Companion Study Guide 10 LESSONS

RICK RENNER
Thyatira was a powerful city with a powerful church that was birthed in the
First Century. Although Jesus commended the believers of Thyatira for all the
wonderful works they were doing, He did have something against them that
deeply disturbed Him. In this ten-part series, with introductions filmed in the
city’s ancient ruins, Rick exposes the destructive doctrine of compromise at work
in the Church, then and now, and reveals the beauty and the blessing of genuine
repentance. You’ll discover what causes judgment to be pronounced on someone
today and what it means to occupy till Jesus comes. We all need ears to hear and
understand the significance of this message so its truths can bear fruit in our lives.
Unless otherwise indicated, all scripture quotations are taken from the King
James Version of the Bible.

Scripture quotations marked (NIV) are taken from Holy Bible, New Inter-
national Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica,
Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Scripture quotations marked (AMPC) are taken from the Amplified® Bible.
Copyright © 1954, 1958, 1962, 1964, 1965, 1987 by The Lockman Founda-
tion. Used by permission. www.Lockman.org.

Christ’s Message to Thyatira

Copyright © 2019 by Rick Renner

8316 E. 73rd St.
Tulsa, Oklahoma 74133

Published by Rick Renner Ministries

www.renner.org

Printed in the United States of America. All rights reserved. No portion of

this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means —
electronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording, scanning, or other — except
for brief quotations in critical reviews or articles, without the prior written
permission of the Publisher.

2 | STUDY GUIDE
A Note From
Rick Renner
I am on a personal quest to see a “revival of
the Bible” so people can establish their lives on
a firm foundation that will stand strong and
endure the test when the end-time storm winds
begin to intensify.
In order to experience a revival of the Bible in
your personal life, it is important to take time
each day to read, receive, and apply its truths to your life. James tells us
that if we will continue in the perfect law of liberty — refusing to be
forgetful hearers but determined to be doers — we will be blessed in
our ways. As you watch or listen to the programs in this series and work
through this corresponding study guide, I trust that you will search the
Scriptures and allow the Holy Spirit to help you hear something new
from God’s Word that applies specifically to your life. I encourage you to
be a doer of the Word that He reveals to you. Whatever the cost, I assure
you — it will be worth it.
Thy words were found, and I did eat them; 
and thy word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of mine heart:
for I am called by thy name, O Lord God of hosts.
— Jeremiah 15:16

Your brother and friend in Jesus Christ,

Rick Renner

Christ’s Message to Thyatira | 3

How To Use This
Study Guide
This 10-lesson study guide corresponds to “Christ’s Message to Thyatira”
With Rick Renner (Renner TV). Each lesson in this study guide covers
a topic that is addressed during the program series, with questions and
references supplied to draw you deeper into your own private study of the
Scriptures on this subject.
To derive the most benefit from this study guide, consider the following:
First, watch or listen to the program prior to working through the corre-
sponding lesson in this guide. (Programs can also be viewed at renner.org
by clicking on the Media/Archives links.)
Second, take the time to look up the scriptures included in each lesson.
Prayerfully consider their application to your own life.
Third, use a journal or notebook to make note of your answers to each
lesson’s Study Questions and Practical Application challenges.
Fourth, invest specific time in prayer and in the Word of God to consult
with the Holy Spirit. Write down the scriptures or insights He reveals
to you about being filled with the Spirit and empowered by Him in your
daily life.
Finally, take action! Whatever the Lord tells you to do according to His
Word, do it.
For added insights on this subject, it is recommended that you obtain Rick
Renner’s book Signs You’ll See Just Before Jesus Comes. You may also select
from Rick’s other available resources by placing your order at renner.org
or by calling 1-800-742-5593.

4 | STUDY GUIDE
 LESSON 1

TOPIC
The History of Thyatira
SCRIPTURES
1. Revelation 2:18 — And unto the angel of the church in Thyatira
write.…

GREEK WORD
1. “angel” — ἄγγελος (angelos): a human messenger or angel; one sent
on a special mission; one dispatched to perform a specific assignment;
a delegate or dignitary; pictures the role of a pastor; a messenger of
God
2. “church” — ἐκκλησία (ekklesia): a called, separated assembly; a
prestigious assembly of distinguished citizens who determined laws,
debated public policy, formulated new policies, argued and ruled in
judicial matters, elected chief magistrates, and decided who should be
banished; a body of believers who have been called out, called forth,
selected, and assembled to be God’s representatives in every town,
city, state, or nation; a body called to make decisions that affect the
atmosphere of a region

SYNOPSIS
The ten lessons in this study on Christ’s Message to Thyatira will focus on
the following topics:
• The History of Thyatira
• Intelligence and Judgment
• A Church Committed to Good Works
• What Jesus Thinks About Compromise in the Church
• Ahab and Jezebel
• What Does “Space To Repent” Mean?
• What Is Repentance?

Christ’s Message to Thyatira | 5

 • What Causes God To Judge Someone Today?
• The Depths of Satan Inside the Church
• Hold Fast and Occupy Until Jesus Comes

The emphasis of this lesson:

The city of Thyatira has been around for thousands of years. In early
New Testament times, it was rebuilt to be a barrier of defense for the
city of Pergamum. Along with a strong military presence, there was also
a strong church — a church that Christ spoke to in Revelation 2.

The city of Thyatira was located about 40 kilometers (or about 25

miles) east of the city of Pergamum. To understand Thyatira, one must
understand Pergamum and its importance. Pergamum was the seat of
the proconsul for the entire province of Asia. Thus, it was home to many
politicians and wealthy people — a royal city filled with great treasure and
marked by magnificence. As such, it was the target of invaders from the
east who wanted to attack and plunder it. Thyatira was built to be a block-
ade to stop eastern invaders. Not only was there a strong military presence
there, but there was also a strong presence of God. During the First
Century, a church was established in the city — one of the seven churches
Jesus spoke to in Revelation 2. His words to the believers in Thyatira are
still applicable to us today. Thus, we need to know and understand what
He said.

John Had Been Imprisoned on the Isle of Patmos

The book of Revelation is Jesus’ revelation of Himself to the apostle John
and to us. During the reign of Emperor Domitian, John was exiled to the
isle of Patmos as a political prisoner. Patmos was a forbidden island out
in the middle of the sea, stripped of all its vegetation. When John and his
associate were deposited on the island, they were left with the arduous
task of foraging for food and securing water each day. For living quarters,
they secured a desolate cave positioned atop a mountain. It was in that
cave that the risen Christ appeared to John and gave him what we know
today as the book of Revelation.
In Revelation 1:10, John said, “I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s day,
and heard behind me a great voice, as of a trumpet.” The words “I was”
in Greek is the word ginomai, which describes something completely
unexpected; something that takes one off guard or by surprise. The use of the

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word ginomai informs us that what John experienced that day was totally
unanticipated.
John said, “I was in the Spirit….” The word “spirit” in the King James
Version is capitalized, but in the Greek, it is lowercased. Thus, the phrase
“in the spirit” indicates in the spirit realm or in the dimension of the spirit.
John was saying, “I came to find myself lifted out of the physical realm
and placed into the dimension of the spirit.” It was in the spirit realm that
John heard the voice of Jesus.

Jesus Spoke to Seven Specific Churches

In Revelation 1:12, John went on to say, “And I turned to see the voice
that spake with me. And being turned, I saw seven golden candlesticks.”
We know from Scripture that the seven golden candlesticks are represen-
tative of the seven largest and most influential churches that were located
in the province of Asia. For two entire chapters — Revelation 2 and 3 —
Jesus spoke a very specific message to each of these seven churches.
He began with the church of Ephesus and then moved to the church of
Smyrna, the church of Pergamum, the church of Thyatira, the church of
Sardis, the church of Philadelphia, and, finally, the church of Laodicea.
These cities were not just a random selection. They were all located in
sequence on a road and connected with each other. By addressing these
seven particular churches, Jesus addressed all the problems in the entire
Church that existed at that time. In fact, the issues He addressed then are
the same issues the Church has been facing for the last 2,000 years.
Right in the middle of the seven churches was the church of Thyatira, and in
Revelation 2:18-21, Jesus spoke these words:
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; I know thy works, and charity, and
service, and faith, and thy patience, and thy works; and the last to
be more than first.
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. And I gave her space to repent of
her fornication; and she repented not.

Christ’s Message to Thyatira | 7

 Pastors Are God’s Appointed ‘Angels’ in the Church
First, notice the word “angel” in verse 18: “Unto the angel of the church
in Thyatira write….” The word “angel” is the Greek word angelos, which
describes a human messenger or angel; one sent on a special mission; one dis-
patched to perform a specific assignment; or a delegate or dignitary. Although
the word angelos can describe a heavenly being, in this passage it pictures
the role of a pastor or a messenger of God.
To be clear, angels from Heaven don’t preach or teach the Word of God.
It is not their job to bring correction to a church. That is the calling
of humans in whom God has entrusted the fivefold ministry gifts (see
Ephesians 4:11,12). Pastors are shepherds of Christ’s Church, and when
He wants to speak a word of commendation or a word of correction to a
congregation, He speaks it first and foremost to the pastor.
Jesus honors and does not bypass the spiritual authority He established.
The pastor is the head of the local church, and he is the first one to hear
what Christ has to say. His job is to listen and assimilate what the Lord
is saying, incorporating it into his own life first. Then, to the best of his
ability, he is to clearly communicate the message to the people of the
church.
In many ways, your pastor is like an angel to you. He is God’s anointed
and appointed dignitary sent to preach and teach the Word, helping you
grow and mature into the likeness of Jesus. Take time to pray for your
pastor and his family. Ask the Lord to clothe him in humility so that he
can clearly hear what the Spirit is saying to him and your church.

What Is ‘the Church’?

Next, notice that Christ’s message was directed to the angel of “the
church.” The word “church” here is not the physical buildings where people
meet. On the contrary, it refers to the people.
The word “church” is the Greek word ekklesia, which is a compound of the
word ek, meaning out, and the word klesia, a form of the word kaleo, which
means to call. When these words are joined to form the word ekklesia, it
describes a called, separated assembly that has been called out from the world
for a specific purpose.

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New Testament writers fully understood the meaning of the word ekklesia.
It was a very familiar term borrowed from the pagan world, originating
from the city of Athens. The word ekklesia described a group of citizens
that met regularly on a hill near the Parthenon. These individuals were
called out from the Athenian society to determine laws, debate public
policy, formulate new policies, argue and rule in judicial matters, and elect
chief magistrates. To be a part of this distinguished group was very presti-
gious. They had the power to change the atmosphere of their communities.
What was true of the Church then is still true today. Since its birth,
the Church of the Lord Jesus Christ — the ekklesia — has consisted of
separated assemblies of God’s people called out to positively impact the
atmosphere of the communities in which they live.
We are the Church — a Body of believers who have been called out, called
forth, selected, and assembled to be God’s representatives in every town,
city, state, or nation. We are a Body called to make decisions that affect the
atmosphere of every region in which we live.

Understanding Pergamum Is Key

to Understanding Thyatira
Archaeologists tell us that the city of Thyatira and the surrounding region
were first established by the Hittites in approximately 3,000 BC. Time
passed, and in approximately 500 BC, the city came under Persian rule.
Eventually the mighty military leader Alexander the Great of Greece
conquered that region, and upon his death, the territory was divided
among his top four generals.
Meanwhile, about 25 miles away, the illustrious city of Pergamum was
erected, and it became one of the most legendary cities ever constructed in
human history. It was so admired that even 1,000 years later when Roman
sculptors were carving images out of marble, they attempted to duplicate
the architecture of Pergamum because of its greatness.
Out of all of Asia’s cities, Pergamum was the diamond. No other city
compared with its overall brilliance. Consequently, aggressive thieves from
the east wanted to attack and plunder Pergamum of all its treasures. To
protect themselves from eastern invaders, the people of Pergamum built
the ancient city of Thyatira, making it a mighty military barrier of defense.

Christ’s Message to Thyatira | 9

The wealthy people of Pergamum invested copious amounts of money into
Thyatira, establishing it as a major military outpost. Even though it was
small and architecturally uninteresting, the city became quite affluent and
served as a strong wall of protection against eastern raiders.

Trade Guilds Played a Powerful Role in Thyatira

When a newcomer arrived in Thyatira for the first time, he would have
seen thousands of military tents encircling the city along with thousands
of armed soldiers moving about. This was quite a different sight than what
one saw in the legendary cities of Pergamum, Sardis, and Ephesus.
In addition to being a military outpost, Thyatira had a thriving com-
mercial center, which catered to sustaining the needs of the military.
Clothing businesses, animal caretakers, eating establishments, and other
defense-related industries all had a strong presence in the city. With all of
this commerce, Thyatira developed and became known for its many trade
guilds. In fact, it had the most organized trade guilds of all cities through-
out the Roman Empire in the First Century.
Trade guilds were much like unions are today. If a person was a member of
a trade guild, he was virtually guaranteed work. If he was not a member, he
couldn’t get a job. This dominating influence became a major challenge for
believers, since trade guilds were saturated with pagan practices.
At the opening of each trade-guild meeting, members would get on their
knees and worship the patron god they had selected for their organization.
Drunkenness, orgies, and debaucheries of all kinds were an integral part of
each gathering, and every member was expected to participate.
Believers in Thyatira were faced with a very difficult decision: Remain in
the trade guild in order to keep their jobs and earn a living — or honor
God with their lives and truly live as the ekklesia, the called-out ones. To
stay in a trade guild, believers would have to worship foreign gods, as well
as participate in all the drunkenness and sexual immorality that came with
it. Those who didn’t participate in these activities had their membership
revoked and were blacklisted from receiving further employment.
These details concerning trade guilds and employment are very important
to understand in light of the message Christ spoke to the church of Thyat-
ira. In our upcoming lessons, we will see how a woman named Jezebel was

10 | STUDY GUIDE
encouraging the local believers to compromise Christ’s standards in order
to keep their jobs.

STUDY QUESTIONS
Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth
not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
— 2 Timothy 2:15

1. What new and interesting insights have you discovered about the city
of Thyatira?
2. Why do you think so many pastors and teachers stay away from
ministering on the topic of Christ’s message to Thyatira? In your own
words, tell why you believe it is vital that we hear and understand this
message.

PRACTICAL APPLICATION
But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only,
deceiving your own selves.
— James 1:22

We are the Church (ekklesia) — a Body of believers who have been called
out, called forth, selected, and assembled to be God’s representatives in
every town, city, state, and nation, making decisions that affect the very
atmosphere of every region in which we live.
1. Be honest. As a member of Christ’s Church, are you fulfilling this
calling?
2. If so, how? What evidence confirms your effectiveness?
3. If not, take a moment to repent and ask the Holy Spirit to show you
some practical steps you can take to be His Church (ekklesia) and to
positively impact the world around you.

Christ’s Message to Thyatira | 11

 LESSON 2

TOPIC
Intelligence and Judgment
SCRIPTURES
1. Revelation 2:18 — 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.

GREEK WORDS
1. “angel” — ἄγγελος (angelos): a human messenger or angel; one sent
on a special mission; one dispatched to perform a specific assignment;
a delegate or dignitary; pictures the role of a pastor; a messenger of
God
2. “church” — ἐκκλησία (ekklesia): a called, separated assembly; a
prestigious assembly of distinguished citizens who determined laws,
debated public policy, formulated new policies, argued and ruled in
judicial matters, elected chief magistrates, and decided who should be
banished; a body of believers who have been called out, called forth,
selected, and assembled to be God’s representatives in every town,
city, state, or nation; a body called to make decisions that affect the
atmosphere of a region
3. “who hath” — ἔχων (echon): a form of ἔχω, meaning to have; to hold;
to have in one’s possession

SYNOPSIS
The ruins of the ancient city of Thyatira are located in modern-day Turkey,
and they are quite a remarkable sight to behold. Jesus spoke a powerful
message to the church of Thyatira, and it is recorded in Revelation 2. After
acknowledging many amazing things the believers were doing right, He
issued a strong warning to them because they were allowing a leader in
the church to teach doctrinal error. Jesus urged them to repent and remove
this person from her position of influence; otherwise, He would bring
judgment upon them.

12 | STUDY GUIDE
The emphasis of this lesson:
What Jesus said to the church of Thyatira, He is still saying to the
Church today. People who promote doctrinal error — or tolerate those
who do — must repent to avoid coming under the judgment of God.

The apostle John received Christ’s message to the church of Thyatira while
in the Cave of the Revelation on the Isle of Patmos. In Revelation 1:10,
John wrote about his experience, saying, “I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s
day, and heard behind me a great voice, as of a trumpet.”
In our first lesson, we learned that the words “I was” is a translation of the
Greek word ginomai, which describes something that takes you completely
off-guard or by surprise. This phrase could literally be translated as John say-
ing, “I don’t know how this happened; I was not expecting or anticipating
it. But in some strange way that I cannot explain, I suddenly found myself
in the spirit on the Lord’s day.”
We also noted that the word “Spirit” is capitalized in the King James Ver-
sion, but in the Greek it is lowercased. It doesn’t refer to the Holy Spirit;
instead, it refers to the spirit realm. Basically, John said, “I suddenly left the
natural confines of the cave and transitioned into another dimension —
the dimension of the spirit.”
The voice John heard in the realm of the spirit was the voice of Jesus. The
Lord instructed him to write what he heard and “…send it unto the seven
churches which are in Asia; unto Ephesus, and unto Smyrna, and unto
Pergamos, and unto Thyatira, and unto Sardis, and unto Philadelphia, and
unto Laodicea” (Revelation 1:11).

The ‘Angel’ of the Church of Thyatira

The fourth church Christ addressed was the church of Thyatira. In
Revelation 2:18, Jesus said, “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.”
Notice again the word “angel.” It is the Greek word angelos, which
describes a human messenger or angel; one sent on a special mission; one dis-
patched to perform a specific assignment; or a delegate or dignitary. Although
the word angelos can describe a heavenly being, in this verse it pictures the
role of the pastor of the church of Thyatira.

