physical impact in her community but without any spiritual gains to show for it.
The irony here is that, being a spiritual body, the church’s activities should be more spiritual than physical. This notwithstanding, the church could still impact people’s lives by participating in community-help projects, where the Lord Jesus Christ so directs.
The message of the Lord to this church was straight to the point: it was a dead church pretending or thinking that it was alive.
The mention of “…the seven Spirits of God…” by Jesus Christ in the opening verse was very instructive, owing to the prevailing condition of the church at Sardis at that time. What, though, is the link between the seven Spirits of God and the dead church? To answer this, we need to know the meaning of the seven Spirits of God.
To begin with, the expression “the seven Spirits of God” occurs in the entire Bible five times, namely: Isaiah 11:2, which provides a sevenfold description of the Spirit, and Revelation 1:4; 3:1; 4:5; and 5:6, which make specific references to the seven Spirits without individually naming them.
The link between these references in Revelation and the description in Isaiah is the word “Spirit”, which depicts the Holy Spirit of God, and the number “seven”, which is frequently used throughout the Bible to depict completeness and perfection.
A casual reading of the references in Revelation might suggest that God has seven individual Spirits, but that is not necessarily the correct understanding.
Isaiah 11:2 provides an important insight by presenting a sevenfold description of the Spirit of the LORD, encompassing wisdom, understanding, counsel, might, knowledge, and the fear of the LORD. Together with the Spirit of the LORD Himself, these constitute the sevenfold description.
This understanding points to the completeness and perfection of the Holy Spirit, rather than seven separate Spirits existing within God.
The same principle of divine fullness is demonstrated in the person of Jesus Christ, upon whom God the Father bestowed the fullness of the Holy Spirit, without measure. This distinguishes Him from other beings who receive the Spirit by measure and experience His manifestations according to God’s divine distribution.
See John 3:25–35; Isaiah 61:1, 2; Luke 4:15–21; 1 Corinthians 12:4–11.
Concerning Jesus, the Bible says, “…for God giveth not the Spirit by measure unto him”. John 3:34B.
But with regards to the born-again Christian, the Bible says,
“…but the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withall: for to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit; to another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gift of healing by the same Spirit”… 1 Corinthians 12:7–9.
We must take particular notice that the same Holy Spirit God imparted to His Son, Jesus Christ, without measure, is still the one and only Spirit believers receive by measure in different manifestations.
Jesus has all the manifestations because He has the fullness of God’s Spirit in His being. And this Spirit is not seven, but one Spirit manifesting the seven attributes which make members of the Godhead perfect and above all other beings. See Ephesians 4:4–6.
“There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; One Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.” Ephesians 4:4–6.
Now, how does all of this concern the spiritually dead church at Sardis? Well, much in every way.
To begin with, the church was spiritually dead despite its physical activities and religious reputation. This condition points to a serious deficiency in the presence and manifestation of the life-giving work of the Spirit of God among them.
It would have been impossible for a congregation to maintain genuine spiritual life while remaining disconnected from the life-giving work of the Holy Spirit.
“It is the Spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are Spirit, and they are life”. John 6:63.
Concerning God’s Word, which “…are Spirit, and …are life”, Jesus Christ, while reproving the church at Sardis, drew their attention thus:
“Remember therefore how thou hast received (the word) and heard (the word), and hold fast (the word) and repent…” Revelation 3:3.
It would seem, then, that their problem stemmed from a culture of neglect of the “…holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus”. 2 Timothy 3:15B.
“And ye have not his word abiding in you: for whom he sent him ye believe not. Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me. And ye will not come to me, that ye might have life”.
John 5:38–40.
Having God’s Word abiding in us goes beyond merely preaching the Word to suit a particular trend in Christendom, such as the prosperity or motivational kind of thing that has become the craze of the moment, to the detriment of wholesome teaching and a balanced view of God’s Word. Only the latter can inspire true faith that leads to salvation and holy living. See 2 Timothy 2:15–19; 3:16–17; 4:1–5; Jude 1:3–4.
“Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth”. 2 Timothy 2:15.
Unfortunately many local churches today have abandoned the recommended practice of teaching directly from the Holy Bible, and exploring all scriptural links known to the preacher on the topic, in order to preach a balanced sermon that will help the congregation.
Isaiah 28:9-10 puts it this way:
“Whom shall he teach knowledge? and whom shall he make to understand doctrine? them that are weaned from the milk, and drawn from the breasts.
For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little: “
However, that’s no more the trend today; instead a preacher picks a verse from the scriptures and builds a story upon it with no other supporting scriptures to impart the anointing, unction and grace of God, which comes upon the congregation when His Holy Word is rightly taught.
Why will such a local church not die? Only the word of God gives life: motivational speaking does not – it only excites the mind!
In Christian service and daily living, it is not what we think of ourselves that really matters, but what God thinks; and His thoughts are His words in the Holy Bible.
To neglect the wholesome words of the Bible would be to neglect the life of Christ that flows from the Spirit of the Bible, which alone can give eternal life. See John 15:6; Romans 8:9.
“…Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his”. Romans 8:9B.
In His closing remarks to the church, Jesus pointed out that some Christians in Sardis, who had distanced themselves from the dead practices of that church, were still worthy of His glory. See Revelation 3:4.
The lesson here is that we do not have to bow to the pressure of becoming like others whose ways are evidently against all good conscience in the service of God, not even when they seem to be prospering in that way. See Philippians 2:12–16; 2 Timothy 2:19; Exodus 23:2; 1 Timothy 6:3–5.
“….perverse disputing of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness; from such withdraw thyself”. 1 Timothy 6:5.
Even where the majority of people choose to follow the world and its practices, it is still possible for the faithful believer to stay with Jesus Christ in the narrow way.
“He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels”.
Revelation 3:5.
TO BE CONTINUED.