Apologetics and the Seven Churches: Thyatira
This is a continuation of my series on an apologetics reading of the letters to the seven churches in Revelation.
“And to the angel of the church in Thyatira write,
‘These things says the Son of God, who has eyes like a flame of fire, and His feet like fine brass: “I know your works, love, service, faith, and your patience; and as for your works, the last are more than the first. Nevertheless I have a few things against you, because you allow that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess, to teach and seduce My servants to commit sexual immorality and eat things sacrificed to idols. And I gave her time to repent of her sexual immorality, and she did not repent. Indeed I will cast her into a sickbed, and those who commit adultery with her into great tribulation, unless they repent of their deeds. I will kill her children with death, and all the churches shall know that I am He who searches the minds and hearts. And I will give to each one of you according to your works.
“Now to you I say, and to the rest in Thyatira, as many as do not have this doctrine, who have not known the depths of Satan, as they say, I will put on you no other burden. But hold fast what you have till I come. And he who overcomes, and keeps My works until the end, to him I will give power over the nations—
He shall rule them with a rod of iron;
They shall be dashed to pieces like the potter’s vessels’—
as I also have received from My Father; 28 and I will give him the morning star.“He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.”’ (Revelation 2:18-29, NKJV)
The church at Thyatira was praised for some important things. Works, love, service, faith and patience are admirable qualities and it is a standard that we should all strive for. But like the majority of the churches, there is a problem. They are tolerating Jezebel. This is a reference to someone like the Jezebel of the Old Testament, who used her influence as wife of the king to promote pagan worship and to persecute the true believers. The person responsible for this similar activity should not be tolerated within the church. Jesus encourages the faithful at Thyatira to hold to pure doctrine and not to seek the “depths of Satan.” This is probably some kind of secret knowledge, perhaps similar to the hidden knowledge of the later Gnostics.
Apologists are often known for their desire to learn and to research. This is something that is good and should be encouraged. However, it is easy to get into the trap of needing to be on the top when it comes to new knowledge. You need to be creative and unique to be heard in our busy world. It is so easy to get off track and to be distracted by what seems to be “deep truths.” Apologists must make sure to ground themselves in the historic Christian faith. If no one else has read that passage like that before in two thousand years, perhaps there is a reason. This is not a warning about seeking truth, as all truth is God’s truth. The problem is when we get bored with the truth and we look for something more exciting.
Have you heard leaders in your church preach something that pushes the boundaries of orthodoxy?
Why are false teachers so often tolerated in our churches?