Christ’s Message to Thyatira | 13

When Jesus wants to speak to His Church, He doesn’t send an angel to
do it. It is not angels’ responsibility to teach doctrine or bring correction
to His people. The fact is, most of the false doctrine that was being taught
during the time of the Early Church purportedly came from the teachings
of angels. If you hear of anyone who has received a new teaching from an
angel, don’t listen to a word he or she says; it is not of God.
Jesus has gifted His Church with pastors, evangelists, teachers, apostles,
and prophets to be His messengers (see Ephesians 4:10,11). And pastors
are the ones Christ has placed in authority over the local churches. When
He has something to say to a church, He is going to speak it to the pastor
first. The word angelos — translated here as “angel” — indicates that
pastors are like angels, bringing His Word to His people.

The Meaning of the Word ‘Church’

The word “church” in Revelation 2:18 is also very significant. It is the
Greek word ekklesia, and it is used throughout the New Testament. The
word ekklesia is a compound of the word ek, which means out, and a
derivative of the word kaleo, which means to call or to summon. When the
two words are joined to form the word ekklesia, the new word describes
those who have been summoned or called out.
The word ekklesia was not originally a New Testament word. It was a
secular word borrowed from the Athenian culture. It was used to describe
certain people in Athens that were a called, separated, and prestigious
assembly of distinguished citizens who determined laws, debated public policy,
formulated new policies, argued and ruled in judicial matters, elected chief
magistrates, and decided who should be banished.
When the New Testament writers began to describe God’s people in the
local assembly, they intelligently chose the word ekklesia. The “church” is a
body of believers who have been called out, called forth, selected, and assembled
to be God’s representatives in every town, city, state, or nation. By using this
word, God’s leaders were saying, “We are the ones called forth out of
society by God to make decisions that affect the atmosphere of every
region where we live. We take actions in the spirit realm that produce
positive changes everywhere.” This is what it means to be Christ’s Church
(ekklesia). We are His called-out ones invested with power and authority
to bring God’s will on earth as it is in Heaven.

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 Jesus’ Eyes Burned Like ‘Fire’
When Jesus spoke His message to the pastor of the church of Thyatira, it
is important to note how John described His appearance. Revelation 2:18
says, “…These things saith the Son of God, who hath his eyes like unto a
flame of fire, and his feet are like fine brass.”
First, notice the phrase “who hath.” It is the Greek word echon, meaning
to have, to hold, or to have in one’s possession. Jesus is the One who possesses
eyes like fire and feet like fine brass. It’s interesting to note that this is
the same imagery and Greek wording used in Revelation 1:14 and 15 to
describe Christ — having eyes like fire and feet like fine brass.
The words “his eyes” in Greek carry a deep sense of wonder. They imply
that there was something very unique and different about Jesus’ eyes
compared to everyone else’s eyes. Jesus’ eyes were matchless in comparison.
Although John had looked into Jesus’ eyes countless times nearly 60 years
earlier during Christ’s earthly ministry, something was now markedly
different. Jesus’ eyes were compelling, riveting, and magnetic, irresistibly
drawing John closer and closer to Him.
This leads us to the words “flame of fire.” The word “fire” is the Greek word
puris, which describes a blazing fire. The phrase “flame of fire” depicts a
brightly burning fire with flames that are swirling, whirling, bending, twist-
ing, turning and arching upward toward the sky. It is not describing the heat
of the fire, but the character of the fire.
One more important aspect for us to understand is the purpose for fire.
In Scripture, fire was used to purify or to destroy. The fact that Jesus was
coming to the church of Thyatira with fire in His eyes indicates His desire
to purify them of their impurities. But if they refused to cooperate with
His purification, that same fire would bring judgment upon them.

Jesus’ Feet Were Like ‘Fine Brass’

In addition to Jesus’ eyes being like a flame of fire, the Bible says His feet
were like “fine brass.” The phrase “fine brass” is the Greek word chalkoli-
bano — a compound of the word chalkos, meaning brass or bronze, and the
word libanos, meaning frankincense. In this verse, brass and frankincense
are pictured as alloys attempting to be mixed together. Brass or bronze
(chalkos) always represents judgment, and frankincense (libanos) represents

Christ’s Message to Thyatira | 15

prayer because it was the perfumed incense used by the high priest in the
Holy of Holies when he made intercession for the people of Israel.
The Greek word chalkolibano — translated in this verse as “fine brass” —
reveals that while Christ’s feet were prepared to move toward judgment, they
were drenched in intercessory prayer that repentance would occur before He
arrived to apply judgment. As Jesus moved toward the church of Thyatira,
His eyes were deeply examining all that was taking place inside the
church. The fire in His eyes was meant to purify them, if only they would
turn and repent of their sin. This is what He was praying would happen.
His judgment was coming, but it was bathed in prayer.
There is something else about brass that is very important, and that is its
weight. Brass is extremely heavy. Thus, when the Bible says that Jesus’ feet
are like “brass” (chalkos), it indicates that He is not moving very fast. In fact,
with feet of brass, He is moving very slowly. In other words, Jesus was not
rushing to judgment against the believers in Thyatira. Yes, He was coming
with divine correction, but His judgment was very slow in coming and
saturated with much prayer.
The same is true of Jesus today. He is not in a rush to judge anyone; that
is His last resort. He gives people space to repent — just as He did with
Jezebel, who was contaminating the church of Thyatira. Jesus is praying
for people to hear His voice and self-correct — to repent and turn from
their path of sin and selfishness. He longs for them to change before He
must deal sternly with them.

STUDY QUESTIONS
Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth
not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
— 2 Timothy 2:15

1. Jesus gave Jezebel time to repent and make things right (see Revela-
tion 2:21). According to Psalm 103:12 and First John 1:9, what can
you expect the Lord to do when you sincerely repent of any sin you’ve
committed?
2. The teaching and preaching of God’s Word, as well as administering
His correction, is to be carried out by humans, not angels. What did
Paul say in Galatians 1:6-9 about those who present a gospel that is

16 | STUDY GUIDE
 different than the original one? (Also consider Proverbs 30:5,6; Reve-
lation 22:18,19.)
3. The imagery of Jesus’ feet being made of “fine brass” indicates His
judgment is slow in coming and bathed in prayer. He is not in a rush
to judge you or anyone else. What do Second Peter 3:9 and Ezekiel
18:23 say that confirm this to be true? How does this understanding
tweak your perspective of Jesus’ judgment?

PRACTICAL APPLICATION
But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only,
deceiving your own selves.
— James 1:22

1. A careful reading of Jesus’ messages to each of the seven churches in

Revelation 2 and 3 reveals that before He brought correction, He first
brought praise for what the believers were doing right. Why do you
think it is so vital to couple praise with correction?
2. When you bring correction to those under your care, do you also
point out the good they are doing and the progress they have made? If
not, why not?
3. If someone corrected you in the exact manner that you correct others,
how would you respond? What would you change about their manner
of correction?

LESSON 3

TOPIC
A Church Committed to Good Works
SCRIPTURES
1. Revelation 2:18,19 — 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. 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.

Christ’s Message to Thyatira | 17

GREEK WORDS
1. “who hath” — ἔχων (echon): a form of ἔχω, meaning to have, to hold,
to have in one’s possession
2. “flame of fire” — the word “flame” pictures the swirling, whirling,
flickering flames that bend, twist, turn, and arch upward; the word
“fire” depicts brightly burning fire with flames swirling, whirling,
flickering, bending, twisting, turning, and arching upward toward the
sky; not a depiction of heat, but of the character of fire
3. “fine brass” — χαλκολιβάνῳ (chalkolibano): a compound of χαλκός
(chalkos), meaning brass or bronze, representing judgment, and
λίβανος (libanos), meaning frankincense, representing prayer; when
combined, the new word reveals that although Christ’s feet are
prepared to move toward judgment, they are doused in intercessory
prayer that repentance will occur before He arrives to apply judgment
4. “I know” — οἶδα (oida): to see, perceive, understand, or comprehend;
pictures knowledge gained by personal experience or personal obser-
vation
5. “works” — ἔργα (erga): deeds, actions, or activities
6. “charity” — τὴν ἀγάπη (ten agapen): with a definite article, a love
that gives and gives, even if it’s never responded to, thanked, or
acknowledged; a love felt when an individual sees, recognizes, or
appreciates the value of an object or a person; a deep love that causes
a viewer to behold an object or person in esteem, awe, admiration,
wonder, and sincere appreciation; a love so profound that it knows
no limits or boundaries in how far, wide, high, and deep it will go to
show that love to its recipient; a self-sacrificial love that moves one to
action
7. “service” — τὴν διακονίαν (ten diakonian): with a definite article, a
high-level servant; highly trained servants who attended to the needs
of others; a servant whose chief responsibility was to serve food and
wait on tables; a waiter who attends to the needs, wishes, and desires
of his or her clients; pictures serving that is honorable, pleasurable,
and done in a fashion that makes people being served as if they were
nobility
8. “faith” — τὴν πίστιν (ten pisten): with a definite article, denotes a spe-
cific set of beliefs, a specific creed, or a specific faith; refers to the faith,
or the body of truth comprising the New Testament

18 | STUDY GUIDE
9. “patience” — τὴν ὑπομονήν σου (ten hupomonen sou): a form of
ὑπομονή (hupomone) to stay or to abide; to remain in one’s spot; to
keep a position; to resolve to maintain territory that has been gained;
in a military sense, pictures soldiers who were ordered to maintain
their positions even in the face of fierce combat; to defiantly stick it
out, regardless of the pressure mounted against it; endurance; staying
power; “hang-in-there” power; the attitude that holds out, holds on,
outlasts, perseveres, and hangs in there, never giving up, refusing to
surrender to obstacles, and turning down every opportunity to quit;
pictures one who is under a heavy load but refuses to bend, break, or
surrender because he is convinced that the territory, promise, or prin-
ciple under assault rightfully belongs to him; stamina; durability
10. “thy works” — ἔργα (erga): deeds, actions, or activities
11. “the last” — ἔσχατα (eschata): the latest, or the most recent
12. “more than” — πλείων (pleion): comparatively more; numerically
more
13. “the first” — πρώτων (proton): the first; the beginning; at the start

SYNOPSIS
The city of Pergamum was very rich in resources and financial means. It
was home not only to the affluent, but also to many politicians and even
the governor of the region. To protect their city, the people of Pergamum
built the city of Thyatira approximately 40 kilometers (25 miles) to the
east. It served as a military outpost to guard against eastern invaders who
wanted to attack and plunder it.
When the first Gospel preachers traveled to Thyatira, they were very bold
and unashamed in sharing their faith. The city was very dark spiritually
and entrenched in multiple pagan religions. Yet when theses believers
presented the truth, the Gospel did what it always does — it drove back
the powers of darkness, and the Church of the Lord Jesus Christ was
established.
There were a number of good works for which Jesus commended the
church of Thyatira. He deeply appreciated their love, faith, service, and
perseverance to advance His Kingdom. Although He did address their
shortcomings, He first expressed His praise for all the great things they
were doing in the community.

Christ’s Message to Thyatira | 19

The emphasis of this lesson:
The way Jesus dealt with the church of Thyatira demonstrates that He
sees and takes note of our good works. Before He brings correction, He
always praises what we’re doing right.

During John’s time of imprisonment on the Isle of Patmos, the Lord

unexpectedly invaded John’s space and vividly revealed Himself. He also
gave John seven specific messages to relay to the seven major churches in
Asia. In Revelation 1:10, John said, “I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s day,
and heard behind me a great voice, as of a trumpet.”
As we previously noted, the words “I was” is the Greek word ginomai,
and it describes something unanticipated that takes you totally off guard or
by surprise. This phrase could literally be translated, “Suddenly, something
happened in a way I cannot explain or duplicate. Without notice, I found
myself moving out of the natural realm into the supernatural realm of the
spirit. It was then that I heard a great voice behind me that sounded like a
trumpet.”
At that point, Jesus began speaking to John, giving him a specific message
for each of the seven major churches, starting with the church of Ephesus,
followed by the church of Smyrna, the church of Pergamum, and, fourthly,
the church of Thyatira.

The Fire in Jesus’ Eyes Is Meant To Purify

In Revelation 2:18, Jesus said, “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.”
Notice the words “who hath” in this verse. It is the Greek word echon,
which means to have, to hold, or to have in one’s possession. Jesus had in His
possession “eyes like unto a flame of fire.” The word “flame” in the Greek
is the word flus, and it pictures the swirling, whirling, flickering flames that
bend, twist, turn, and arch upward. The word “fire” is the Greek word puris,
and it depicts brightly burning fire with flames swirling, whirling, flickering,
bending, twisting, turning, and arching upward toward the sky. This is not a
depiction of heat, but of the character of fire.
When you stare into the flames of a blazing fire, it seems to have a life
of its own. It moves with deliberateness and intelligence. It has a riveting
magnetism that pulls and compels the viewer to draw closer and continue

20 | STUDY GUIDE
to gaze at it. This is what happened to the apostle John when he looked
into the eyes of Christ.
In the New Testament, fire is a symbol of purification. The fact that Jesus
had “fire” in His eyes as He moved toward the church of Thyatira indicates
His desire to purify the believers of that congregation with His words of
truth. If the people chose not to respond favorably, however, that same fire
would begin to burn up all the things that were not of Him.
The same is true for us. If we will humbly and willingly submit to the
correction of the Lord, His fire will gently purify us. But if we reject His
correction and refuse to yield to His dealings, His fire will burn up the
chaff in our lives, and the process will be more painful. Either way, He
purifies us in love. The choice is ours.

Jesus’ Judgment Is Bathed in Prayer

In addition to having “eyes like unto a flame of fire,” Jesus also held in
His possession “feet like fine brass.” The words “fine brass” is the Greek
word chalkolibano. It is a compound of the words chalkos, which describes
bronze or brass, and the word libanos, which describes frankincense. When
the word chalkos is used in Scripture, it signifies God’s judgment. The fact
that Jesus is depicted with “feet of brass” (chalkos) indicates that He was
coming to the church in Thyatira to bring judgment.
That said, it is also vital to understand what the word libanos, which
describes frankincense, indicates. In the New Testament — as well as in the
Septuagint, the Greek translation of the Old Testament — frankincense
represents intercessory prayer. The high priest burned frankincense upon
the altar when he entered the Holy of Holies to pray and seek God’s favor
on behalf of the people. The aroma of frankincense was a sweet smell to
the Lord.
When the words chalkos and libanos are compounded to form the word
chalkolibano — translated here as “fine brass” — it is a picture of God’s
judgment mixed with divine prayer. It reveals that although Christ’s feet are
prepared to move toward judgment, they are doused in intercessory prayer
that repentance will occur before He arrives to apply that judgment. This
word is used only once in the New Testament.
One more detail we noted is that brass is extremely heavy. The fact that
Jesus’ feet are depicted as brass indicates He was moving very slowly.

Christ’s Message to Thyatira | 21

This means that although judgment was on the way, Jesus was not in a
rush to bring it. When He spoke to the church of Thyatira, He didn’t say,
“I’m coming to destroy you immediately.” On the contrary, He issued
His warning and gave them and the woman Jezebel time to repent (see
Revelation 2:21).
As the Lord slowly moves to bring judgment, He is praying that the
people will hear His message and repent before He arrives.
As you deal with people who are doing wrong things, give them time to
self-correct. Don’t be hasty, haughty, or severe in your actions. Pray for
them to hear and heed your words and make things right. That is what
Jesus does for you, and it is what He desires you to do for others.

Jesus Is Personally Aware of Our Works

Jesus continued His message to the church of Thyatira saying, “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” (Revelation 2:19).
Notice the phrase that introduces this verse — “I know.” It is the same
phrase Jesus spoke to all seven churches. The words “I know” is the Greek
word oida, which means to know from personal experience or observation. By
using this word, it was the equivalent of Jesus saying, “What I’m about to
tell you is what I’ve seen with My own eyes and what I know by personal
experience.”
The Lord confirms this firsthand observation of His Church in Revelation
2:1, declaring that He walks in the very midst or the “gut” of each of the
churches. Still today He visits every church — small, medium, and large
— and is intimately mindful of all that is happening. What did Jesus say
He knew by personal observation about the church of Thyatira? He said,
“I know thy works.”
The word “works” is the Greek word erga, which describes deeds, actions,
or activities. When Jesus said, “I know thy works,” it was the equivalent
of Him saying, “I intimately know everything about you, and there is
absolutely nothing about you I do not know.”
The same is true of us today. Jesus knows everything about each church
and about each of us individually.

22 | STUDY GUIDE
 What Gets the Attention of Jesus?
The first attribute of the church of Thyatira that Jesus praised was their
works of “charity,” which is the Greek word agape. In this verse, agape is
coupled with a definite article (ten agapen). It describes a love that gives
and gives, even if it’s never responded to, thanked, or acknowledged; a love felt
when an individual sees, recognizes, or appreciates the value of an object or a
person; a deep love that causes a viewer to behold an object or person in esteem,
awe, admiration, wonder, and sincere appreciation; a love so profound that it
knows no limits or boundaries in how far, wide, high, and deep it will go to
show that love to its recipient; a self-sacrificial love that moves one to action.
The next quality for which Jesus commended the believers at Thyatira
was “service,” which is the Greek word diakonian. Like agape, the word
“service” (diakonian) includes a definite article (ten diakonian). This means
that Thyatira’s service was very unique to them. The word diakonian
depicts a high-level servant or highly trained servants who attended to the
needs of others. Specifically, this describes a servant whose chief responsibility
was to serve food and wait on tables; a waiter who attends to the needs, wishes,
and desires of his or her clients. It pictures serving that is honorable, pleasur-
able, and done in a fashion that makes people being served feel as if they were
nobility.
Jesus also applauded the church of Thyatira for their “faith.” Again, this
was not just any faith — it was “the faith,” which in Greek is ten pisten. By
including a definite article, it denotes a specific set of beliefs, a specific creed,
or a specific faith. It refers to the faith, or to the body of truth comprising the
New Testament.
In addition to charity, service, and faith, Jesus recognized the “patience” of
these believers. The word “patience” in this verse is the Greek phrase ten
hupomonen sou. It is a form of the word hupomone, which means to stay or to
abide; to remain in one’s spot; to keep a position; to resolve to maintain territory
that has been gained. In a military sense, the word hupomone pictures
soldiers who were ordered to maintain their positions even in the face
of fierce combat. It means to defiantly stick it out regardless of the pressure
mounted against it. It describes endurance; staying power; “hang-in-there”
power; the attitude that holds out, holds on, outlasts, perseveres, and hangs in
there, never giving up, refusing to surrender to obstacles, and turning down
every opportunity to quit. It pictures one who is under a heavy load but
refuses to bend, break, or surrender because he is convinced that the territory,

Christ’s Message to Thyatira | 23

promise, or principle under assault rightfully belongs to him. “Patience”
(hupomone) means stamina or durability.

