Through the Bible - Amos 7-9, Revelation 7
Good morning,
For today's verse we'll return to Revelation chapter 2 and see what Christ has to say to the church at Thyatira.
It is worth noting that the church was commended for it's generosity and love, something that had not been said of the previous churches. In fact the word used for faith, pistis is better translated "fidelity" or "faithfulness". MacArthur notes that "true Christians there were dependable, reliable and consistent." Their faith and love "grew into service and perseverence."
You get the picture that it is a church with a lot of programs, which desires to be inclusive, but somehow, at some point began to forget what they had been taught, not holding onto the doctrines of the faith, they allowed, even welcomed, some of the culture and practices of the society around them to creep into the church. The church is described here as the "corrupt church", Websters defines corrupt as - "changed from a sound condition to an unsound one, spoiled, contaminated, rotten."
The reference to that "Jezebel" in verse 20 may be a reference to the personality of the Jezebel from the Old Testament, who here brought devious practices into the church.
Rev 2:25 But hold fast what you have till I come. 26 And he who overcomes, and keeps My works until the end, to him I will give power over the nations — NKJV
The church needed to love what Jesus loved and to hate what Jesus hated. Jesus loved the sinner but hated the sin.
Pastor Bob shared how his recent series "Decent Exposure" was not well received by some. He dealt with some very sensitive issues regarding sexual purity and the need for Christians to take there stand in these areas. He chose not to look the other way but to challenge the congregation, young and old, to face and deal with the issues head on, for the sake of their spouses, families, their reputation and most importantly their God.
Then and now it is not an easy thing to do. John MacArthur comments, "The pressure faced by the Christians in Thyatira came from the guilds. To hold a job or run a business, it was necessary to be a member of a guild. Each guild had it's patron deity, in whose honor feasts were held, complete with meat sacrificed to idols and sexual immorality. Christians faced the dilema of attending those feasts or possibly losing their livelihood. How some in the church of Thyatira were handling the situations caused the Lord Jesus Christ great concerns."
What happens when some of these same business leaders become leaders in the church? It becomes "corrupt".
The situation is not that different today in certains circles, and the Christian businesman must avoid, flee from, the opportunities and temptations for payoffs, bribes, and improper business "entertainment", anything that could even be remotely considered "questionable". All this while knowing that refraining from joining in these activities could have an impact on his job and livelihood.
May we be those, who as Jesus says, "overcomes" and keeps, follows "His works" to the end.
In Christ,
Mike
mikevw@bellsouth.net
Rev 2:18-3:1
The Corrupt Church
18 "And to the angel of the church in Thyatira write,
'These things says the Son of God, who has eyes like a flame of fire, and His feet like fine brass: 19 "I know your works, love, service, faith, and your patience; and as for your works, the last are more than the first. 20 Nevertheless I have a few things against you, because you allow that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess, to teach and seduce My servants to commit sexual immorality and eat things sacrificed to idols. 21 And I gave her time to repent of her sexual immorality, and she did not repent. 22 Indeed I will cast her into a sickbed, and those who commit adultery with her into great tribulation, unless they repent of their deeds. 23 I will kill her children with death, and all the churches shall know that I am He who searches the minds and hearts. And I will give to each one of you according to your works.
24 "Now to you I say, and to the rest in Thyatira, as many as do not have this doctrine, who have not known the depths of Satan, as they say, I will put on you no other burden. 25 But hold fast what you have till I come. 26 And he who overcomes, and keeps My works until the end, to him I will give power over the nations —
27 'He shall rule them with a rod of iron;
They shall be dashed to pieces like the potter's vessels' —
as I also have received from My Father; 28 and I will give him the morning star.
29 "He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches."'
NKJV
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