Thyatira

THYATIRA (Part Two): The Power Of The Kingdom Of Heaven  (Revelation 2:24-29)

We are going to start with a passage from Daniel 7, a chapter that Revelation pulls from pretty directly with its imagery[1]: 

Daniel:  I was looking and saw the four winds of heaven blow in from all directions and sweep across the surface of the Mediterranean Sea, whipping up waves and turmoil within the deep. Four great beasts rose up from the churning waters, each one different from the other. 

The first to surface was like a lion. It had giant wings like an eagle’s protruding from its shoulders… a second beast rising from the sea [resembled] a bear… another beast… was fierce and fast like a leopard. It had a bird’s wings like the lion… a fourth beast arose as if from a nightmare, terrifying, more awful and more powerful than anything I had ever seen. 

As I watched the vision unfold, thrones were set in place, and the Ancient of Days took His throne above all. His clothes were the purest white, as white as snow, and the hair of His head was like the finest wool. His throne was a flaming fire, set on wheels that blazed like the sun.  A stream of fire emerged and flowed from His presence... 

The heavenly court will sit in judgment, his authority will be taken from [the 4th beast], and his supremacy over the earth will come to a permanent end…the fourth beast was slain, and its body was destroyed, delivered over to the consuming fire.  As for the other beasts, their power and position were taken away, but they were allowed to live for a little while longer. 

I looked and saw someone like a son of man coming with the clouds of heaven[2]. He approached the Ancient of Days and was ushered into His presence. To Him was given authority, honor, and a kingdom so that all people of every heritage, nationality, and language might serve Him. His dominion will last forever, His throne will never pass away, and His kingdom will never be destroyed.[3] 

I was deeply disturbed by all that I saw; these night visions terrified me. So I approached one of the heavenly beings and asked him to explain exactly what had happened…. The four great beasts you saw that rose from the wind-whipped sea are four kings who will rise from the earth and come to rule vast empires.  

But the holy ones of the Most High God will receive that kingdom which will last for all the ages to come, forever and ever...[4] Now the appointed time had come when the holy ones took possession of the eternal kingdom….then the great ruling authority of the kingdoms under the heavens shall be handed over to the covenant people, the holy ones of the Most High; Their kingdom will last forever, and all the remaining kingdoms will worship and serve Him.”

The ‘four kingdoms’ of Daniel 2 and 7 are overwhelmingly identified in one of two ways: 

·      Babylon, Medo-Persia, Greece and Rome

·      Babylon, Media, Persia and Greece.[5] 

I favor the view that that the fourth Kingdom is Greece.[6]  

·      First, the imagery for the Roman beast in Revelation is a combination of all 4 of these, suggesting it’s something new. 

·      Second, it’s soon after the 4th collapse of Greece and the defeat of that last horn in Daniel’s vision (Antiochus IV) that the Son of Man is enthroned in His glory after the Resurrection and covenant people are given the New Covenant along with the eternal Kingdom (the Kingdom of Heaven). 

I don’t think Daniel intends us to apply this to a Millenium age or the New Heaven and New Earth, because note that this all happens amidst the remaining political kingdoms of the world still being present (the beasts who are allowed to live),[7] and (if I am reading Revelation correctly), Rome still shows up as itself and as a stand in for empires the keep rising 

The writer of Hebrews talks about when Jesus, who “in these last days” (Hebrews 1:2) “appeared once for all at the end/culmination/consumation of the ages to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself” (Hebrews 9:26).[8] It’s the end of the ages (!)… but it can’t mean the end of the world as we know it. HELPS Word Studies might clue us in with its explanation of how it is the “end”:

 culmination (completion), i.e. when the parts come together into a whole … not strictly "termination" but rather "consummation" (completion) that ushers in a new time-era/age (Mt 13:39,40,49,24:3, 28:20)… when it reaches its intended climax (consummated conclusion).][9]

Something had climactically gathered history together and brought an end even as it ushered in a new time. That “something” is, I believe, the incarnation of Jesus and his death and resurrection. We typically talk about the break between the Old and New Testament, or the Old Covenant and the New Covenant, but there is even more going on. Something dramatic shifted in the heavenly realm involving the Kingdom of God, the dismantling of authority previously given to the nations and rulers of the world, and the installing of a ruling authority for God’s covenant people.