Even Great Churches Can Be Derailed

As Jesus walked in the midst of the church of Thyatira, He personally
observed their unique display of love, their high-level acts of service to
others, their rich Bible teaching grounded in the faith, and their unwaver-
ing patience to stand their ground in spite of great challenges. For all these
things, He commended them. Then for a second time, Jesus noted and
praised their “works,” which is the Greek word erga, meaning deeds, actions,
or activities. This was the equivalent of Jesus saying, “I’m impressed with
everything you’re doing.”
In fact, Jesus said concerning their works, “…And the last to be more than
the first” (Revelation 2:19). The phrase “the last” is the Greek word eschata,
which means the latest or the most recent. The phrase “more than” is the
Greek word pleion, which means comparatively more or numerically more.
And the words “the first” in Greek is the word proton, which describes
the first, the beginning, or at the start. When all these meanings are woven
together, this part of the verse could be translated, “The level of all your
most recent deeds and activities is far greater in comparison to what you
did when you first got saved.”
Indeed, Thyatira was truly an amazing body of believers. Their commit-
ment to excellence in all areas of Christian life just kept getting better
and better and better, and Jesus celebrated their maturity and the impact
they were making on their community. Yet in the midst of all their success,
there was something very disturbing that they were permitting, and it was
about to derail them if they didn’t address it.

STUDY QUESTIONS
Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth
not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
— 2 Timothy 2:15

1. What recurring truth about God’s character is seen in Hebrews 4:13;

First John 3:20; and Jeremiah 32:19? (Also consider Psalm 139:1-6,16.)

24 | STUDY GUIDE
2. How does the Bible say that patience is developed in you? What value
does this quality add to your life? (See James 1:3,4; 5:7,8 and Hebrews
10:36 for help in answering.)

PRACTICAL APPLICATION
But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only,
deceiving your own selves.
— James 1:22

1. Take a few moments to reread and ponder the meaning of hupomone,

the Greek word for patience. In what areas of your life can you see
this fruit at work? In what areas do you still need the Holy Spirit to
develop patience in you?
2. Jesus said, “In everything, do to others what you would have them do
to you…” (Matthew 7:12 NIV). The Lord is incredibly patient and
merciful in bringing correction to you. How would you describe your
correction of those under your care?

LESSON 4

TOPIC
Who Is Jezebel?
SCRIPTURES
1. Revelation 2:18-20 — 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. 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. 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.

Christ’s Message to Thyatira | 25

GREEK WORDS
1. “I know” — οἶδα (oida): to see, to perceive, to understand, or to
comprehend; pictures knowledge gained by personal experience or
personal observation
2. “works” — ἔργα (erga): deeds, actions, or activities
3. “charity” — τὴν ἀγάπη (ten agapen): with a definite article, a love
that gives and gives, even if it’s never responded to, thanked, or
acknowledged; a love felt when an individual sees, recognizes, or
appreciates the value of an object or a person; a deep love that causes
a viewer to behold an object or person in esteem, awe, admiration,
wonder, and sincere appreciation; a love so profound that it knows
no limits or boundaries in how far, wide, high, and deep it will go to
show that love to its recipient; a self-sacrificial love that moves one to
action
4. “service” — τὴν διακονίαν (ten diakonian): with a definite article, a
high-level servant; highly trained servants who attended to the needs
of others; a servant whose chief responsibility was to serve food and
wait on tables; a waiter who attends to the needs, wishes, and desires
of his or her clients; pictures serving that is honorable, pleasurable,
and done in a fashion that makes people being served feel as if they
were nobility
5. “faith” — τὴν πίστιν (ten pisten): with a definite article, denotes a spe-
cific set of beliefs, a specific, a specific creed, or a specific faith; refers
to the faith, or the body of truth comprising the New Testament
6. “thy patience” — τὴν ὑπομονήν σου (ten hupomonen sou): as
“patience,” a form of ὑπομονή (hupomone) to stay or to abide; to
remain in one’s spot; to keep a position; to resolve to maintain terri-
tory that has been gained; in a military sense, pictures soldiers who
were ordered to maintain their positions even in the face of fierce
combat; to defiantly stick it out, regardless of the pressure mounted
against it; endurance; staying power; “hang-in-there” power; the atti-
tude that holds out, holds on, outlasts, perseveres, and hangs in there,
never giving up, refusing to surrender to obstacles, and turning down
every opportunity to quit; pictures one who is under a heavy load but
refuses to bend, break, or surrender because he is convinced that the
territory, promise, or principle under assault rightfully belongs to him;
stamina; durability
7. “thy works” — ἔργα (erga): deeds, actions, or activities

26 | STUDY GUIDE
8. “more than” — πλείων (pleion): comparatively more; numerically more
9. “the first” — πρώτων (proton): the first; the beginning; at the start
10. “notwithstanding” — ἀλλὰ (alla): nonetheless; regardless; but even in
spite of this
11. “I have” — ἔχω (echo): to hold or to embrace; to hold something very
personally
12. “against” — κατὰ (kata): against; down; a strike against you
13. “because” — ὅτι (hoti): indicates expressly the reason
14. “sufferest” — ἀφίημι (aphiemi): to permit, to release; to let go; to
liberate; to give unrestrained freedom
15. “that woman” — τὴν γυναῖκα (ten gunaika): with a definite article,
the woman, indicating a woman of prominence; the two oldest man-
uscripts say “your wife,” giving the strong impression that this Jezebel
was the wife of the pastor in Thyatira
16. “a prophetess” — προφήτης (prophetes): a compound of the words
πρό (pro) and φημί (phemi), meaning an interpreter or forth-teller of
the divine will
17. “to seduce” — πλανάω (planao): deception; a moral wandering;
depicts a person or nation that has veered from a solid path; as a result
of veering morally, that person or nation is adrift; depicts a lost animal
that cannot find its path; to morally lose one’s bearings
18. “to commit fornication” — πορνεία (porneia): any type of sex with
another person outside the bond of marriage; includes sexual activity
by non-married individuals; includes both adultery and homosexuality

SYNOPSIS
About 2,000 years ago, the city of Thyatira was a small but thriving city
located just east of the city of Pergamum. It was constructed to serve as a
military outpost to protect Pergamum and all its vast wealth. As a military
stronghold, Thyatira was occupied by thousands of soldiers, troops, and
their many commanding officers, as well as by many politicians. Into this
region inhabited by rough men and exotic religions, bold believers brought
the Gospel and established a powerful church that shined a great light in
the midst of gross darkness.
Yet despite her great deeds, the church of Thyatira had a big problem. It
was allowing a woman in the church to teach doctrine that was seducing
believers and leading them into sexual sin. Jesus called this woman Jezebel,

Christ’s Message to Thyatira | 27

connecting her with the notorious Jezebel of the Old Testament. His
stern warning and words of correction to the church of Thyatira are just as
applicable to us today as they were when He first spoke them.

The emphasis of this lesson:

Jesus hates compromise. It diminishes the power of God and removes
holiness from our lives. Just as He loved the believers at Thyatira
enough to correct them, He loves you enough to correct you.

The church of Thyatira was the fourth of seven churches that Jesus spoke
a specific message to in Revelation chapters 2 and 3. The apostle John
received Christ’s words of praise and correction while on the isle of
Patmos. In Revelation 2:18, Jesus told John, “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.”
We’ve learned that the word “angel” is the Greek word angelos. Although
this Greek word can and sometimes does refer to a heavenly being, here it
refers to a human messenger. Specifically, in Revelation 2:18-29, Jesus was
speaking to the pastor of the church in Thyatira.
Pastors are God’s appointed representatives who oversee specific local
works within His Church. If He has something to say to His people,
He honors the spiritual authority He has established and speaks to His
pastors first. It is the pastor’s job to assimilate the Lord’s message, apply
it to his life first, and then deliver it to the people under his care in the
power of the Holy Spirit.

Jesus First Commended Thyatira

In our last lesson, we looked at Jesus’ words of praise for the believers in
Thyatira in Revelation 2:19. He said, “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.” Here is a quick review of the key words in this verse.
Jesus began by saying, “I know thy works.” The phrase “I know” is the
Greek word oida, which means to see, to perceive, to understand, or to
comprehend. It pictures knowledge gained by personal experience or personal
observation. From the start, Jesus told the pastor of Thyatira, through John,
that what He was about to say regarding this congregation was a result

28 | STUDY GUIDE
of personal observation. It wasn’t something an angel or anyone else told
Him.
“I know thy works,” Jesus announced. The word “works” is the Greek word
erga, which describes deeds, actions, or activities. Essentially, Jesus was say-
ing, “I know absolutely everything there is to know about you, and I have
seen it by personal observation. There is nothing hidden from My sight.”
Jesus praised the believers for their “charity.” The word “charity” is from
the Greek word agape. This is one of the most difficult words in the New
Testament to fully translate as it is packed with so much meaning. In this
verse, the word agape is accompanied by a definite article (ten agapen), and
it describes a love that gives and gives, even if it’s never responded to, thanked,
or acknowledged. It is a love so profound that it knows no limits or boundaries
in how far, wide, high, and deep it will go to show that love to its recipient.
An example of God’s agape kind of love is displayed in John 3:16, which
says, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son….”
This verse indicates that when God saw all of humanity — all of whom
are made in His image — it created such an intense love and appreciation
in His heart that He had to take action to redeem man. The word agape
denotes a self-sacrificial love that moves one to action. That is what we see
God doing in John 3:16 — and the believers of the church in Thyatira
doing in Revelation 2.
Jesus applauded the believers for their “service.” The word “service” is
the Greek word diakonian, and it really means ministry. Again, a definite
article is included, which means we would translate this as “the service”
or “the ministry” (ten diakonian). The word diakonian described a very
high-level of service/ministry. The church of Thyatira had a reputation for
doing things with excellence. The word diakonian is a picture of highly
trained servants who attended to the needs of others. It depicts serving that is
honorable, pleasurable, and done in a fashion that makes people being served feel
as if they were nobility.
Jesus commended the believers for their “faith.” The word “faith” in
Greek is the word pisteo, and here again a definite article is included.
This is not just faith for miracles, faith for signs and wonders, or faith for
healing. It is “the faith” (ten pisten), which denotes a specific set of beliefs,
a specific creed, or a specific faith. It refers to the faith or the body of truth
comprising the New Testament. Thyatira had very strong scriptural teaching,
and Jesus recognized it.

Christ’s Message to Thyatira | 29

Jesus praised the believers for their “patience.” The word “patience” is
from the Greek word hupomone, which means to stay or to abide; to remain
in one’s spot; to keep a position; or to resolve to maintain territory that has
been gained. It is the attitude that holds out, holds on, outlasts, perseveres, and
hangs in there, never giving up, refusing to surrender to obstacles, and turning
down every opportunity to quit. As with charity, service, and faith, the word
“patience” is also accompanied by a definite article and could be translated
as “the patience of you.” This indicates that in comparison to everyone else,
the church of Thyatira had amazing stamina, endurance, or staying power.
Jesus summed up His commendations for the believers in Thyatira by reit-
erating the superior quality of their “works,” adding that He recognized
“…the last to be more than the first.” The word “works” here is again the
Greek word erga, meaning all deeds, actions, and activities. The phrase “the
last” is the Greek word eschata, which denotes the latest or the most recent.
The phrase “more than” is the Greek word pleion, and it means compara-
tively more or numerically more. And the phrase “the first” in Greek is the
word proton, which describes the first, the beginning, or at the start. When
we combine all these meanings, this part of the verse could be translated,
“The quality of all your most recent deeds and activities is far superior
when compared to what you did when you first began.”

Thyatira Had a Strike Against Them

Once Jesus commended the church of Thyatira for all their good deeds,
He turned His attention to correcting a glaring issue that desperately
needed to be addressed. In Revelation 2:20, He said, “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.”
First, notice the word “notwithstanding.” It is the Greek word alla, which
is basically a break in the text or a brief pause noting a transition to
another topic or a different direction. It means nonetheless; regardless; but
even in spite of all this. When Jesus said, “Notwithstanding (alla),” He was
saying, “Let’s take a pause and transition to something I need to deal with.
In spite of all the amazing things you have done and are doing, I have a
few things against you.”
The phrase “I have” is a form of the Greek word echo, which means to hold;
to embrace; or to hold something very personally. This tells us that what Jesus

30 | STUDY GUIDE
was about ready to address was a matter He held very personally and He
found deeply disturbing.
Jesus said, “I have a few things against thee.” The word “against” is the
Greek word kata, which means against; down; or a strike against someone.
Taken together, the first portion of verse 20 could be translated as, “In
spite of all the marvelous things I’ve said about you, there is an issue we
need to deal with. In fact, it is a strike against you that is personally very
disturbing to Me.”

Jezebel Was Given Free Rein

in the Church of Thyatira
What was the strike against the church in Thyatira? Jesus said, “…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” (Revelation 2:20).
Interestingly, even the word “because” has significance. It is the Greek
word hoti, and it indicates expressly the reason or purpose. In other words,
Jesus said, “I’m going to tell you exactly why I’m upset — I’m going to be
expressly clear about the strike I’m holding against you. It is ‘…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.’”
The word “sufferest” in Greek is a form of the word aphiemi, which means
to permit, to release, to let go, to liberate, or to give unrestrained freedom. The
use of this word is the equivalent of Jesus saying, “No one has restrained or
controlled this woman named Jezebel. She has been given free rein in the
church to say and do whatever she pleases.”
Something else significant in this verse is the phrase “that woman.” The
two earliest manuscripts of the New Testament state this verse a little
differently. Instead of saying “that woman,” these manuscripts state, “that
woman of yours.” In the Greek, it literally means, “your wife Jezebel.”
Remember, Jesus was speaking to the pastor of the church of Thyatira.
Since He was speaking to the pastor, when He said, “that woman of
yours,” He was explicitly referring to the pastor’s wife as the very promi-
nent woman in the church acting like Jezebel.

Christ’s Message to Thyatira | 31

To be very clear — not all pastors’ wives are like Jezebel! Pastor’s wives are
heroes for their personal sacrifice and service. But in this case, the pastor
of the church of Thyatira had a problem, and the problem was his wife.
Just as King Ahab in the Old Testament didn’t know how to control his
wife Jezebel, neither did this pastor. The unrestrained, free rein the pastor
was giving this woman to teach and say whatever she desired was the
strike against the church that Jesus held very personally.

She Was Seducing People To Commit Fornication

The woman of prominence in the church of Thyatira that Jesus referred to
as “Jezebel” called herself a prophetess. The word “prophetess” is the Greek
word prophetes, which is a compound of the words pro and phemi. The
word phemi means to speak, and the word pro has four different meanings:
before, in front of, on behalf of, and in advance. These four meanings describe
the various postures of a prophet.
A prophet stands before God and listens; he stands in front of people and
speaks on behalf of God; and he tells them in advance what is going to take
place. When the words pro and phemi are compounded to form the word
prophetes, the new word means an interpreter or forth-teller of the divine will.
This woman, whom Scripture identifies as the pastor’s wife, was claiming
to be a prophetess, but Jesus called her Jezebel. He said she was being
allowed “...to teach and to seduce [His] servants to commit fornication,
and to eat things sacrificed unto idols.” The problem wasn’t that she was
teaching; the problem was that she was teaching error and abusing her
position of influence.
The phrase “to seduce” is the Greek word planao, and it describes deception
or a moral wandering. It depicts a person or nation who has veered from a
solid path. And as a result of veering morally, that person or nation is adrift.
The word planao is the same word used to depict a lost animal that cannot
find its way back home.
This woman of prominence was seducing the people “to commit fornica-
tion” and eat things sacrificed to idols. The phrase “to commit fornication”
is the Greek word porneia, and it describes any type of sex with another
person outside the bond of marriage. It refers to sexual activity by non-married
individuals, including both adultery and homosexuality.

32 | STUDY GUIDE
 Jezebel Was Teaching a Doctrine of Compromise
Recall what we learned in our first lesson regarding the dominance of
trade guilds in the city of Thyatira. Each guild had a patron pagan god
that was worshiped by all its members. At the start of each meeting,
members would offer sacrifices to their god, eat the sacrificial foods, and
then engage in drunkenness and all types of fornication, including orgies.
Any member who refused to participate in the club’s activities had his
membership revoked and was blacklisted. This is exactly what happened
when believers chose not to join in the guild’s pagan practices. Any person
who was not a member of a trade guild was basically out of a job.
Apparently, this “Jezebel” was teaching a doctrine of compromise, which
was the same doctrine the Nicolaitans were teaching in the church
of Ephesus (see Ephesians 2:6) and in the church of Pergamum (see
Revelation 2:15). Jesus had already brought correction to the pastors of
these respective churches, and now He was dealing with the same issue in
Thyatira.
Essentially, the doctrine of compromise that Jezebel was teaching
declared, “It’s okay to lower your standards. You don’t have to live such
a restrictive, separate lifestyle. Relax and learn to be more inclusive and
accommodating of other people’s practices. You’ll blend in and gain more
acceptance by people in the world.”
Compromising God’s standards pulls the plug on His power and removes
holiness from His people. Jezebel was grieving the Spirit of God by
influencing the believers of Thyatira to blend in with the world by com-
mitting fornication and eating food sacrificed to idols. God gave her time
to repent, but she didn’t respond to His dealings. If you are compromising
God’s standards to accommodate the world, it’s time to repent and make
things right with Him.

STUDY QUESTIONS
Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth
not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
— 2 Timothy 2:15

God gives us a very clear command through the apostle Paul in Second
Corinthians 6:14-18 to help us avoid falling into the same error of the

Christ’s Message to Thyatira | 33

church in Thyatira. Take a few minutes to reflect on this passage and
answer these questions.
1. What specifically is God directing you to do in these verses?
2. What reasons does He give for taking such action?
3. What reward does He promise you for obeying His instruction?

