Revelation 2:18

Revelation 2, verse 18 states that Jesus is the one dictating this letter, while the Apostle John is the one writing it down. Jesus says in verse 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 feet like fine brass. I know your works, your love, your service, faith, and your patience. As for your works, the last are more than the first."

Nevertheless, Jesus continues, "I have a few things against you. You allow that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess, to teach and seduce my servants to commit sexual immorality and to eat things sacrificed to idols. I gave her time to repent of her sexual immorality, and she did not repent. Indeed, I will cast her into a sickbed, and those who commit adultery with her into great tribulation, unless they repent of their deeds. I will kill her children with death, and all the churches shall know that I am He who searches the minds and the hearts. I will give to each one of you according to your works."

Now, to you I say, and to the rest in Thyatira, as many as do not have this doctrine and have not known the depths of Satan, as they say, "I will put on you no other burden. But hold fast what you have until I come. He who overcomes and keeps my words until the end, to him I will give power over the nations. He shall rule them with a rod of iron, and they shall be dashed to pieces like a potter's vessel. I also have received from my Father, and I will give him the morning star. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches."

God, we pray that you would open our ears and our understanding as this message, this word that you spoke, although directed to a gathering of believers in the city of Thyatira 1,900 years ago, speaks to us today.

And it is a challenge; it is a heavy passage and a heavy message. I pray, God, that you would open our ears so that we would receive in our hearts. Help us to be open to what you want to say to us, if this would apply and if this would speak to us today.

We know that your word is living and powerful. It is sharper than any two-edged sword and is useful for doctrine, and sometimes for rebuke and reproof. So, God, use your word, and by the work of your Spirit in our midst today, we ask that you would teach us all things, guide us into all truth, and help us to apply this in our lives for your glory and your name. We ask this in Jesus' name, and all God's people agreed and said, Amen. You can be seated.

The King James Bible became the most prominent and the most in use. For about 450 years, it was the primary English translation. However, about 20 years after the first printing in 1611, the successor to King James, King Charles I, found that they needed another reprint of the King James Bible. He commissioned a reprint, which was finished in 1631, and a thousand copies of that reprint were delivered.

As they started to go through the text, they found that among the 788,280 words, there was one word missing. Just one word, but it was a problem. Even though it was a very small word in a rather small verse found in Exodus chapter 20, the seventh commandment in that 1631 King James edition read, "Thou shalt commit."

Adultery. It's just a small word, but that small word made a big difference. All but about 11 copies of the 1631 translation of the King James Version, which came to be known as the Wicked Bible, were burned and destroyed. The publisher, the printer, had his license for printing revoked and was fined 300 pounds, which in that day was an awful lot of money—about a year's wage. You can actually get your hands on one of these copies today. If you have $99,500, there's one available online for purchase. The Wicked Bible is still there, and there's a picture of the verse on a website that shows it: "Thou shalt commit adultery." One little word can make a big difference.

About 10 years ago, I, along with a gathering of pastors, sat down to talk about encouraging, strengthening, and ministering to those who are going through grief and mourning. We were looking at a booklet that had just been reprinted by the Word for Today, a booklet originally written by Pastor Chuck Smith. As we flipped through that booklet, one of the pastors there, Matt Dotson, came across a paragraph that read like this from Pastor Chuck: "If we had our wish, we would leave our earthly bodies so that we could be present with the Lord. Flesh and blood bodies cannot inherit the kingdom of heaven, so the move from tent to mansion is imperative."

Then, in that booklet, it said this: "This corruption, my present body, must put on incorruption, my new body, and this mortal must put on immortality." If you know that verse from 1 Corinthians chapter 15, verse 53, it actually says, "This mortal must put on immortality," but one letter can make a big difference. Don't you hate when Microsoft Word sometimes just changes things for you? I assume that's probably what happened right there.

Of course, misprints and typos are not the reason that people engage in immorality. We recognize and understand that we find ourselves, from time to time, whether thinking or engaged in things that...

The issues we face are against the Scriptures and against the Lord, not because there are misprints in Bibles or in booklets, but because of our fallen sin nature. We don't need misprints and typos to justify those things; we do that just fine on our own.

The church that Jesus addresses in His fourth letter in Revelation chapter 2, the church of Thyatira, was a church that was not only caught in compromise, like the church at Pergamos last week, but they were actually engaged in immorality. This is not necessarily unheard of or strange, as there are people in churches who are engaged in sinful behaviors. We recognize that people are sinful, and churches are made up of people; therefore, there is sin within the church.

