Beth Elohim Messianic Synagogue
Revelation Study Class 10
The Fourth Epistle: Thyatira (2:18-29)
Now we find ourselves at the last four of the seven Epistles. IN the first three the Old Testament references are to the period of the Wilderness. In these last four the references are to the period of the Land; where we see that Israel and Judah are placed alternately. Israel comes first; for idolatry commenced in the Ten Tribes resulting in being the first to be removed from the Land. Judah followed and was later dispersed for their disobedience as well.
The first of these four Epistles provides an illustration from the great apostasy of Israel under Ahab and Jezebel. A very few if any of us realize what that apostacy entailed, or its character and extent. Jeroboam was the first who was responsible for Israel’s sin, but it culminated under Ahab and Jezebel. Under the rule of these two, organized idolatry became the religion of the State as opposed to the true religion established in Jerusalem. It had its own priesthood, so numerous and powerful that the prophet Elijah was specifically raised up by G-d to do battle against them and warn the people against the enormity of the evil. Yet again will Elijah perform a similar duty under worse circumstances.
2:18: And unto the angel of the assembly in Thyatira, writhe; These things saith the Son of G-d… here for the first time the speaker is named as well as distinguished by an attribute. Both speak of Divine judgment and of the Divine power which is necessary to execute that judgment and to perform the promises given in the Epistle.
… who hath His eyes like a flame of fire…To detect all evil and alarm the evildoers. This is the attribute of 1:14,15; repeated in 19:12.
… and His feet like unto polished brass… This foretells the coming judgement when He will tread the wicked under his feet. Isa. 63:1-6; 14:25; 41:25. See also Mal. 4:3; Dan. 8:7,10; and compare Micah 4:13; Dan. 7:19; Deut. 33:25; Job 40:18. The fulfillment of this is seen in its completion in Chapter 19:13-15.
2:19: I know thy works, and thy love, and faith, your service and perseverance, and that you are now doing more than you did at first …(NIV)
2:20: Nevertheless, I have this against thee, that thou lettest alone the woman Jezebel, she herself a prophetess, and she teacheth and deceiveth my servants to commit fornication, and to eat things sacrificed to idols…The reference here is to 1 Kings 16:30-34. All of the evil is traced back to Jezebel (1 Kings 21:250. The teaching is the same as that of Balaam and of the Nicolaitanes except it is more organized and in the name of religion and is under the direct auspices of the State. Balaam was outside Israel; Jezebel is within. I say “is” within because this is what it will be in the days of the Beast and this is why these exhortations, teachings, and warnings are written in these Epistles. Three of the assemblies ae warned regarding this evil. Ephesus (2:6): Pergamos (2:14,15); and Thyatira (2:20). There is everything in the Apocalypse to show that there will be a special form of evil in the coming days of the Anti-Messiah on earth. See also 2 Kings 9:22,30; Jer. 4:30; Nahum 3:4.
2:21: And I gave her space in order that she might repent and she willeth not to repent of her fornication… We must read the history in the book of Kings in order to understand this and take note of how it is connected with persecution. See 1 Kings 18:13,14. It may have reference to the woman of revelation 17:1-4, and to the situation on earth at that time. Compare Chap. 18;3 and 8-10 and 9;20,21.
2:22: Lo! I cast her into a bed, and those who are committing adultery with her (18:8-10) into great tribulation (Rom. 2:8,9,16), except they repent of her works…The casting into a bed in this verse is in contrast to Jezebel’s being cast out of a window. It refers to a bed of anguish and of judgment. To reward and punish “according to works” is G-d’s principle of dealing with Israel and the world, much to the chagrin of the Catholic Church and Christianity in general regarding the importance of “works/deeds” related to our salvation. Those who claim to be “true believers, grafted into Israel and partakers of the Covenants thereof, are subject to the same reward and judgement according to our deeds/works.
2:23: and her children (Ps.137:9) will I kill with death (i.e., pestilence); and all the assemblies shall know (or get to know) that I am he that searcheth reins and hearts. Compare Jer. 11:20; 16:10:20:12; 1 Kings 8;59 and 1 Sam. 16:7. See Rev. 11;18; 22:12. This is the work of “the Son of G-d” (v. 18). The word “death” in this context means pestilence as in chapter 6:8; 18:8; 2 Sam.24:13).
… and will give unto you, each one, according to your works… See Jer. 11:20; 17:10; Ps. 7:9; 62:12.
2;24: But, unto you, I say, – the rest that are in Thyatira, as many as hold not this doctrine, who have not known (or come to know) the depths of Satan, (as they say)…G-d has his Divine depths, 1 Cor. 2:10; rom 11:33. But in this instance we have the “depths of Satan.” We are given some of them in Rev. 13 but the real “depths” are in turning even the most basic expressions of profanity and prostitution into religion under the pretense of worshipping idols (which is bad enough) to legalize and patronize the lowest vices. Read Isa. 28:14-18.
I do not lay upon you any other burden…or prophetic message of judgement. See 2 Kings 9:25,26; Isa. 13:1.
2:25: Nevertheless, what ye have hold fast till I come (lit., shall have come).
2;26: For he who overcomes and keeps my words to the end (i.e., keepeth in mind as to ponder over, and understand my judgements), to him I will give power over nations… (Revised Geneva Translation).
2:27… and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: as vessels of pottery dashed in pieces: even as I also have received of my Father…This is an unmistakable reference to such Old Testament prophecies as Ps. 2:7-9 and to the scenes that will then be taking place on earth mentioned in Chap. 12;10, 19 and 15:21).
Interpreters who spiritualize the prophecies of the Old Testament robbing them from those to whom they belong do not hesitate on most missionary platforms to quote Psalms 2:7-9, of the spread of the gospel. But there is some inconsistency in this robbery, for while they quote and claim the words in verse 8, “Ask of me and I will give the heathen for thine inheritance,” they always stop short and do not continue the test to quote the words that follow__” Thou shalt break them with a rod of iron: and shalt dash them in pieces like a potter’s vessel.” Here is the asking and the giving spoken of in Psalms 2:8, and in the verse before us: only here, the promise is to the Assembly in Thyatira. If the is the “Church: then here we have its mission. But although most commentators maintain that Thyatira is a “church,” they do not press this as the Church’s mission, or “claim: as its promise. This fact manifests the inconsistency of the popular principle of interpretation.
2;28: And I will give unto him the morning star… The promise is fulfilled in Revelation 22;16. But the prophecy is in Numbers 24;17 which connects it with Israel and with the day of the L-rd’s judgment, “there shall come a Star out of Jacob, and a Scepter shall rise out of Israel, and shall smite the corners of Moab, and destroy all the children of Sheth” (Num. 24:17).
2:29: He who hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit is saying to the Assemblies. See the previous information on the target audience.
Next week: the Firth Epistle: Sardis
Shalom v’brachas,
Rabbi Tamah Davis-Hart