PRACTICAL APPLICATION
But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only,
deceiving your own selves.
— James 1:22

1. To compromise God’s standards is to know what He requires but to

choose to live below what He commands. Be honest. Is there any place
in your life where you are compromising? If so, where? (If you’re not
sure, ask the Lord to show you anything you need to see.)
2. Pause and pray, “Lord, please forgive me for compromising in this
area of my life. I don’t want to disobey You any longer. Show me the
reason I’ve chosen to live below Your standards, and give me the prac-
tical steps I need to take to walk in obedience to Your Word. In Jesus’
name.” Be still and listen. What is the Holy Spirit speaking to you?

LESSON 5

TOPIC
What About Ahab?
SCRIPTURES
1. Revelation 2:20 — 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.
2. 2 Kings 9:22,30 — “whoredoms … and… her witchcrafts”
3. 1 Kings 21:25 — But there was none like unto Ahab, which did sell
himself to work wickedness in the sight of the Lord, whom Jezebel
his wife stirred up.

34 | STUDY GUIDE
4. 2 Kings 9:30, 33-37 — And when Jehu was come to Jezreel, Jezebel
heard of it; and she painted her face, and tired her head, and looked
out at a window…. And he said, Throw her down. So they threw
her down: and some of her blood was sprinkled on the wall, and on
the horses: and he trode her under foot. And when he was come in,
he did eat and drink, and said, Go, see now this cursed woman, and
bury her: for she is a king’s daughter. And they went to bury her: but
they found no more of her than the skull, and the feet, and the palms
of her hands. Wherefore they came again, and told him. And he said,
This is the word of the Lord, which he spake by his servant Elijah
the Tishbite, saying, In the portion of Jezreel shall dogs eat the flesh
of Jezebel: And the carcase of Jezebel shall be as dung upon the face
of the field in the portion of Jezreel; so that they shall not say, This is
Jezebel.
5. Proverbs 6:16-18 — These six things doth the Lord hate: yea, seven
are an abomination unto him: a proud look, a lying tongue, and hands
that shed innocent blood, an heart that deviseth wicked imaginations,
feet that be swift in running to mischief, a false witness that speaketh
lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren.”

GREEK WORDS
1. “against” — κατὰ (kata): against; down; a strike against you
2. “because” — ὅτι (hoti): indicates expressly the reason
3. “sufferest” — ἀφίημι (aphiemi): to permit; to release; to let go; to
liberate; to give unrestrained freedom
4. “that woman” — τὴν γυναῖκα (ten gunaika): with a definite article,
the woman, indicating a woman of prominence; the two oldest manu-
scripts say “your wife,” giving a strong impression that this Jezebel was
the wife of the pastor in Thyatira
5. “a prophetess” — προφήτης (prophetes): a compound of the words
πρό (pro) and φημί (phemi), meaning an interpreter or forth-teller of
the divine will
6. “to seduce” — πλανάω (planao): deception; a moral wandering;
depicts a person or nation that has veered from a solid path; as a result
of veering morally, that person or nation is adrift; depicts a lost animal
that cannot find its path; to morally lose one’s bearings

Christ’s Message to Thyatira | 35

7. “to commit fornication” — πορνεία (porneia): any type of sex with
another person outside the bond of marriage; includes sexual activity
by non-married individuals; includes both adultery and homosexuality

SYNOPSIS
As we have seen in previous lessons, Pergamum was a regal, royal city
filled with vast treasures, exquisite architecture, and affluent people. To
protect their wealth, the people of Pergamum established the city of
Thyatira about 40 kilometers (25 miles) to the east. This military strong-
hold was filled with thousands of soldiers and troops who were trained
and equipped to defend Pergamum from any foreign invaders.
Thyatira was also home to a thriving church, which was birthed as a result
of the preaching of the Gospel during the First Century. Jesus praised the
believers there for their many good works, but He also corrected them
for allowing a certain notable woman to seduce and corrupt the people.
This “Jezebel,” as He called her, was similar in character to the notorious
Jezebel who was married to King Ahab in the Old Testament. Scholars
believe that the Jezebel whom Jesus referred in the church of Thyatira was
the pastor’s wife.

The emphasis of this lesson:

Compromising God’s standards displeases Him and is very costly. The
lives of Ahab and Jezebel serve as examples of compromise that we want
to avoid.

Jesus Spoke to the Pastor of the Church in Thyatira

We turn our attention once again to Revelation 2:18, where it says, “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.” We have seen that the word “angel” here is the Greek word
angelos, which in this case doesn’t refer to a heavenly being, but rather an
earthly messenger. Specifically, it was the pastor of the church to whom Jesus
was speaking, which is very important to understand in regard to this
lesson.
Pastors are one of the fivefold ministry gifts that Christ has given His
Church to establish us and bring unity and maturity to His Body. The
responsibility of every pastor is to hear what the Lord is saying to the

36 | STUDY GUIDE
people he shepherds, to process it and apply it in his own life, and then to
pass it on to the congregation. Whether the words of commendation or
correction, the pastor is to share them faithfully in the anointing of the
Holy Spirit. When Jesus addressed the “angel of the church in Thyatira,”
He was speaking to the pastor of that church.
The first words Jesus spoke were words of praise. He said, “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” (Revelation 2:19). Indeed,
Thyatira had a great church that was doing great things. As we have seen
in previous lessons, Jesus applauded the believers’ unique expressions of
love, their incredible acts of service, their sound biblical teaching, and
their “never-give-up” endurance. They just kept getting better and better
in these areas with each passing day. There was, however, something these
believers were permitting that deeply disturbed Jesus.

They Had a Significant Strike Against Them

In Revelation 2:20, Jesus went on to say, “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.”
The word “notwithstanding” is the Greek word alla, which means none-
theless, regardless, or in spite of all this. This term denotes a marked shift or
transition in the text — an interruption in the flow of thought. Thus, it
could be translated, “In spite of all the wonderful things I just said about
you, there is an issue I have against you.”
This brings us to the phrase “I have” — the Greek word echo, which means
to have or hold something very closely. The issue Jesus was about to address
was something He felt very personally. “I have a few things against thee,”
He said. The word “against” is the Greek word kata, meaning against,
down, or a strike against you. In spite of all the great works the believers at
Thyatira had been doing, they had a major strike against their record, and
it was one that Jesus held very close to His heart.
He said, “…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.” The word “because” is
the Greek word hoti, and it indicates expressly the reason. In essence, Jesus
was saying, “I’m going to tell you exactly what the issue is that I have

Christ’s Message to Thyatira | 37

against you….” He then went on to describe the issue: “that thou sufferest
that woman Jezebel.”
The word “sufferest” is a form of the Greek word aphiemi, which means to
permit, to release; to let go; to liberate; to give unrestrained freedom. The pastor
of Thyatira had given free rein to “that woman Jezebel” to say and do
whatever she pleased.
The phrase “that woman” means the woman; the prominent woman; that
woman of yours; or your wife. It’s important to note that the two oldest,
most reliable manuscripts of the New Testament that are still in existence
today translate this phrase “that woman of yours,” which would be trans-
lated “your wife Jezebel.” Remember, Jesus was speaking to the pastor of
the church of Thyatira. That means Jezebel was likely the pastor’s wife.
To clarify, not all pastors’ wives are “Jezebels.” In fact, most pastors’
wives are heroes of the faith. They faithfully serve the Lord beside their
husbands, sacrificing much and living selfless lives. The truth is, there are
many wonderful things pastors’ wives do behind the scenes that only God
sees. Sadly, the wife of the pastor of Thyatira did not fall into this category.

A Doctrine of Compromise
Was Corrupting the People
The Bible says that this Jezebel “calleth” herself a prophetess. The phrase
“which calleth” in verse 20 is the Greek word legousa, and it means that is
alleging or asserting. She was alleging to be “a prophetess,” which we saw
is the Greek word prophetes. It is a compound of the words pro and phemi,
meaning an interpreter or forth-teller of the divine will. This woman was
claiming to be something she was not.
Moreover, Jesus said that this woman Jezebel had been given unrestrained
freedom “to teach and to seduce [His] servants to commit fornication.”
The words “to seduce” in the Greek is the word planao, and it describes
deception or a moral wandering. It depicts a person or nation who has veered
morally from a solid path and, as a result, is adrift. This is the same word used
to depict a lost animal that cannot find its way back to the path because it has
wandered so far off track.
The pastor’s wife at the church of Thyatira, whom Jesus referred to as
Jezebel, was using her husband’s pulpit to lead the people in the wrong
direction. Specifically, she was encouraging them to eat things sacrificed

38 | STUDY GUIDE
to idols and “to commit fornication.” The phrase “to commit fornication” is
from the Greek word porneia, which describes any type of sex with another
person outside the bond of marriage; it includes sexual activity by non-married
individuals, including both adultery and homosexuality.
If you remember from our previous lessons, the city of Thyatira had a
highly developed system of trade guilds. Each guild had a patron pagan
god, and at every gathering, guild members worshiped their god by
offering sacrifices and participating in multiple forms of sexual immorality
and drunkenness. Clearly, this was a place Christians didn’t belong, but
when they made a decision to refrain from these ungodly activities, their
membership in the trade guild was revoked. Without work, Christians
began to suffer financially.
Apparently, this woman called Jezebel was encouraging people to com-
promise their convictions, which was the same error being taught by the
Nicolaitans at the churches in Ephesus and Pergamum (see Revelation
2:6,15). “It’s okay to lower your standards,” she asserted. “Don’t terminate
your membership in the trade guilds. Just blend in and participate a
little so you can keep your job.” But it was not okay with Jesus. It deeply
disturbed Him, and He held these actions as a strike against the church of
Thyatira.

What Do We Know About Jezebel

From the Old Testament?
Although it is not likely that this prominent woman at the church of
Thyatira was actually named Jezebel, she certainly acted like Jezebel from
the Old Testament. According to First and Second Kings as well as his-
torical documents, Jezebel was a foreigner to the land of Israel who came
from the Phoenician city of Tyre. Her marriage to Ahab was a political
arrangement to unify the people of Israel with the people of Phoenicia.
Jezebel was a devout worshiper of Melkart, which was a form of Baal,
the chief god of Phoenicia. When she came into Israel, she brought the
worship of this god into the nation with her. In fact, she seems to have
been a priestess and prophetess of Baal.
According to Second Kings 9:22 and 30, Jezebel was truly a wicked
woman. She was actively involved in “whoredoms and witchcrafts,”
which are forms of the occult. She was idolatrous, cunning, manipulative,
prideful, and disrespectful of spiritual authority. She even threatened the

Christ’s Message to Thyatira | 39

life of Elijah, the true prophet of God, claiming that her voice was equal
to his (see 1 Kings 19:2). First Kings 18:4 says her wrath was so great
against the genuine prophets of God that many of the prophets hid from
her. The ones she could find, she killed. They were the voice of God, and
she didn’t want to hear what God had to say.
Jezebel supported those who adhered to her doctrines, placing hundreds
and hundreds of prophets of Baal on the state payroll. With devious and
deliberate manipulation, she controlled the people and the land of Israel
indirectly through the throne that belonged to her husband, Ahab. First
Kings 21:25 confirms this, stating, “But there was none like unto Ahab,
which did sell himself to work wickedness in the sight of the Lord, whom
Jezebel his wife stirred up.” Day in and day out, this wicked queen incited
her husband to do what was evil in the sight of God.
This is the character of Jezebel — one who controls from the outside.
Thus, a “Jezebel” refers to any outside force — such as a spouse or a friend
— who manipulates and controls. The wife of the pastor of the church in
Thyatira fit this description.

Jezebel’s Death Was Dreadful

In Second Kings 9:10, the end of Jezebel’s life was prophesied. Through
the prophet Elijah, God declared, “And the dogs shall eat Jezebel in the
portion of Jezreel, and there shall be none to bury her….” By the time
we come to verse 30, Ahab had been killed; Jehu had been anointed king
in his place; and Jezebel was doing her best to remain in control of the
kingdom of Israel through her son Joram.
The Bible says, “And when Jehu was come to Jezreel, Jezebel heard of it;
and she painted her face, and tired her head, and looked out at a window”
(2 Kings 9:30). At that point, Jezebel knew she was in trouble, but instead
of humbling herself and submitting to the changes God had orchestrated,
she defiantly painted her face and in pride looked down upon Jehu who
was fast approaching.
The Bible says, “And he [ Jehu] said, Throw her down. So they threw her
down: and some of her blood was sprinkled on the wall, and on the horses:
and he trode her under foot. And when he was come in, he did eat and
drink, and said, Go, see now this cursed woman, and bury her: for she is a
king’s daughter. And they went to bury her: but they found no more of

40 | STUDY GUIDE
her than the skull, and the feet, and the palms of her hands” (2 Kings
9:33-37).
In an instant, the prophecy regarding Jezebel had been fulfilled. “Where-
fore they came again, and told him [ Jehu]. And he said, This is the word
of the Lord, which he spake by his servant Elijah the Tishbite, saying, In
the portion of Jezreel shall dogs eat the flesh of Jezebel: And the carcase
of Jezebel shall be as dung upon the face of the field in the portion of
Jezreel; so that they shall not say, This is Jezebel” (2 Kings 9:36,37).
Basically, Jezebel’s body was devoured by dogs, and when the dogs were
done, all that was left was their defecation to fertilize a nearby field — the
same field Jezebel had stolen from a man named Naboth after she’d had
him murdered. This brings up an interesting question: Why wouldn’t the
dogs eat Jezebel’s feet, her skull, and the palms of her hands?
To answer this, we turn to Proverbs 6:16-19, which says, “These
six things doth the Lord hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him:
a proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, an
heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to
mischief, a false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord
among brethren.”
Jezebel had committed all seven of these abominations. In her mind, she
was exceedingly proud and her thoughts were unclean. That is why the
dogs didn’t eat her skull. Likewise, the dogs didn’t consume her hands
because she had shed so much blood, and they wouldn’t eat her feet
because she was constantly running to mischief. The word of the Lord
regarding the fate of this wicked woman had come to pass in every detail.

What Happened to Ahab?

Many people mistakenly believe that Ahab was a weak man, but history
reveals that he was one of the strongest kings to ever rule Israel. During
Ahab’s reign, Israel was financially prosperous, and no one in the region
was more politically powerful. Yet with all his power and influence, he
didn’t have the fortitude to deal with and control his wife. Ahab gave
Jezebel free rein to do as she pleased.
This brings us back to the prominent woman in the church of Thyatira
whom Jesus called “Jezebel.” His message was to the pastor of the church,
and the pastor’s wife was the “Jezebel” to whom He was referring. In Jesus’

Christ’s Message to Thyatira | 41

great love, He was sending a sober warning to the pastor of Thyatira. The
pastor was acting like Ahab — lacking the courage to control his wife
and allowing her to do and say whatever she pleased. And because of the
pastor’s failure to stand in his God-given authority and put a stop to the
evil his wife was perpetrating, this dangerous situation was about to derail
the church of Thyatira.
Jesus warned the pastor, his wife “Jezebel,” and the church members of
their sin and called on them to repent. He gave them time to stop com-
promising and to turn their hearts and minds back into alignment with
Him. And still today, Jesus gives people time to repent and return to Him.
If you have given place to a Jezebel or an Ahab spirit in your life, it’s time
to repent and make things right with God. If you will ask Him, He will
give you the power to change.

STUDY QUESTIONS
Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth
not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
— 2 Timothy 2:15

1. What new insights have you learned about Jezebel, Ahab, and the
dangers of compromise?
2. Take a few moments to read and reflect on Proverbs 6:16-19. What is
the Holy Spirit speaking to you through this passage?
3. Consider those in authority over your life — in your family, at work,
and in government. In what ways can you better support and pray for
them to stand firm and not give in to the temptation to compromise
God’s standards? (Consider 1 Timothy 2:1-4; Hebrews 13:17,18.)

PRACTICAL APPLICATION
But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only,
deceiving your own selves.
— James 1:22

The Bible says that manipulation is witchcraft in the eyes of the Lord.
That is what a Jezebel spirit does — it attempts to manipulate and control
things over which it has not been given authority. An Ahab spirit isn’t any

42 | STUDY GUIDE
better. It shirks its responsibility and fails to bring correction to someone
who is living in sin and/or is encouraging others to do so.
1. Be honest. Have you been acting like Jezebel? Have you possibly
given place to the same wicked spirit that was operating through her?
If you have, take time right now to repent and make things right with
God. If you ask Him, He will give you the power to change.
2. Perhaps you have been acting more like Ahab — not standing and
functioning in your God-given authority to stop attempts of the
enemy to manipulate and exert wrong control through another per-
son. If this describes you, pray and ask God to forgive you. If you ask
Him, He will strengthen you to do what is right.
3. Be still and listen. What action steps do you sense the Holy Spirit is
asking you to take at this time?

LESSON 6

TOPIC
What Does ‘Space To Repent’ Mean?
SCRIPTURES
1. Revelation 2:18-21 — 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. 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. 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. And I gave her
space to repent of her fornication; and she repented not.
2. 1 Kings 21:25 — But there was none like unto Ahab, which did sell
himself to work wickedness in the sight of the Lord, whom Jezebel
his wife stirred up.
3. 1 Kings 18:21 — And Elijah came unto all the people, and said, How
long halt ye between two opinions? if the LORD be God, follow him:
but if Baal, then follow him. And the people answered him not a word.

Christ’s Message to Thyatira | 43

4. 1 Kings 22:35,37,38 —blood ran out of the wound into the midst of
the chariot. So the king died, and was brought to Samaria; and they
buried the king in Samaria. And one washed his chariot in the pool of
Samaria; and the dogs licked up his blood.…

GREEK WORDS
1. “notwithstanding” — ἀλλὰ (alla): nonetheless; regardless; but even in
spite of this
2. “I have” — ἔχω (echo): to hold or to embrace; to hold something very
personally
3. “against” — κατὰ (kata): against; down; a strike against you
4. “sufferest” — ἀφίημι (aphiemi): to permit, to release; to let go; to
liberate; to give unrestrained freedom
5. “to seduce” — πλανάω (planao): deception; a moral wandering;
depicts a person or nation that has veered from a solid path; as a result
of veering morally, that person or nation is adrift; depicts a lost animal
that cannot find its path; to morally lose one’s bearings
6. “fornication” — πορνεία (porneia): any type of sex with another
person outside the bond of marriage; includes sexual activity by
non-married individuals; includes both adultery and homosexuality
7. “I gave” — ἔδωκα (edoka): I have given
8. “space” — χρόνος (chronos): time; a season; an epoch; an era; a speci-
fied duration of time
9. “repent” — μετανοήσῃ (metanoese): that she might repent; from
μετανοέω (metanoeo), a change of mind that results in a complete,
radical, total change of behavior; to completely change or to turn
around in the way that one is thinking, believing, or living; a total
transformation affecting every part of a person’s life, both inside and
outside, resulting in a behavioral change

SYNOPSIS
All that remains of the magnificent city of Thyatira today are hewn stones
and fallen columns. Two thousand years ago, it was a thriving military
outpost populated by thousands of Roman soldiers who were poised and
positioned to quench the efforts of any eastern invaders to attack and
plunder the city of Pergamum.

