Free Grace Women

Introduction:

In Revelation 2:18-29, the Lord addresses the church at Thyatira. Known today as Akhisar (about 155 miles southwest of Istanbul), Thyatira was a city that was 40 miles from Pergamum. The city was a melting pot of various cultures and religions, making it a challenging environment for the Christian community. It was known for its dyeing and weaving, and for being the central hub for trade and labor guilds. These labor guilds participated in feasts for patron gods that included sexual activity. If a member of a guild were not to attend these feasts, it could risk their livelihood, which put pressure on believers not to live godly lives. In addition, the Church of Thyatira faced internal challenges that demanded attention. In Revelation 2:18-29, Christ’s message to Thyatira reveals both commendation and rebuke.

Description of Christ:

First, the Lord begins with a description of Himself, as one with eyes like fire, and feet of fine brass (verse 18).

The eyes of fire likely refer to the Lord’s penetrating gaze, that sees beyond man’s exterior, and into the mind and soul. The Lord’s holy presence is often described as a fire like that of the burning bush, or the pillar of fire in the Old Testament. The church at Thyatira needed correction, and both their good and bad works would one day be evaluated by the impartial, and holy Judge (1 Peter 1:17, 2 Corinthians 5:10). His feet of fine brass draw upon military imagery, and possibly refers to the Lord’s ability to swiftly pass judgment. In short, what the Lord says next should be carefully considered. Unlike human judges, this One who speaks is perfectly holy, has perfect knowledge, and has perfect authority to pass judgment. 

Works:

 First, the Lord acknowledges the church’s love, faith, service, and perseverance. While He is going to rebuke the church for its shortcomings, He begins with what they’re doing right. How quick we are to forget, that even in our failures, the Lord sees our faithfulness, and commends us for it. Like most churches, Thyatira is not all good, or all bad. It is a mixture of both.  

Praise/Rebuke and Instruction:

The rebuke addresses the tolerance of a woman who is referred to as “Jezebel.” The name refers to the Old Testament figure of Jezebel found in 1 Kings 16-21, who promoted false teachings and led believers astray. The letter to Thyatira provides insights into the importance of avoiding compromise with false teachings. Jezebel was bringing false theology and sexually immoral practices into the church at Thyatira. Christ’s call to repentance in Revelation 2:21-23 exhibits the importance of not allowing false teachings to continue.  In this context, repentance is turning away from the false doctrines of Jezebel. Those who continued to follow Jezebel would experience suffering, but those who would repent and overcome will be rewarded. The faithful believer will be given rewards that will be greater than we can imagine. That promise applies to us in current times. But we must remain faithful for that promise to be fulfilled. 

Reward:

Christ’s promises of “authority over nations and the morning star” (Revelation 2:26-28) reflect the eternal rewards given to those who hold fast to the message of grace. This assurance reinforces the idea that salvation is a secure and eternal gift from God. We too will receive rewards if we obey God and try to reflect Christ in our lives and not submit to societal norms. The Church of Thyatira serves as a relevant example for those who have trouble resisting the temptations of their culture. It urges believers to anchor their faith in the truth of God’s grace.   

Conclusion:

The church at Thyatira was commended for their love, faith, service, and perseverance, but rebuked for following the ways of the world. Christians in Thyatira faced many struggles to stay faithful to God. Today, Christians face similar struggles. We are to stand firm on the grace that Jesus gave to us, a free gift for all those who believe in Him. Our society has become so desensitized to many things; sexual sin is a big one. There is sex everywhere: on TV, in movies, in commercials, on social media, etc. We must pull ourselves out of the desensitization and realize that what we have been doing is not pleasing to the Lord. That’s where repentance comes in. We are already saved by just believing in Christ for eternal life. However, when we repent from the sins of our culture, we gain even more and will be rewarded when we see the face of God and are judged by Him at the judgment seat of Christ (2 Corinthians 5:10). Those who follow the Lord’s word and will, they too will rule nations and have other rewards in the Kingdom to come.