Scripture: Revelation 2:18-29 Message: Cunning Compromise, Thyatira October 18, 2015; Bethel CRC, Brockville, ON Pastor Jack Van de Hoef The longest of the seven letters is written to a church in the least important of the seven cities. Thyatira had no majestic temples to boast about. It was not a prominent city for worship of the emperor. Thyatira was a bustling city with trade and industry on an important trade route. It was a blue-collar town, well-known for its many trade guilds. A guild was an association of artisans or craftsman. They would be organized in their areas of specialty. In Thyatira there were, for example, guilds or associations for bakers and bronze-workers, for people who made cloth and clothing, for weavers, tanners, potters, for people who dyed or coloured clothing. In Acts 16:14 we read about Lydia from Thyatira who was a seller of purple goods. These guilds were very closely-knit associations. They had extensive control over the business and trade of their area of specialty. Membership was a respected privilege. They also would have their own protective god and regular business meetings. These could probably just as well be called "office parties," because they ended up doing more partying than business. In this setting there is a strong and growing church. Jesus commends them in v.19, "I know your deeds, your love and faith, your service and perseverance." Good things were happening through these people. They had not lost their first love and that inspired them to be active in serving others. They kept the faith in their Saviour and Master, Jesus Christ. They persevered with patient endurance, even in the face of trouble, or when serving was difficult, or positive results were not obvious. But that is not all. Jesus adds, "I know that you are now doing more than you did at first." Thyatira had learned an important lesson: the life of following Jesus is one of growth, of progress, of development. It is not enough just to come to believe or to just hold to the faith. There must also be growth. In the Bible the Christian life is presented with various illustrations. It is growth from infancy to mature adulthood. It is a vine which grows, or a seed that becomes a tree, and bears fruit. It is a building that rises on a foundation. There is steady, positive, intentional growth. Christ praises the church in Thyatira for its evidence of growth. 1
As we read and study these letters in Revelation 2-3, we are considering what Jesus would say to Bethel Church. Would we be complimented by Christ for our love, faith, service, perseverance? Would Jesus see growth, not just in numbers, but growth in our faith and service and expressions of love and perseverance? These words come as a challenge to look into our own personal lives, and our life as a church family, to see if we are now doing more than we did at first. Could this be said of us? In what areas? In what specific ways? Nevertheless. There is a stinging rebuke expressed in this letter. What follows is severe and cutting. In the beautiful field a poisonous weed was being allowed to flourish. An enemy was being harboured in the fellowship. She is identified as Jezebel. This is not likely her real name. Her action compares with that of the Jezebel of the Old Testament, the wife of King Ahab. Queen Jezebel was a foreigner who brought Baal worship to Israel. What began in Israel as simply allowing people to worship God or Baal or both eventually resulted in complete Baal worship and disregard for God. You might recall the story of the face-off on Mount Carmel between Elijah and the 450 prophets of Baal (see 1 Kings 18). Elijah challenged the people of Israel to get off the fence and decide who was the true God, Baal or the LORD God. Jezebel had drawn the people away from true worship of the LORD. But there s another aspect to this identity of Jezebel in Thyatira. During the 22 year reign of King Ahab, the nation of Israel prospered materially. One of the reasons for this affluence was a partnership through a marriage of convenience with Jezebel, the daughter of King Ethbaal of Sidon. Sidon was a port city on the Mediterranean Sea which carried a lot of trade. Through this marriage, King Ahab had convenient access to extensive trade with markets throughout the known world. When Ahab married Jezebel, Israel's fortunes increased multiple times. So what if Jezebel brought Baal worship. The marriage was good for business. In Thyatira, a Jezebel-like figure has arisen. In v. 20, we read that she claimed authority by calling herself a prophetess. But she was misleading the servants of the Lord with a cunning compromise of faith and commitment. It was a compromise that was all the more subtle because of the setting in which the people found themselves. 2
To be a success in business in Thyatira you would be expected to join the guild of your area of trade. You might be able to do business without joining, but it would be more difficult. Each guild had its own guardian god. Therefore, if you belonged to a guild, your very membership would imply that you condone or even worship its god. You would also be expected to attend the guild festivals. While there you would eat food, part of which was offered to the guardian god and which you receive on your table as a gift from the god. When the feast ended, and the real party began, you must not walk out unless you desired to become the object of ridicule and persecution. In this difficult situation, what must a follower of Jesus do? If you quit the guild, you could very likely lose your position and standing in society. You could lose business advantages and contacts. It could be economic suicide resulting in barely being able to make ends meet and even persecution. On the other hand, if