Thyatira

Revelation 2:18-29 And unto the angel of the church in Thyatira write; These things said the Son of God, who has his eyes like unto a flame of fire, and his feet are like fine brass; I know thy works, and charity, and service, and faith, and thy patience, and thy works; and the last to be more than the first. Notwithstanding I have a few things against thee, because thou suffer that woman Jezebel, which call herself a prophetess, to teach and to seduce my servants to commit fornication, and to eat things sacrificed unto idols. And I gave her space to repent of her fornication; and she repented not. Behold, I will cast her into a bed, and them that commit adultery with her into great tribulation, except they repent of their deeds. And I will kill her children with death; and all the churches shall know that I am he which search the reins and hearts: and I will give unto every one of you according to your works. 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. But that which you have already hold fast till I come. And he that overcome, and keep 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. And I will give him the morning star. He that has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit said unto the churches. 

Thyatira was a city in western Turkey between Pergamos and Sardis.

Six things to commend Thyatira: their works, charity, service, faith, patience and increased works. Their works had increased until they were more than the first works.

There are four things against Thyatira: they permitted Jezebel, who called herself a prophetess, to teach; they allowed her to seduce Christ’s servants (Christians) to commit fornication; as well as to seduce Christians to eat things sacrificed to idols, and they tolerated her in spite of impenitence.

‘Jezebel’ this local woman had been given time to repent, but she did not. The 6th New Testament prophecy in Revelation was fulfilled as a threefold judgment: she was cast into a bed of sickness and tribulation was brought upon all that commit adultery with her and her children [followers] was killed.

‘Search the reins’ the Greek word nephros meaning the kidneys, or in figurative language, the innermost mind. In Jeremiah 17:9 we learn two facts about the natural heart: that it is deceitful above all things and it is desperately wicked. God explains in verse 10 that He searches the heart – also by trying the reins (kidneys) for the purpose of distributing rewards according to the ways and doings of each man.

‘The depths of Satan’ Gnostics called their doctrine “the depths of God,” but here Christ called it “the depths of Satan” the same as most religions, doctrines and beliefs today are classified by God that man value to redeem them.

Verse 25 name three things all Christians must do: to hold fast till Jesus comes; to overcome and to keep His works unto the end (1 Pet. 2:21-23).

Four things are promised for them who overcome: Power over the nations (2:26); ruling nations with a rod of iron (2:27); crushing all resistance of nations (2:27); and the morning star [Jesus Christ] (2:28).

All saints will be kings or priests under Christ and will rule the earth forever (2:26-27; 1:6; 5:10; 20:4-6; 22:4-5). This is the 7th New Testament prophecy in Revelation unfulfilled and will be fulfilled during the Millennium.