The Apostle John’s letter to the church at Thyatira may be outlined under six headings: Destination (2:18), The Lord (2:18), Commendation (2:19), Condemnation (2:20-23), Exhortation (2:24-25), Promise (2:26-29).
Destination (Revelation 2:18)
The city of Thyatira was located about forty miles southeast of Pergamos. This city was famous for the purple dye it produced. The church of Thyatira is representative of church during the period from A.D. 500 until A.D. 1500.
The Lord (Revelation 2:18)
Christ is identified as the “Son of God,” having “eyes like unto a flame of fire.” This emphasizes that He is able to search out evil with His eyes and exercise righteous judgment.
Commendation (Revelation 2:19)
Christ commends this church for their work accompanied with love, and He also noted the believers’ faith, which motivated their service.
Condemnation (Revelation 2:20-23)
Despite what was good with the church, there were some serious problems that needed to be addressed. The church was guilty of allowing a woman to lead many into sexual immorality and of the eating of food sacrificed to idols. This self-proclaimed prophetess had a great and evil influence on the church. This woman is perhaps named after Jezebel, the evil wife of Ahab, who seduced Israel into great idolatry and immorality (I Kings 16:30-33; II Kings 9:7). By calling herself a prophetess, the woman in Thyatira claimed to speak for God! Christ had graciously given the perverted woman sufficient time to repent, but there had been no change and no desire to repent. It was now time for judgment! Sudden and severe judgment was promised by Christ for the unrepentant Jezebel. Her bed of pleasure would become a bed of sickness and death. The ways of Jezebel would definitely be punished. When He put to death the children of the false prophetess, it would confirm that He searches the “reins and hearts” (Revelation 2:23). “Reins” literally refers to the kidneys, which in that day were considered to be the seat of the emotions. “Heart in this context refers to the intellect and thoughts. Christ searches and weighs every emotion and every thought. All things are open to His discernable gaze (Hebrews 4:12-13). This fact assures that Christ recompenses to every individual exactly what his deeds deserve.
Exhortation (Revelation 2:24-25)
Christ turns His attention to the “rest,” those who did not follow Jezebel’s teaching of compromise with the world. They had not become involved in the so-called “depths of Satan.” Christ admonished these believers to simply continue resisting evil, and also telling them: “That which ye have already hold fast till I come” (Revelation 2:25). They were admonished to be obedient to Christ even in a culture in which political and economic pressure was extremely overwhelming!
Promise (Revelation 2:26-29)
To the overcomer (I John 5:4-5 – the true believer), is promised the Morning Star -Jesus Christ, and the right to reign with Him in the Millennium (II Timothy 2:12; Revelation 20:4-6).
May God Bless!
Dr. Johnny Calvin Smith