And yet here we are, with dragon-inspired empires and beasts still roaming the earth. How do we explain this? The rabbis and the writers of the New Testament understood the term “the Kingdom of Heaven” to have a dual meaning: 

·      The rule of God in the present

·      the eschatological [end time] rule of God over all mankind.[10]

Christians have long called this “the now[11] and not yet[12].” In Northern Michigan we know what this is like when it comes to seasons. When the first day of spring shows up on the calendar, the age of fulfillment has come, but the consummation stands yet in the future. 

·      “At present, we do not yet see everything in subjection to him (not yet). But we see him who for a little while was made lower than the angels, namely Jesus, crowned with glory and honor (now) because of the suffering of death”.  (Hebrews2:8–9) 

·      “Dear friends, now (now) we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when Christ appears (not yet), we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is.” (1 John 3:2)

·      We are already adopted in Christ (Romans 8:15), but not yet fully adopted (Romans 8:23)

·      We are already redeemed in Christ (Ephesians 1:7), but not yet fully redeemed (Ephesians 4:30)

·      We are already sanctified in Christ (1 Corinthians 1:2), but not yet fully sanctified (1 Thessalonians 5:23–24)

·      We are already saved in Christ (Ephesians 2:8), but not yet fully saved (Romans 5:9)

·      We are already raised with Christ (Ephesians 2:6), but not yet fully raised (1 Corinthians 15:52).[13]

The now and not yet. 

This is brings us to the second part of the letter to Thyatira. I wanted that background, because we need it to discuss a point that is being made.  

“I say to the rest of you in Thyatira, those who have not held to the teachings of Jezebel and who remain ignorant of the real meaning of what is called the deep things of Satan,[14] I will not burden you with anything more. Just keep on task, and keep the faith until I return. 

 “And as for those who conquer through faithfulness even unto death and continue to labor with Me until the close of the final curtain, I will give them the power of the kingdom of heaven.[15] And they will shepherd the nations with an iron rod/staff/scepter[16], as fragile clay jars are shattered to pieces.[17]  As I received this authority from My Father, I will bestow the morning star to the victor.[18] 

 “Let the person who is able to hear, listen to and follow what the Spirit proclaims to all the churches.”

 I want to talk about the power and authority that is both “now and not yet” for the followers of Jesus who are shepherding and shattering the nations. 

First of all, we don’t take that power and authority. It’s not a thing we conquer anyone else in order to achieve. It’s given to us by the one who has that authority. At the final battle at the end of Revelation 19, the heavenly armies do nothing other than be present. All the actions belong to Jesus, who is covered in a robe splattered with his own sacrificial blood. The only weapon used is the “sword” of his word. 

Second, the authority wielded requires a proper definition:  

·      moral authority and influence having an earthly impact (Strong’s Concordance)

·      God’s authorization for faith-filled saints to act authoritatively as guided by His revealed Word (HELPS Word Studies)

I don’t think we are intended to read this as, “In this age –‘these last days’ – we will be taking earthly thrones.” In this age I believe followers of Jesus have been given spiritual empowerment and authority in a kingdom not of this world; since it’s going to involve shepherding, it’s going to look like something the Good Shepherd modeled for us.[19]

How do we exercise this shepherd-like moral authoriy of the “now” over the kingdoms of the world?[20] How do we shatter the structures, the systems, the worldviews, the immoral plundering of cultures and people? Well, why not use the classic text on shepherding, written by a shepherd about the Good shepherd.

The Lord is my shepherd; I lack nothing. 2 He provides me rest in rich, green fields beside streams of refreshing water. 3 He makes me whole again by refreshing my soul[21]; steering me off worn, hard paths to roads where righteousness and justice honor His name.

 4 Even in the unending black gloom of death’s darkness, I am not overcome by fear of evil calamity or injury. Because You are near with Your rod and staff, I am comforted. 

5 You spread out a feast on a table before me, provisions in the midst of attacks from those who vex and trouble me. You care for all my needs, anointing my head with soothing, fragrant oil, filling my cup again and again with Your grace.

6 Certainly Your faithful protection and loving provision will pursue me where I go, always, everywhere. And my dwelling shall be, throughout all my days, in the house and in the presence of the LORD.

Here’s what is of interest to me today: how do we exercise our spiritual authority and embody the sin-shattering presence of a shepherd in the kingdoms of the “now”?  We are not the kind of shepherds who can save like Jesus saves, of course. We are ambassadors; we are not the King. But we can still learn how to shepherd those given to shepherd by looking at how Jesus did it. 

