May 14: THE SEVEN LETTERS IN RETROSPECT (part 3)
“And I gave her time to repent of her sexual immorality, and she did not repent.” Revelation 2:21
The road of compromise is a downward one. It is highly significant in eschatological progression that Jesus’s fourth letter addressing the church at Thyatira includes the mention of His return (v.25). This church will continue until the end of earth’s history. The compromises that began at Pergamos bled over into Thyatira. This church has two phases, and both encompass true worshippers of God, those belonging to His remnant. Praised by Jesus for their works, love, service, faith, and patience (v.19), they live and work within a corrupted system whose tolerance for apostasy eventually grows into a state of being that generates—on a massive scale—even more departures from the Word in order to uphold previously stated false doctrines. These distortions and departures from Scriptural truths are called harlotry in the Bible, meaning spiritual infidelity toward God (for examples, see Jeremiah 13:27, Ezekiel 16:15).
The first phase of the church at Thyatira existed during the days of pagan Rome. The remnant Christians there wanted to live for Christ, spreading the Good News of salvation. Pagan Rome disintegrated in 476AD and was followed in 538 by the emergence of papal Rome, leading to the second phase of the church in Thyatira. From early on, an ungodly presence had been tolerated. The symbolic name of Jezebel was applied by Jesus, signifying characteristics drawn from the Old Testament pagan queen who instituted false worship in Israel, persecuted the true prophets, and killed anyone to get what she wanted (see 1 Kings 16:31; 18:4; 21:11). Our opening verse is a prophetic statement regarding this systemic apostasy. She did not repent and will never repent, just as foreseen by the Lord and foretold in His word (Isaiah 21:9; Jeremiah 51:9, Revelation 18:5). Make no mistake, the opportunity to repent is a gift from God.
As stated, there were faithful ones in the apostate church of Thyatira (now called Reformers) who recognized her predicted role: to put herself in the place of Christ (this is what antichrist means). The key to this recognition was access to the Scriptures. When they stood up for correct points of doctrine, they were met with severe persecution by the church. Men such as Wycliffe, Tyndale, Luther, the Wesleys, and many others stood firm upon their discoveries in the written word. But others fixed their eyes upon these men instead of The Man Christ Jesus. The divided denominations of Sardis appeared in the eschatological lineup and continue today, having a name that they are alive. Jesus chided Sardis for their incompleteness, labeling them on the whole, as a dead church (3:1,2). Many today who are in this category are blindly drifting backwards toward the apostate church out of Thyatira, also known as Babylon (17:5, 18:2).
Beloved, when you discover a new truth in the Bible, it is a positive encouragement to keep learning, not a sign to stop learning and think you know all! We are in a war that is soon to end. You must choose which side you are on, for neutrality is not an option.
For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ. 2 Corinthians 10:4-5