Revelation 2:18-29

4. Thyatira: The church that committed adultery with the satanic religion of Babylon

Background:  Thyatira was an important military city founded by Alexander three hundred years before Christ. Thyatira stood at the junction of three main roads leading to Pergamos, Sardis and Smyrna. It became a well-known center for trade guilds and dyes for purple/scarlet cloth. The word Thyatira comes from two words meaning, " sacrifice" and "continual " The similarity between the meaning of the name and the continual sacrifice offered during the Mass in Roman Catholicism is not just a coincidence.

* The Chaldean priest who interpreted the esoteric doctrines of the Babylonian mysteries was (believe it or not) called Peter. The meaning of Peter in their language was "the interpreter". He wore an insignia of the two keys of the pagan gods Janus and Cybele. These two keys still appear on the papal arms as symbols of spiritual authority.

*Modified from Chuck Missler's supplemental notes on  The Book of Revelation , page 46, Koinonia House inc., 1995.

This is also the primary reason why some erroneously think Saint Peter controls the gates to heaven.

Prophetic applications of this church on Earth are from about 600 AD. until the Church is completed during the tribulation.

This church on earth today is known today primarily as the Roman Catholic Church and may include Orthodox Catholics as well. This is the first of four churches whose time on earth continues unto the end times. The message Jesus speaks to these last four churches makes an end time prophetic application fairly clear. One reason we think that the previous three churches mentioned do not continue on earth is because we see no prophetic message about the coming of Jesus in the letters to them, but the Lord's coming is at least implied in the last four letters. Another reason is that we can see each of the first three church age types being totally replaced by a historical successor but none of the last four churches have been totally replaced by any successor, they still exist as visible entities on the earth.

18 And unto the angel of the Church in Thyatira write; These things saith the Son of God, who hath his eyes like unto a flame of fire, and his feet are like fine brass;

19 I know thy works, and charity, and service, and faith, and thy patience, and thy works; and the last to be more than the first.

The Son of God with eyes like a flame of fire knows that this church has works of charity, service, faith and patience. The passage implies that in the last days of this church they will do even more good works than in her first days. The Catholics have done much charity and service over the centuries. Today her stand against the abomination of abortion, the faithless practice of birth control and the feminization of Christianity is admirable. I think her good works will continue to increase as the rest of the world continues on the downward spiral of selfishness, materialism and no moral absolutes.

20 Notwithstanding I have a few things against thee, because thou sufferest that woman Jezebel, which calleth herself a prophetess, to teach and to seduce my servants to commit fornication, and to eat things sacrificed unto idols.

Jesus has a few things against this church. It seems that a women Jesus identifies as Jezebel and who called herself a prophetess taught His servants to commit fornication and to eat things sacrificed to idols. Jezebel is the wicked queen of the Old Testament who married the king of Israel and influenced him to accept the gods of the pagans. She worshiped Babylonian gods and sought to kill all of YHWH's (Yahweh's or Jehovah's) prophets. Like ancient Jezebel, this woman represents all who bring in false pagan and satanic teachings. Some of the leadership of the Roman Catholic Church, like Jezebel, brought in Babylonian practices and these leaders like the Jezebel of the Old Testament had a bloody history of killing God's people.

*Some of the teachings and practices that this Jezebel incorporated into Roman Catholic Church practice

·The Pope as the vicar of Christ

·Holy images and relics

·Use of holy water to bless someone or something

·The canonization of dead saints

·The celibacy of the priesthood

·Using prayer beads

·The inquisitions

·The sale of Indulgences

·Transubstantiation

·Adoration of the wafer

·The Bible was forbidden to laymen

·The wine cup was forbidden to people at communion

·Doctrine of purgatory decreed

·Doctrine of seven sacraments affirmed

·Jesuit order was founded to enforce papal authority

·Tradition was granted equal authority with the Bible

·Apocryphal books were added to the Holy Canon

·Immaculate Conception of Mary declared

·Infallibility of Pope declared

·Assumption of the Virgin Mary was declared

·Mary proclaimed the Mother of the Church

* Most of the bullets have been modified from Tim Lahaye s -  Revelation Illustrated And Made Plain - 1977, p44.  Lahaye adds dates and some additional practices that I have not listed here.

