Thyatira: The Danger of Tolerating a Jezebel
"...I have this against you, that you tolerate that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess and is teaching and seducing My servants to practice sexual immorality and to eat food sacrificed to idols."
-Revelation 2:20
Thyatira was a city located about 40 miles East of Pergamum, the "crown jewel of Asia." It was used as a military outpost and, at the time of John's writing to Thyatira Church in Revelation 2, it had been under Roman rule for over 300 years. Unlike Pergamum and other locations around it, Thyatira was not necessarily a desired location but it was merely a town for passing on the way to Pergamum or somewhere else.
Thyatira was simply known as a town of commerce, being home to trade guilds for dying fabric, wool goods, leather and metal working, and pottery. It didn't have as much noticeable religious affiliations as did surrounding cities, especially during that time period, but it was known for its fortune telling ring known as the Sambathe - a group of female psychics.
There was no notable persecution against the Church at Thyatira.
However, with the absence of persecution, Thyatira Church still faced its own set of challenges.
They were a loving, loyal group of patient servants for Christ, but there were some Jesus Himself took issue with (v.20-23). Let's notice these things together:
Issue #1 - Allowing a “Jezebel” to remain in the church (v.20)
-This was a descriptive name of a female church member with strong influence. She wasn't necessarily looking to destroy the church, but she was looking to corrupt the faith. She wanted a church that ran her way and believed what she did.
(For some context, let's consider the original Jezebel from the Old Testament)
• 1 Kings 16:31 – father was King Ethbaal (“Baal is alive”); got the throne by assassinating the king before him – Jezebel marries Israel’s King Ahab, gets him to set up Baal worship
• 1 Kings 18:4-13 – slaughters God’s prophets
• 1 Kings 19:2 – continued in Baal worship, refused to repent, threatened to kill Elijah
• 1 Kings 21:1-16 – steals official seal of Ahab, writes letter of false accusations to leaders to have a Godly man, Naboth, killed so Ahab could have his vineyard
-So, to be called a "Jezebel" obviously meant nothing positive.
Issue #2 - Some church members were attempting to live for the world and for Jesus (v.20)
[she, this Jezebel woman] “teaches and seduces My servants to commit sexual immorality”
-Considering she is called “Jezebel”, this is likely symbolism for spiritual infidelity – “cheating on Jesus.”
-Often in Scripture, those following idols and/or other gods besides God are referred to as adulterers and fornicators, but obviously in a spiritual sense. They are people claiming to "be with" God, but are having other "lovers" (gods/idols) on the side. God clearly commanded, "You shall have no other gods before Me."
Issue #3 - Some church members were refusing to sacrifice cultural comforts for the sake of Christ (v.20)
-[she, this Jezebel woman] “teaches and seduces My servants to…..eat things sacrificed to idols.”
-Lots of meat was brought into temples for sacrifices to pagan gods
-Most meat was left over for the priests and offerors to eat
-Banquets and/or social events centered around eating this meat
-Butcher shops often sold this leftover meat; typically, it was the best cut
-To refuse to eat this meat would be to refuse to engage in common social activities; many social activities not only involved eating this pagan meat but also sexual acts and drunkenness as one can imagine takes place at wild parties
-This would be bad for Christians and their business as this would likely forfeit membership in the trade guilds
-Like today, Christians who chose to abstain from "meat sacrificed to idols" would have been vilified and seen as "holier than thou" or judgmental; they would likely be seen as outcasts
-“Jezebel” convinced some in the church that commercial success was better than suffering for Christ.
In response to what was going on in Thyatira, although not everyone was following "Jezebel" (v.19), Jesus made this point abundantly clear: Anyone continuing in this lifestyle would be judged and it would be harsh. (v.21-23)
However, as Jesus always seems to do, He offered a reprieve and a fair warning:
1) God always gives a chance to repent.
2) God's patience for sin has a limit.
To those who remain faithful, who repent, who trust in Christ, and who choose to follow Him alone instead of other masters in this world, He promises that they will receive protection and Christ Himself in the End. (v.24-29)
How much greater a prize is Christ in the future Kingdom than the vanities of this life that will one day pass away!
