D. Letter to Thyatira. 2:18-29 - The Corrupt Church I. Church period - Year 590 A.D. to the Tribulation. The Roman Catholic age. A. The Church became corrupted by the Roman bishops that claimed authority over the Church. B. The Bible was chained to the pulpits and was forbidden in understandable language. C. Tradition and church authorities were placed above the Bible. D. Many Bible believing Christians were killed by church authorities. E. The Church period presently exits as the Roman Catholic church and will continue into the great tribulation period. II. Connection to the 7 churches of Paul: Galatians (By grace and not the works of the law) III. Connection to the 7 parables of Jesus: The leaven. Matt. 13:33 IV. Thyatira means continual sacrifice. V. Thyatira was the smallest city of the seven churches but the church that received the longest letter. VI. . A. Placed about 45 miles from Pergamos. B. Was famous for its textiles (Especially Purple dyed textiles). Acts 16:14 V.18 a) The Counsellor - I. Jesus refers to Himself as the Son of God because He is exemplifying the faithfulness He had as a Son to the Father and the promise He received afterward. 2:27 II. Jesus with His eyes like flames of fire had seen their Progress in good and their Permission of evil. 2:23 III. Jesus with His feet like brass was about to judge the evildoers of the church. 2:22-23 V.19 b) The Commendation - I. The Lord with His flames as fire had seen 5 good things in the church 1. Works - Action. 2. Love - Affection. 3. Service - Aid. 4. Faith - Assurance. 5. Patience - Await. II. Of these 5 only one had continued to grow - Works. In the Encouragement is also a hidden Exhortation - The other 4 had decreased. V.20-23c) The Chastening - V.20 I. The few things Jesus had against the church - They ALLOWED. They didn’ t stop, hinder or rebuke Jezebel. Allowance is silent Acceptance. II. The woman Jezebel could be her real name, or the name that Jesus gives to a group of people or a person, to describe their character and work. III. Jezebel was a woman that caused sexual immorality and idolatry in Israel during the time of the prophet Elijah - She led Israel away from God. 1.Kings 16:28-19:21; 21:1-29; 2.Kings 9:22-37 IV. In Thyatira Jezebel’ s METHOD was being involved in: A. Ministerial Discipleship - 1. Instructive speech - Teaching. 2:20 2. Inspirational speech - Prophetic. 2:20 B. Moral Decay - 1. Seduction of the Servants of God - Her teaching and prophetic was false and was used as means to seduce. 2. Sexual immorality - Fornication, adultery and kinds of sexual uncleanness. 3. Sacrificial Sharing - They ate of the sacrifices that was offered to idols perhaps as a way of receiving spiritual blessing. V. Jezebel was perhaps involved influencing the church in local trading, this trading could not be possible without participating in its pagan idol worship and immorality. VI. Jesus calls her false Ministerial Discipleship and Moral Decay for a Doctrine and the Depths of Satan. 2:24 V.21 I. The feet like fine brass 2:18, Jesus is judging the involved. II. Mercy went before judgment, He gave her time to repent. III. Time (Gr.chronos) means a space of time, interval and delay. IV. Even such an erroneous and deceitful woman received mercy before judgment. V.22 I. 3 different judgments. II. Disease - Jezebel’ s judgment is sickness. III. Distress - Her followers had yet a change to repent, if they didn’ t great tribulation would be the judgment. IV. Death - Her children would be killed, her physical or spiritual offspring. V.23 I. Research - The eyes like the flames of fire 2:18, is here made known as eyes that searches the hearts and minds II. Reward - He only gives judgment according to their works. Gal.6:8; Jer.17:10 V.24-25d) The Counsel - V.24 I. Not all were following Jezebel, there were a rest. II. These had not Used this Erroneous Doctrine and had not Understood this Evil Depth. V.25 I. Hold fast what you have - Is referring to their works, the only thing wherein they had increased II. Hold fast (Gr.krateo) means to use strength, to seize and to retain. Like a military group in battle they had to maintain ground. III. How long! Until He comes V.26-29e) The Challenge - V.26 I. He who overcomes, who does not loose faith. 1.John 5:4-5 II. The increasing works 2:19 is called here “ My works” III. They should hold fast and keep His works until He comes and until the end. IV. Keep (Gr.tereo) means to watch and to guard. V. If they remained on their ground like a military group then they would reign with Christ during the millennium. V.27 I. A reference to Psalms 2:9 where it refers to the reign of Christ during the millennium. II. People and nations will be subdued and disciplined into subjection to Christ during the millennium. Zech.14:16-19 III. Christians will reign with Christ during the millennium. Luke 19:11-27; 1.Cor.6:2; Rev.3:21; 20:4 IV. The rod is a symbol of authority, even as Aaron’ s rod budded and revealed his selection and authority as high priest. This rod was laid in the ark and is perhaps referred to again. V.28 I. The morning star is Venus, it appears in the night sky just before the dawn of a new day. II. Jesus refers to Himself as the Morning Star. Rev.22:16 III. It’ s referring to the glory and light of the new day that Christ brings at His coming. 2.Pet.1:19 IV. Israel is waiting for the Sun of righteousness Malachi 4:2, the church for the Morning Star. Revelation 22:16 V.29 Those who has spiritual desire to hear the voice of the Spirit will be Attentive to the words and Act on it. Matt.13:9