There are people here today who have fallen short of the glory of God this past week. Every single one of us has. Maybe on your way here today, someone cut you off, and you found yourself in a place where, during worship, you were saying, "God, forgive me," for a wrong attitude or a wrong motive, whatever it may be. It is not unheard of that we would find sinners in church. This is not a perfect group of people. I am not a perfect person, and none of you are. If you think you're perfect, you may have a bigger problem.

The church has sinful people in it, and we recognize that to be the case. However, the problem that this church faces, which Jesus addresses in verses 18 through 29 of Revelation chapter 2, is bigger than just having issues of sin within the hearts and lives of the people. There is a much more grievous issue here in this church that we shall see.

Look at verse 18 with me. Jesus writes to this church, saying, "To the angel of the church in Thyatira, write." First, the city of Thyatira was the smallest of the seven cities mentioned in Revelation chapters 2 and 3. It was situated approximately 40 miles southeast of the last church we looked at, Pergamos. Jesus began with His letter to Ephesus, then moved north to Smyrna, north again to Pergamos, and now southeast down to Thyatira. For many years before what is termed the Pax Romana...

For many years, this city of Thyatira was nothing more than a speed bump to the occasional invading army. It was first established and grew to prominence, although it was never really known for being great. Thyatira gained significance during the Greek Empire, after Alexander the Great died and his kingdom was split into four kingdoms. This little city was established as an outpost for some of the Greek military to stand ready to delay any oncoming army from the east as they made their way west towards the capital city of Asia, Pergamos.

In its history, before the Romans brought peace to the region, Thyatira was conquered, destroyed, and rebuilt several times. It was situated on a trade route that went from the northwest to the southeast, connecting the capital city of Asia Minor, Pergamos, to the interior of Asia Minor. Merchants traveled back and forth along this road and would stop in Thyatira on their way. As a result, the city grew to have great trade guilds.

If we were to think of a trade guild in our modern day, the closest equivalent might be a union. Archaeologists have found evidence that there were a greater number of trade guilds in Thyatira than in any other Asian city during that time, largely due to the commerce flowing through the area. There were trade guilds for wool makers, tent makers, leather workers, tanners, and those who made fine linen. One of the main things that Thyatira was known for was purple dye, which was very valuable during that day.

The process of manufacturing purple dye was very difficult and costly. Because purple was associated with royalty and the upper levels of Roman society, it was highly desired by the wealthy among the Roman Empire. Thyatira became the place to obtain purple dye and purple cloth. Interestingly, we meet an individual from Thyatira who dealt in that very thing. In Acts chapter 16, when Paul was on his second missionary journey, he entered Macedonia, marking the first move of the gospel into modern-day Europe. He went to the chief city of Macedonia at that time, the city of Philippi, where there was no synagogue.

Saul, who later became Paul the Apostle, would normally go to the synagogue to minister first. However, since there was no synagogue in Philippi, he went on the Sabbath day to the nearest river. He knew that if there were any Jewish people or God-fearers, they would gather there, a practice that dates back to their exile in Babylon. When they had no place to gather, they would meet by the river in Babylon.

On that Sabbath day, Paul went to the river near Philippi and found a gathering of women who were God-fearers. They were not Jewish but Gentiles interested in the things of the one true God. We read in Acts chapter 16, verse 14, "Now a certain woman named Lydia heard us, and she was a seller of purple from the city of Thyatira, who worshiped God. And the Lord opened her heart to heed the things spoken by Paul." Lydia became a believer in Jesus, and it is highly likely, in fact, very probable, that she was one of the first people to bring the gospel, the good news of Jesus, back to her family and friends, as well as to those involved in the trade guild of merchants of purple cloth and dye in her home city of Thyatira.

Many Bible teachers believe that the first establishment of a church in Thyatira may have been due in part to Lydia's ministry and her salvation through the Apostle Paul. No doubt, the church in Thyatira grew and was established during Paul's third missionary journey when he was ministering in the city of Ephesus. You can read about it in Acts chapters 18 and 19. In Acts chapter 19, it states that as Paul taught and ministered—specifically around verse 10—he was in Ephesus for two years, and the whole peninsula of Asia Minor heard the gospel. The word of God went out, and so the church began to be established.

