Review pattern of each church:
Pattern of How each church is spoken of:
The message is given to the angel (messenger) of each church
A reference to Jesus is made that has been already mentioned in Rev 1; (for example: he that holdeth the seven stars in his right hand) prob in relation to something regarding that particular church
A positive "validation" for their "work".
But not every church is given postive validation.
Followed by a negative citation in which the church is told to repent of.
Not every church is given a negative reference.
Each church is told "he that hath an ear to hear"...
Each church is challenged to overcome something.
If they overcome, they will receive something from Jesus, usually something found in Rev 20,21 or 22.
Pergamum
Rev 2:16-17
16 Repent therefore; or else I come to thee quickly, and I will make war against them with the sword of my mouth. 17 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith to the churches. To him that overcometh, to him will I give of the hidden manna, and I will give him a white stone, and upon the stone a new name written, which no one knoweth but he that receiveth it.
Summary
Repent (of what?)
Teaching of Balaam
The teaching of Nicolaitans
If you don't repent, Jesus will:
Make war against them
With the sword of His mouth
He that hath an ear, let him hear...to him that overcomes:
Given hidden manna. What is this?
Hidden insight into the word
So Jesus conceals a lot in his Word...that he reveals if you overcome.
White stone? with a new name written which no one knows but he that receives it.
White (lyoo- kos) - brilliant (dazzling) from whiteness
Stone?
-a small worn smooth stone, a pebble
-a vote (on account of the use of pebbles in voting)
Great variety of meaning?
white stone may have to do with the ancient Roman custom of awarding white stones to the victors of athletic games with a new name inscribed? This “new name” most likely refers to the Holy Spirit’s work of conforming believers to the holiness of Christ (see Romans 8:29; Colossians 3:10
1Co 9:24
Know ye not that they that run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? Even so run; that ye may attain.
This white stone may be a translucent precious stone such as a diamond. This interpretation holds that on the stone is written the name of Christ, not the name of the believer. Revelation mentions that the name of Christ is written on the foreheads of the saints (Revelation 3:12; Revelation 14:1, and Revelation 14:20).
In the heavenly courts a white "stone" indicated innocence, a black condemnation.
A host's appreciation of a special guest was indicated by a white "stone" with the name or a message written on it.
Thyatira = "odor of affliction"
Show "7_churches_map.jpg"
A wealthy city of Macedonia Greeks, situated between Sardis and Pergamos; its inhabitants gained their living by trading and the art of dyeing in purple
**Wealthy but small town. Smallest of the 7 churches of Revelation.
**of all the 7 churches, Jesus speaks the most words to Thyatira.
Thyatira was specially noted for the trade
guilds which were probably more com-
pletely organized there than in any other
ancient city.
These guilds may be seen as labor unions.
Every artisan belonged to a
guild, and every guild, which was an incorporated organization, possessed property in its own name, made contracts for great constructions, and wielded a wide influence. Powerful among them was the guild of coppersmiths; another was the guild of the dyers, who, it is believed, made use of the madder-root for making purple dye. One member of this guild seems to have been Lydia of Thyatira, who, according to Acts 16:14, sold her dyes in Philippi.
The guilds were closely connected with the pagan Asiatic religion of the area. Pagan feasts, with which immoral practices were associated, were held, and therefore the nature of the guilds was such that they were opposed to Christianity.
Paul may have preached there
while he was living at Ephesus, but this is
uncertain; yet Christianity reached there at an early time. It was taught by many of the early church that no Christian should belong to one of the guilds, and thus guilds were a great opposition to Christianity.
Act 16:14
And a certain woman named Lydia, a seller of purple of the city of Thyatira, one that worshipped God, heard us: whose heart the Lord opened to give heed unto the things which were spoken by Paul.
Purple?
In OT, purple is mentioned in Dan 5:7b by Belshazzar after seeing the handwriting on the wall…"Whosoever shall read this writing, and show me the interpretation thereof, shall be clothed with purple, and have a chain of gold about his neck, and shall be the third ruler in the kingdom."
In NT, purple is mentioned 5x's:
Mar 15:17 (Before Jesus was crucified)
17 And they clothe him with purple, and platting a crown of thorns, they put it on him;
Mar 15:20 (Before Jesus was crucified)
20 And when they had mocked him, they took off from him the purple, and put on him his garments. And they lead him out to crucify him.
