THE TESTIMONY OF JESUS
IN THE BOOK OF REVELATION
Bereans Adult Bible Fellowship
Placerita Baptist Church
Place in the Book of Revelation
I. What you have seen (Rev 1).
II. What is now (Rev 2–3)—the seven
churches of Asia Minor.
A. Ephesus (2:1–7)
B. Smyrna (2:8–11)
C. Pergamum (2:12–17)
D. Thyatira (2:18–29)
• City of weakness made strong from
outside.
• A border garrison city.
• Stability reflected Pergamum‘s power.
• Characterized by trade guilds.
• Conflicts between Muslims and Christians
since first century A.D.
• Modern city of Akhisar.
Thyatira
• Near the center of Akhisar, visible
archaeological remains are located in a
fenced off rectangular city block.
Revelation 2:18–29
18 ―And to the angel of the church in
Thyatira write: The Son of God, who has
eyes like a flame of fire, and His feet are
like burnished bronze, says this:
19 ‗I know your deeds, and your love and
faith and service and perseverance, and
that your deeds of late are greater than at
first.
Revelation 2:18–29
20 ‗But I have this against you, that you
tolerate the woman Jezebel, who calls
herself a prophetess, and she teaches
and leads My bond-servants astray so
that they commit acts of immorality and
eat things sacrificed to idols.
21 ‗I gave her time to repent, and she does
not want to repent of her immorality.
Revelation 2:18–29
22 ‗Behold, I will throw her on a bed of
sickness, and those who commit adultery
with her into great tribulation, unless they
repent of her deeds.
23 ‗And I will kill her children with pestilence,
and all the churches will know that I am
He who searches the minds and hearts;
and I will give to each one of you
according to your deeds.
Revelation 2:18–29
24 ‗But I say to you, the rest who are in
Thyatira, who do not hold this teaching,
who have not known the deep things of
Satan, as they call them—I place no other
burden on you.
25 ‗Nevertheless what you have, hold fast
until I come.
26 ‗He who overcomes, and he who keeps
My deeds until the end, TO HIM I WILL
GIVE AUTHORITY OVER THE NATIONS;
Revelation 2:18–29
27 AND HE SHALL RULE THEM WITH A ROD
OF IRON, AS THE VESSELS OF THE
POTTER ARE BROKEN TO PIECES, as I
also have received authority from My
Father;
28 and I will give him the morning star.
29 ‗He who has an ear, let him hear what the
Spirit says to the churches.‘
D. Thyatira (2:18–29)
1. Characterization of Christ (v. 18)
– He is the Son of God coming in judgment
(see 1:14–15; 2:23).
Revelation 1:14–15 and 2:23
• ―His head and His hair were white like white
wool, like snow; and His eyes were like a
flame of fire. His feet were like burnished
bronze, when it has been made to glow in a
furnace, and His voice was like the sound of
many waters.‖
• ―‗And I will kill her children with pestilence,
and all the churches will know that I am He
who searches the minds and hearts; and I
will give to each one of you according to
your deeds.‘‖
D. Thyatira (2:18–29)
2. Commendation from Christ (v. 19)
– He commends the church at Thyatira for its
love, faith, service, and patience.
– He commends the church at Thyatira for its
recent growth in service.
D. Thyatira (2:18–29)
3. Complaint by Christ (vv. 20–21)
– He complains that the church at Thyatira
tolerates the false teaching and immorality
of an unrepentant woman named Jezebel.
D. Thyatira (2:18–29)
4. Counsel from Christ (vv. 24–25)
– He counsels the church at Thyatira to hold
fast to true teaching.
D. Thyatira (2:18–29)
5. Caution by Christ (vv. 22–23)
– He warns the church at Thyatira that
judgment must come to Jezebel and those
who are following her.
Ezekiel 33:29–32
29 ―Then they will know that I am the LORD,
when I make the land a desolation and a
waste because of all their abominations
which they have committed.
30 ―But as for you, son of man, your fellow
citizens who talk about you by the walls and
in the doorways of the houses, speak to one
another, each to his brother, saying, ‗Come
now and hear what the message is which
comes forth from the LORD.‘
Ezekiel 33:29–32
31 ―They come to you as people come, and sit
before you as My people and hear your
words, but they do not do them, for they do
the lustful desires expressed by their
mouth, and their heart goes after their gain.
32 ―Behold, you are to them like a sensual
song by one who has a beautiful voice and
plays well on an instrument; for they hear
your words but they do not practice them.
D. Thyatira (2:18–29)
6. Commitment of Christ (vv. 26–28)
– The overcomers at Thyatira will rule with
Christ over the nations (cp. Psalm 2).
– The overcomers at Thyatira will receive ―the
morning star.‖
―the morning star‖
Daniel 12:3 ―Those who have insight will
shine brightly like the brightness of the
expanse of heaven, and those who lead the
many to righteousness, like the stars
forever and ever.‖
Matthew 13:43 ―Then THE RIGHTEOUS WILL
SHINE FORTH AS THE SUN in the kingdom
of their Father. He who has ears, let him
hear.‖
D. Thyatira (2:18–29)
7. Practical Implications
– A church must avoid placing unqualified
people into positions of ministry while
attempting to increase participation of
members in ministry.
– A church must stay alert to the personal
problems of its members while attempting to
increase participation of members in
ministry.
D. Thyatira (2:18–29)
Questions for Discussion
a) How can ______________________ insure
the availability of qualified persons to
participate in church ministries?
b) In what ways can ______________________
do to foster a greater awareness that Christ
is the one ―who searches the minds and
hearts‖?
Implications Regarding Jesus Christ
• He judges.
• He knows His church‘s works, love, faithfulness,
and patience/perseverance.
• He knows His church‘s problems.
• He gives even false teachers time to repent.
• He will make His church know that He searches
minds and hearts.
• He rewards each according to their works.
• He lightens or simplifies the burden for those
unaware of Satanic opposition.
• He will establish His rule over all nations.