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A powerful church had also been planted in Thyatira, and with each
passing day, the believers there continued to make an eternal impact on
the lives of those around them. Jesus praised them for their endeavors.
He did, however, have one issue with the church — an issue that deeply
disturbed Him. A notable woman He called “Jezebel” had been given free
rein to teach error and lead people astray. Jesus despised her doctrine of
compromise and told her to repent — or else she and the church would be
judged.

The emphasis of this lesson:

Jesus gave the woman Jezebel time to repent and change her ways. Like-
wise, He gives us time to repent of our sinful ways. If we will hear and
heed His words of warning, He will forgive us and restore us.

Jesus Was Faithful To Speak

to the Believers at Thyatira
In Revelation 2:18-29, Jesus spoke a message to the church of Thyatira,
delivering it to the apostle John while John was imprisoned on the isle of
Patmos. Jesus said, “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. 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” (vv. 18,19).
We have established that the word “angel” in verse 18 is the Greek word
angelos. We saw that although it can describe a heavenly being, it is also
used to describe an earthly messenger. In this passage, the word “angel”
denotes the pastor of the church in Thyatira. As the God-appointed represen-
tative in the local church, this pastor’s primary job was to hear the message
the Lord is speaking, apply it personally to his own life, and then faithfully
relay it to the congregation.
The first thing Jesus wanted the pastor of Thyatira to know and relay to
the people is found in Revelation 2:19. He said, “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.” Clearly, there were many great things Jesus
had personally observed as He walked in the midst of this faithful congre-
gation, and He was not negligent in voicing His commendation.

Christ’s Message to Thyatira | 45

Jesus was also not slack in pointing out the sin to which the congregation
in Thyatira had fallen prey. In Revelation 2:20, He said, “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.”
Let’s briefly review the meaning behind the key words in this verse.

In Love, Jesus Corrects His Church

As we have noted, the word “notwithstanding” in Revelation 2:20 is the
Greek word alla, which means nonetheless, regardless, or even in spite of this.
It indicates a pause in the text where Jesus was transitioning from His
words of commendation to His words of correction. It was the equivalent
of Jesus saying, “In spite of all these wonderful things you are doing that
I’ve just pointed out, there is an issue I must address.” He then said, “I
have a few things against thee….”
The words “I have” is a form of the Greek word echo, which means to hold,
to embrace, or to hold something very personally. And the word “against” in
Greek is the word kata, which describes a downward strike against someone.
The issue Jesus was about to reveal to the pastor of the church in Thyatira
was a strike against them that He held very close to His heart.
What was the issue? Jesus said, “…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”
(Revelation 2:20). The word “because” is the Greek term hoti, and it
indicates explicit purpose. By using this word, Jesus was saying, “I’m going
to tell you exactly what you’re doing that is grieving Me.”
Notice Jesus’ words: “…Thou sufferest that woman Jezebel….” The Greek
word for “sufferest” is aphiemi, which means to permit, to release, to let go, to
liberate, or to give unrestrained freedom. What was the pastor of the church
in Thyatira permitting? To what was he giving unrestrained freedom? Jesus
gave the answer: “that woman Jezebel” — which in the Greek says, “the
woman, the prominent woman, the notable woman in your church — Jezebel.”
In the two earliest New Testament manuscripts that still exist, this phrase
is translated, “that woman of yours.” And because Jesus was saying, “that
woman of yours” to the pastor of Thyatira, we can conclude reasonably
that He was actually saying, “that wife of yours.”

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Apparently, the pastor of Thyatira had given his wife unrestrained freedom
to do and say whatever she pleased, and her actions were leading many of
the people astray. She was behaving just like the woman named Jezebel
from the Old Testament — the woman who was married to the corrupt
king named Ahab.

What Do We Know About Ahab?

Since the pastor’s wife from the church of Thyatira was behaving like
Jezebel, then it is likely the pastor was acting like Ahab. A Jezebel spirit
can only operate where an Ahab spirit is in operation. An Ahab spirit
liberates and empowers a Jezebel spirit to carry out its wicked ways.
Contrary to what many have believed, Ahab was not a weak man. History
reveals that the army of Israel during his reign was extremely large and
possibly the strongest it had ever been. Neighboring nations were terrified
of Israel, and the rabbis of that time wrote that Ahab was the ruler of the
world during his day.
Not only was Ahab a powerful military leader, but he also managed to
bring the people of Israel into a very prosperous season — a time so
plenteous that it was paralleled to the era of King Solomon. Indeed,
Ahab’s reign was marked by much peace and prosperity. He was able to
control just about everything in his kingdom — everything except his wife
Jezebel.
In an effort to establish peace and unity with the Phoenicians, Ahab had
agreed to a politically arranged marriage with Jezebel. She was a Phoeni-
cian from the city of Tyre, the daughter of King Ethbaal of the Sidonians
(see 1 Kings 16:31). When she came to Israel, she brought the worship of
Baal with her. In an effort to appease his wife, Ahab erected a temple and
an altar to Baal in the city of Samaria (see 1 Kings 16:32). Jezebel then
placed hundreds of false prophets of Baal on the state payroll.
Clearly, God was not pleased with the actions of this husband-and-wife
team. First Kings 21:25 says, “There was none like unto Ahab, which did
sell himself to work wickedness in the sight of the Lord, whom Jezebel
his wife stirred up.” Jezebel manipulated Ahab like a puppet in her hand,
causing him to vacillate in his faith. Consequently, the entire nation of
Israel, like Ahab, wobbled between devotion to God and the worship of
Baal.

Christ’s Message to Thyatira | 47

First Kings 18:21 says, “Elijah came unto all the people, and said, How
long halt ye between two opinions? if the Lord be God, follow him: but
if Baal, then follow him. And the people answered him not a word.” The
Israelites couldn’t answer Elijah and make a decision regarding whom they
would serve because of the indecision in the heart of their covering —
King Ahab. What was on the head of the nation had come upon the body
of the nation.

The Point of No Return for Ahab and Jezebel

In the course of time, Ahab sought to purchase the vineyard of a man
named Naboth who lived next door to his palace. He offered Naboth the
choice of another piece of land or money in exchange for his vineyard,
but Naboth rejected the offer. Discouraged and depressed, Ahab returned
home and lay on his bed, refusing to eat (see 1 Kings 21:1-4).
When Jezebel saw Ahab sulking and saddened and had learned what had
happened, she immediately went to work concocting a scheme to secure
the land. Writing letters in Ahab’s name, she manipulated two people
into falsely accusing Naboth of blaspheming God and the king. For
Naboth’s alleged crime, Jezebel ordered that he be stoned to death. Once
the murderous deed had been done, she told Ahab of Naboth’s death and
instructed him to go and take possession of the land (see 1 Kings 21:5-15).
Ahab knew the property had been wrongfully attained, but he took
possession of it anyway. This was exceedingly offensive in God’s eyes, and
He held Ahab responsible for Naboth’s death because he wouldn’t control
Jezebel’s activities. Immediately God sent Elijah the prophet to speak
judgment on Ahab. The Lord told Elijah, “And thou shalt speak unto him,
saying, Thus saith the Lord, Hast thou killed, and also taken possession?
…In the place where the dogs licked the blood of Naboth shall the dogs
lick thy blood, even thine” (1 Kings 21:19).
Approximately three years later, King Ahab was mortally wounded in bat-
tle, “…and the blood ran out of the wound into the midst of the chariot.
So the king died, and was brought to Samaria; and they buried the king in
Samaria. And one washed the chariot in the pool of Samaria; and the dogs
licked up his blood…” (1 Kings 22:35,37,38). The Septuagint, which is
the Greek translation of the Old Testament, says that dogs and pigs licked
up Ahab’s blood. To the people of Israel, pigs were unclean. The fact that

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pigs would lick up his blood signifies the extent to which Ahab had sold
himself to uncleanness.
This act was the point of no return for Ahab and for Jezebel. Not only
would her blood be licked up by dogs, but her body would be consumed
by them. This was prophesied by Elijah, and it came to pass shortly
thereafter when Jehu, the newly anointed king of Israel, came riding into
town to carry out the Lord’s work (see 2 Kings 9:30-37).

Jezebel and Ahab of the Old Testament

vs. the ‘Jezebel and Ahab’ of the Church in Thyatira
Evidently, the pastor of the church in Thyatira was behaving similarly to
Ahab of the Old Testament. He was vacillating between two positions:
believing and acting on the truth of God’s Word — but permitting the
doctrine of compromise his wife Jezebel was propagating. This New
Testament “Ahab” had shirked his responsibility as the head of his home
and the shepherd of his church. Consequently, Jesus brought correction to
him and to the woman He called Jezebel.
In Revelation 2:21, Jesus declared, “I gave her space to repent of her
fornication; and she repented not.” Notice the phrase “I gave.” It is the
Greek word edoka, which means I have given. And the word “space” is the
Greek word chronos, which describes time; a season, an epoch, an era, or a
specified duration of time. The combined use of these words tells us that
Jesus had already personally given Jezebel a specified amount of time to
make things right.
He had told her to “repent” — taken from the word metanoeo, which
describes a change of mind that results in a complete, radical, total change
of behavior; to completely change or to turn around in the way that one is
thinking, believing, or living; or a total transformation affecting every part of a
person’s life, both inside and outside, resulting in a behavioral change.
For what did Jesus give this Jezebel time to repent? The Bible says
“fornication,” which is the Greek word porneia. It describes any type of sex
with another person outside the bond of marriage. It refers to sexual activity by
non-married individuals, including both adultery and homosexuality.
Was the Jezebel in Thyatira — who we understand was most likely the
pastor’s wife — committing fornication? We do not know. What we do
know is that in order for the believers in Thyatira to continue as members

Christ’s Message to Thyatira | 49

of their perspective trade guilds and keep their jobs, they needed to
compromise God’s standards and participate in idol worship, drunkenness,
and fornication. It seems this prominent woman was using her husband’s
position of influence to seduce God’s servants into compromise, saying
things like, “It’s okay to lower your standards and participate in the
activities. Go ahead and blend in with everyone else. God understands
your situation.” It was for this behavior that Jesus gave Jezebel time to
repent — but we discover from Jesus’ words that she repented not.

STUDY QUESTIONS
Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth
not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
— 2 Timothy 2:15

God corrects us because He loves us, and at times every one of us requires
His correction. We all have times when we drift off course and need His
discipline in our lives. Even King David — a man after God’s own heart
— needed correction. Take a few moments to reflect on David’s response
to God in Psalm 32:1-6 after he repented of his sin with Bathsheba.
1. What happens when you choose not to repent and to “come clean”
with God?
2. What takes place when you do repent and ask God to forgive you of
sin?
3. According to verse 6, why is it urgent that you take the opportunity to
repent when the Lord reveals sin in your heart? (See also 2 Corinthi-
ans 6:1,2; Hebrews 3:7-9,15; 4:7.)
4. What is the Holy Spirit showing you in this passage?

PRACTICAL APPLICATION
But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only,
deceiving your own selves.
— James 1:22

1. Have you ever had a time in your life when you waited too long to
repent? If so, briefly describe what happened.

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2. What kind of symptoms did you experience? How did your slowness
to repent impact your relationship with God? How did it affect your
relationship with others?
3. What did God use to finally get your attention and soften your heart
to repent?

LESSON 7

TOPIC
What Is Repentance?
SCRIPTURES
1. Revelation 2:18-22 — 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. 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. 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. And I gave her
space to repent of her fornication; and she repented not. Behold, I will
cast her into a bed, and them that commit adultery with her into great
tribulation, except they repent of their deeds.
2. 1 Samuel 2:17 — Wherefore, the sin of the young men was very
great before the Lord…

GREEK WORDS
1. “I gave” — ἔδωκα (edoka): I have given
2. “space” — χρόνος (chronos): time; a season; an epoch; an era; a speci-
fied duration of time
3. “repent” — μετανοήσῃ (metanoese): that she might repent; from
μετανοέω (metanoeo), a change of mind that results in a complete,
radical, total change of behavior; to completely change or to turn
around in the way that one is thinking, believing, or living; a total

Christ’s Message to Thyatira | 51

 transformation affecting every part of a person’s life, both inside and
outside, resulting in a behavioral change
4. “Behold” — ἰδού (idou): bewilderment; shock; amazement; wonder
5. “into a bed” — εἰς κλίνην (eis kleinen): a bed; a funeral bier
6. “tribulation” — θλῖψις (thlipsis): great pressure; crushing pressures
7. “except” — ἐὰν (ean): shows that the warning is conditional; it may or
may not happen depending on how the hearer responds; if conditions
are met to change, the warning will be voided
8. “deeds” — ἔργων (ergon): deeds, actions, or activities

SYNOPSIS
Thyatira was a powerful city located in the Roman province of Asia — the
area known today as Turkey. During the First Century, the streets of
this city were teeming with thousands of Roman soldiers. They had been
stationed to protect and defend the rich and resplendent neighboring city
of Pergamum, which was situated about 40 kilometers (25 miles) to the
west.
In the First Century, Thyatira was a very dark place entrenched in sexual
debauchery, drunkenness, demonic activity, and pagan practices. Never-
theless, preachers came and presented the message of the Gospel, and the
Gospel did what only the Gospel can do — driving back the powers of
darkness and allowing the Church of the Lord Jesus to be established in
the city.
Although the church of Thyatira was doing many great works, it was also
permitting a woman called “Jezebel” to teach and seduce God’s servants to
commit fornication. For this reason, Jesus called the church, its pastor, and
the woman Jezebel to repent.
Although there is much confusion over the topic of repentance in the
Church today, Jesus is still calling us to repent. Just as He was patient and
merciful and gave Jezebel space to repent, He gives us space to repent too.

The emphasis of this lesson:

There is no expiration date on the practice of repentance. It was for the
Church at the beginning, and it is still for the Church today. Repen-
tance is a decision that results in a total transformation affecting every
part of a person’s life.

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 Jesus Commended and Corrected
the Church of Thyatira
In Revelation 2:18 and 19, Jesus spoke to the pastor of the church in
Thyatira, saying, “These things saith the Son of God, who hath his eyes
like unto a flame of fire, and his feet are like fine brass. 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.” Up to this point, everything Christ
had said about the believers in Thyatira was wonderful. This was a church
of genuine love, excellence in ministry, steadfast endurance, and sound
scriptural teaching.
Then in verse 20, Jesus shifted His attention to an area where the church
was coming up short. He said, “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.”
We have learned that the word “notwithstanding” in Greek is the word
alla, which means nonetheless or in spite of, and the phrase “I have” is a
form of the Greek word echo, which means to hold or to embrace or to hold
something very personally. Moreover, the word “against” is the Greek word
kata, which describes a downward strike against someone. Taking these three
words into account, the beginning of verse 20 was the equivalent of Jesus
saying, “In spite of all the wonderful things I’ve just said about you, there
is a strike against you that I personally hold very deeply and consider quite
disturbing.”

Jezebel Was Promoting a Doctrine of Compromise

What was the pastor of Thyatira doing that evoked Jesus’ rebuke? The
pastor was giving the notable woman Jesus referred to as “Jezebel” unre-
strained freedom to say and do whatever she pleased. The two earliest New
Testament manuscripts we have actually say “that woman of yours,” which
indicates that Jezebel was most likely the pastor’s wife. What’s more, she
was calling herself a “prophetess,” which is the Greek word prophetes, and
it describes one who claims to have divine revelation and speaks on behalf of
God. In reality, she didn’t have any new revelation from God. She had only
a modification of the truth, and she was teaching it to God’s servants and
was leading them astray.

Christ’s Message to Thyatira | 53

To be clear, the Bible is not saying that women shouldn’t teach. The
problem with this woman whom Jesus called Jezebel was not that she
was teaching. The problem was what she was teaching. She was teaching
error and abusing her husband’s position of authority by leading people into
compromise that lead them into sin. The phrase “to seduce” is the Greek
word planao, which means to wander aimlessly or to lead others off track
morally. This woman was causing people to veer from the solid path of
Scripture they had once held so tightly.
In Thyatira, there was a highly developed system of trade guilds that
dominated the employment landscape. Each guild had its own patron
god that was worshiped at each meeting. Guild members were required
to bow in worship to idols, to offer sacrifices to idols, and to eat the foods
that had been sacrificed to idols. Drunkenness, orgies, and fornication of
all kinds were a regular part of the trade-guild life. Christians who refused
to participate in these activities had their membership revoked and were
blacklisted from receiving employment. Those who were not a part of a
trade guild were without a job, which caused financial struggles for many
believers.
Apparently, the “Jezebel” in Thyatira was teaching a doctrine of com-
promise. She must have been saying things like, “Go ahead and attend
the trade-guild meetings so you can keep your jobs and avoid being
blacklisted. Lower your standards a little, and learn to blend in with the
people you work with. It’s okay to respectfully bow to the patron god of
your guild and eat the food sacrificed to it. You’re not going to lose your
salvation.”
It seems this was the message that this Jezebel was packaging and pro-
moting, and it was seducing Jesus’ servants into committing fornication.
She was teaching a doctrine of compromise, just as the Nicolaitans were
teaching in the church of Ephesus (see Revelation 2:6) and the church of
Pergamum (see Revelation 2:15).
Christ hates compromise because He knows where it leads. When His
people fall into compromise, it pulls the plug on the power of the Holy
Spirit manifesting in their midst. Indeed, compromise is fatal to the life of
His Church.

