19 “I know your deeds, and your love and faith and service and perseverance, and that your deeds of late are greater than at first. 20 But I have this against you, that you tolerate the woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess, and she teaches and leads My bond-servants astray so that they commit acts of immorality and eat things sacrificed to idols. 21 I gave her time to repent, and she does not want to repent of her immorality. 22 Behold, I will throw her on a bed of sickness, and those who commit adultery with her into great tribulation, unless they repent of her deeds.” (Revelation 2:19-22)
When you read the list of commendations, it’s hard to imagine that the church at Thyatira was plagued by one woman whose evil influence was so alluring that she could lead otherwise committed church members astray. These people were not in spiritual decline but doing greater things now than they did before. The Son of God even describes them in verse 20 as his “bond-servants.” This potential we all have to get too close to the fire causes one to utter, “There but by the grace of God go I!”
In this instance, to “tolerate” this Jezebel was to leave the door cracked open for destruction, and it can’t be emphasized enough that she was Satan’s emissary. I’ve known godly people who’ve “toyed with” various heresies, “harmlessly” jousting with others as the “devil’s advocate.” I’ve been floored at times by questions along the lines of, “What do you think about this or that?” What’s worse is dabbling in mind-altering substances (even fine whisky) or exposing oneself to all the iterations of sexuality available at one’s literal fingertips or to provocative movies. Again, I’ve been shocked by the detours “men of God” have taken, in some cases aided and abetted by “women of God.” Worse have been the hidden sins of men leading double lives as dynamic saints in the halls of the church, but deviants and perverts in private, who opened themselves up long ago to the “deep things of Satan” and are finally caught red handed.
The fact that “hidden” sins have a way of finding their way to the daylight is proof positive of a just and righteous God. The Son of God, who transformed the bed of prostitute Jezebel into a “bed of sickness,” so too will he entrap those who don’t slam the door shut on evil in all its forms.
But to be fair, it appears that the righteous in this local body were somewhat entrapped, similar to Lot in Sodom. With the constant barrage of evil at their doorsteps, the church was “tolerating” or “bearing with” the evil influences of immorality and idolatry in their midst, rather than making inroads to engage and contradict them. This word from the Lord would not come soon enough to free the otherwise commendable church from oppression, which is exactly what sin’s influence has on us!
“And I will kill her children with pestilence, and all the churches will know that I am He who searches the minds and hearts; and I will give to each one of you according to your deeds.” (Revelation 2:23)
Interestingly and thankfully, the Lord seems to tolerate our sin long enough to allow sufficient time for us to repent. Here we read, however, that the Son of God (heretofore the “Son of Man”) had reached the end of his rope with this Jezebel. It is important to note that guilt is derived from participation, not from proximity. Survive the Lord’s fifth degree (the searching of our hearts and minds), and you’re good. Also, disassociation may not always be possible in some cases. For the Thyatirans, there was no dynamic megachurch in the suburbs to which they could transfer their membership,
24 “But I say to you, the rest who are in Thyatira, who do not hold this teaching, who have not known the deep things of Satan, as they call them—I place no other burden on you. 25 Nevertheless what you have, hold fast until I come. 26 He who overcomes, and he who keeps My deeds until the end, to him I will give authority over the nations; 27 and he shall rule them with a rod of iron, as the vessels of the potter are broken to pieces, as I also have received authority from My Father.” (Revelation 2:24-27)
There was a remnant in the Thyatira church who had not “soiled their garments” (borrowing from Revelation 3:4) who had not given themselves over to the “deep things of Satan.” While in our society one can pick up and leave an unsavory spiritual climate, this was not possible in this small fellowship. Those who endured were to “hold fast” to what they had and cling to the truth. This would be no easy task, but doable given the power of God. When you’re on the right side, he enables you to perform mighty deeds, as is reflected in all of scripture. In the end, those who have been repressed by evil will rule. Those holding to the reality of a future millennial kingdom, as do I, will rule with him, or more accurately, shepherd its inhabitants with a “rod of iron.”
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.” (Revelation 2:28-29)
There’s a saying, “it’s always darkest before the dawn,” but here Jesus hints that his imminent return would be like the “bright morning star” (Revelation 22:16), which appears just before the dawn. The church at Thyatira need only to hang in there for a short period of time to see the light of day. While “deliverance” is not a sure thing this side of heaven, it remains our blessed and only hope.
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