Luk 16:19
(Rich man and Lazarus)
Now there was a certain rich man, and he was clothed in purple and fine linen, faring sumptuously every day:
Rev 17:4 (Harlot)
And the woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet, and decked with gold and precious stone and pearls, having in her hand a golden cup full of abominations, even the unclean things of her fornication,
Rev 18:12 (Merchants of Babylon)
merchandise of gold, and silver, and precious stone, and pearls, and fine linen, and purple, and silk, and scarlet; and all thyine wood, and every vessel of ivory, and every vessel made of most precious wood, and of brass, and iron, and marble;
***Now do you see why Daniel didn't want to be clothed in purple?
-It represents the rich harlot Babylon in one form or another!
Rev 2:18-19
18 And to the angel of the church in Thyatira write: These things saith the Son of God, who hath his eyes like a flame of fire, and his feet are like unto burnished brass: 19 I know thy works, and thy love and faith and ministry and patience, and that thy last works are more than the first.
Summary:
To the angel of the church of Thyatira…
A reference to Jesus is made that has been already mentioned in Rev 1
Rev 1:14-15
14 And his head and his hair were white as white wool, white as snow; and his eyes were as a flame of fire; 15 and his feet like unto burnished brass, as if it had been refined in a furnace; and his voice as the voice of many waters.
"eyes were as a flame of fire"
What might this mean?
-In Dan 10:6, Daniel saw a vision of a man with "eyes of flaming torches" Jesus
-Before the glance of his eye all is light, and nothing can be concealed from his view. A reference to the Son of God as being able to penetrate the secret recesses of the heart.
"feet like unto burnished brass"
-may signify both the purity and holiness of his ways and methods of providence, and also his firmness and steadiness in them.
-In Dan 10:6, Daniel saw a vision of a man with "feet like burnished brass" Jesus
3. Positive validations??
I know thy works (labor)
thy love (agape)
faith (fidelity)
ministry
patience (endurance)
thy last works are more than the first
***Seems a pretty awesome list; quite encouraging?
Who wouldn't want their boss to say this about them?
Now for the Negative word...
Rev 2:20-23
20 But I have this against thee, that thou sufferest the woman Jezebel, who calleth herself a prophetess; and she teacheth and seduceth my servants to commit fornication, and to eat things sacrificed to idols. 21 And I gave her time that she should repent; and she willeth not to repent of her fornication. 22 Behold, I cast her into a bed, and them that commit adultery with her into great tribulation, except they repent of her works. 23 And I will kill her children with death; and all the churches shall know that I am he that searcheth the reins and hearts: and I will give unto each one of you according to your works.
Summary
Negative word…
You permit that woman (thy wife?) Jezebel…
(Greek from NT = chaste; celibate, pure)
-ironic meaning
She calls "herself" a prophetess?
-Only other NT prophetess is Anna in Luke 2:36-38
Luk 2:36-38
36 And there was one Anna, a prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher (she was of a great age, having lived with a husband seven years from her virginity, 37 and she had been a widow even unto fourscore and four years), who departed not from the temple, worshipping with fastings and supplications night and day. 38 And coming up at that very hour she gave thanks unto God, and spake of him to all them that were looking for the redemption of Jerusalem.
Other prophetess' in Bible:
Miriam, Moses sister
Exodus 15
Deborah
Judges 4
Huldah
2 Kings 22
Noadiah (false prophetess)
Neh 6
Isaiah's wife
Isa 8
(May be her title because she is Isaiah's wife)
Anna
Luke 2
Jezebel (self proclaimed)
Rev 2
Jezebel teaches and leads astray Jesus servants to commit fornication
####
-Is the fornication spiritual or literal?
Jezebel seduces Jesus servants to eat things sacrificed to idols
-Is the eating of things sacrificed to idols literal? Or spiritual?
Not sure but we can look at the only other Jezebel mentioned in the bible.
Jezebel (wife of Ahab, king of Israel) (Izabel)
(Hebrew from OT: "Baal exalts" or "Baal is husband to" or "unchaste")
1Ki 16:29-34
29 And in the thirty and eighth year of Asa king of Judah began Ahab the son of Omri to reign over Israel: and Ahab the son of Omri reigned over Israel in Samaria twenty and two years. 30 And Ahab the son of Omri did that which was evil in the sight of Jehovah above all that were before him. 31 And it came to pass, as if it had been a light thing for him to walk in the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, that he took to wife Jezebel the daughter of Ethbaal king of the Sidonians, and went and served Baal, and worshipped him. 32 And he reared up an altar for Baal in the house of Baal, which he had built in Samaria. 33 And Ahab made the Asherah; and Ahab did yet more to provoke Jehovah, the God of Israel, to anger than all the kings of Israel that were before him. 34 In his days did Hiel the Beth-elite build Jericho: he laid the foundation thereof with the loss of Abiram his first-born, and set up the gates thereof with the loss of his youngest son Segub, according to the word of Jehovah, which he spake by Joshua the son of Nun.
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