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 Jesus Gives Us Time To Repent
Once Jesus clearly revealed the issue He held personally against the
church of Thyatira, He then said, “And I gave her [ Jezebel] space to repent
of her fornication; and she repented not” (Revelation 2:21). The phrase “I
gave” is the Greek word edoka, which means I have personally given — past
tense. Jesus loved this woman and was personally involved in helping her
work out her salvation.
He gave her “space” to repent. The word “space” is the Greek word chronos,
which means time; a season, a specified duration of time. Sadly, the Bible says
she repented not. Interestingly, in the three oldest manuscripts, the phrase
“she repented not” reads as, “she willeth not to repent out of her fornica-
tion.” In other words, when she heard the Lord’s correction and call to
repentance, she deliberately rejected His request and willfully chose not to
cooperate. She defiantly disobeyed Him and kept on doing the very things
He had personally asked her to stop doing.
A great example from Scripture of God giving someone space to repent
and change is the story of Eli the high priest and his two sons, Hophni
and Phineas. This entire family was in ministry, but Hophni and Phineas
were wicked and had no regard for the Lord (see 1 Samuel 2:12). In fact,
they had veered off track so seriously that they were even stealing from the
people’s offerings and fornicating with women who worked in the temple
(see 1 Samuel 2:14,22).
Exactly how long this situation was tolerated, we don’t know. However, it
seems to have persisted over a lengthy period of time. Eli knew what his
two sons were doing — yet he did not restrain them or remove them from
their positions.
This is exactly what the pastor of the church in Thyatira did. He was fully
aware of what his wife was doing, yet he wouldn’t restrain her.
Judgment for Hophni and Phineas’ behavior did not come quickly. Like
Jezebel in Thyatira, God gave them space to repent. His action against
these priests was not released until they had ample time to turn from their
wicked ways and to change.
A careful look at history shows that God is extremely patient and even
“tolerates” sin for a period of time. Nevertheless, First Samuel 2:17
makes it clear that God does not overlook the greatness of a person’s sin.

Christ’s Message to Thyatira | 55

Although He is merciful, there comes a moment in time when the clock
runs out and even in His mercy, judgment must ensue.
Eventually Eli and his sons were judged — and when judgment came, it
occurred quickly. Once it was clear that their behavior was not going to
change and that Eli was not going to exercise his authority to stop it, God
released His judgment, and Eli and his sons were removed in a single day
(see 1 Samuel 4:11-18).

What Does It Mean To Repent?

This brings us to the word “repent,” which is used by Jesus three times
in Revelation 2:21,22. “Repent” is from the Greek word metanoeo, and
it means a change of mind that results in a complete, radical, total change
of behavior; to completely change or to turn around in the way that one is
thinking, believing, or living; or a total transformation affecting every part of a
person’s life, both inside and outside, resulting in a behavioral change.
Make no mistake. Real repentance produces behavioral change, both
inward and outward. When God tells us to repent, He wants to see
change in our conduct, not an emotional response. Repentance isn’t crying,
grieving, or even regretting. It is a decision of the will to change. Jesus said
He had personally given Jezebel a specified amount of time to repent, but
she had rejected the divine offer of mercy and instead continued down the
path of rebellion that would ultimately lead to judgment.
Friend, if God is correcting you and calling you to repent in any area of
your life, then you must make the decision to do so. Line up your will with
His and cooperate with the Holy Spirit and do what He says to do. He
will join His power to you when you make the decision to change, and it
will enable you to change the way you are thinking, believing, and living.

Even With Judgment Looming, Jesus Extends Mercy

After Jezebel willfully chose not to repent, Jesus said, “Behold, I will cast
her into a bed, and them that commit adultery with her into great tribula-
tion, except they repent of their deeds” (Revelation 2:22). Notice the word
“Behold.” It is the Greek word idou, which describes bewilderment, shock,
amazement, or wonder. When Jesus said, “Behold,” it was as if He was
saying, “Wow! What I’m about to say to you is so amazing, it leaves Me
virtually speechless.”

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He then announced the punishment that was looming: “I will cast her into
a bed….” The phrase “into a bed” in Greek is eis kleinen, which describes a
bed or a funeral bier. In other words, Jesus was saying, “I’m going to place
this woman in a casket and bury her for her refusal to repent for what
she’s done.”
And to Jezebel’s accomplices, Jesus said, “…and them that commit
adultery with her into great tribulation….” The word “tribulation” is the
Greek word thlipsis, which describes great pressure or crushing pressures.
Here we see a differentiation in the way the Lord deals with people. The
greater punishment was assigned to Jezebel for initiating and propagating
the error. Nonetheless, those who believed her lies — and those could
have stopped her from teaching those lies but didn’t — would experience a
period of difficulty as Jesus dealt with them.
Then Jesus added, “…except they repent of their deeds.” Even after
all these people had done, He was still hopeful that Jezebel and her
co-conspirators would repent. The word “except” — the Greek word ean
— shows that the warning is conditional. In other words, the consequences
may or may not happen, depending on how the hearer responds. In this case, if
the conditions were met and the parties involved changed, Jesus’ warning
would be voided.
It is important to note that the word “deeds” is the Greek word ergon,
which describes deeds, actions, or activities. By using this word, it lets us
know that Jesus didn’t just want Jezebel and her cohorts to say they were
sorry; He wanted them to “repent of their deeds.” He was after complete
behavioral change, both inside and out. He wanted them to adjust not
only their actions and activities, but the way they thought and believed.
This is the same thing God is after in you when He reveals an issue of sin
in your life. He wants you to choose to make a 180-degree turn in that
area — a radical change from the inside out — and then to adjust your
actions to reflect your decision.

STUDY QUESTIONS
Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth
not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
— 2 Timothy 2:15

Christ’s Message to Thyatira | 57

Although it may seem like God is ignoring people’s sin and wickedness,
He is actually extending mercy and patiently giving them space to repent.
If you find yourself frustrated and angry as you watch the wicked seem-
ingly getting away with sinful and unjust ways, check out Psalm 37.
1. What does God want you to always keep in mind about the end of
those who do evil? (See verses 1,2,9,10,14,15,20,35,36.)
2. While the wicked are busy following their own lawless agenda, how
does God expect you to live? (See verses 3-7,27,34.)
3. As you choose to obey God and live right, what blessings does He
promise to give you? (See verses 6,11,17-19,22-29,37-40.)

PRACTICAL APPLICATION
But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only,
deceiving your own selves.
— James 1:22

1. Prior to this lesson, what was your perspective of repentance? How has
your understanding of this vital subject changed? What is the Holy
Spirit speaking to you personally about repentance?
2. It is vital to understand the unique differences between worldly sorrow
and godly sorrow. Take a few moments to read Second Corinthians
7:9-11 and identify the characteristics produced by each. How does
this understanding give you a better appreciation for the conviction of
sin the Holy Spirit brings to you?

LESSON 8

TOPIC
What Causes God To Judge
Someone Today?
SCRIPTURES
1. Revelation 2:18-23 — 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. I know thy works, and

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 charity, and service, and faith, and thy patience, and thy works; and
the last to be more than the first. 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. And I gave her
space to repent of her fornication; and she repented not. Behold, I will
cast her into a bed, and them that commit adultery with her into great
tribulation, except they repent of their deeds. And I will kill her chil-
dren 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.
2. 1 Corinthians 3:16,17 — Know ye not that ye are the temple of God,
and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? If any man defile the
temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy,
which temple ye are.

GREEK WORDS
1. “Behold” — ἰδού (idou): bewilderment; shock; amazement; wonder
2. “into a bed” — εἰς κλίνην (eis kleinen): a bed; a funeral bier
3. “tribulation” — θλῖψις (thlipsis): great pressure; crushing pressures
4. “except” — ἐὰν (ean): shows that the warning is conditional; it may or
may not happen depending on how the hearer responds; if conditions
are met to change, the warning will be voided
5. “deeds” — ἔργων (ergon): deeds; actions; activities
6. “repent” — μετανοήσῃ (metanoese): that she might repent; from
μετανοέω (metanoeo), a change of mind that results in a complete,
radical, total change of behavior; to completely change or to turn
around in the way that one is thinking, believing, or living; a total
transformation affecting every part of a person’s life, both inside and
outside, resulting in a behavioral change
7. “I will kill” — ἀποκτείνω (apokteino): to slaughter; to put an abrupt
end to; can denote the giving of a death sentence
8. “children” — τέκνα (tekna): children; offspring
9. “death” — θάνατος (thanatos): pictures finality; mortal danger or a
dangerous circumstance
10. “shall know” — γινώσκω (ginosko): to know; to perceive; to compre-
hend

Christ’s Message to Thyatira | 59

11. “searches” — ἐρευνάω (ereunao): to search; to work through all the
materials and evidence to obtain a full picture; an investigation that
yields correct conclusions
12. “reins” — νεφρός (nephros): kidneys; in the New Testament, denotes
the human spirit; the depths of a person’s being
13. “hearts” — καρδία (kardia): the heart; depicts emotion and passion
14. “I will give” — δώσω (doso): the future; personal form of δίδωμι; I
will personally give; I will personally bestow; I will personally deliver
15. “every man” — ἕκαστος (hekastos): an all-inclusive term that embraces
everyone, no one excluded
16. “according” — κατά (kata): exactly according to; indicates a full
accounting of the facts
17. “works” — ἔργα (erga): deeds; actions; activities
18. “defile” and “destroy” — φθείρω (phtheiro): to spoil, plunder, destroy,
empty, or wipe out

SYNOPSIS
The city of Thyatira was a military outpost whose primary reason for
existence was to protect and defend the wealthy city of Pergamum from
eastern invaders. It was a dark and treacherous place, filled with demonic
activity and pagan practices. Yet into this wicked region, the Gospel
entered and penetrated the darkness, pushing back the powers of evil and
establishing the church of Thyatira.
This church was having an amazing impact on the community, and Jesus
praised them for their efforts. Unfortunately, as time passed, they had
begun to tolerate and give place to a doctrine of compromise that was
being taught by a prominent woman in leadership. Jesus was personally
aware of the situation and gave them a space of time to repent and come
back into alignment with truth. If they would not repent of their deeds
and self-correct their course, Jesus would bring the judgment He had
warned them about.

The emphasis of this lesson:

God is merciful and doesn’t wish to bring judgment on anyone. Yet if
someone willfully rejects His space of time to repent and change their
ways, His judgment will come.

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Revelation 2:18-20 says, “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. 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. Notwithstanding I have a few things against thee,
because thou sufferest that woman Jezebel, which calleth herself a proph-
etess, to teach and to seduce my servants to commit fornication, and to eat
things sacrificed unto idols.”
It is important to point out that these are the words of Jesus Himself.
John was the one who wrote them, but they came straight from the mouth
of Christ. There was a notable woman in Thyatira whom Jesus likened
unto Jezebel of the Old Testament. This woman was using her position of
influence to coax people into believing it was okay to lower their Christian
standards and blend in with the world. Like the Nicolaitans had done
in the churches of Pergamum and Ephesus, this Jezebel was teaching a
doctrine of compromise, and it was about to bring the judgment of God
upon them.

Jezebel Seduced God’s Servants

To Lower Their Standards
The Bible states that this Jezebel in the church of Thyatira had been
given unrestrained freedom “to teach and to seduce” Christ’s servants
into committing fornication. The words “to seduce” is the Greek word
planao, which means to cause one to wander morally off the proven path of
truth. It is not likely that this woman was blatantly saying, “Hey, let’s all
go and commit adultery and eat the foods sacrificed to idols.” But she was
encouraging believers to blend in with the people of the world, even if it
meant participating in their pagan activities.
As we have noted, the city of Thyatira was governed by a system of trade
guilds. In order for a person to secure steady work, he had to become a
member of a trade guild. These labor unions operated on a buddy system
in which new jobs were passed on to fellow members. Anyone who chose
to no longer attend guild meetings and participate in guild activities had
his membership revoked and was blacklisted, which meant he couldn’t get
another job.
Christians in Thyatira didn’t want to go to trade-guild meetings because of
the sinful practices that were going on there. At every meeting, members

Christ’s Message to Thyatira | 61

were required to bow before the patron pagan god of their guild and then
burn incense and offer sacrifices to that god. Drunkenness, fornication,
and feasting on the meat sacrificed to idols were integral parts of each
gathering. It was a godless, demonic environment that believers didn’t
need to participate in.
Emboldened by the Spirit, Christians in Thyatira had taken a stand for
righteousness. They had said, “We are the Church — the ekklesia or called-
out ones. God has called us out of darkness, and we’re not going back into
that wicked environment even if it means losing our jobs.”
The woman Jezebel — who most likely was the pastor’s wife, according to
the wording in the earliest New Testament manuscripts — began advising
God’s servants to compromise. Apparently her message to the people
was to do whatever they needed to do to keep their jobs and maintain
a steady income. The Scripture says she called herself a prophetess and
claimed to speak with God’s voice. Through her position of influence, this
Jezebel effectively began seducing believers back into environments that
were spiritually detrimental. This was a major strike against this church
and its pastor, who had not restrained her in any way, and Jesus held the
infraction very close to His heart.

Jesus Personally Appealed to Jezebel to Repent

In Revelation 2:21, Jesus said, “And I gave her space to repent of her
fornication; and she repented not.” The words “I gave” in Greek indicates
that Jesus had already given — past tense — this woman Jezebel “space,”
which means time or a season, to repent. He had been personally involved
in her life, encouraging her to repent so that she could be restored and
avoid experiencing His judgment.
As we learned previously, the word “repent” is from the Greek word
metanoeo, and it describes a change of mind that results in a complete, radical,
total change of behavior; a total transformation affecting every part of a person’s
life, both inside and outside, resulting in a behavioral change. Jesus gave
Jezebel a season of time to repent, and He also gives us time to repent.
He doesn’t want to bring judgment on anyone. He took the judgment for
our sins upon Himself when He was crucified on the Cross. When we
disobey Him, all we need to do is sincerely repent. This means asking Jesus
to forgive us and change us and then choosing to turn away from wrong
behavior.

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When someone in the Church — such as this woman Jezebel — refuses
to repent, Jesus has no other choice but to deal with the person. Sin that
is left unchecked is like an infectious disease that can rapidly spread
throughout the Body.
When a person has cancer, physicians seek to eradicate it from a person’s
body. When someone in the Body of Christ is living in unrepentant sin —
especially someone with influence — Jesus, the Great Physician, will move
to eradicate that person’s influence from His Body.
Jesus said, “I gave her space to repent of her fornication; and she repented
not” (Revelation 2:21). As we noted in the last lesson, the earliest New
Testament manuscripts say, “She willed not to repent out of her fornica-
tion.” This woman Jesus called Jezebel heard His voice beckoning to her to
repent, and she knew that what she was teaching was wrong and leading
believers astray. Yet she deliberately chose not to repent and correct her
ways. Thus, Jesus had no other choice but to respond to her rebellion.

The Judgment for Wrongdoing Was Clear

In Revelation 2:22, Jesus said, “Behold, I will cast her into a bed….” The
word “behold” is the Greek word idou, and it describes bewilderment, shock,
amazement, and wonder. The use of this word indicates that what Jesus
was about to say was so astounding and so amazing, He was virtually
speechless.
The phrase “I will cast” comes from the Greek word ballo, which means
to throw or to hurl. The tense here indicates immediacy. In other words,
Jesus was saying, “Right now, at this very moment, I’m going to deal with
her [ Jezebel] by hurling her into a bed.” The phrase “into a bed” in Greek
is eis kleinen, which can be translated as a bed or a couch. It is usually used
to describe a sickbed. It’s interesting to note that the word for “bed” can
also be translated as a funeral bier. By using this word, Jesus was basically
saying, “I’m going to put an end to this woman’s activities. I’m going to
put her, her doctrines, and her deeds out of commission.”
Jesus went on to say, “….and them that commit adultery with her into
great tribulation….” Since Jezebel was the source and instigator behind
the false teaching, she would be dealt with more severely. Those “that
commit adultery with her” were the people who believed in, acted on, and
encouraged what she said. It also included those who were silent about
what she was doing and chose not to place any restraint on her. Whatever

Christ’s Message to Thyatira | 63

the case, these co-conspirators were going to experience “great tribulation”
for the role they played.
The word “tribulation” in Greek is thlipsis, and it describes great pressure or
crushing pressures. When you enter into the arena of sin, you are putting
yourself in a place of great pressure. These believers who were in league
with the Jezebel of Thyatira had placed themselves in a very bad position.
Jesus knew this hence, He continued to warn them to repent.
After pinpointing the pending judgment, Jesus extended mercy yet again
by saying, “…except they repent of their deeds.” The word “except” is the
Greek word ean, and it shows that the warning is conditional. In other
words, it may or may not happen, depending on how the hearer responds. If
conditions are met and the required change is implemented, the judgment
Jesus warned of would be voided. He was calling on everyone involved to
repent of their “deeds” — the Greek word ergon, which describes deeds,
actions, or activities. He didn’t just want a verbal “I’m sorry.” He wanted
those whose actions had qualified them for this warning to make the
decision to change their behavior.