·      The Lord is my shepherd; I lack nothing. Do we offer nourishing provision for those around us? We can’t meet every need, but we can meet needs of all kinds – spiritual, emotional, material, relational. How are we contributing in the lives of those who lack in our church, our city, our nation, the world? Are people fed with the water and food of temporal and eternal life when the representatives of the shepherd show up?

·      He provides me rest in rich, green fields beside streams of refreshing water. Do the weary and heavy-laden[22] find the rest of God in our presence? Do the victims of this sin-saturated world experience the rest that God offers through salvation when they are in the presence of God’s people? 

·      He makes me whole again by refreshing my soul.  Are we being refreshed by Jesus? Are the souls of those around us refreshed by Christ in us? Are we the oasis in the deserts of the world?

·      He steers me off worn, hard paths to roads where righteousness and justice honor His name. Do we walk people toward righteousness and justice instead of toward sin and injustice? Does where we go with people or take people honor the name of Jesus? Whose name will have been made great when we have left the room? There is only one thing that will draw all people to Jesus when it’s lifted up, and that’s Jesus.

·      Even in the unending black gloom of death’s darkness, I am not overcome by fear of evil calamity or injury. Because You are near with Your rod (Protection? Discipline?) and staff (guidance? Provision?), I am comforted. Do we protect, guide, and comfort those walking through their own dark valleys? Are we bringing light? Do we offer hope both practical and spiritual?

·      You spread out a feast on a table before me, provisions in the midst of attacks from those who vex and trouble me. Do those who are vexed and troubled find us to be nourishing? If someone comes into our life starving for love, truth, justice, grace, hope, what kind of table do we set?

·      You care for all my needs, anointing my head with soothing, fragrant oil. How are we anointing the heads of those around us with a soothing, fragrant oil flowing from the love, truth and grace of God as found in Jesus?

·      You fill my cup again and again with Your grace. Are we pouring  the grace of God into the lives of those around us such that they overflow? If there was a magical camera recording spiritual realities and translating it into physical images (like Revelation), what would we all see ourselves pouring into the lives of those around us?

·      Certainly, Your faithful protection and loving provision will pursue me where I go, always, everywhere. Are we pursuing people with loving provision and faithful protection? Not just waiting for an opportunity, but actively pursuing people. Who needs someone to stand up for them? Who needs loving provision?

·      And my dwelling shall be, throughout all my days, in the house and in the presence of the LORD. Good reminder: We are already dwelling in the house of the Lord in the Kingdom of God. 

 

#practicerighteousness

Rest in the comfort and grace of our Lord, Jesus Christ, whose protection and provision is pursuing you wherever you go.

Pray for the Holy Spirit to reveal and transform areas that need redemption in your life so that your re-presentaton of Jesus is ever more righteous and refined. 

Purposefully focus on shepherding others well this week by imitating what has been modeled by the Good Shepherd. 

 

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[1] It combines the imagery of these 4 beasts in describing the beast in Revelation

[2] A well-known image of authority and divinity, often used to describe earthly kings.

[3] When Jesus referred this passage to Himself,  the religious leaders accuses Him of blasphemy (Matt. 26:64, 65; Mark 14:62–64).

[4] Notice that what the previous paragraph called the enthroning of Jesus in an everlasting Kingdom, and which Jesus identified as happening when he came to earth, is now referred to as a time when the people of Jesus begin to rule and reign.

[5] “The beasts can be identified by a careful study of history. The lion, bear, leopard, and fourth terrifying beast represent Babylon, Media, Persia, and Greece. Persia had four kings, so the leopard had four heads. The ten horns of the fourth beast with iron teeth represent the ten dominant Seleucid kings after Alexander the Great’s empire splintered into four regions. The smaller horn is Antiochus IV who put down three potential Seleucid leaders (horns) before him.” (The Voice commentary, from biblegateway.com)

[6] “The four kingdoms of Daniel 2 and 7,”

https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/themelios/article/the-four-kingdoms-of-daniel-2-and-7/

[7] Even while the other three kingdoms’ “power and position were taken away, but they were allowed to live for a little while longer.” In other words, Daniel is not talking about the end of the world, and yet the eternal Kingdom of God has begun. Hmmm.  