Jesus writes to this small gathering of Christians that existed in Thyatira, likely connected to the Apostle Paul and, no doubt, to Lydia about 40 years later. He brings this revelation. Remember, the first point on our rap sheet: each of these letters follows the same outline. The first point is the revelation. Look at Revelation 2:18, the second half. He writes and says, "And to the angel of the church at Thyatira, write: These things says the Son of God, who has eyes like a flame of fire and feet like fine brass."

Jesus sees all and will judge thoroughly. How do we get that from the text? Well, like the revelation of Jesus to the church at Pergamos last week, this is a powerful picture of Jesus. He begins by saying, "I am the Son of God."

In Jewish thought and ancient Middle Eastern thought of the day, to be the Son of something meant that you carried the same nature as that entity. In the Gospel of Luke, Jesus is referred to as the Son of Man, meaning he has the nature of a man. However, he is also revealed in the Gospel of John as being the one who is the Son of God, meaning he has the nature of God. Here in Revelation, this is the only time in the book of Revelation that Jesus introduces himself as the Son of God. He states, "I have the nature of God. I am God."

For those who claim that Jesus never asserted he was the Son of God, just refer them to Revelation chapter 2, verse 18, where he explicitly says, "I am the Son of God." He possesses the nature of God, and not only does he have that nature, being God, he also has all authority and all power. He doesn't often reveal himself in this way or highlight this aspect of his identity. However, when he does, it should capture our attention, especially because this church needed a wake-up call from God on high. He emphasizes the importance of recognizing who it is that is writing to them—this is God with a message for them.

He continues, stating that this is the Son of God who has eyes like a flame of fire and feet like fine brass. Each of these revelations specific to the seven churches points back to the initial revelation of Jesus given to John on the island of Patmos in Revelation chapter 1. If you look with me at Revelation chapter 1, verse 14, you will see that when John saw Jesus on the Lord's Day, Jesus revealed himself in all his glory. John describes it in Revelation 1:14: "His head and hair were white like wool, as white as snow, and his eyes were like a flame of fire, and his feet like fine brass as refined in the furnace."

What does this picture of Jesus mean? What does it signify?

What does this reveal about Him? I think it means that He has a penetrating gaze. His eyes are like a flame of fire; nothing is beyond His view. He sees all. Not only does He see all, but we also see that His feet were like fine brass refined in the fire. This signifies purity and enduring stability in Jesus.

You may remember there is a prophecy that Daniel receives from a dream that King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon had. It's found in the book of Daniel, I believe around chapter 3. In this dream, Nebuchadnezzar saw a great image with a head and shoulders of gold, a chest of silver, a body of bronze, legs of iron, and feet made of iron mixed with clay. Daniel prophesies that these represent the kingdoms that are going to come, and ultimately, the whole thing will be broken down because those feet mixed with clay are shattered by a great rock that strikes them. There is no stability, no strength in those feet.

In contrast, Jesus is depicted as having feet of finely refined brass, symbolizing enduring stability. However, brass throughout the Scriptures is associated with judgment. Jesus, with His eyes of flame of fire, has a penetrating gaze; He sees all and possesses an enduring stability, and He will judge thoroughly. He treads out judgment, as we see in the book of Revelation.

Later in Revelation, specifically in Revelation 14 and Revelation 19, it points back to passages in Isaiah 63 and Isaiah 34. It states that there is coming a day in the future when Jesus, upon His return in glory, will tread the winepress of the wrath of God. There are many interpretations of what that means, but at the very least, we know it is not a pretty picture. Jesus comes to tread the winepress of the wrath of God. He sees all and will judge thoroughly.

Christians who bear the name of Christ, who have the banner of Christ over their lives, often find themselves in a difficult position. We have the Spirit of God dwelling in us, as the Bible says. This means that when we observe things happening in the world or in the lives of those around us, we are sometimes compelled by the Spirit of God within us to recognize that something is wrong or that it ought not to be.

And so there are people who will sometimes say to you and say to me, "Don't you know the Bible says, 'Thou shall not judge'?" Well, it doesn't really say that. They will say, "Yes, Jesus says, 'Judge not that you be not judged.'" He did say that.

But if you look in your Bibles in Matthew chapter 7, in the Sermon on the Mount, where those words come from, Jesus did not tell His people to not judge. He said to be careful when we judge because, in Matthew chapter 7, He reminds us that when we judge someone, that same judgment may be turned back around on us.

