With a Blood-Tipped Ear

Before you start todays devotional, ask the Lord to use it to grow you up in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

We’re visiting the first-century churches represented by the lampstands in Revelation chapters 2 and 3.

Letter #4, to the Church in Thyatira: Stay true!

As we leave Pergamum, we travel inland to Thyatira. Nature itself has marked out this road, a very easy path, conducive for communication between valleys. In ancient times this was one of the chief travel routes of Asia Minor.

The church at Thyatira represents the Roman church dominating the Dark Ages (590-1000 A.D.). This season pictures the Son of God in judgment. His eyes are like a flame of fire, searching and seeing all. However, Jesus also commends them, “I see everything you’re doing for Me—including your love and faith, your service, and persistence.” All these virtues (good works, love, faith, ministry, patience, and increasing fruit) are produced by the Holy Spirit in our lives.

But Jesus laid out one frightful condemnation: “You’ve tolerated Jezebel.” In 1 Kings 16-21, Jezebel had brought paganism into northern Israel. Evidently, in the church at Thyatira, a woman was allowed to teach error.

Jezebel “seduced” them away from the truth (in sharp contrast to Lydia, also from Thyatira, who was the first to turn to Christ). Yet Jesus said He gave her time/space to repent, but she wouldn’t. Like the historical period of the Dark Ages, idolatry mingled with Christian works and worship, the papacy elevated itself to power, and rituals took priority over personal faith in Jesus Christ.

Jesus wants all churches to know that He sees beyond appearances right into every motive, feelings, and purpose. When He searches “the minds and the hearts” (2:23), He discerns our entire beings and will reward or judge according to what we deserve.

To the rest in Thyatira, those who didn’t get sucked into Satan’s schemes to worship a parody of the Gospel, Jesus promised no other heavy burden. He knows our hearts and knows what we can stand. When we persevere like this, Jesus said, “I will give him the morning star” (2:28), and His coming for His own at the Rapture becomes the hope of the church (see Titus 2:13).

Letter #5, to the Church in Sardis: Wake up!

The church at Sardis met in a city on the edge of a steep mountain. Only one guard was needed to guard one entrance into the city.

In the panorama of church history, Sardis represents the Protestant church between 1517--1800, an era beginning with the Reformation and into the great missionary movement.

Jesus presents Himself to Sardis as the One having the seven Spirits of God; that is, He sent the Holy Spirit into the world. The Lord commends this church for how their faith produced good works, evidence of the Holy Spirit at work in them even when the church as a structure was dead. Since the Dark Ages, churches try to “improve people” by putting cosmetics on a corpse, thinking a few rules and regulations will give you the power to live the Christian life. But we don’t have to do anything to be saved.

Remember Sardis was built on a mountaintop? But it was captured—twice. What happened? The guard went to sleep. The Lord says to the church at Sardis,“ Don’t you go to sleep. Wake up and watch out.” The people of Sardis didn’t know when the enemy was coming, nor do we know when the Lord Jesus is coming.

A few people, a remnant in Sardis, still walked with the Lord. The Lord said they are worthy. Protestantism, too, still has its saints who love the Word, who are faithful to Him, and stand by the Word of God. They don’t play around with sinful things. To these “overcomers,” the Lord said their names are indelible in the Book of Life and He will present them by name to His Father and the angels.

Listen to the Spirit’s voice speaking Jesus’ message to His church today through the Word of God.

Next: What church got only criticism and what church got only praise?

1. Looking at the condemnation of the church in Thyatira should give us reason to pause, because they tolerated the mixing of false and true doctrine. How can we avoid making this same mistake?

2. What does it tell us that persistence is listed as something the church in Thyatira was doing for Jesus, just as much as love, faith, and service? Do you think of persistence in the same way as these other characteristics? Should you?

3. What does it look like to be watchful? What can we do to follow Jesus’ command to remain vigilant?

Additional Resources

Listen to Dr. J Vernon McGee's complete teaching on Revelation 2:16—3:2 and Revelation 3:3-7.