[8] https://www.desiringgod.org/articles/already-not-yet

[9] HELPS Word-studies

[10] “The Kingdom Of Heaven In The Here And Now And Future.” Marg Mowczko, https://margmowczko.com/the-kingdom-of-heaven-here-now-future/

[11] “The coming of the kingdom of God is not something that can be observed, nor will people say, ‘Here it is,’ or ‘There it is,’ because the kingdom of God is in your midst (or, within you).” (Luke 17:20b-21)

[12] Jesus’ many parables show the kingdom here and in progress - and yet to come.

[13] https://www.desiringgod.org/articles/already-not-yet

[14] “The reference to ‘Satan's so-called deep secrets’ is uncertain. The reasoning of some in the early church (the Nicolaitans) might have gone something like this: The only effective way to confront Satan is to enter into his strongholds; the real nature of sin can only be learned by experience, and therefore only those who have really experienced sin can truly appreciate grace. So by experiencing the depths of paganism ("the deep secrets of Satan"), one will be better equipped to serve Christ or be an example of freedom to one's fellow believers (cf. 1Co 8:9-11). Thus the sin of Jezebel was deadly serious because of the depths of its deception. Only a few perceived where the teaching was leading.” (Expositor’s Bible Commentary)

[15] Some translations read, “the power of

[16] Rod, staff, scepter. https://biblehub.com/greek/4464.htm  It belongs to Jesus in Revelation 19 .“It is not easy to determine whether the "rod" is a king's sceptre, as in Hebrews 1:8, or a shepherd's staff, as in 1 Samuel 17:43; Micah 7:14; and Zechariah 11:7.” (Pulpit Commentary) 

[17] Psalm 2 imagery for what Jesus would do.

[18] Domitian was described as the morning star in his ascension to the throne. “Roman legions carried the symbol of Venus [the morning star] on their banners to depict Roman invincibility. In this context Christ would be saying that the only final sovereignty and power lay with himself and his victorious followers”. https://biblicalscholarship.wordpress.com/2012/09/28/commentary-on-revelation-218-29/

Jesus calls himself "the bright and morning star" (Revelation 22:16). In Daniel 12:3, the morning star is promised to believers. Since Lucifer is at one point referred to as the morning star -  and Romans 16:20 says that “ the God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet” - a few of the early church fathers read this verse as, “I will even put Satan under the feet of the victors.”  I mean, it works, but I don’t think it’s the primary meaning of this text.

[19] “The promise is of authority to share in the shepherd-like sovereignty of the anointed King.”  (Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers) “The rule over the nations… is used in Revelation 7:17 of the Lamb shepherding his saints, and in John 21:16 in the charge to St. Peter to shepherd Christ's sheep. (Pulpit Commentary)

[20] Primary version is The Voice (my favorite), with substitutions of some parts for clarity.

[21] Passions, emotions, self, desire

[22] Matthew 11:28-29

The Buy In To Fit In (Revelation 2:18-23)

 [1]Write down My words, and send them to the messenger of the church in Thyatira. “These are the words of the Son of God,[2] the One whose eyes blaze like flames of fire[3] and whose feet gleam like brightly polished bronze: “I know your deeds: love, faithfulness, service, and endurance. Your labors greatly increase in quality as you travel along this journey.

A period of great prosperity was beginning for Thyatira. There were more trade-guilds in Thyatira than in any other Asian city at that time: wool and linen workers, garment manufacturers, tanners, potters, bakers, slave dealers, and bronze smiths.[4]

In a town known for its work, the church is known for its deeds: love that expresses itself in serving others, and faithfulness that has expressed itself in endurance. That’s a fantastic reputation. They are nailing the orthopraxy (righteous actions) and orthopathy (righteous feeling). The problem is their foundational orthodoxy (righteous teaching/belief). 

That’s going to need to stabilize, or the foundation is going to crumble. John is going to make this point by referencing the presence of a Jezebel (likely not her real name) in their church. Here’s the backstory of Jezebel.  

Jezebel married Israel’s King Ahab and got him to worship Baal; over 800 prophets of Baal were under her care. Most of the prophets of God were murdered at her request. At one point, she set up the murder of vineyard owner just because she wanted the vineyard. Elijah prophesied to Ahab that Ahab and all his successors would be slain and that dogs would devour Jezebel. Eventually, Ahab, Jezebel and her two sons, and Ahab’s 70 sons died as Elijah had predicted.[5] John is going to use this well-known Old Testament event to make a point about Thyatira’s version of Jezebel.

