Revelation 2:18-29 In the multitude of mature believers there is safety and victory
Revelation 2:18-29 In the multitude of mature believers there is safety and victory
“And to the angel of the church in Thyatira write:
The Son of God, who has eyes like a flame of fire, and His feet are like burnished bronze, says this:
‘I know your deeds, and your love and faith and service and perseverance, and that your deeds of late are greater than at first. 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. I gave her time to repent, and she does not want to repent of her immorality. 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. 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. 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. Nevertheless what you have, hold fast until I come. He who overcomes, and he who keeps My deeds until the end, TO HIM I WILL GIVE AUTHORITY OVER THE NATIONS; 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; and I will give him the morning star. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’
Background
The church in Thyatira is zealous in works but immature in the things of God. Hence, they become an easy target for a takeover by Jezebel. The Jezebel leader manipulates the flock for his own purposes. He exploits them by propagating the empty promises of prosperity and success. Consequently, Jezebel leads the church down the path of immorality and sin. After a period of patient waiting, God responds by bringing calamities upon the church. However, for the mature ones in the midst who are discerning, who want no part of it, God exalts them to a place of authority. Today’s devotion teaches us not to be overtaken by fleshly zeal but be mature. The church must understand the reason for its existence: to build people, to disciple them towards the maturity of Christ. Indeed, a church of mature believers will experience safety and victory. But a church filled with immature believers is destined for calamities and failure.
Observation
“And to the angel of the church in Thyatira write: The Son of God, who has eyes like a flame of fire, and His feet are like burnished bronze, says this:
His eyes like a flame of fire describes His ability to see the secrets of our hearts while loving us with infinite love. Indeed, He does not deal with us according to our sins. His feet like burnished bronze describes His sanctifying power that exposes and purifies everything in His presence.
‘I know your deeds, and your love and faith and service and perseverance, and that your deeds of late are greater than at first.
This is truly a church that endeavours to expand their works in the community. And Christ commended them for their love, faith, service and perseverance.
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.
Despite their excellent works of love and faith, they had serious problems. Jezebel, who claimed to be a prophetess was probably one of the main contributors to the church’s work among the community. Hence, she wielded great influence in the church especially over the leadership (bond-servants). Her name “Jezebel” suggests that she was corrupting the Thyatira church much like Ahab’s wife Jezebel corrupted Israel (1 Kings 16:31-33). Over time, she had grown to be “indispensable” as the church became increasingly dependent on her. Having entrenched herself in the church, she became emboldened to reveal her true nature. In the same breath, ministry success had become too much of a lure even for the bond-servants. And many began to adopt the mentality of idol worshipers. They sought the pleasures of the world while committing acts of immorality.
I gave her time to repent, and she does not want to repent of her immorality. 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. 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.
Christ had given Jezebel time to repent of her immorality. And because she did not want to repent, Christ will proceed to sanctify the church by casting her and her followers into the great tribulation. The great tribulation refers to the seals and judgments that are about to come. This serves as a warning and testimony that immorality is not acceptable before God. And nothing can be hidden, for He examines and weighs the minds and hearts of every person.
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.
Jezebel’s teaching may not be doctrinally speaking inaccurate. But, as a whole it is grossly misdirected and deceptive. In a nutshell, Jezebel’s teaching appeals to knowledge without transforming the heart. It endeavours to prove its teachings are doctrinally accurate while leaving the hearers in their original states of wilfulness, selfishness, lust, greed and self-righteousness. Consequently, they are worse off than before. Because Jezebel’s teaching harps on Christ’s forgiveness without repentance towards Christ-likeness, it becomes deceptive and destructive. The full counsel of the gospel, when it is taught, will cause the hearers to become like Christ in divine love, wisdom and power. Partial teachings are meant to deceive and rob people of their calling by opening the door to sin and idolatry. This is what it means by the deep things of Satan: partial and misdirected.
That said, “the rest who are in Thyatira” refers to those who are mature and discerning who want no part in it. But the immature ones will be deceived by the “deep things of Satan”.
