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| Earl Gillespie |
The Spirit's Message to the Church in Thyatira
:Lesson scripture Revelation 2:18-29
Continued from Part #15
Continued from Part #15
There is an ominous side to Jesus Christ's evaluation of His church. He refers to the active influence of Satan in drawing Church members back into the "idolatrous and sinful society" from which they had just escaped. Now pause for a moment and reflect on those words "idolatrous and sinful society". A modern day definition of idolatry is, "Given to blind or excessive devotion to something". What is the first thing to come into your mind? Is it the program, the money or the Christian entertainment aspect of worship? To "the church in Pergamos" the operative words are, "I Know... where you dwell, (I know what's on your mind) I know where Satan's throne is" (Revelation 2:12-13). He also reveals that some in Thyatira had strayed into the "the depth of Satan" (verse 24). I know you have a blind or excessive devotion to something other than my word.
False teachers posed another problem in Paul's day, in John's day and is a problem today. The congregation in Thyatira is censured for allowing "that woman Jezebel, who call herself a prophetess, to teach and seduce My servants to commit sexual immorality and eat things sacrificed to idols. (Verse 20) To take unto themselves things used for idle purposes.
The church at Thyatira had begun to teach a perverted gospel. It had allowed a Jezebel type to teach a perverted gospel under the guidance of the Roman Empire. What Rome said teach, the church taught. The church received financial support from Rome. The government always seeks to control the message that it support, this practice was common in the days of the early church and it is prevalent today. The Bible refers to this as sexual immorality. The Father through Jesus Christ administered through the Holy Spirit is the only one allowed to control the message. When the church (the minister, the Pope or Bishop) receives instruction from anyone other than the Holy Spirit, then they are guilty being in bed with the enemy. This is called sexual immorality.
The idea of an apostate religion masquerading as a true religion may be shocking to some. But Jesus Himself told His disciple this would happen. When they asked Him, "And what will be the sign of Your coming, and the end of this age?" (Matthew 24:3), He said religious imposters would come in His name. "Take heed that no man deceive you," He warned. A perversion of the Gospel occurs when we shape and reinterpret the Word of God to fit our personal or denominational mold. We should spend more time trying to understand the word of God and his promises rather than trying to sell the attributes of God. The religion of today has evolved into a Santa Clause type of religion. The church has become a clearing house for those seeking the favors of God and money is the key to getting the blessing of our father. This is a type of idolatry that benefit the messengers. Planting a financial seed is the road to success and happiness, did Jesus really say that?
Verse 23 we find a very important statement: “And all the churches shall know that I am He which searcheth the reins and hearts, and I will give unto every one of you according to your works.” The idolaters and the fornicators, the preverters of the word of God will often use this scripture (out of the context in which it was spoken) to boost the offering take. I tell you this scripture has nothing to do with collecting an offering. One day every knee will bow, and every tongue shall confess to God (Romans 14:11). In that day, the masses will learn who is God’s Vicar, who is head of the Church. They will learn who judges and who forgives. It is no secret that Rome claims to be the representative of God Almighty on earth even today. But, God has but one representative on earth today - the Holy Ghost - and He (the Holy Ghost) is in the world, calling out a people who will make up the Bride, the New Testament Church. Now focus on "Bride", can you describe the spiritual attributes of a bride?
- We are convicted through the power of the Spirit (John 16:7-9).
- We are born of the Spirit (John 3:5-7).
- We are baptized into the body of Christ by the Holy Ghost (I Corinthians 12:12, 13).
- We are led by the Holy Spirit (Romans 8:14).
- We are assured by the Holy Spirit (Romans 8:16).
- He indwells every believer (Romans 8:9),
- He seals every believer until the day of redemption (Ephesians 4:30).
God’s Vicar on earth today is the Holy Ghost - not the pope. No man or woman is God’s representative on earth in this glorious Dispensation of The Church. We are saved by God’s grace, through faith. Salvation is the gift of God - but all believers will be rewarded according to their works (I Corinthians 3:11-15). The same is true concerning the wicked who die in their sin and open their eyes in hell, They will be judged according to their works (Revelation 20:11-15). Salvation depends upon whether or not we receive Jesus as Saviour. If we receive Him we are saved; if we reject Him we are lost. But our eternal reward, whether in Heaven or hell, will be determined by our labors. There will be degrees of rewards (The Five Crowns) in Heaven. There will be degrees of torment in hell. Every person will be judged righteously - God cannot judge any other way.
Verse 24: “But unto you I say, and unto the rest in Thyatira, as many as have not this doctrine, and which have not known the depths of Satan, as they speak; I will put upon you none other burden.” The medieval church of the dark ages was not entirely corrupt. There were those who lived in the thirteenth century and stood aloof from Jezebel, the mother of the harlots type of teaching. These people were witnesses against the corruption of Rome, the Papacy and the church. They were sound and true in their faith. They had a positive testimony and they gave it. They boldly denounced Rome, the errors of the Papacy. The heresies of the church and of the Papal system. They were mostly simple, poor, unlearned peasants and mountaineers. They were ignorant but they were spiritually rich. They had not stooped to the “depths of Satan.” They were spiritual in their thinking and in their practices of life. The Lord promised not to place upon them any other burdens. You may rest assured that God will not permit more to come upon us than we are able to bear through His grace. He always furnishes sufficient grace for every trial. A point of clarification: (There maybe enough gas in my car to drive to the gas station, but if I choose to go a different direction I might not make it.
