2:18-29 What do we learn here from the church at Thyatira?
2:18-29 What do we learn here from the church at Thyatira?
We learn here that although we may abound to good works, love, service, faith, and patient endurance, it will count for nothing with Jesus if we compromise God's word in any way and engage in heathen practices. The word fornication is used here metaphorically of the association of heathen practices with professed Christianity.
This is a form of speech common in the Old Testament. It refers to the unfaithfulness of the Jews toward God under the figure of Israel being God's wife (cp Jer 3:6-10, 14; Eze 16:15, 22-26; Hos 2:2-5; 4:12).
Any unfaithfulness toward God equates with sexual immorality and unfaithfulness to one's spouse. Friendship with the world and participating in worldly pursuits is spiritual fornication (cp Jas 4:4; 1Jn 2:15-17 with Rev 14:8; 17:1-4; 18:1-3; 19:2).
That woman Jezebel in Rev 2:20, symbolizes the seduction of Christians from the truth by false teachers in the church down through the ages. Eating meat sacrificed to idols violates the principle of strong Christians being sensitive to weaker Christian's needs. This symbolizes Christians being more concerned about their own self-indulgent pleasures and pursuits than the needs and concerns of fellow-Christians (cp Ro 14:1-2, 13-15, 21; 1Cor 6:12; 8:4-13; 10:13-24).
The morning star in Rev 2:28 is a reference to Christ Himself (cp 2Pe 1:19; Rev 22:16). Jesus Himself is the ultimate reward for overcomers. They will rule and reign with Him throughout eternity (cp Rev 2:26-28).