Part 9: The Seven Churches… The Corrupt Church in Thyatira
Part 9: The Seven Churches In the Book of Revelation... An Explanatory Case Study of Love Grown Cold
Tuesday June 24, 2025
The church in Thyatira… the depraved church or Christian.
Charges: gross immorality encouraged, non-repentance.
Revelation 2:18-29 NKJV "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."'
Observations:
Eyes like Fire
[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:
Jesus described Himself as being in the mode of unleashing judgment. His eyes were like flames of fire. They indicate piercing and angry looking eyes.
Feet of brass is a typical indication of judgment in the BIBLE.
2. A Good Looking Church
19] "I know your works, love, service, faith, and your patience; and as for your works, the last are more than the first.
Jesus enumerated four great qualities about this church… love, service, faith and patience. vs 19 This shows how difficult it is to determine a good church. This is why we must be careful about praising or criticizing. This church is obviously doing a lot of good work in the society. They probably had a soup kitchen, outreach for the homeless, abortion prevention/adoption ministry. It wasn’t always easy for them. They had to have great faith for these things to be done and they were indefatigable.
In fact they were doing better at this time than ever before.
A church doing all these great things looks like a good church from a human perspective. “For the LORD does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart." 1 Samuel 16:7 NKJV
3. Balaam— Nicolaitans— Jezebel
[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.
When Jesus described the problem of the church in Thyatira, we see that it is a progression of the problem of the church in Pergamos. The old doctrine of Balaam, which became the doctrine of the Nicolaitans in the Pergamos, has now become the doctrine of Jezebel.
In Pergamos, the temptation, and pressure was from the outside. The church was in the world and the world was squeezing the church, pressuring the church, with temptations and persecution.
Now in Thyatira, the pressure is now from the inside. The world has entered the church. Jezebel has been elevated and she's now a preaching elder, she’s a prophet. The world is now ensconced, soundly established in the church.
At this point, the church has moved from being tolerant of wrongdoing to actual promotion and celebration of the same. The church has become so worldly, even the world is shocked by its deeds. When the wicked deeds of this church are finally exposed, the world will cry out in moral outrage.
4. Invitation — Pronouncement — Execution
Invitation to repent, followed by pronouncement of judgement, followed by execution of sentence.
There is often a long time after God calls people to repent before He pronounces judgement.
[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.
Whenever God pronounces judgement, the sentence itself is not speedily executed.
Ecclesiastes 8:11 NKJV Because the sentence against an evil work is not executed speedily, therefore the heart of the sons of men is fully set in them to do evil.
There is still time between the pronouncement of the judgement and the execution of the sentence. Even after judgment is pronounced the offer of repentance is still on the table. A person can still repent, even after judgment is pronounced but before the sentence is executed. If a person repents during that window of time, he will receive the full benefits of repentance.
2 Peter 3:9 The Lord is not slack concerning His promise as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.
Romans 2:4 NKJV Or do you despise the riches of His goodness, forbearance, and longsuffering, not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance?
Romans 2:4 NLT Don't you see how wonderfully kind, tolerant, and patient God is with you? Does this mean nothing to you? Can't you see that his kindness is intended to turn you from your sin?
Mercy and Patience: Easily Confused.
Because God is merciful, He exercises patience.
He delays the execution of judgment for as long as possible. While the patience of God is long and durable, it has a limit. The risk with God’s patience is that we don't know what that time limit is. May we never find out the limit of God’s patience. When the time is up, execution begins, and then it is too late to repent.
Even though we don't know what the time-limit is, nobody can complain that they did not have sufficient time. There will be sufficient notification.
No wonder David wrote
Against You, You only, have I sinned
And done this evil in Your sight,
That You may be found just when You speak,
And blameless when You judge.
(Psalm 51:4)
God’s mercy endures forever, not His patience.
Psalm 136:1 NKJV Oh, give thanks to the LORD, for He is good! For His mercy endures forever.
Don't confuse His mercy with His patience. There is a window of time during which we can obtain mercy. That window of time is His patience. It is very long but it has an end. If we ask for mercy during that time, we will receive mercy and that mercy does not expire.
Hebrews 3:7-8,13 NKJV
Therefore, as the Holy Spirit says: "Today, if you will hear His voice, [8] Do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion, In the day of trial in the wilderness,
[13] but exhort one another daily, while it is called "Today," lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.
Judgment is real and frightful, but measured
[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.
Hebrews 10:31 It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.
2 Corinthians 5:10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done., whether good or bad.
Proverbs 29:1 NKJV He who is often rebuked, and hardens his neck,
Will suddenly be destroyed, and that without remedy.
Revelation 2:24 "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.