Before Jesus Takes Action,

He Thoroughly Investigates
In Revelation 2:23, Jesus said something that is very difficult for most
believers hear. Continuing His words of correction to the church of
Thyatira, He vowed, “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.”
First, notice the phrase “I will kill.” In Greek, it is the word apokteino,
which means to slaughter or to put an abrupt end to. It can also denote the
giving of a death sentence. What was it that Jesus said He was going to
put an abrupt end to? Verse 23 says “her children.” In Greek, the word
“children” is tekna, and it signifies children or offspring. Essentially Jesus was
saying, “I’m going to slaughter, eliminate, and put out of commission the
fruit born from her teaching.” How was He going to do it? This scripture
gives the answer: “with death.” The word “death” here is the Greek word
thanatos, which pictures finality, mortal danger, or a dangerous circumstance.
Jesus went on to say, “…All the churches shall know that I am he which
searcheth the reins and hearts…” (Revelation 2:23). The phrase “shall

64 | STUDY GUIDE
know” is the future tense of the Greek word ginosko, which means to know,
to perceive, or to comprehend. By using this word, Jesus was saying, “All
the churches shall understand and truly comprehend what I think of the
doctrine of compromise.” When judgment comes to the house of God, it
sends a clear message to the entire Body. Believers everywhere understand
things about Him that they have never before comprehended.
The word “searcheth” in verse 23 is also significant. It comes from the
Greek word ereunao, which means to search; to work through all the materials
and evidence to obtain a full picture; or an investigation that yields correct
conclusions. This word lets us know the meticulousness in which Jesus
operates. He takes no action until He thoroughly investigates and sees the
full picture.
What does Jesus thoroughly search? He said “the reins and hearts.” The
word “reins” in this verse is the Greek word nephros, which means kidneys.
In the New Testament, it denotes the human spirit or the depths of a person’s
being. The word “hearts” in Greek is kardia. In addition to describing the
human heart, it depicts emotion and passion. When the Bible says Jesus
“searcheth the reins and hearts,” it means He thoroughly investigates
a person’s soul and spirit, carefully examining emotions, instincts, and
passions. Every part is examined from every angle until all is brought to
light.
Once a full investigation is concluded, Jesus explained what came next:
“…I will give unto every one of you according to your works.” In Greek,
the phrase “I will give” is the word doso, and it describes a very personal
involvement in the act of giving on the part of Jesus. Essentially, He was
saying, “I will personally give; I will personally bestow; and I will person-
ally deliver.” And this very personal act is to “every one of you,” which
is a phrase from the Greek word hekastos. It is an all-inclusive term that
embraces everyone, no one excluded.
As a child of God, you have a promise from Jesus Himself to personally
give and deliver to you “according to your works.” The word “according”
in Greek is the word kata, which in this case means exactly according to. It
indicates a full accounting of the facts.
After Jesus has fully investigated, He is going to give us exactly what we
deserve according to our “works.” This word “works” is again the Greek
word erga, which describes deeds, actions, or activities.

Christ’s Message to Thyatira | 65

 Does Jesus Still Judge People Today?
Some people wonder, If Christ received God’s judgment on the Cross for our
sin and the sin of the world, does God still judge people today? This is a good
question, and you need to know the answer. First, God does not judge us for
past sin that we have already repented of. Those past sins are under the blood
and removed from us as far as the east is from the west (see Psalm 103:12).
However, the Bible makes it clear that God will judge any leader or
believer who wrongfully handles the Church. If we “defile” or “destroy”
God’s temple, we put ourselves in danger. First Corinthians 3:16 and 17
says, “Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of
God dwelleth in you? If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God
destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are.”
You are the “temple” of God, and that word “temple” is the Greek word
naos, which describes a highly decorated shrine. As a believer, you are the
highly decorated habitation, or house, of the Spirit of God on the earth.
You are a part of His Church, and the Church is precious in God’s sight
— so much so that He says, “…If any man defile the temple of God, him
shall God destroy…” (1 Corinthians 3:17).
Interestingly, the words “defile” and “destroy” are the exact same word in
Greek — the word phtheiro, which means to spoil, plunder, destroy, empty,
or wipe out. How you treat the Church is exactly how God is going to
treat you. If you bless the Church, God will bless you. But if you spoil,
plunder, or destroy the Church — if you empty the Church of its truth or
power — the Lord will allow the same actions to come upon you.
It is actually the law of sowing and reaping that kicks into action (see
Galatians 6:7,8). Anyone who handles the house of God — the people
of God — improperly, the law of sowing and reaping will bring the same
treatment into his or her own life.
This may not be popular in today’s spiritual climate, but this is the teaching
of Scripture. The absence of this teaching has resulted in an absence of the
fear of God in the Church today. When this is taught and understood, seri-
ousness and sobriety will come to God’s people. Yes, He wants to bless us.
Jesus came to give us life and life more abundantly (see John 10:10). But we
also need to realize that if we mishandle the Church and refuse to repent,
we are going to reap the same kind of treatment in our own lives. This is
exactly what the woman Jezebel in the church of Thyatira was facing.

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STUDY QUESTIONS
Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth
not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
— 2 Timothy 2:15

The Church is the Body of Christ. It is His Bride. It is made up of people

from every tribe, every nation, and every continent around the world. How
we treat God’s people (His Church) is very important to Him, as we have
seen in the case of Jezebel and her mistreatment of the believers in the
church of Thyatira.
1. In Matthew 18:5-9, what does Jesus say about your treatment of
“little ones” in the Church? (Also consider Matthew 10:42 and Mark
9:42-47.)
2. Carefully read Jesus’ words in Luke 12:42-48. Identify the charac-
teristics of a wise and faithful servant that we are to emulate and the
qualities of a wicked servant we are to avoid.

PRACTICAL APPLICATION
But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only,
deceiving your own selves.
— James 1:22

The woman Jezebel at the church in Thyatira heard the voice of the Lord
pleading with her to repent, but she willfully continued doing what she
knew was wrong. Jesus had no other choice but to deal with her and put a
stop to her destructive doctrines.
1. How does this lesson put a holy reverential fear of God in you regard-
ing the way you treat fellow believers? (Consider Romans 14:10-13; 2
Corinthians 5:9,10.)
2. Have you mishandled a brother or sister in the Body of Christ? Is
there someone you need to go to and humbly apologize for mislead-
ing or mistreating them? Take time now to ask the Holy Spirit to
thoroughly search your heart and show you anything that displeases
Him (see Psalm 139:23,24). Repent of any sin, and carry out any
action steps He prompts you to take.

Christ’s Message to Thyatira | 67

 LESSON 9

TOPIC
The Depths of Satan
Inside the Church
SCRIPTURES
1. Revelation 2:18-24 — 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. 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. 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. And I gave her
space to repent of her fornication; and she repented not. Behold, I
will cast her into a bed, and them that commit adultery with her into
great tribulation, except they repent of their deeds. 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. 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.

GREEK WORDS
1. “I say” — λέγω (lego): direct speech; I say
2. “doctrine” — τὴν διδαχὴν (ten didachen): with a definite article,
well-packaged information
3. “depths” — βαθύς (bathus): depths; alleged deep places; used to
depict depths of the sea
4. “Satan” — Σατανᾶς (satanas): an adversary who hates and conspires
against
5. “burden” — βάρος (baros): a heavy or crushing weight

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SYNOPSIS
When the preachers of the Gospel arrived in the ancient city of Thyatira,
they came face to face with a very dark and disturbing place. It was a
pagan city filled with politicians, military officers, and thousands of rough
Roman soldiers. Yet with the anointing of the Holy Spirit, these ministers
of truth boldly proclaimed the Good News of Jesus Christ, and a thriving
church was born.
Of course, no church is without problems, and Thyatira was no exception.
In fact, it had some serious issues. The pastor and certain people were
permitting a woman in leadership to teach false doctrine that was leading
people astray. Those involved with this error were to repent and realign
themselves with the pure teaching of Scripture, but they had not heeded
Jesus’ command. As a result, the depths of Satan had been let loose inside
the church.

The emphasis of this lesson:

As a result of Jezebel’s teaching and the people who supported it, the
depths of Satan had been unleashed in the church of Thyatira. But to all
those who rejected her doctrine of compromise, Jesus was pleased.

Jesus Was Fully Aware of the Situation

in the Church of Thyatira
Jesus spoke a strong message to the church of Thyatira in Revelation 2. In
verses 18 and 19, He said, “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. 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.”
We have determined that the “angel” of the church of Thyatira to whom
Jesus was speaking was the pastor. A pastor’s primary, God-given responsi-
bility is to be God’s voice to the church. He is to receive the messages God
is speaking to the church, incorporate them into his own life, and feed
them to the congregation he shepherds in the power of the Holy Spirit.
To each of the seven churches Christ spoke to in Revelation 2 and 3, He
said, “I know thy works.” The phrase “I know” is the Greek word oida,
which means, “I know; I’ve seen; I’ve personally observed with My own eyes

Christ’s Message to Thyatira | 69

your works. What I know about you is not what has been reported to Me by an
angel or anyone else. I have personally witnessed it Myself.”
This brings us to the word “works,” which we have seen is the Greek word
erga, and it means every activity, deed, and action. The use of this word is
the same as Jesus saying, “I know absolutely everything there is to know
about you; there is nothing about you I do not know.” This was a great
church that was making a great impact in the lives of the people in the
region.

The Strike Against the Church Deeply Disturbed Him

There was, however, something going on in the church that was deeply
disturbing to Jesus and that He had to address. In Revelation 2:20, He
said, “Notwithstanding I have a few things against thee….”
We have seen that the word “notwithstanding” is the Greek word alla, and
it marks a pause or a break in the text. Jesus was transitioning from His
words of commendation to His words of correction. Essentially, He was
saying, “In spite of all these good qualities I’ve just noted, there’s an issue I
have against you.”
The phrase “I have” is from the Greek word echo, and it means I hold or I
embrace. It carries the idea of holding something very close and personal
to one’s heart. Jesus had an issue He held very deeply “against” the church
of Thyatira. The word “against” is the Greek word kata, which describes a
downward mark or strike. Despite all the marvelous works being done in
the church, Jesus said, “I personally hold a serious strike against you.”
He continued saying, “…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” (Revelation
2:20). Again, notice the word “prophetess” — the Greek word prophetes. It
describes one who speaks on behalf of God.
Jezebel was claiming to be God’s voice to the people, but she was speaking
a doctrine of compromise that was out of sync with Scripture. Her basic
message was this: “Relax and don’t be so strict. Lower your standards and
be more inclusive of the people in the world. This will help you blend in
and be accepted by others.” Her seducing words were leading a number of
believers in Thyatira to commit fornication, which deeply disturbed Jesus.

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The truth is, if Jezebel was truly a “prophetess” who spoke on behalf of
God, she would have been saying what God says. Regardless of whether
or not it was comfortable or enjoyable to speak, she would have echoed
the truth, not modified it to suit her own interests. Society and culture are
constantly in a state of change, but truth never changes. As God’s prophetic
voice to the Church and the world, we are to speak only what He is saying
— no more, no less.

He Gave Jezebel Time To Repent, But She Refused

Jesus said, “I gave her space to repent of her fornication; and she repented
not” (Revelation 2:21). The word “fornication” is the Greek word pornea,
which describes any sexual activity outside of marriage. By using this word,
Jesus was saying, “I’ve given Jezebel a specific amount of time to repent
of her spiritual adultery.” By encouraging people to compromise God’s
standards of holiness, the woman Jesus called Jezebel was inciting them to
commit spiritual adultery.
As believers, we are the temple of God and His Spirit lives in us (see 1
Corinthians 3:16). First Corinthians 3:17 says, “If any man defile the tem-
ple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which
temple ye are.” Jezebel was defiling God’s temple, and Jesus warned her to
stop it. He personally gave her “space” — the Greek word chronos, meaning
a specified season of time — to repent. But Scripture says she “willed not to
repent of her fornication.”
To deal with Jezebel, Jesus said, “Behold, I will cast her into a bed, and
them that commit adultery with her into great tribulation, except they
repent of their deeds” (Revelation 2:22). The word “except” here indicates
that Jesus was hopeful that Jezebel might repent and realign herself with
the truth. He never wants to deal harshly with or bring judgment on His
people. But if they will not repent and if they deliberately choose to keep
doing wrong, He is left with no other choice.
In verse 23, Jesus declared, “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.”

Not Everyone Supported Jezebel’s Efforts

In Revelation 2:24, Jesus spoke to the believers of Thyatira — those who
had not supported Jezebel’s false doctrine. To them, He declared, “But

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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.”
The words “I say” is the Greek word lego, and it is very direct speech. By
including this word, it was the equivalent of Jesus saying, “Listen to Me;
I’m speaking to you, and not just you but unto the rest.” The phrase “unto
the rest” in the Greek means “unto the balance of you — unto all of you, as
many as have not this false doctrine.”
The Greek translation of the word “doctrine” is ten didachen. It includes a
definite article and describes well-packaged information. This tells us that
the deadly doctrine of compromise Jezebel had introduced into the church
of Thyatira was not blatant error; it was carefully and cleverly disguised. It
would be like taking a small amount of poison and mixing it together with
a larger amount of quality food. Jezebel was successful in getting people
to swallow her deception because it was unrecognizable in its alluring
package.
The Holy Spirit has much to say in the New Testament about the prolif-
eration of seducing doctrine in the last days. First Timothy 4:1 says, “Now
the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart
from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils.”
In this passage, the Holy Spirit forecasts that at the very end of the age,
when there is no more time remaining in this present season, a breeding
ground for error will fester not only in the secular world, but also within
the Church.
For anyone with a discerning eye, it is unmistakably clear that these
seductive spirits are already at work. One observing the absurd moral
developments in various sectors of society can turn his focus on certain
quarters of the Body of Christ and recognize the camouflaged error that is
also trying to emerge in the Church in our times.
In the Christian world today, there are some spiritual leaders who seek a
dangerous truce with the world under the guise of inclusiveness and com-
promise. (This was what the woman called Jezebel in Thyatira was doing.)
Many of these leaders once held strong doctrinal positions. However, over
time they began to shape their beliefs to meld with the changing moral
climate of society — and in the process, they produced a Gospel message
very different from the one presented in the Bible.

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The problem of worldly compromise continues to spread in the Church,
and even some visible Christian leaders are promoting this trend. It is
therefore vital for mature believers to be able to recognize the process of
seduction that seeks to “repackage” the Gospel — adapting and diluting it
in an attempt to make it more palatable.

‘The Depths of Satan’

Keep in mind, the Jezebel in Thyatira was calling herself a “prophetess”
— claiming to be the voice of God. It seems she alleged to have a “new
revelation” from God, but it was really nothing more than a modification
of the truth. What she was saying was not really from the mouth of God.
It was a highly sophisticated repackaging of the truth, and Jesus called it
“the depths of Satan” (see Revelation 2:24).
The word “depths” is the Greek word bathus, and it was used to depict the
depths of the sea. It describes depths or alleged deep places. It’s very likely that
Jezebel said, “I’m on the cutting edge of new, progressive thinking. I can
see what we as the Church need to do. Being more inclusive and melding
with society is the direction for our future.” With great care, she repack-
aged the truth so the believers in Thyatira could blend in with society and
no longer be viewed as narrow-minded, bigoted, or relics of the past. In
this woman’s mind, the acceptance of Christians by society was of utmost
importance. This would ensure they could keep their jobs, maintain a
steady income, and not pay a price for their faith.
The problem with Jezebel’s doctrine was that it didn’t line up with the
truth. Jesus said, “If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before
it hated you. If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but
because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world,
therefore the world hateth you” ( John 15:18,19). If you’re experiencing a
little persecution from time to time, it’s probably an indicator that you’re
doing something right.
As believers, we are the Church. In Greek, the word “church” is ekklesia,
which is a compound of the word ek, meaning out, and a form of the word
kaleo, meaning to be called or summoned. We are God’s called-out ones who
are to be separate and live differently. He said, “…Be ye holy; for I am
holy” (1 Peter 1:16). The Greek word for “holy” is hagios, which means
separate, consecrated, different from everyone else. Any teaching that claims
you don’t have to be different from the rest of the world is false doctrine.

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 Jesus’ Promise to the Faithful
Jesus called Jezebel’s repackaging of the truth “the depths of Satan” (see
Revelation 2:24). The word “Satan” is the Greek word Satanas, and it
describes an adversary who hates and conspires against another. Basically,
Jesus was saying, “This false doctrine is a demonic conspiracy devised by
Satan and voiced through someone influential in the church of Thyatira to
take it down.”
Jesus continued with this promise: “…As many as have not known this
doctrine, and which have not known the depths of Satan, as they speak;
I will put upon you none other burden” (Revelation 2:24). The word
“known” here is from the Greek word ginosko, and in the context of this
particular verse, it means “as many of you as have not embraced, participated
in, or intimately known by personal experience this doctrine; you’ve refrained
from it — you and all those with you.” Jesus said, “…I will put upon you
none other burden.”
The word “burden” in Greek is baros, and it describes a heavy or crushing
weight. To all the people who did not swallow, support, or spread Jezebel’s
doctrine of compromise or add to “the depths of Satan” in the church,
Jesus was pleased and had nothing against them. They had chosen not to
cooperate with the devil by supporting or teaching compromise. They had
made a decision to stick with Scripture, live right, and walk separately
from the world.
Friend, when you stick with the truth, it will sometimes put you in a
difficult position — but in the long run, you win. Jesus is proud of your
stance for Him, and He is cheering you on. He is calling you, just as He
called the believers in Thyatira, to stay with Scripture, live a separate life,
and refuse to modify the faith, even if everybody else seems to be losing
his or her mind.
In our final lesson, you will see what it means to hold fast, overcome, and
occupy until He comes. There are rich rewards waiting for those who do!

STUDY QUESTIONS
Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth
not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
— 2 Timothy 2:15

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God’s Word says, “The thing that hath been, it is that which shall be…
there is no new thing under the sun” (Ecclesiastes 1:9). History does
indeed repeat itself. Consider how the history of Thyatira is being repeated
in our own time.
1. What similarities can you identify between what is happening in parts
of the modern Church today and what was taking place in the church
of Thyatira?
2. What responsibility has Jesus given to His pastors to carry out when
they are made aware that someone is teaching wrong doctrine to the
people under their charge?
3. How does God deal with unfaithful shepherds who teach false doc-
trine to His flock (see Revelation 2:22,23)?

PRACTICAL APPLICATION
But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only,
deceiving your own selves.
— James 1:22

1. The doctrine of error taught by Jezebel and embraced by certain

members in Thyatira is a sobering reminder of the importance of
sticking with Scripture. How about you? Do you truly know what the
Bible teaches? If you were to stand before Jesus Christ today, would
He say that you are a person who is committed to the pure teaching
of Scripture or one given to a doctrine of compromise?
2. Jesus said, “Behold, I am sending you out like sheep in the midst
of wolves; be wary and wise as serpents, and be innocent (harmless,
guileless, and without falsity) as doves” (Matthew 10:16 AMPC). How
might this principle look in your day-to-day existence? Pray and ask
the Lord to make this truth a reality in your life.

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 LESSON 10

TOPIC
Hold Fast and Occupy
Until Jesus Comes
SCRIPTURES
1. Revelation 2:18-29 — 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. 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. 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. And I gave her
space to repent of her fornication; and she repented not. Behold, I
will cast her into a bed, and them that commit adultery with her into
great tribulation, except they repent of their deeds. 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. 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. But that which ye have already hold fast till I come.
And he that overcometh, and keepeth my works unto the end, to him
will I give power over the nations. 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. And I will give him the morning star. He
that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.
2. Romans 8:37 — Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors
through him that loved us.

