We continue looking at the New Testament church, seeing what good things they were doing but also looking at that which needed to be improved and then looking to the future to see what “ugly” and what “beautiful” things lay before them. By now you may have guessed we are looking at the seven churches of Asia mentioned in the book of Revelation.
The city of Thyatira, vitally important but almost defenseless. This ancient city existed because so many important Roman roads intersected there. Sometimes cities were built because they could be fortified against the enemy, but such was not true of Thyatira. The church obviously existed there, and there were many things right in that church. However, it had one major problem, and Jesus addresses it. He looks to the future and promises that He would righteously judge both the good and the bad.
The church at Thyatira had many good and commendable attributes. Jesus mentions several of these in His opening words. “I know your works, love, service, faith, and your patience; and as for your works, the last are more than the first” (Rev. 2:18). Take time to see what Jesus saw in their lives. They were a church that was motivated by love, and this resulted in service and faith. Add to this the fact that they did not just begin to serve Him, but they were steadfast in the midst of adversity. One member of the church from Thyatira specifically mentioned was Lydia, a seller of purple who was the first person baptized when Paul answered the Macedonian call and went to Philippi (Acts 16:14). They did not just begin to serve Him, but their works became greater as time passed.
The bad in the church of Thyatira. There was one major aspect that threatened the church. There was a woman named Jezebel (remember this book is filled with symbols and signs from the Old Testament) who in some way had obtained a major following in leading the church in the wrong direction. The specific doctrine she taught involved a problem confronting so many churches and that was sexual immorality in pagan worship. The church had foolishly let her harm the church. The church had not dealt with it, and Jesus said He was about to come in some way and deal with it. Evil, left unaddressed, will destroy the church, even if their works look so great.
The future for this church. Jesus is just, and it would be “ugly” for those who followed Jezebel. The justice of Jesus was such that He did not overlook those who continued in their patient works, motivated by love, service and faith. He promised them a great reward, described by Him as the morning star. Imagine this church if it had dealt with Jezebel!