He’ll be seeing you.
Two compelling features of the Lord Jesus Christ in His role as the center of any assembly are given to us in the letter to Thyatira. These two great and distinctive characteristics are the focus around which the letter to Thyatira can be understood. “These things saith the Son of God, who hath His eyes like unto a flame of fire and His feet are like fine brass” (Rev. 2:18).
Eyes Like Fire
1 Corinthians 3:13 reminds us that a day is coming when our works will be tested by fire. Those things that are done well will remain; the worthless works will be destroyed by fire. Here in Revelation 2, the first characteristic brought to our notice is our Lord’s discernment: eyes of fire that burn away false externals to reveal true motive and spirit. Hebrews 4:13 notes: “Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in His sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of Him with whom we have to do.”
This aspect of discernment or perception is repeated throughout the letters to the churches where we often find the words, “I know…” Here particularly in Thyatira those “eyes like unto a flame of fire” give additional emphasis to the clarity and depth of our Saviour’s understanding.
Feet Like Brass
The second characteristic we would note in verse 18 is that of stability: “and His feet are like fine brass.”
In Daniel 2:34, we read of the vision of an image that could not stand—its feet were weak because they were a mixture partly of iron and partly of clay. But in John’s vision of our Saviour, we see that His feet are firm, solid, and sure; they are like fine brass. Those adversities and controversies that would cause lesser figures to crumble will not affect the Lord of lords. His stance is sure and solid; His kingdom is everlasting.
And so it is these two characteristics which are presented as primarily important—both then and now. If the Lord Jesus was to be central to the local church at Thyatira, His omniscience and His immutability would have the most bearing upon their immediate needs.
The letter is largely sobering in content, but it is worthwhile to note that our Lord’s perception extends far beyond their failure. Hebrews 6:10 indicates that seeing the positive set against a predominantly negative background is a hallmark of God: “For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labor of love, which ye have showed toward His name…”
So it is with Thyatira; before there is ever a word of caution, our Lord commends them in verse 19 for their efforts. Their recent works had been greater than their first works; what a wonderful testimony for any local assembly! It is tremendous indeed to think that God Himself has planted local works, blessed them with godly leaders, given an increase, and firmly established them. But the challenge to keep the doors of any local church open is perhaps greater than the challenge to open them in the first place! What concern it ought to cause us as we see local assemblies around us dwindling in number and—worse yet by far—dwindling in fervor. In Thyatira fervor was not the problem; their last works were greater than their first and the Lord was not one to overlook their sincere efforts.
The Teaching of Jezebel
Despite Thyatira’s fervor, there were problems. We see all around us today ample evidence that heartfelt intentions and a sincere desire to work are not alone sufficient bulwarks against decline. It is with sadness in verse 20 that we find these words: “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 local leaders in Thyatira were not actively promoting Jezebel’s false teaching, but unfortunately neither were they warning against it. They chose instead the third and most dangerous option—simply leaving Jezebel’s teaching alone. They “suffered” or tolerated false teaching in the local church. We can only guess the elders’ reasoning for doing so. Perhaps they wanted to avoid controversy, valuing peace above truth. But while we may only hazard guesses as to their reasons, we need not guess at the result: the Chief Shepherd was displeased enough to record it in His Word as a warning to those who would follow Thyatira’s example.
The predictable consequence of leaving false teaching unanswered is also plainly given to us in verse 20— the servants of God are led astray into immorality. Each man rightly bears responsibility for the choices he makes to sin or not to sin; but we should not fail to note the significant role Scripture assigns to the toleration of false teaching in the local church.
In our day tolerance is held up as the greatest of virtues, a sign of an individual’s or society’s character. In Thyatira, however, this tolerance was the mark of a shocking lack of character—and so may it be for us now. How often we are tempted in our workplaces, our friendships, and even our homes to compromise and to tolerate, usually for the sake of peace. How terrible indeed that a sense of idleness about scriptural standards works its way up from these beginnings and infects even the local church, “the pillar and ground of the truth” (1 Tim. 3:15).
Let us not imagine that the Chief Shepherd is any more pleased today about a slackening of His standards than He was at the time this letter was written. Let us not imagine that we will somehow avoid the natural consequence of false teaching: seeing God’s people led into great sin instead of great devotion.
We further note that the attributes underlined for us about the Lord Jesus in this letter—His perception and His stability—are precisely the attributes that would have preserved Thyatira. If an overweening desire for peace hadn’t blinded them, they would have seen with eyes of flame what Jezebel was and what her effect would be. If stability of doctrine were not lacking, they would, with feet of burnished brass, have stood fast against “every wind of doctrine” (Eph. 4:14).
The Judgment of Jezebel
We have seen both a commendation and a condemnation of Thyatira. In verses 21-23 we see the consequence of tolerated sin. When men with positions of authority and tasked with tending the flock fail to do so, the Chief Shepherd must step onto the scene in judgment. Notice with what reticence He brings His chastening. But Jezebel and her followers, though given opportunity, do not want to change (v. 21). When there is no longer a possibility of repentance, the Judge of all the earth must do right. Christ’s judgment against tolerated sin is complete: “But who may abide the day of His coming? and who shall stand when He appeareth? for He is like a refiner’s fire…” (Mal. 3:2).
As His eyes of fire are sufficient to expose sin, so His appearance in judgment is like a refiner’s fire and will be sufficient to remove sin finally. In Thyatira, Jezebel and her followers are to be cast into great tribulation and ultimately, barring repentance, given over to death. Just as there were consequences to Jezebel’s teaching, so there are consequences to Christ’s judgment (v. 23)—”and all the churches shall know that I am He which searcheth the reins and hearts….” The testimony of Christ which was momentarily distorted by false teaching will now be plainly displayed in Thyatira for other churches to see.
The Commission
We have noted a commendation, a condemnation, and a consequence. Now we come to a commission, a charge laid upon those who remain in Thyatira who have not joined with Jezebel in idolatry. The commission is a simple one: the faithful that remain must emulate the characteristics of the One who is central to the local church. They must exercise discernment and stand fast. They need to see with His eyes of fire and stand with His feet of brass. Other than this simple adjuration, Christ places no additional burden on them. The sin and failing of some in the assembly has not been allowed to adversely affect the sweet fellowship of the sheep and the Shepherd.
In verse 27 we find that the conduct of the faithful in Thyatira is suiting them for ruling much more than the local assembly: their discernment and stability are exactly what qualifies them to rule the nations as well.
Finally, in verse 28 the overcomer is promised the “morning star,” a title of Christ Himself (Rev. 22:16). Those who have loved the Lord enough to exercise loving and thoughtful discernment, those who have taken a firm stand on the precious truths of Scripture, will find their hearts desire: “And there will no longer be any curse; and the throne of God and of the Lamb will be in it, and His bond-servants will serve Him; and they will see His face, and His name will be on their foreheads” (Rev. 22:3, NASB).
Written by Mark Anderson