 “However, I have this against you:[6] you have tolerated that woman Jezebel, who is a self-anointed prophetess and who misleads My followers to commit immoral sexual acts and to eat food prepared for idol worship.  I have provided her enough time to turn away from her indecency,[7] but she refuses to turn from these immoral acts. 

 Watch; I will throw her back into her sickbed with those who committed adultery with her, and I will make them a bed of great affliction[8] if they do not abandon her indiscretions and turn to follow Me.  I will punish her[9] by striking her children dead.[10] Through this all the churches will know I am the One who relentlessly explores the mind and heart,[11]and I will deal with each of you as you deserve according to your acts.

 Like the Nicolaitans in general, it appears Jezebel is promoting participation in the guilds where the activities mentioned took place, which would mean at best flirting with idolatry and at worst embracing it.[12] I’m not sure how to best interpret the language of judgment here. I think (?) it’s best understood as simply making the point that just as judgment followed the original Jezebel (physical affliction and death in her case) judgment will follow this Jezebel (physical or spiritual? Commentators are uncertain). Whatever conclusions you reach from that, the consequences will be serious. 

This is the third time in the first four churches in Revelation that the Nicolaitan urge has shown up. One uncomfortable implication is that this is a common problem, not an isolated or unique one. Practically everyone is wrestling with this, and there appears to have been room to wrestle.[13]

But let’s this more uncomfortable. Don't forget: in Thyatira they were flourishing in “love and faith and service and endurance, and getting better at it. These Nicolaitans of Thyatira, with Jezebel as their leader, were still active and unwearied members of the Church, full of good works, and respected by the congregation and probably by the community for their general character and way of life.[14]

It’s a deceptive spot: “I am helping so many people, I am respected in the church and in the community, so not only is what I am doing with the guilds okay, I must be okay.” But John is here to challenge that. 

Let’s look at a likely argument that Christians could join a guild and participate in its feasts without compromising the faith.[15] 

  • The rituals of the guilds aren't really even meaningful to the pagans. They are simply empty rituals, more political than religious. 

  • Although the pagan guild members may believe that the gods exist, Christians know that the gods are nothing. (1 Corinthians 8) When believers participate in these cultic practices, they're not worshipping a false god because there is no god there. 

  • If believers do not participate in the guild events they will not only be persecuted and excluded, they will lose all relevance to the city and to the economy, and that doesn’t do any good for anybody. Participation in the guild meetings gave Christians the opportunity to be witnesses to, or positive influences on, others. 

  • Others might use the opportunity to indulge in sin, but Christians certainly don’t have to.[16]

“That incense burned to Caesar? Nobody takes it seriously. That sacrificial meat offered to the gods? It used to be idolatry, but if nobody at my table takes it seriously, is it really? That letter I get to do business says I was observed sacrificing to Caesar, but (wink wink) we all know I wasn’t really, right? And sure, there were prostitutes pretty boldly advertising what they had to offer, but I just looked, I didn’t touch. That’s righteous self-control, ya’ll. Plus now I got a good business deal, which means more tithe for the church - and I can support missionaries.”

But that’s the problem. Endless justification of that which ought not be justified. How do we do that? I think it starts when we begin to make categories about what God cares about[17]: 

”Things God Cares About”                          “Things God Doesn’t Care About”  

My Sexuality                                                     My Budget

Not being lazy                                                  Workaholism #moremoney

Your Slander                                                     My gossip #prayerrequest

Meanness                                                          Memes  #butitwasfunny!

Trust/Faith                                                         My need for control 

Loving Others                                                   Well, not that person…

But our faith is intended to permeate everything we do. When we are baptized (baptizo) we are marinated, spiritual cucumbers turned into pickles when our lives have been immersed in Christ. There is no part of us that gets carved out as if it were untouched. Everything is under the lordship of Christ. Abraham Kuyper famously said, “There is not a square inch in the whole domain of our human existence over which Christ, who is Sovereign over all, does not cry, Mine!”