In Matthew chapter 7, verse 1, Jesus says, "Judge not that you be not judged; for with what judgment you judge, you will be judged. And with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you."

But notice this in verse 3: "And why do you look at the speck in your brother's eye and do not consider the plank that is in your own eye?" Or how can you say to your brother, in verse 4, "Let me remove that speck from your eye," and look, a plank is in your own eye? In verse 5, He calls out, "Hypocrite! First remove the plank from your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye."

So the teaching of Jesus in Matthew chapter 7 is that we need to see clearly when we're going to bring judgment upon someone else. Yes, we do have the Spirit of God dwelling in us, and yes, there will be times that we're compelled to say, "That is wrong, and this is right." But when we do, we need to make sure that we judge our own lives first. Judgment must begin at the house of the Lord.

Here we see the one, the only one in all of the universe who has the ability to see clearly and judge righteously because there is no speck or plank in Jesus's eye. His eyes were a flame of fire; no speck can remain there. He is the only one who has the power to fully judge. He who judges must see clearly, and Jesus sees perfectly and will judge thoroughly all things.

Right after the author of the book of Hebrews reminds us that the Word of God is living and powerful, sharper than any two-edged sword, we looked at that and considered it last week. In Hebrews chapter 4, verse 12, he says, "The Word of God is living and powerful and sharper than any two-edged sword."

Then in verse 13, the very next verse, the author of the book of Hebrews writes, "And there is no creature hidden from His sight." Whose sight? The Word of God. Who's the Word of God? John 1 says it's Jesus. There is no creature hidden.

From His sight, all things are naked and open to the eyes of Him whom we must give an account. Jesus sees all things, and He will judge thoroughly. Today, this should challenge every single one of us. We should carry this close in our hearts: He sees all things, and He knows all.

In the book of Isaiah, the prophet Isaiah speaks in Isaiah chapter 29. God says through him, "Woe to those," which means destruction is certain, "who seek deep to hide their counsel from the Lord. Their works are done in darkness, and they say, 'Who sees us? Who knows us?'" Woe to those who think they are hiding something when they are doing their deeds. They may believe they are cloaking their actions in false righteousness because they attend a church, carry a Bible, have a "Not of This World" sticker on their car, or even wear "Not of This World" jeans. Yes, they have them. Woe to those who think they can hide these things.

Jesus tells us in Luke chapter 8, verse 17, that all things done in darkness will be brought to the light. Though we may think we are hiding things from other people, nothing is ever hidden from the Lord. The church in Thyatira may have thought they were doing things just right. Look at the commendation that Jesus speaks to them in the very next verse, Revelation 2, verse 19. The revelation of Jesus, the Son of God, who has eyes like a flame of fire and feet like finely refined brass, says, "You're doing some good things there in Thyatira."

In verse 19, He says, "I know your works." Jesus knew what was going on. He was intimately involved in this church at Thyatira, just as He was with those at Pergamos, Smyrna, and Ephesus. "I know your works." Notice this: "I know your love." The Greek word "agapao," or "agape," can be found in its fullest context in 1 Corinthians chapter 13, commonly referred to as the love chapter. He says, "I know your works, your love." The word is sometimes translated in the King James Version of the Bible as "charity."

"I know your sacrificial giving out of love, compelled by love. I know about that." Not only does He know their love, but He also acknowledges their service. Service springs from love.

Love compels us to serve. I know your love and your service, but also your faith. It might even be better translated as your faithfulness, dependability, and reliability. From that faith comes patience. Service springs from love, and patience springs from faithfulness. Jesus acknowledges that you have love, service, faithfulness, and patience. Notice what He says at the end: as for your works, the last are more than the first. You are growing in these things. The New Living Translation expresses this as, "I can see your constant improvement in all of these things." Your love, faithfulness, service, and patience are all growing, and it is a wonderful sight that Jesus beholds in the church of Thyatira.

This serves as an exhortation to us. Point number two on your outline is that we need to increase in good works. We need to grow in these areas. We are not saved by our good works; Ephesians chapter two, verses eight and nine make that very clear. "For by grace are you saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast." However, the next verse states, "For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God ordained beforehand that we should walk in them." Jesus created us in Christ to do good works, and we should grow and abound in those good works.

