Historically, the Thyatira church refers to the period known as the Middle or Dark Ages. The Church of Rome was at its zenith of power and wealth, keeping many in ignorance of the Word and in fear of its papal authority, using its intricate system of Babylonian superstitions to rule the commoners and control the monarchs and their armies.
Verse 18
Christ identifies Himself as the Son of God, with flaming eyes and feet of brass refined as in a furnace, a depiction of One who searches the deep things, yea, even secret and hidden sins, and in judgment tramples the winepress of God's wrath.
Verse 19
Seemingly, Christ listed out a long array of good works: charity, service, faith, patience. He even emphasized 'works' twice! And true enough, the Romish church exceled in good works, not out of love for the Lord but to gain personal merits. Under such a meritocratic system of salvation, it is therefore not surprising that 'the last are more than the first' as many were eager to serve and sacrifice to earn their entrance into heaven.
Even so, within the confines of Romish spiritual darkness there was still a remnant who shone brightly in their love for Christ and lived the best they could with the limited understanding and spiritual resources they had, as they sought out the truth buried beneath years of accumulated human traditions and inventions. To these, Christ commended their efforts despite their imperfection.
Verse 20-23
The name Jezebel is associated with Baal worship, a corruption of the worship of Yahweh in the days of Elijah, and brings with it the sins of whoredom and witchcraft. This self-appointed prophetess brought subtle heresies and new revelations (false teachings) into the church to deceive the simple and ignorant, and seduce the spiritually weak.
Paul warned that in time to come many will not endure sound doctrine (get bored or tired of the truth) and will seek out teachers with itching ears who speak what they like to hear and make them feel good about themselves.
Do we get tired of hearing sound preaching, secretly wishing in our hearts for some juicy stories or quick-witted jokes to spice up the sermon and distract us from what God has to say to us? Be careful we don't end up like the people in Malachi's days (1:12-14). Worship is all about Jesus, not about our feelings, and certainly not about ourselves!
Let us repent of that spirit of Jezebel while God stayed His hand of judgment. The One with flaming eyes searches the reins and hearts, and will render to every one of us according to what we deserve. God will surely refine and purge those who refuse to repent and clean up their acts.
Verses 24-25
Christ now specifically addressed the angel of the church and the remnant. This noticeable shift from addressing the church corporately as in the first three is remarkable. Evidently, false doctrines and traditions of men had so filled and permeated the church of Thyatira, Christ no longer regarded it as His own except the few who remained true to Him!
Darkness had so engulfed the Romish church it had descended into the grip of Satan, with all sorts of paganistic rituals and beliefs in place and practiced in glaring contradiction to the Word of God. Discerning believers will recognize the religion of the Thyatira church to be nothing more than a Christianized form of Babylonian mysteries—the depths of Satan.
Paul said that only the Spirit is able to teach the 'deep things of God' to believers (1 Corinthians 2:10), but there were believers in the Thyatira church who knowingly delved into the 'deep things of Satan'! (2:24) Like Adam and Eve, fallen human has an innate curiosity into the unknown and mystical which Satan uses to seduce and entrap those who dabble into the occult—the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.
Christ knew that His remnant is powerless to do anything about it, so He only required that they hold fast to what they already had—the little truth and light that would keep them away from the errors of the corrupt church.
Verses 26-29
The one who refuses to be corrupted by human traditions and false doctrines but maintains his witness for the truth, will rule with Christ when He returns to judge the nations. The rod of iron is a symbol of absolute authority; Jesus wields this scepter as the King of kings and He will delegate His authority to His saints to rule the nations in the Millennial Kingdom.
Christ also promises to give the Morning Star to the overcomer. Stars in the scriptures are often used to depict angels; the Morning Star is the brightest star in the sky and is accorded to the Lord Jesus, also known in the Old Testament as the Angel of the LORD, possible a theophany of the pre-incarnate Christ. Possessing Christ therefore is to possess His resurrection life and power to defeat both darkness and death. Hallelujah!
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