I think it is important to note that a few things have changed in the Roman Catholic Church. Today the Bible is not forbidden to laymen and the cup is not forbidden to people at communion. It is also important to understand that the people of the Roman Catholic Church are not Jezebel. Some Jezebel leadership influenced them just as Israel became influenced by their own queen named Jezebel. After the rapture of the true Church when all faithful Christians are gone from this earth the Jezebels that remain in the Vatican will head the woman Jezebel that rides the Beast. This is all described in detail in chapter seventeen of Revelation.

21 And I gave her space to repent of her fornication; and she repented not.

Jesus gave the Jezebel leadership space to repent. It has now been over 1400 years; the Papacy and leadership could have changed its doctrine from within but now with a few exceptions it seems quite impossible for this to happen because it has incorporated a doctrine of infallibility that prevents it from changing past mistakes. Jesus actually says, she will not repent. Jesus knows this because He knows the end from the beginning. He also knows the satanic forces that have infiltrated this church.

22 Behold, I will cast her into a bed, and them that commit adultery with her into great tribulation, except they repent of their deeds.

Jesus is very clear that those who embrace the practices that the Jezebel leadership brought into this church will suffer the great tribulation  unless they repent of their adultery by rejecting the satanic Babylonian practices that were established. The fact that they can repent of their deeds implies that some will. The great tribulation is the time spoken of that will try men's souls at the cost of their physical lives. Jezebel in the Old Testament was destroyed and the dogs ate her bones. This Jezebel will also be destroyed and the Beast that she rides into the great tribulation (See chapter 17) will eat her bones.

23 And I will kill her children with death; and all the churches shall know that I am he which searcheth the reins and hearts: and I will give unto every one of you according to your works.

The promise to those that join with Jezebel is death to her children. This prophetically is talking about a great tribulation for the offspring of this church in the future.  Jesus will certainly be fair about what He gives to each who identify with this assembly because He looks at the heart and the fruit of each individual.

24 But unto you I say, and unto the rest in Thyatira, as many as have not this doctrine, and which have not known the depths of Satan, as they speak; I will put upon you none other burden.

25 But that which ye have already hold fast till I come.

Those who do not embrace the Babylonian doctrine of Jezebel that comes from Satan will have no other burden put on them. He implies it is burden enough just being a Catholic Christian that loves Him and wants no part in the deep things from Satan that have infiltrated this church.

Those who do not embrace the Babylonian practices within this church have the promise that faith in Jesus is all they need. Jesus says there will be some overcomers in this church on earth when He comes. It appears that some in this church will go with him in the pretribulation rapture. We can clearly see by the statement to hold fast till I come that Thyatira will be one of the four types of churches on earth in the days of His return.

26 And he that overcometh, and keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations:

27 And he shall rule them with a rod of iron; as the vessels of a potter shall they be broken to shivers: even as I received of my Father.

28 And I will give him the morning star.

29 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.

Since Jesus already said those not involved with pagan practices only need to hold fast until He comes in the rapture, I think these last verses are to those who go into the tribulation that tries the whole world. These need to keep doing good works in the tribulation until the end. Many will be purified by fire during this time of trial.

The power over the nations promised, is the promise to rule and reign with Christ  on earth for a thousand years when Jesus rules the nations with a rod of iron.

Revelation 19:15 And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and  he shall rule them with a  rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God.

The morning star is Jesus. He is the first light in the world.

Revelation 22:16 I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and  morning star.

These are great promises to those Catholics who have true faith in Jesus and do not take part in the pagan practices that have infiltrated their church.

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