You are in Revelation chapter two; now turn to the left a few books to 2 Peter. 2 Peter comes right after 1 Peter and just before 1 John. In 2 Peter chapter one, look at verse five. Peter writes to Christians in his day and to us today: "But also for this reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness, to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love."

For if these things are yours and abound, you will be neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of Jesus Christ. Christian, add to your faith virtue, knowledge, self-control, perseverance, godliness, brotherly kindness, and love. Build up your faith and grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Christ. Peter would say in another portion of Scripture, "Grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ." We need to be increasing in good works. The church in Thyatira was increasing in love, faithfulness, service, and patience. They were growing in these things, and Jesus commends them for it. He says, "This is good."

However, there is an indictment. In verse 20, Jesus states, "Nevertheless, I have a few things against you." He who has eyes aflame, a fire, a penetrating gaze—He who sees all and will judge thoroughly—says, "I know your love, your faithfulness, your service, and your patience, but I have these things against you. You allow that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess, to teach and to seduce my servants so that they commit sexual immorality and eat things sacrificed to idols." Jesus says, "You have allowed her to stay there within you." This woman Jezebel.

Now, don't misunderstand. This woman's name was probably not Jezebel. People don't name their kids Jezebel, just like they don't name their kids Adolf or Judas, because Jezebel is connected to bad things. If you want to learn a little bit more about Jezebel, you can go to the Old Testament and read 1 Kings, beginning at chapter 16 through 21.

In 1 Kings chapters 16 through 21, you get a whole picture of this woman Jezebel, who was the daughter of a king—a king over a pagan people. She got married to the king of Israel, whose name was Ahab. When you read about her, beginning at 1 Kings chapter 16, verse 30, you find out that Jezebel was essentially a false god-worshipping harlot witch. Literally. A false god-worshipping harlot witch.

When I think about Jezebel, I think about that song: "She's a very freaky girl, the kind you don't take home to mother." Yes, that's her right there—Jezebel. She was bad news. When you read the story of Jezebel, you find that she was Satan's agent to corrupt God's people and to lead them toward idolatry.

Sexual immorality was rampant, and Jezebel had raised up 850 prophets who served the false gods of the day, Baal and Asherah. These prophets were teachers of false doctrines that spread throughout the nation of Israel, particularly among the northern ten tribes. They seduced the people, leading them away from God and into immorality and idolatry.

In 1 Kings chapter 18, there is an incredible showdown between the prophets of Jezebel and Elijah the prophet. God reveals His power in a remarkable way during this confrontation. However, immediately after witnessing God's might, Elijah runs away in fear of Jezebel. She is a formidable figure, and her threat to Elijah is clear: "You're dead. I'm going to kill you."

This same spirit of Jezebel appears to be present in an individual within the church in Thyatira. There are various interpretations regarding this Jezebel. The phrase "that woman Jezebel" could also be understood as "your woman Jezebel," suggesting a personal connection to someone held dear in the church. This individual is a self-proclaimed prophetess who claims to declare the word of God. However, her teachings seduce and lead God's servants away from Him, encouraging them to commit sexual immorality and partake in food sacrificed to idols.

This is the essence of the sin of Jezebel. It was not merely false teaching; it also led to vile and wicked practices. Despite the presence of love, faithfulness, service, and patience among some members of the Thyatiran church, they were still following the doctrine of this self-proclaimed prophetess. They engaged in idolatry in the temples of the day, participating in the sexually immoral practices associated with worshiping gods like Apollo and Zeus. All of this stemmed from the influence of her teachings.

The teaching of this individual at that church is significant. Notice what Jesus says in verse 21: "I gave her time to repent." That's awesome! I gave her time to repent. Point number three on your outline is that Jesus is exceedingly patient and gracious. Hold on to this, church. Jesus is exceedingly patient and gracious, and I know that all of us are thankful that He is.

He says, "I gave her time to repent of her sexual immorality," but she did not repent; she refused. Now, how did Jesus give her time? I don't know. There were people, obviously, who came and challenged her teaching, but she refused to repent and to stop. Because she refused to repent and stop, Jesus says in verse 22, "Indeed, I will cast her into a sickbed." A lot of commentators and Bible teachers make a connection between the sexually immoral practices of this vile bed that she was involved with. Jesus says, "I'm going to cast you into a sickbed."