If this doesn’t happen, we will be under the lordship of something else. In Revelation, you either get the seal of the Lamb or the mark of the Beast. Either a heavenly kingdom or an earthly empire will lay claim to your soul.[18]

There will be times when Christians can accept the existing forms, structures, perspectives and practices of society. It’s not all bad thanks to common grace.[19] There is plenty of room for legitimate discussion about how to be in the world but not of it. But there will be a lot of times when Christians must declare spiritual war against values, structures and practices of the empire.[i]

Here’s why we have to keep our antennas up on this. 

"Gallup and Barna hand us survey after survey demonstrating that evangelical Christians are as likely to embrace lifestyles every bit as hedonistic, materialistic, self-centered, and sexually immoral as the world in general." (Theologian Michael Horton)[20]

African Christian and missions scholar Professor Lamin Sanneh told Christianity Today recently that "the cultural captivity of Christianity in the West is nearly complete.”[21]

* * * * *

I was at a gym for a while where we would have a ‘buy in’ before the main workout. You had to ‘X’ before you could start the workout. I’ve been thinking of that in light of what the Christians in Thyatira were facing. There was a “buy in to fit in.” There was an entrance fee, a price for doing business, a price for being accepted, a price for living comfortably within the Empire. 

So my question is, what’s the price point for us? When is the buy in acceptable, and when is it too much? We don’t have literal business ceremonies in pagan temples in the United States; the push toward idolatry and compromise is not so obvious. So I’m trying to think of what this deceptive buy in might look for me like without a specific ceremony in mind. This is my list for me; I hope this spurs you to do some brainstorming of your own. 

  • If the ‘buy in to fit in’ with a group requires I believe that all roads lead to God, that's too high of a price. 

  • If the ‘buy in to fit in’ with a group requires I deny anything in our statement of faith, that’s too high of a price.

  • If the ‘buy in to fit in’ with a group requires me to be in a position or take a job where I can't ever talk about Jesus, that's too high of a price.

  • If the ‘buy in to fit in’ at a compelling job requires so much of me that I don’t spend a biblically responsible amount of time with my family, it’s too high of a price. 

  • If the ‘buy in to fit in’ with a group means I must align myself with a political party or a community group or a civic organization that unnecessarily detracts from my ability to talk about Jesus with those who are far from Christ, that's too high of a price.

  • If the ‘buy in to fit in’ with a group means unquestioning loyalty for our nation[22] in a way that does not leave room for a prophetic voice to speak righteous truth to power and call every leader at any level to appropriate repentance, that's too high of a price. 

  • If the ‘buy in to fit in’ with a group means exercising my constitutional freedom in a way that overrides the biblical responsibilities I have as a follower of Jesus, that's too high of a price.

  • If the ‘buy in to fit in’ with a group means I have to be comfortable with derisively mocking or slandering people I don't like on social media instead of speaking grace-filled truth in love, that's too high of a price. 

  • If the ‘buy in to fit in’ with a group means you want me to minimize or ignore the very issues of justice that God cares about and which the Bible demands I care about, that's too high of a price.[23]

  • If the ‘buy in to fit in’ means I have to treat people as if power equals importance, or beauty equals value, or education equals wisdom, or results equals character, I’m out. It’s too high of a price. 

  • If the ‘buy in to fit in’ with a group means I have to fight with the  weapons of the Beast to win battles for the Lamb, that's too high of a price.[24] 

* * * * *

We are reminded in this letter: 

“Know that I am the One who relentlessly explores the mind and heart…”

I think we probably ought to join in that endeavor. 

 I am really encouraged by our deeds here at church: you give generously, you are involved in important ministries in our church and in our local community, you support and connect with those furthering the Gospel in other countries. You have been patient with the rebuilding from the fire, and faithful through all the hardships COVID has thrown our way. Let’s not grow weary in that J

If this letter reminds us of anything, it’s that we must look honestly at the thoughts and intents of our hearts. Next week we are going to finish this letter and look at the promise for those who overcome. Meanwhile, let’s  #practicerighteousness 

·      What is the “buy in” to be a good citizen in the eyes of our American culture?

·      What is the “buy in” to be respected by the world around us?

·      What is the “buy in” to participate in the economy, to achieve the American Dream of financial success and comfort?

Pray for discernment. Process with friends. Revisit what the values of the Kingdom are as revealed in Scripture, and surrender your heart to God’s inspection.