GREEK WORDS
1. “ye have” — ἔχετε (echete): have; hold; embrace

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2. “hold fast” — κρατέω (krateo): to seize; to take hold of; to firmly
grip; to apprehend; denotes strength, power, victory over something;
pictures taking something by force
3. “till” — ἄχρι (achri): until, to the time that
4. “I come” — ἥκω (heko): I have come; I have arrived
5. “overcometh” — νικάω (nikao): tense means one who is overcoming;
a victor; a champion; one who conquers, defeats, masters, overcomes,
overwhelms, or is victorious; used to portray athletes who mastered
their sport and reigned as champions; describes a military victory
against an enemy
6. “keepeth” — τηρέω (tereo): a watch of soldiers to protect; soldiers
who were faithful and committed to their charge, regardless of
assaults or attackers encountered; depicts a need to stand on guard
over what has been entrusted to a person; careful and watchful atti-
tude in any situation
7. “works” — ἔργα (erga): deeds, actions, or activities
8. “unto” — ἄχρι (achri): until; up to the time
9. “end” — τέλος (telos): completion; a climax; ultimate conclusion
10. “will I give” — δώσω (doso): the future personal form of δίδωμι; I
will personally give
11. “power” — ἐξουσία (exousia): delegated authority or influence
12. “shall rule” — ποιμαίνω (poinaino): to shepherd; occurs 11 times in
the New Testament, always in reference to the task of shepherding
13. “rod” — ῥάβδος (hrabdos): a shepherd’s staff; a staff of authority
14. “iron” — σιδήρεος (sidereos): something made of iron
15. “I will give” — δώσω (doso): the future personal form of δίδωμι; I
will personally give
16. “morning star” — ἀστέρα τὸν πρωϊνόν (astera ton proinon): the early
morning star; refers to Jesus’ perfect brightness; the brilliance of the
morning sun as it breaks through the darkness of night

SYNOPSIS
The city of Pergamum was an extremely powerful and wealthy city that
eastern invaders longed to attack and plunder of all its goods. To combat
and put a stop to this threat, the leaders of Pergamum built a barricade,
and that barricade was called the city of Thyatira — a weaponized military

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outpost staffed with thousands of soldiers ready to defend and defeat any
intruders.
A church was established in Thyatira in the First Century, and because
the city was a military outpost with thousands of soldiers, we can be sure
that many of the military personnel were coming to Christ. In fact, a large
number of these soldiers would have been members of this church that
was thriving and making a difference. Yet as amazing as this church was, it
was not without problems.
With great love and care, Jesus addressed every issue, giving the people
ample time to repent and make things right. He called the believers there
to be overcomers. As a congregation in part comprised of military per-
sonnel, the church of Thyatira knew all about overcoming. It is a mindset
that expects to experience one victory after another victory — the same
conviction Jesus wants to develop in us today. And to the Christians who
consistently overcome — both then and now — Jesus promised great
blessing.

The emphasis of this lesson:

God’s plan for your life is victory — from the time we’re saved until we
see Jesus face to face. Like the believers in Thyatira, we are to hold fast
and occupy until He comes.

You Are Called To Be God’s Voice

Once more, let us review the message of Jesus Christ to the church of
Thyatira in the second chapter of Revelation. He said, “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. 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. 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” (Revelation 2:18-20).
Interestingly, the phrase “which calleth” in Greek would better be trans-
lated, “who alleges that she is.” Jezebel professed to be a prophetess who
spoke on behalf of God. She claimed to be super-spiritual and to have
discernment and insight that no one else had. She declared to be on the
cutting edge of a new doctrine from Heaven — but she wasn’t speaking

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the Word of God. What she was teaching was well-packaged false
doctrine that was seducing believers to return to sinful ways.

Seize the Opportunity To Self-Correct

Jezebel, the self-proclaimed prophetess, was permitted to teach, even
though her false teaching was seducing Gods’ servants to commit forni-
cation and eat things sacrificed unto idols. Jesus said, “I gave her space to
repent of her fornication; and she repented not” (Revelation 2:21). We
have learned that the earliest New Testament manuscripts show this verse
to read, “She willed not to repent out of her fornication.” In other words,
Jezebel knew God was instructing her to stop teaching the error she was
teaching and to turn back to the truth of Scripture, but she refused to
cooperate.
God gives all of us an opportunity to repent of wrong attitudes, beliefs,
and actions, just as He did for Jezebel of Thyatira. But the choice to do
so is ours. Jezebel passed up the season of time (the “space”) that Jesus
graciously gave her to repent of her sin and correct her ways. If you know
He is giving you “space” to repent of something you’ve done, seize the
opportunity! The time to self-correct is a precious opportunity, not to be
wasted.
The Bible reveals that once the season to repent and make things right
expires, Jesus is left with no other choice than to respond with correction.
For Jezebel’s failure to repent, Jesus said, “Behold, I will cast her into a
bed, and them that commit adultery with her into great tribulation…”
(Revelation 2:22).
We have seen that the word “bed” in Greek can be translated as a bed or a
couch and is often used to describe a sickbed. It is also the same word for a
funeral bier. By using this word, Jesus was saying, “I am about to put this
woman out of commission. I’m going to put an end to her, her deeds, and
her doctrines. And all those that commit adultery with her are going to
experience a period of great crushing pressure.”
In Jesus’ mercy, He added, “…except they repent of their deeds” (Reve-
lation 2:22). The word “except” indicates that Jesus is still hopeful that
Jezebel and her co-conspirators will repent — even if it is at the very last
moment. If they do, the pending judgment He warned them of will be
averted.

Christ’s Message to Thyatira | 79

Christ offers us the same grace and mercy to turn away from sin and
toward Him.

Jesus Is Pleased With and Proud

of Those Who Refuse To Compromise
To those in Thyatira who refused to repent, Jesus said, “And I will kill her
children with death…” (Revelation 2:23). The word “children” is the Greek
word tekna, which means children or offspring. The implication here is
that Jesus will kill what Jezebel has produced with her seducing doctrine,
and He will kill it with “death.” The word “death” in Greek is thanatos,
which signifies finality. Essentially, Jesus was saying, “I’m going to bring
a decisive end to the rotten fruit this woman and her false doctrine have
given birth to.”
What will result from Jesus’ actions? He declared, “…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.” He then offered
a word of encouragement to all those who had kept themselves from
compromise. “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” (Revelation 2:24).
In our last lesson, we discovered the meaning of the phrase “the depths
of Satan.” The word “depths” is the Greek word bathus, and it signifies
something very deep. Jezebel and her accomplices claimed to be moving
into new depths of spiritual insight — that they were on the cutting edge
of new progressive thinking. But that was not the case. The “depths” of
spirituality they were moving into was the “depths of Satan.”
The word “Satan” is the Greek word satanas, and it describes an adversary
who hates and conspires against someone. Hence, by using the phrase “the
depths of Satan,” Jesus was saying, “Satan himself has hatched this
conspiracy in the church in an attempt to take it down, and he has done
it through the well-packaged, damnable doctrine of compromise.” On
the other hand, Jesus was pleased with those who chose not to swallow,
support, or spread Jezebel’s false doctrine, promising not to put any other
burden on them.

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 Hold Fast to What You Have
Christ continued His words to the faithful believers in Thyatira, stating,
“But that which ye have already hold fast till I come” (Revelation 2:25).
Ironically, in the original Greek, the word “already” seen in the King James
Version doesn’t exist. It simply says, “But that which ye have hold fast till I
come.”
The phrase “ye have” is the Greek word echete, which means to have, to
hold, or to embrace. Thus, the phrase, “that which ye have already,” could be
translated, “That which you have already obtained; that which you already
hold; that which you have already achieved; the territory you have already
gained.” To that, Jesus said we are to “hold fast till I come.”
The words “hold fast” is a translation from the well-known Greek word
krateo, which means to seize; to take hold of; to firmly grip; or to apprehend.
It denotes strength, power, and victory over something. It pictures taking
something by force. By Jesus’ use of the word krateo, He was saying, “That
which you have already embraced, the territory you have already gained,
the victory you have already apprehended — wrap your arms around it.
Use all your strength to grasp it, and refuse to let anyone take it from you
till I come.”
The word “till” in Greek is achri, which means until or to the time that. The
phrase “I come” is a translation of the Greek word heko, which means I
have come or I have arrived. We are to faithfully hold fast to all that we
have — our faith, God’s promises, the territory we’ve gained — until the
very moment Jesus visibly appears on the scene.
When you feel yourself becoming weary, press into the presence of God
and hold fast to Him. In those moments, your faith is being tested, and
the trying of your faith “worketh patience,” which is endurance (see James
1:3). The word “worketh” describes a type of chemical reaction from the
top of your head to the bottom of your feet. When you hold fast to your
faith in God during times of testing, an amazing thing takes place. His
Spirit literally fills you with supernatural endurance — the Greek word
hupomeno, which describes the ability to endure; supernatural stamina;
durability; or to hang on and never give up.
If you are weary, refuse to give up and then hold fast. As you do, God’s
Spirit will join Himself to you and give you the divine durability and
stamina you need to succeed.

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 You Are More Than a Conqueror
In Revelation 2:26, Jesus said, “And he that overcometh, and keepeth my
works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations.” The word
“overcometh” in this verse is the Greek word nikao, and the tense indicates
one who is overcoming. It describes a victor; a champion; or one who conquers,
defeats, masters, overcomes, overwhelms, or is victorious. This word has been
used to portray athletes who mastered their sport and reigned as champi-
ons. It can also describe a military victory against an enemy. By using the
word nikao — translated here as overcometh — Jesus has made it clear that
He has called us to be overcomers from now to the end of our lives.
The apostle Paul confirmed this in Romans 8:37, declaring, “Nay, in all
these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.” He
said we are called to be “more than conquerors,” which is a phrase trans-
lated from the Greek word hupernikos. This word is a compound of the
words huper and nikos — and it appears that this was the very first time
the compound word hupernikos was used in Greek literature. Paul literally
had to create a word to describe the level of victory we are given in Christ
Jesus!
The word huper signifies over, above, and beyond. It describes something
great, higher, better, more than a match for, utmost, paramount, or foremost.
It depicts something that is far beyond measure and conveys the idea of
superiority. This word huper means to be first-rate, first-class, top-notch,
unsurpassed, unequaled, and unrivaled by any person or anything. We derive
the word super from the word huper.
Under the direction of the Holy Spirit, Paul chose the word huper to denote
what kind of conquerors we are to be in Christ. We are huper-conquerors.
In other words, we are superior conquerors who are more than a match for
any adversary. We are utmost and paramount conquerors who are first-class,
top-notch, unsurpassed, unequaled, and unrivaled. All this meaning is packed
into just the first word Paul selected.
The second word is nikos — translated here as “conquerors” — and it
describes an overcomer, conqueror, champion, victor, or master. It is a dra-
matic picture of an overwhelming prevailing force that is altogether victorious.
By calling us “more than conquerors,” Paul is saying that in Christ, we are
overwhelming conquerors, paramount champions, and enormous overcomers.

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This phrase is so bursting with power that one could translate it, “We are a
phenomenal, walloping, conquering force!”
So when Jesus calls us “overcomers” and “more than conquerors,” He isn’t
describing a single victory followed by a string of losses. He is declaring
that in Him we are victory-producing machines — experiencing one
triumph after another triumph from now until the time He comes.

The Faithful Will Be Rewarded With Rulership

Looking again at Revelation 2:26, Jesus said, “And he that overcometh,
and keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give power over the
nations.” Notice the word “keepeth.” It is translated from the Greek word
tereo, and it describes soldiers who were faithful and committed to their charge,
regardless of assaults or attackers encountered. It depicts a need to stand guard
over what has been entrusted to a person or a careful and watchful attitude in
any situation.
Jesus said we are to keep His “works unto the end.” The word “works” is
the Greek word erga, which describes deeds, actions, or activities. The word
“unto” is again the Greek word achri, and it means until or to the time.
Furthermore, the word “end” in Greek is telos, which describes completion,
a climax, or the ultimate conclusion. It indicates the end of the age when Jesus
returns. The conclusion or completion of our walk of faith will not be
concluded or come to its full, maximized maturity until we have done all
that we have been called to do and we see Jesus face to face.
If we will faithfully stand guard over the deeds and activities that have
been entrusted to us until the time Jesus returns, He said that He “will
give” us “power over the nations.” In Greek, the words “I will give” are
very personal. It is the equivalent of Jesus saying, “I will personally give you
power over the nations.” The word “power” is the Greek word exousia, and
it describes delegated authority or influence.
When Jesus finds you faithfully standing and refusing to surrender the
territory He has assigned to you, He will promote you into a new realm of
spiritual authority. And with your new level of authority, you “…shall rule
them with a rod of iron…” (Revelation 2:27).
In Greek, the phrase “shall rule” is the word poinaino, which means to
shepherd. It occurs 11 times in the New Testament and is always used in
reference to the task of shepherding. As a faithful conqueror, you will

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shepherd the nations with a “rod of iron.” The word “rod” is the Greek
word hrabdos, and it describes a shepherd’s staff. It is a staff of authority
forged out of iron.
In Psalm 23:4, David said of the Lord, “…Thy rod and thy staff they
comfort me.” A shepherd used his rod to direct his sheep and pull them
back into line. If necessary, he also used it to discipline the sheep. There-
fore, when David said, “…Thy rod and thy staff they comfort me,” he was
saying, “It is a comfort to me, Lord, to know You are going to use Your rod
to direct me in the way I need to go, pull me back in line, and correct me
if I need to be disciplined.”
This understanding lets us know that when Jesus said we shall rule the
nations with a “rod of iron,” He was saying, “I want to give you delegated
authority to shepherd other people. With a rod of iron, you will be able
to direct them in the right way, pull them back in line, and bring loving
correction if needed.”

‘Lord, Give Us Ears To Hear What You Are Saying’

This brings us to Revelation 2:28, where Jesus said, “And I will give him
the morning star.” Again, we see this phrase “I will give” — the Greek
word doso, which means, “I will personally give.” What will Jesus personally
give? He said, “the morning star,” which in Greek means the early morning
star. It refers to Jesus’ perfect brightness or the brilliance of the morning sun as
it breaks through the darkness of night.
If you will hold fast and occupy until Jesus comes, He will make sure you
see the light of day. The darkness that you have been dealing with will
no longer dominate you. It doesn’t stand a chance when the light of the
morning star begins to break forth in your life!
Jesus concluded His message to the pastor and the people of the church
of Thyatira saying, “He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith
unto the churches” (Revelation 2:29). The fact that Jesus said, “He that
hath an ear,” lets us know that not everyone has an ear to hear what Jesus
is saying. That is why we need to pray, “Lord, give us ears to hear what You
are saying to the churches.”
Notice the word “churches” is plural. This tells us that every message to all
seven churches in Revelation 2 and 3 applies to every believer everywhere
and in every age who has an ear to hear.

84 | STUDY GUIDE
Friend, Jesus is coming! It is not time to let go and give up. It is time to
press into God’s presence and hold fast and occupy until He comes. It’s
time to hold on, dig in, and make a decision that you’re not budging. You
are going to maintain the territory God has assigned to you all the way
until you see Him face to face. You can do it with the power of the Holy
Spirit!

STUDY QUESTIONS
Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth
not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
— 2 Timothy 2:15

1. God’s Word spoken from your mouth is the one weapon that can
truly transform society. According to Romans 1:16, why should you
not be ashamed of the Gospel? What do Hebrews 4:12 and James
1:21 declare will happen as you ready, study, and speak the Word?
2. All of us become weary at times in our walk of faith. But God has
promised to infuse us with His divine strength as we sincerely seek
His presence. Carefully read His promises to you in Isaiah 40:28-31
and Philippians 4:13. Commit these truths to memory, and use them
to write a brief prayer to receive God’s empowerment.

PRACTICAL APPLICATION
But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only,
deceiving your own selves.
— James 1:22

1. Jesus instructs us to “hold fast” till He comes (see Revelation 2:25). Is

there anything you have obtained and achieved in your walk of faith
that seems to be slipping away? If so, what is it? What practical and
spiritual steps can you take to tighten your grip on these things?
2. Take a few moments to read and reflect on the meaning of the phrase
“more than conquerors.” Then in your own words, write a personal
declaration stating that you are more than a conqueror in Christ Jesus.
3. To experience an even greater impact from your declaration of truth,
take the next two weeks to speak it out loud over yourself as well as
over your spouse and children. Journal the positive effects that you wit-
ness as a result of speaking this truth.

Christ’s Message to Thyatira | 85

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Christ’s Message to Thyatira | 87

Christ’s Message to Thyatira
Christ’s message to the church of Thyatira in the book of Revelation
is one of His most important, yet most ignored messages. Have you
ever read words of Jesus in the Bible and found them difficult to digest
and assimilate? Many do not know how to handle the strong words of
Christ in this text, but in this series, Rick Renner dives into Scripture to
extract exactly what Christ was saying some 2,000 years ago and what
He is still saying to us today.

Who was Jezebel in the church of Thyatira? What sin did she commit?
Christ threatened with judgment those who adhered to her teachings!
What does that mean for you and me today? Christ gave Jezebel space
to repent — what did He expect of her? What is “space to repent”? In
this ten-part series, Rick Renner deals with these topics and more.

Topics include:

• What Is Repentance?
• Christ’s Warning to Those Who Lead Others Astray
• A Message to Those Who Do Not Know ‘the Depths of Satan’
• How To ‘Hold Fast’ and Occupy Until Jesus Comes!

Rick Renner is the author of the bestsellers Dressed To

Kill and Sparkling Gems From the Greek 1 and 2, which
have sold millions of copies worldwide. His understanding
of the Greek language and biblical history opens up the
Scriptures in a unique way that enables readers to gain
wisdom and insight while learning something brand new
from the Word of God. Rick is the founder and president of RENNER
MINISTRIES based in Tulsa, Oklahoma, and host to his TV program
that is seen around the world in multiple languages.

RENNER MINISTRIES • P.O. Box 702040 • Tulsa, OK 74170

1-800-RICK-593 • renner.org ©2019 All Rights Reserved