Verse 25: “But that which ye have already hold fast till I come.” What these dear people had, they were not to surrender. They were to hold fast, regardless of the wickedness and immorality of all others. They were to stand fast, they were to refuse to compromise, resting assured that one day Jesus would deliver them from the trial and suffering through which they were passing. The admonition to all believers is to hold fast “till I come” Always bear in mind, Christian, we are pilgrims and strangers in a strange land. This world is not our home, and we cannot feel at home in this world. We are not of the world, as Jesus was not of the world. If they hated Him they will hate us. If they persecuted Him they will persecute us. If they crucified Him, do not be surprised if they nail us to a cross. But we have the promise that one day the moment of deliverance will come - HE will come “in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye.” We are to stand fast, occupy, and be faithful until He comes. Then we will receive a full reward for our faithful labor of love in the Lord. I can assure you, if you begin to look at churches, church members, preachers and church leaders, you will find yourself ready to give up and quit. But if you will turn your eyes upon Jesus and look full in His wonderful face, all else will grow strangely dim “in the light of His glory and grace!” Remember - we are serving the Lord Jesus - not man or men, not religions or churches. But we are serving the One who is the head of the Church - the Lord Jesus.
Many Christians have become disappointed by preachers, churches and church members; but remember you will never be disappointed in Jesus. God help those of us who claim to be followers of fundamental Christianity to be faithful, hold fast, and stand true until Jesus comes. The statement “My works” here is in contrast with the works of Jezebel (verse 23). The works of Jezebel were unholy, ungodly - while the works of Jesus are holy and godly. On one occasion Jesus made a statement to His own people. They said, “We want to work the works of God. What shall we do, that we may work the works of God?” Jesus answered in these words: “This is the work of God, that ye believe on Him whom He hath sent” (John 6:29).
Verses 26 and 27: “And he that overcometh, and keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations: And he shall rule them with a rod of iron; as the vessels of a potter shall they be broken to shivers: even as I received of my Father.”It is clearly taught in verse 26 that it is not enough to deny Jezebel, and refuse to fellowship with her and her works, doctrines and dogmas - but that we should go further: “He that keepeth my works unto the end.” That is the person who will be crowned. That is the person who will have power over the nations, and who will reign and rule with Jesus . . .some over five cities, some over ten cities. Certainly the true doctrine of the difference in rewards is taught here. All will be rewarded - but each one will receive the reward for his own labors.
Again we see that it is Jesus - not Mary, not the pope, not the priest, not the pastor, not the evangelist. I have just as much respect for the popery of Rome as I have for popery as practiced in the Protestant denominations of the land. You need not travel to Rome to find a pope. We have popes in some of the protestant churches in the United States. Some preachers dare not preach anything that is not sanctioned by the church bosses in many of the big denominations of our land. When I refer to “popery” I am not only speaking of Rome - I am also talking about religious dictators in any religion, regardless of the brand name stamped on the group. The promise in our present verse exceeds any promise thus far given to any of the churches -namely, “authority (power) over the nations.” This is the goal of the Papal system. What are we hearing today? One world, one church – and you know as well as I know that in our time a gigantic system is being formed to bring all churches under one head. The great church councils, the compromise among churchmen, the new revisions and translations of the Bible are breaking down the cardinal truths of fundamental Christianity. There is a powerful drive, energized by the devil himself, to put all religions under one head - and that one head is Rome. Any person who reads the papers and magazines and listens to the radio, knows that this gigantic movement is in progress this very moment. Surely the end must be upon us!
It has always been the ambition of Rome to rule the world - politically and religiously. That ambition will be realized for a short season, but her reign will be brief. The very instruments of Rome’s tyranny will become the means of her destruction. Study carefully Revelation 17:16,17. The authority of the saints over the nations here on this earth will occur during the Millennium. Jesus will sit on the throne of David, and we will reign with Him for a period of one thousand glorious years. The overcomer shall rule and reign over the angry and rebellious nations with a rod of iron. Their stubborn will shall be broken, their pride shall be humbled, their glory shall be brought to the dust of the earth. All nations and all people will know that God is God, and that God sits in power and authority whom He will. One day all will own the eternal truth that God is sovereign. to that glorious day when evil will and righteousness will rule forever.
Notice the last words in verse 27: “. . . Even as I received of my Father.” It is very interesting to notice that the grant of authority and power over the nations is made over to Christ, to give to whomsoever He Will. Study all of the second Psalm. But this authority to reign with Him will be given only to the overcomer. Read verse 27 and then compare it with Psalm 2:9. These two verses have much in common.
Verse 28: “And I will give him the morning star.” Not only will the Son of God give to the overcomer the authority to rule and reign over the nations, but a greater, richer promise is made to the overcomer . . . “I will give him the morning star,” a personal interest in Christ Himself. Hear these precious words: “For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear, but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father! The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are The Children of God: and if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with Him, that we may be also glorified together” (Romans 8:14-17). Here Paul reveals to us, through the Spirit, that we are the sons of God the Father, we are the children of God, we are heirs of God and joint-heirs with Christ . . . that is, “if so be that we suffer with Him, that we may be glorified together.” If we suffer with Jesus - If we overcome, if we bear the cross, we will share the crown. But if we deny the Cross we will be ashamed at His coming. Read Revelation 2:28, 22:16, and Malachi 4:2, and compare these verses.
Verse 29: “He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.” This solemn admonition is directed to all the churches. The call to hear, in the preceding chapter, was given before the promise to the overcomer; but in this Epistle to the church at Thyatira, and in the following three, the admonition to hear what the Spirit saith is given after the promise is made to the overcomer(the members of the assembley).
Next:
And unto the angel of the church in Sardis write;
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