Nevertheless what you have, hold fast until I come. He who overcomes, and he who keeps My deeds until the end, TO HIM I WILL GIVE AUTHORITY OVER THE NATIONS; 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; and I will give him the morning star. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’
Christ encourages the church to pursue Christ-likeness not through their minds but through their hearts (he who keeps My deeds). To those who hold fast to Christ-likeness until He comes, He will grant them the authority to rule over the nations. The morning star symbolises divine authority to rule with Christ forever.
Truth
In the multitude of mature believers there is safety and victory
The church at Thyatira has grown in size because of its focus on an appearance of godliness and ministry achievement. The rise of Jezebel is most definitely attributed to their neglect of shepherding the people towards spiritual maturity. Indeed, one can appear knowledgeable and zealous in works and yet far away from God. Somewhere along the line, the church at Thyatira, caught up by its own version of prosperity and success, deviated from its true purpose. It neglected the goal of building up its people to present them as holy and blameless before God. When the flock were still immature, they were quickly sent out to recruit new members to feed the ego of Jezebel and the leadership. Week after week, Jezebel kept their hopes up with empty promises of prosperity and success even when many were in bondage of sin and discontent. As a result, God has to sent a calamity to discipline the church. Indeed, a church filled with mature believers will experience safety and victory. But a church filled with immature believers is destined for calamities and failure.
Immature believers are into having and achieving.
What are the characteristics of immature believers. While mature believers are into being, immature ones are into having and achieving. They way to manipulate immature people is to promote the culture of having and achieving. Having is the ego at work, it is the human will distorted by desires, passions and emotions. The ego craves power, riches and achievements. In the church, these immature believers want to be acknowledged and the shortest path to getting it is to show that they know the scripture by their finger tips. Never mind whether they understand what they have memorised, I often see people mindlessly quoting verses whenever they see an opportunity. The whole idea (for these immature believers) is to be noticed and recognised as knowledgeable and “spiritual”. Yet Jesus, in His teachings rarely quotes from the Old Testament. Instead, He teaches the truth using parables and words that people can understand. He exemplifies the fullness of God, and His words are Spirit and life. Immature believers also see ministry achievements as a means to be acknowledged and valued by the community. Hence, they devote huge amount of time and resources in the ministry (at the expense of their families) to be recognised for their contributions. A church filled with immature believers is an easy target for Jezebel.
Mature believers are into being.
What are the characteristics of mature believers? Mature believers are not motivated by having or achieving, but are inwardly contented with who they are as sons of God. That does not mean they are unmotivated, but rather they are motivated differently. They are attracted by God’s attributes and seek to be like Him. They follow a path that is shown to them by the Christ within, a path no one has travelled. Each follows a unique calling no one understands, but only they themselves. Mature believers do not stop growing in divine love, wisdom and power of Christ. And their greatest desire is to become co-creators, co-saviours, and co-heirs with Him. In the area of ministry, they make themselves available to those who need help and lead them to experience the heavenly life. At the onset, people may not know that they are Christians because they keep a low profile and do not try to “convert” others. But their righteousness, kindness and wisdom has become apparent to all. And their prayers are effective and powerful.
Mature believers keep the church from straying.
Mature believers are the backbone of the church and they keep the church from straying from the path of victory. Mature believers are the source of godly counsel. Indeed, “Where there is no guidance the people fall. But in abundance of counselors there is victory.” (Proverbs 11:14). The pulpit ministry is no doubt important, but it is insufficient to produce mature believers. Only a mature believer can disciple another believer towards maturity.
Therefore, the church must understand the purpose for its existence: to build people, to disciple them towards the perfection exemplified by Christ. The Jezebel type of leaders will try to exploit the flock for selfish reasons. But if the church perseveres in discipling the individuals towards Christ-likeness, the Jezebel’s of the world will find no place in the church. And the church will rule with Christ when He appears.
Application
Seek to propagate the fragrance of Christ through your kindness and friendliness. Help people solve their problems and understand God’s will for their lives. Use the authority of the Christ within to break curses and demonic strongholds in their lives. When you recognise a Jezebel leader who tries to lead you down the path of materialism and sin, have no part in it.
Dear Lord, use me to be the face of Christ to my family, my workplace and my neighbourhood. Use me to be a vessel to turn the church back to the way of the perfection and victory. Jesus’s name I pray. Amen.