you remain in the guild and attend the feasts, eating food sacrificed to idols and joining the immorality, you compromise your faith in the Lord. Into the discussion of this difficulty walks Jezebel. She claims a special wisdom leading her to the answer to the predicament. After all, she is a "prophet." She may have argued this way: "In order to conquer Satan, you must know him. You will never be able to conquer sin unless you become thoroughly acquainted with it by experience. By this a Christian learns to know the "deep secrets of Satan" (see v.24). How can you know what is wrong with idols and free-wheeling sexual activity unless you participate in it? Then you will be a better Christian because you can speak from experience." Or she may have used a slightly different approach. "Look," she might say, "You know those gods are not real. You know that it makes no difference if some food is offered to an idol. You know what you believe. So why offend neighbours and business colleagues by ignoring, or worse, by condemning, their own personal gods. It's just a token offering you have to give. It would only mean standing at the pledge of allegiance or bowing at the prayer, or quietly (of course) joining in the hymn to the gods of friends or neighbours or co-workers at a social or political or commercial event. Why be so rigid and strict? Why not worship your one true God in private while simply nodding amiably in the direction of the false gods? Was this really idolatry? And why all the fuss about sexual immorality. Everyone s doing it. It was a regular part 3
of pagan worship to have temple prostitutes. Men had wives and concubines. The wives were for raising families and the concubines were for sexual pleasure. What was the problem? It kept sexual needs satisfied. It kept Christian tradesmen from looking like fanatics or even fools during guild parties and initiations. Just go with the flow. Compromise your own standards so as not to offend anyone or be rejected by anyone. Compromise was good for business. It didn t hurt anyone. Have you ever heard that kind of argument? Have you ever faced those kinds of decisions? Have you ever struggled with the temptation of cunning compromise? Everyone s doing it. I ll be laughed at if I don t join. I ll be excluded or lose out on opportunities if I don t go along with them. God knows how hard this is. He understands. He s gracious and forgiving. Let's not get legalistic. I m not really like them. How else can I reach them with the good news of Jesus Christ if I don t go along with them a bit? It s called compartmentalization. That s a big word that simply means we put various areas of our life into compartments or boxes. There s a box for faith, one for family, another for school, another box for work, another for relaxation. Each area is separate from the other and what I do in one area does not have an impact on the other areas. There is one set of values and priorities for one area and another for other areas. Can Jesus and our faith in him be limited to one compartment? What do we mean when we say Jesus is Lord of all? We are faced with some critical questions. Who will I follow: Jesus, or the leaders of the trade guilds or work or school or coffee shop? Who will be first: Jesus or the expectations of the trade guilds of those of my social circle? What will be most important: the success of my business or ministry or the vitality of my relationship with Jesus? What will take precedence over and control my everyday decisions: the values, priorities and spirit of my contemporaries, or the values, priorities and Spirit of the Lord of my life? (questions found in Discipleship on the Edge, by Darrell Johnson, pp. 90-91) God's punishment of those who compromise, of Jezebel and her followers is severe. 4
There is a clear message of grace and patience expressed in God giving her time to repent (v.21). But that time will run out and she will suffer an intense suffering and judgment. For example, v.22 says she will lay on a bed of suffering, in contrast to the sexual pleasure they so freely enjoyed. "Then all the churches will know...that I will repay each of you according to his deeds." This is not a statement about works righteousness. But it affirms that the deeds of our lives will be an expression of the decisions of our hearts. Jesus has identified himself at the beginning of this letter as the Son of God. He is the one in the position of all authority, even over anyone who claims to be a prophet. His eyes are blazing fire which searches hearts and minds so that everything is uncovered. The things done in secret are seen by him. The motivations of the heart are revealed to him. The Son of God has feet that are like burnished bronze which tramples on his enemies. This Jesus who punishes the wicked gives his promise to the faithful. In v. 26 it is the promise to receive authority to rule over the nations. The tables are going to be turned. Those who have been subject to the sinful pressure to conform and compromise, those who were oppressed because of loyalty to Christ, are going to rule with Christ in eternity. Those who overcome and do Christ's will to the end will be given the morning star. The morning star shines brightest in the darkest time of the night, before the dawn. Jesus also reveals himself in Revelation 21:16 as the bright Morning Star. Jesus promises to shine his light in the darkness of suffering and sin. Jesus promises to give himself to those who overcome. In rejecting Jezebel's cunning compromise, one receives Christ. The victor shares not only in Christ's authority but also in his glory. Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches. What is the Spirit saying to Bethel Church? What is the Spirit saying to you? Amen. 5