Not only her, but also those who commit adultery with her. He states, "I'm going to cast them into great tribulation." Those who are following her doctrine within your church, if they don't repent, He will cast them into great tribulation unless they repent of their deeds. So, she needs to repent of her sexual immorality, and they need to repent of their deeds, their sexual immorality. If they don't, then they will be cast into great tribulation.

Verse 23 contains the most startling passage: "I will kill her children with death." Many people look at that and wonder how Jesus could say such a thing. The only way to interpret this is that He is going to kill her disciples. Those who follow this form of teaching from her will be killed. This means that you cannot be a Christian and perpetually practice such sinful things and think that everything is okay.

Paul the Apostle speaks to this in 1 Corinthians chapter 6, addressing another church that was being seduced by the same line of thinking. They were involved in all kinds of sins, and he reminds them in 1 Corinthians chapter 6 that you cannot be involved in a long list of sins and inherit the kingdom of heaven. These things do not go together.

I gave her time to repent, but she would not. Now, there are many Bible teachers and commentators who speculate about what this false prophetess was teaching to the church. There are two common views regarding her teachings, both of which represent heresies that began in the first century AD and continued into the second century.

The first heresy is known as the antinomian heresy. The term "antinomian" comes from the Greek word "anomos," which means "no law." The idea behind the antinomian heresy is that, since you are all under grace now, there is no need to follow the law. There is no moral law that you need to observe because you are saved by grace. Therefore, whatever you do is acceptable because you are saved by grace. The Apostle Paul addresses this in Romans chapter 6 when he asks, "Shall we sin that grace may abound?" and responds, "God forbid." This was one of the heresies that some commentators believe this woman was promoting: the notion that you are all saved by grace and that whatever you do is okay. There is no moral law because God is forgiving and gracious. This perspective takes advantage of the grace of God, failing to recognize that it is His kindness that leads us to repentance, as Paul states in Romans chapter 2, verse 4.

The other heresy associated with this false prophetess is connected to Gnosticism, which gained prominence in the later part of the first century and into the second century. Gnosticism is characterized by philosophical dualism. What does that mean? Dualism posits that humanity is a two-part being, consisting of a body and a spirit. The spirit is considered righteous and good, while the body is viewed as carnal and bad. They are seen as completely separate entities. Therefore, whatever you do with the body is acceptable because it is merely carnal, destined to die, while the spirit will be connected to God. This belief leads to the conclusion that you can do whatever you want with your body.

So, what might this have looked like in practice? I recognize this is speculation, but consider that the trade guilds were essentially the only way to work in Thyatira. If you wanted to be employed or practice any trade, you had to be part of a trade guild, whether you were a tanner, worked with leather, dealt with dyes, or made various types of clay products.

Pottery and bronze work were significant in that area. If you were going to work, you had to be connected to one of the guilds, and all of these guilds were associated with a patron deity. Each guild was linked to a god that was worshipped in those cities. Therefore, if you were part of a guild, you were also part of the temple. Being involved in the temple meant participating in idol worship practices and immorality.

Some people believe, and I think it's a good theory, that what she was teaching this group of people was that it was acceptable to engage in these practices. The guilds were essentially saying, "Listen, if you're going to survive, if you're going to live here, if you're going to work and thrive, you have to be a part of the guild." To be part of the guild, you had to demonstrate your involvement by participating in these activities.

The sad fact is that this situation fast-forwards into our day as well. It may look a little different, but it exists today too. Some of you are being called by your employer or whatever institution you are part of to do things that you have a moral issue with, things that go against God. You might say, "I can't do that. I'm a Christian." Yet, they respond, "Either you find a way to do this, look the other way, or be involved, or you won't survive. You won't work here; you won't thrive."

I have talked with people in this very church who have had that experience. I read an article just a couple of days ago about a woman who submitted a resume outside of the United States. She applied for a job in Norway, but her resume was rejected. The person who called her back said, "We will not hire you because you went to this Christian university, and we don't like Christians."

These situations occur where an employer essentially states, "If you're going to live, survive, and thrive in this institution, you better find a way to do this." This is how business is conducted. Some of you are being tempted by that; some of you are being called to compromise in some way.

But look at the summons that Jesus gives to this church in verses 24 and 25. To you who are in that predicament, and there are some here today, I say to the rest in Thyatira—those who have not connected themselves to the teaching of Jezebel, who are not involved in this idolatry and immorality: to the rest of you in Thyatira, as many as you who do not have this doctrine and who have not known the depths of Satan.

