Soon!

Here is a link to last week’s study of Revelation, “Soon”.

Today’s Seed Basket devotional in our study of Revelation focuses on Jesus’ message to the church at Thyatira. When Jesus spoke to Thyatira, He praised their growth. Unlike Ephesus, Thyatira had not started to decline.

“I know all the things you do. I have seen your love, your faith, your service, and your patient endurance. And I can see your constant improvement in all these things. “But I have this complaint against you…” Revelation 2:19-20 (NLT)

Look at the list of problems below, starting with the entry of a self-proclaimed prophetess who called herself Jezebel or was referred to as such by Jesus in relation to the Jezebel mentioned in 1 Kings chapters 18-21.

• Jezebel was allowed to infiltrate the church
• called herself a prophet
• assumed ungodly authority in the church
• disdained the cross of Christ
• led God’s servants astray
• taught God’s people to commit sexual sin as part of religious rites
• taught God’s people to eat food offered to idols
• rejected God and clung to her immorality

Jezebel and her followers will be judged by Christ Jesus at the Great White Throne. People who stand resolutely against the Gospel and reject salvation will stand with her there.

I saw a great white throne and One seated on it.

Earth and heaven fled from His presence,

and no place was found for them.

Revelation 20:11 (CSB)

“But I have this against you: You tolerate the woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess and teaches and deceives my servants to commit sexual immorality and to eat meat sacrificed to idols. I gave her time to repent, but she does not want to repent of her sexual immorality. Look, I will throw her into a sickbed and those who commit adultery with her into great affliction. Unless they repent of her works, I will strike her children dead. 

(“Her children” is referring to people who follow her lead) *

*My notation

Then all the churches will know that I am the one who examines minds and hearts, and I will give to each of you according to your works.” Revelation 2:20-22 (CSB)

Never engage in arrogant judgment. Instead, be wise and open your Bible. You can discern if a church has rejected Christ and spreads falsehoods.

Many so-called Christian pastors teach Satan’s lies; they are not victims and have no excuse, nor do we.

But being misled by evil leaders doesn’t make people innocent. God offers everyone the chance to be born again and receive His free gift, yet many choose evil over His plan because they don’t want Him in their lives or remain ignorant of His Word.

Look what Jesus tells His children who remain faithful.

 “I say to the rest of you in Thyatira, who do not hold this teaching, who haven’t known “the so-called secrets of Satan” —as they say—I am not putting any other burden on you.  Only hold on to what you have until I come. Revelation 2:24-25 (CSB)

God knows that infiltrators will always be in His Church. Not just these seven churches that are in Revelation, but your church and mine.

Satan is bent on the destruction of people, and he uses lost people as a spiritual roadblock to disrupt the Church.

But look at our message of hope in Jesus:

“But I also have a message for the rest of you in Thyatira who have not followed this false teaching (‘deeper truths,’ as they call them—depths of Satan, actually).I will ask nothing more of you except that you hold tightly to what you have until I come.  To all who are victorious, who obey me to the very end, to them I will give authority over all the nations. They will rule the nations with an iron rod and smash them like clay pots. They will have the same authority I received from my Father, and I will also give them the morning star! Anyone with ears to hear must listen to the Spirit and understand what he is saying to the churches.” Revelation 2:24-29 (NLT)

New Living Translation (NLT)

Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

The bread of life, invisible, spiritual, and heavenly, which is kept secretly with God, from before all eternity.

Christian Standard Bible (CSB)

The Christian Standard Bible. Copyright © 2017 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission. Christian Standard Bible®, and CSB® are federally registered trademarks of Holman Bible Publishers, all rights reserved.