Saturday 21 July 2012
- Bible Book:
- Revelation
"But to the rest of you in Thyatira, who do not hold this teaching, who have not learned what some call 'the deep things of Satan', to you I say, I do not lay on you any other burden; only hold fast to what you have until I come." (vv. 24-25)
Background
This is the longest of the seven letters, writtento the church in the town of Thyatira, about 40 miles south east ofPergamum. Under the Romans it had grown as a centre formanufacturing, not least in making clothes. In Acts 16:11-15 thereis a mention of Lydia, "a dealer in purple cloth", who also had ahouse across the Aegean Sea in Philippi, so it can be presumed thatThyatira was something of a trade centre.
In common with messages to other cities, at thestart of this letter the people in the church are praised; inThyatira specifically for their "love, faith, service and patientendurance" (v. 19). However, Jesus goes on to criticise a woman inthe fellowship who is named Jezebel, although this might well be ageneric name for someone who is leading others in the fellowshipastray. She is denounced for her false teaching and ways ofadvocating easy compromise with the immorality and idolatrous waysof a pagan world. It is also clear from the letter that Jezebel hasbeen given time to repent, but has not done so (verse 21).
The letter then becomes a call for more generalrepentance, a wake-up call for those who had been led astray by thepersuasive logic of compromisers. In verse 24 Jesus acknowledgesthat some have remained strong and their task now is to hang onuntil he returns. Such people will be given Christ's power andauthority, the symbol being "the morning star" (v. 28) - surelyworth persevering for?
To Ponder
- In an increasingly secular society, to what extent is itpossible for your faith not to be compromised?
- The church always lives with the tension of needing to berelevant in the world, and yet not pursuing the ways of the world?Is this possible without compromise? How?