This is satanic, as they say. I will put no other burden on you. I'm not going to burden you with anything else other than this. Look at verse 25: "But hold fast what you have until I come." Hold fast what you have until I come.

Point number four on your outline: Hold on and stand strong. One day the Lord, with His penetrating gaze and His position of judging thoroughly, will return. He will come. And when He comes, may it be that He finds us holding fast. Holding fast to what?

Well, 2 Timothy chapter 1, verse 3 says, "holding fast to sound doctrine." 2 Thessalonians chapter 2, verse 15 says, "holding fast to the traditions of the apostles." Hebrews chapter 4, verse 14 says, "holding fast to our confession of faith." Hebrews chapter 6, verse 18 says, "holding fast to our hope." Hold on and stand strong.

How do we hold on and stand strong? Well, turn in your Bibles to the left to the book of Ephesians, after 1 and 2 Corinthians and Galatians. Ephesians chapter 6. How do we hold fast? Ephesians chapter 6, verse 10 says, "Finally, my brethren, be strong. Be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God that you may be able to stand against all the wiles of the devil."

For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in heavenly places, the depths of Satan. We stand against those things.

Therefore, verse 13 says, "Take up the whole armor of God that you may be able to withstand in the evil day. And having done all to stand, stand." Stand, therefore, having put on the belt of truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace. Above all, taking up the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench the fiery darts of the wicked one, and the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God. And being watchful to this end.

With all perseverance and supplication, praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit. How do we stand? Well, Ephesians chapter 6, verses 10 and onward is a good place to start. Put on the whole armor of God: the belt of truth, the breastplate of righteousness, the helmet of salvation, and the shield of faith. Shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace. Take up the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God, and pray.

Jesus says to the Christians in Thyatira that they were not caught up in this seduction. He tells them to hold on and stand strong. Now, the promise. Look at the last verses, 26 through 29. The revelation, the commendation, the indictment, the summons. Hold on; now the promise. He who overcomes and keeps my works—not the works of Jezebel, but keeps my works until the end—I will give him power. The word "exousia" in Greek means authority and jurisdiction over the nations, and he shall rule them with a rod of iron; they shall be dashed in pieces like a potter's vessel. As I also have received from my Father, Jesus says, you who overcome will rule and reign with me in my kingdom. Many believe this speaks of the millennial reign of Christ, but you will rule with me.

In verse 28, I will give him the morning star. What does that mean? The only other reference to the morning star is found in Revelation chapter 22, verse 16, which speaks of Jesus. Jesus says, I will give to you myself fully if you overcome. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. Jesus tells those who are enduring and facing wickedness in this church that if they overcome, they will rule and reign with him.

So hold on to what you have and stand strong in your integrity. Stand strong in your self-control. Grow in knowledge. Grow in grace. Stand strong in these things against those who teach wickedness. Know for certain, as has been repeated throughout the teachings of Jesus, Paul, Peter, and Jude, that false teachers will come. They will teach lies from seducing spirits like Jezebel. But hold on and stand strong. Finally, how do we overcome? We go back to the verse we've finished with every week.

1 John chapter 5, verse 4 states, "For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith." Who is he who overcomes the world but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God? Jesus stands before those at Thyatira and says, "Listen, I am the Son of God. Believe, believe, trust, hold on."

We are called to add to our faith virtue, to our virtue self-control, and to that perseverance and godliness. We must stand strong. Would you stand with me as we pray that we would be able to do just that?

Father God, I thank you for a word that is challenging. No doubt, by your Spirit, you are challenging us. Maybe there are places in our lives today that we need to lay down here. We need to repent and say, "God, would you forgive and cleanse us of unrighteousness?" Help us to hold on, to stand strong, and to bring glory to your name through our lives. May we do your works and be abounding in those works in the days in which we live.

We know that there will always be, as you said there always would be, false teachers and false prophets. The church at Ephesus tested those who claimed to be apostles and found them to be false, refusing to let them teach. In contrast, the church in Thyatira did not test those who came as self-proclaimed prophets. Yes, they had the love that Ephesus was missing, but they were soft on doctrine.

Lord, I pray that we would have a balance. May we be loving, growing in love, service, faithfulness, and patience, while also standing strong upon the surety of your word and who you are. Amen.

Use our lives as a backdrop on which you display your glory and grace this week, we pray. We ask this in Jesus' name. Amen.

Amen.