January 9 - Revelation. Thyatira (pt. 1)

January 9 – Revelation. Thyatira. (pt. 1)
Revelation 2:18-29

Thyatira was the smallest church along the route, yet warranted the longest letter.

Thyatira still exists today and is known as Akhisar in western Turkey. It lay between Pergamum and Sardis and was simply a trading city. There was no acropolis, no harbor. Thyatira had been set up to be a military base for protecting Pergamum. However, during peacetime, it became a town of trade and industry. The coins from Thyatira tell that there was great wealth and propserity in the city. These coins show trade in woolen, linen, garments, dyers, leather, tanners, potters, bakers, slavers and bronze smiths. These trade-guilds were powerful within the city.

In Acts 16:11-15, Paul introduces us to Lydia of Thyatira, who dealt in purple cloth. She had taken the message she heard from Paul home to Thyatira.

Jesus introduces himself as the Son of God, whose eyes are like blazing fire and whose feet are like burning bronze. (Rev. 2:18)

This is the only time that we read “The Son of God” in the Revelation. Apollo, the son of Zeus was worshipped in Thyatira. Jesus’ words come as a majestic reminder of the power of God, who says in Matthew 3:17, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.”

In 1 John 3:8, we read, “The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the devil’s work.”

Jesus knew what was happening in the city and threatens to bring destruction. But, as for the church? They are completely different than the church in Ephesus. They are doing more than they did when they began. They are growing.

However, they are also tolerating Jezebel. The Old Testament Jezebel married King Ahab (1 King 16:30-33) and enticed him to worship Baal. Then, she tried to have Elijah killed (1 Kings 19:1-2). She had Naboth killed because her whiny husband, Ahab wanted his vineyards. (1Kings 21:1-18). Elijah prophesied her death and that dogs would devour her. The book also says that there had never been a man like Ahab who sold himself to evil because of his wife. In 2 Kings 9:33-37, Jehu tossed her out a window, her blood spattered the wall and horses trampled her underfoot. There was nothing left but a skull.

Now, this story tells us what Jesus was saying about the woman in Thyatira who was trying to lead the church astray. She called herself a prophetess and led people into sexual immorality and into eating meat offered to idols. Much of the meat being sold had probably been offered to idols. It was convenient, but it led the people astray. They traded ease for health, much as we do today.

Tomorrow we’ll look at the worst promise that this Jezebel made to the Thyatirans.