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FOOTNOTES

[1] Key resources that have heavily informed this series:

·       Apocalypse and Allegiance: Worship, Politics, and Devotion in the Book of Revelation,  by J. Nelson Kraybill

·       A teaching series by professor Shane J. Woods on Revelation (shanejwood.com)

·       The Bible Project’s videos, notes and podcast

·       Michael Heiser’s teaching on Revelation (Podcast: The Naked Bible)

·       Reading Revelation Responsibly: Uncivil Worship And Witness: Following The Lamb Into The New Creation, by Michael Gorman

·       Dragons, John, And Every Grain Of Sand, edited by Shane J. Wood.

·       Matt Chandler’s Revelation Series (Village Church)

·       Ancient Christian Commentary On Scripture: Revelation, from IVP

·       Seven Deadly Spirits: The Message of Revelation’s Letters for Today's Church, T. Scott Daniels

·       The Letters To The Seven Churches: A History Of The Early Church, William Ramsay

·       Adam Clarke’s and Greg Beale’s commentary on Revelation

·       The commentaries available at Bible Gateway, biblehub.com, and preceptaustin.com

[2] Considering how Psalm 2:9 is quoted in verse 27, and Psalm 2:8 in quoted verse 26, "Son of God" is probably riffing off of Psalm 2:7, "Thou art my Son; this day have I begotten thee." Also, Thyatira had two gods worshipped as the son of Zeus.

[3] Daniel 10:6

[4] The reputation of this bronze may be part of the reason why this letter is voiced by the one whose feet are like burnished bronze.  

[5] Read 1 Kings 18-2 Kings 9 for the full story.

[6] In Ephesus there is much zeal for orthodoxy, but little love; in Thyatira there is much love, but a carelessness about doctrine. 

[7] Interesting that Jezebel's deceptive teaching (as bad as it was) would have been forgiven; doing it was not as serious as refusing to repent. 

[8] “So often in his dealings with man, the instrument of wrong doing is made the instrument of punishment. The bed of sin becomes a bed of suffering.” (Pulpit Commentary)

[9] “In some ways the judgment of Jezebel prefigures Babylon in chapter 18: fornication (2:20-21; 18:3, 8-9), deception (2:20; 18:23), the command not to participate in her sins (2:22-23; 18:4, 8), and that God judges everyone according to their deeds (2:23; 18:6).” https://biblicalscholarship.wordpress.com/2012/09/28/commentary-on-revelation-218-29/

[10] Compare the fate of Jezebel's followers of Baal, and Ahab's sons, 1Kings 18:40; 2Kings 10:6, 7, 24, 25. ‘Kill with death’ is a reminder of "dying thou shalt die" (Genesis 2:17), which probably carries the implication of spiritual death. See 1 Corinthians 5 for Paul talking about giving someone over to the “destruction of the flesh” and consigning them to the kingdom of darkness just by putting them out of the church. 

[11] “That I am he which searcheth.  Compare Psalm 7:9, [10], Psalm 26:2; Jeremiah 11:20; Jeremiah 17:10; Jeremiah 20:12; also 1 Chronicles 28:9; 1 Chronicles 29:17. But the closest parallel to this phrase is Romans 8:27, which suggests that this epithet was almost proverbial in the Apostolic age, whether applied to the Father as there or to the Son as here.” (Cambridge Bible For Schools And Colleges)

[12] “It is probable that by fornication here is meant idolatry merely, which is often its meaning in the Scriptures.” (Adam Clarke)  Beale agrees with this, seeing the language of immorality as representing adultery. He notes that references to porneia and related words in Revelation occur 13 times; 10 of them are metaphors for idolatry. 

[13] See 1 Corinthians 8 and 10. It seems likely (though not certain) that in chapter 8, Paul is talking about eating meat in a temple that was likely served during civic celebrations. Chapter 10 focus on eating meat that one would buy in a market that had been sacrificed to a god. 

[14] It actually seems like her personal character might have been relatively solid – but this just made her the more dangerous, because her character gave authority to her words. In fact, this might have been one of the roots of the problem: “that men should have confidence in their own character and judgment, [which] set them free from a hard law, while they were in reality enticing back to lascivious enjoyment the young converts who had barely ‘escaped the defilements of the world.’”(Ramsay)

[15] From T. Scott Daniels’ Seven Deadly Spirits: The Message Of Revelation’s Letters For Today’s Churches

[16] There is good reason to believe this letter is equating sexual immorality with idolatry, as that is a common comparison in the Old Testament. However, the idolatrous rituals were almost always associated with immorality. I suspect it would have been easy to justify sexual indulgence once the justification train got rolling. Since other passages of Scripture addressed those in the church who were trying to say that you could do what you want to with your body because its only the soul that matters, I think it’s safe to assume this was a problem to some degree here as well. 