The Depths of Satan..
a false doctrine based on the idea by a certain group of teachers who claimed to have deep understanding. They were later called the Gnostics… which meant the Knowledgeable Ones. Among their many false teachings was the claim that the body was inherently evil and the spirit inherently good. They believed Jesus was too holy and so did not have an actual body, but only an appearance of a body . The spirit alone was saved. Since the body was not redeemable, whatever was done in the body did not matter. So they went to one of two extremes… either punish the body, or indulge the body. They claimed their superior knowledge meant they knew how to eat with devils and practice all kinds of sin, even to the lowest and basest level without getting hurt. They believed that this was the way to beat the devil at his own game.
Jesus called their deep knowledge, the depths of Satan.
This heresy was what compelled Apostle John to write his first epistle.
Always A Remnant
[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.
Even in the midst of the stinking corruption in the church of Thyatira, there are still faithful believers. There remained some who did not buy into the doctrine of Jezebel.
Romans 11:2-5 NKJV God has not cast away His people, whom He foreknew. Or do you not know what the Scripture says of Elijah, how he pleads with God against Israel, saying, [3] “Lord, they have killed Your prophets and torn down Your altars, and I alone am left and they seek my life?” [4] But what does the divine response say to him? “I have reserved for Myself seven thousand men who have not bowed the knee to Baal.” [5] Even so then at this present time there is a remnant according to the election of grace.
In every generation, in every society, God always has a remnant. This is always a reason for hope, and a response to the discouragement felt by Elijah and many other lonely saints through the ages. God always has a remnant even in the midst of a corrupt congregation.
Not only that, God separates between the sheep and the goats.
2 Timothy 2:19 Nevertheless, the solid foundation of God stands, having this seal: “The Lord knows those who are His,” and “Let everyone who names the Name of Christ depart from iniquity.”
2 Peter 2:9 Then the Lord knows how to deliver the godly out of temptation and to reserve the unjust ender punishment for the day of judgment.
Three Ways God Deals With The Remnant
There's a time when God will say, “Come out from among them, and be separate.” 2 Corinthians 6:17
2. There is another time when God will not let you come out because you have an assignment in the midst of the corruption.
John 17:15 I do not pray that You should take them out of the world but that you should keep them from the evil one. [16] They are not of the world just as I am not of the world. [17] Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth.
It is a difficult time for anybody. You will not be able to fit in. You will be mocked for being different, and picked on for not blending in, like Elijah, Jeremiah, John the Baptist, etc
Hebrews 11:36-38 Still others had trial of mockings and scourgings, yes, and of chains and imprisonment. [37]They were stoned, they were sawn in two, were tempted, were slain with the sword. They wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins, being destitute, afflicted, tormented– [38] of whom the world was not worthy. They wandered in deserts and mountains, in dens and caves of the earth.
3. There is a third time when no one can really come out anymore.
Revelation 22:11-12 He who is unjust, let him be unjust still; and he who is filthy, let him be filthy still; he who is righteous, let him be righteous still; he who holy, let him be holy still. [12] and behold, I am coming quickly and My reward is with Me, to give to everyone according to his work.
If you grieve, don't grieve for the church… the church will survive with the remnant. Dont be sad on the behalf of the Lord. Grieve for those who have been blinded by the gods of this age and for the ones who are being misled. Let your grief send you to your knees in intercession,
At last, your REWARD
[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."'
Hebrews 11:24-27 NLT It was by faith that Moses, when he grew up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter. [25] He chose to share the oppression of God's people instead of enjoying the fleeting pleasures of sin. [26] He thought it was better to suffer for the sake of Christ than to own the treasures of Egypt, for he was looking ahead to his great reward. [27] It was by faith that Moses left the land of Egypt, not fearing the king's anger. He kept right on going because he kept his eyes on the one who is invisible.
How did the church get to this sad condition?
By taking her eyes away from Jesus. Like Peter walking on water, we are only safe when our eyes are fixed on Jesus.
Looking into Jesus the author and finisher of our faith.
It doesn’t matter what we look at, if it isn’t Jesus, sooner or later, there will be trouble.
Negative distractions
If we become too concerned with our needs, we will be distracted from Jesus.
If we are too troubled by our problems, our persecution, we will be distracted from Jesus.
Positive distractions
If we get too excited about our blessings, we will be distracted from Jesus.
If we are too wrapped up in our good works, like Martha, we will be distracted from Jesus.
Jesus is our only security.
As bad as negative distractions are, they at least keep us in church looking to Jesus for deliverance. Positive distractions are way worse… Jeshurun waxed fat and kicked.
Not to glorify the negative distractions though, because they keep our eyes on God’s hands instead of His face. That’s why many who appeared faithful when they had problems, show their true colors as soon as they are delivered.
Jesus is our security.
We must look to Jesus Himself, not His blessings, not His deliverance.
It is difficult when we are going through problems to focus on Jesus instead of His deliverance and blessings. But that is the best time to learn how to seek His face. If we wait until we have been delivered, it is more difficult to seek Him at that time.