-Revelation 2:20
Thyatira was a city located about 40 miles East of Pergamum, the "crown jewel of Asia." It was used as a military outpost and, at the time of John's writing to Thyatira Church in Revelation 2, it had been under Roman rule for over 300 years. Unlike Pergamum and other locations around it, Thyatira was not necessarily a desired location but it was merely a town for passing on the way to Pergamum or somewhere else.
Thyatira was simply known as a town of commerce, being home to trade guilds for dying fabric, wool goods, leather and metal working, and pottery. It didn't have as much noticeable religious affiliations as did surrounding cities, especially during that time period, but it was known for its fortune telling ring known as the Sambathe - a group of female psychics.
There was no notable persecution against the Church at Thyatira.
However, with the absence of persecution, Thyatira Church still faced its own set of challenges.
They were a loving, loyal group of patient servants for Christ, but there were some Jesus Himself took issue with (v.20-23). Let's notice these things together:
Issue #1 - Allowing a “Jezebel” to remain in the church (v.20)
-This was a descriptive name of a female church member with strong influence. She wasn't necessarily looking to destroy the church, but she was looking to corrupt the faith. She wanted a church that ran her way and believed what she did.
(For some context, let's consider the original Jezebel from the Old Testament)
• 1 Kings 16:31 – father was King Ethbaal (“Baal is alive”); got the throne by assassinating the king before him – Jezebel marries Israel’s King Ahab, gets him to set up Baal worship
• 1 Kings 18:4-13 – slaughters God’s prophets
• 1 Kings 19:2 – continued in Baal worship, refused to repent, threatened to kill Elijah
• 1 Kings 21:1-16 – steals official seal of Ahab, writes letter of false accusations to leaders to have a Godly man, Naboth, killed so Ahab could have his vineyard
-So, to be called a "Jezebel" obviously meant nothing positive.
Issue #2 - Some church members were attempting to live for the world and for Jesus (v.20)
[she, this Jezebel woman] “teaches and seduces My servants to commit sexual immorality”
-Considering she is called “Jezebel”, this is likely symbolism for spiritual infidelity – “cheating on Jesus.”
-Often in Scripture, those following idols and/or other gods besides God are referred to as adulterers and fornicators, but obviously in a spiritual sense. They are people claiming to "be with" God, but are having other "lovers" (gods/idols) on the side. God clearly commanded, "You shall have no other gods before Me."
Issue #3 - Some church members were refusing to sacrifice cultural comforts for the sake of Christ (v.20)
-[she, this Jezebel woman] “teaches and seduces My servants to…..eat things sacrificed to idols.”
-Lots of meat was brought into temples for sacrifices to pagan gods
-Most meat was left over for the priests and offerors to eat
-Banquets and/or social events centered around eating this meat
-Butcher shops often sold this leftover meat; typically, it was the best cut
-To refuse to eat this meat would be to refuse to engage in common social activities; many social activities not only involved eating this pagan meat but also sexual acts and drunkenness as one can imagine takes place at wild parties
-This would be bad for Christians and their business as this would likely forfeit membership in the trade guilds
-Like today, Christians who chose to abstain from "meat sacrificed to idols" would have been vilified and seen as "holier than thou" or judgmental; they would likely be seen as outcasts
-“Jezebel” convinced some in the church that commercial success was better than suffering for Christ.
In response to what was going on in Thyatira, although not everyone was following "Jezebel" (v.19), Jesus made this point abundantly clear: Anyone continuing in this lifestyle would be judged and it would be harsh. (v.21-23)
However, as Jesus always seems to do, He offered a reprieve and a fair warning:
1) God always gives a chance to repent.
2) God's patience for sin has a limit.
To those who remain faithful, who repent, who trust in Christ, and who choose to follow Him alone instead of other masters in this world, He promises that they will receive protection and Christ Himself in the End. (v.24-29)
How much greater a prize is Christ in the future Kingdom than the vanities of this life that will one day pass away!
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