[17] This list could change quite a bit depending where, how, and if you were raised in the church. 

[18] “When the question is thus put in its full and true implication…we recognize that the whole future of Christianity was at stake over this question… We can now understand why St. John condemns that very worthy, active, and managing, but utterly mistaken lady of Thyatira… he saw that she was fumbling about with questions which she was quite incapable of comprehending, full of complacent satisfaction with her superficial views as to the fairness and reasonableness of allowing the poor to profit by those quite praiseworthy associations which did so much good and misusing her influence, acquired by good works and persuasive speaking, to lead her fellow-Christians astray. If she were successful, Christianity must melt and be absorbed into the Graeco-Roman society, highly cultivated, but over-developed, morbid, unhealthy.” (William Ramsay)

[19] William Ramsay offers a helpful overview: “It was accepted on all hands that they were to continue to live in the world, and were not to seek to withdraw entirely out of it (1 Cor 5:10). There were certain accepted customs, rules of politeness and courtesy, ways of living and acting, which were recommended by their gracious, refined, elegant character, and other ways which without any special gracefulness were recommended simply because they were the ordinary methods of behavior… In many cases, where the idolatrous connection was not obvious, but only veiled and remote, the Christian might… comply with the usual forms, unless his attention was expressly called by any one of the guests to the idolatrous connection.”

[20] "Every day, the church is becoming more like the world it allegedly seeks to change. We have very little time, he believes, to reverse these trends..."  (Pollster George Barna)

[21] https://www3.dbu.edu/jeanhumphreys/SocialPsych/evangelicalmind.htm

[22] This is true of any nation….I’m not picking on the U.S.

[23] If you want me to solve them like a Marxist instead of as a Christian, that's too high of a price too. 

[24] I read an article on townhall.com two years ago that celebrated the fact some Christians on the political Right were using Saul Alinsky's book Rules for Radicals (a book popular on the political Left) as a way to fight their political battles. The author acknowledged that Alinsky dedicated the book to Lucifer and called it a “book of pure evil,” but quite gleefully embraced ‘good guys’ now using the tactics of the bad guys to defeat the bad guys. That's too high of a price. 


ENDNOTE

[i] “The Roman soldier, marching under the colors of his regiment, was marching under the standard of idolatry… Moreover, he was frequently required, standing in his place in the ranks, to take part and idolatrous acts of worship. Here, again, the rule of practice of the church seems to have been that an ordinary circumstances the converted soldier should remain passive and as far as possible silent during the ceremony at which he was compulsorily present, but should not actively protest. A similar practice was encouraged by the church in other departments of life and work. 

But in every case, and in every profession, the Christian who an ordinary circumstances might remain passive was liable to be pointedly challenged as to whether he would willingly perform this act of worship of the deity whom he considered false. In case of such a challenge there was only one course open. The Christian could not comply with the demand which was expressly made a test of his faith [and] must have no part or lot, and could not accept membership or even be present. Here the Nicolaitans took the opposite view, I could defend their opinion by many excellent, thoroughly reasonable and highly philosophic arguments. 

To illustrate this class of cases, we may take an example of a meeting which was permissible and one which was not according to the opinion of those early leaders in the church. 

 A meeting of the citizens of a city for political purposes was always inaugurated by a pagan ritual, and according to the strict original theory the citizens in this political assembly were all united in the worship of the patron national deity in whose honor the opening ceremonies were performed. But the ritual had long become a mere form, and nobody was in practice conscious at the condition of presents in the assembly lay in the loyal service of the national deity. The political condition was the only one that was practically remembered. Every member of the city tribe had a right to be present and vote. The Christian citizen might attend and vote in such a meeting, ignoring and passing and silence the opening religious ceremony. 

But on the other hand, there were numerous societies for a vast variety of purposes, the condition of membership and which was professionally and explicitly the willingness to engage in the worship of a pagan deity, because the society met in the worship of that deity, the name of the society was often a religious name, and the place of meeting was dedicated to the deity, and thus was constituted a temple for his worship. All are agreed: the true Christian cannot be a member of such clubs or societies.“ (William Ramsay)