CORRUPTED CHURCH (Rev 2: 18 - 29)

This was the longest letter of all the seven letters. The problem here was inside the church of Thyatira...

1.     Be Mature

Notice that Jesus uses, for the first and only time in the book of Revelation, the title the "Son of God." There are people who claim that Jesus never said that he was the Son of God, but here is one of several places in the New Testament where he makes that claim very clearly. He is described as the One who has “eyes like a flame of fire” and “feet like fine brass.” These two descriptions refer to the omniscience and omnipotence of Jesus Christ. Jesus says, “as for your works, the last are more than the first.” That’s Jesus’ way of saying, “You’re growing; you’re maturing.” We must take seriously the Christian’s maturity. Jesus expects Christians to advance in the faith. He expects us to “grow up” in our faith. Physical maturity does not necessarily indicate spiritual maturity. When we receive Jesus Christ as our personal Lord and Saviour, our Lord Jesus Christ expects us to grow spiritually. The church in Thyatira took this seriously. They were known as a church that was growing spiritually.

2.     Bad signs

Jesus says- “Nevertheless, I have this against you: You tolerate that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophet. By her teaching she misleads my servants into sexual immorality and the eating of food sacrificed to idols. I have given her time to repent of her immorality, but she is unwilling" (2: 20, 21)

Jezebel is the wicked Phoenician wife of Ahab who led the Northern Kingdom of Israel into idolatry and immorality. So Jesus refers here to a woman in the church who “calls herself a prophetess.” In other words, “I have not called her into the ministry. She has called herself. She is a false teacher, teaching a false theology. She is seducing My servants to commit sexual immorality and things sacrificed to idols.

3.     Promise to the overcomer

“To the one who is victorious and does my will to the end, I will give authority over the nations that one will rule them with an iron scepter and will dash them to pieces like pottery, just as I have received authority from my Father. I will also give that one the morning star." (2: 26- 28)

Christians will rule with the Lord Jesus Christ during the spectacular time of the Millennium. We must take seriously the Christian’s eternity. We live not for this life only, but for eternity. And “Who is the Morning Star?” In Revelation, our Lord Jesus identifies Himself as, “The Root and Offspring of David, the Bright and Morning Star.”

When we choose Jesus, we receive all the blessings the Father gives in Him and through Him. And when the end comes, we will meet Jesus face-to-face and it will be a glorious meeting when we are greeted by the “Bright and Morning Star.”

God Bless!