18 “To the angel of the church in Thyatira write:
Thyatira was founded by one of Alexander the Great successors. It’s intent was to be a military outpost guarding the north-south road to Pergamum. Eventually, to came under the rule of the Pergamum. Unfortunately, the city had no natural defenses and the it was defeated and destroyed and rebuilt many times. In the references in ancient history, the city is usually only described as a conquest by an invading army. Around 190 BC, Thyatira was conquered and annexed by the Romans and that allowed them to enjoy Roman peace.
Thyatira was known for its numerous guilds. These are similar to today’s labor unions. The city had several industries, the main one being wool and dyed-good production. Producing purple garments was one of their specialties. This is referenced partly in Acts where Paul led Lydia to Christ in Philippi. Lydia is from Thyatira and a seller of purple. It could be that she was instrumental in evangelizing Thyatira, but we really don’t know how the church was started. There were leather-works, tanners, potters, and bronze smiths as well in the city. The pressure on Christians would come from the guilds who controlled who was able to work. To have a job one would have to be a member of the guild for that industry. Each guild seemed to have their own god and they would have a feast to honor it with sacrificed meat. It is also relevant that these feasts led to debauchery and to some extent of sexual immorality.
These are the words of the Son of God, whose eyes are like blazing fire and whose feet are like burnished bronze. 19 I know your deeds, your love and faith, your service and perseverance, and that you are now doing more than you did at first.
The words of Jesus to this very insignificant congregation are the most to any of the seven churches. This isn’t Ephesus which the Apostles attended, Smyrna which was greatly persecuted or Pergamum where the city could command life and death, it is a small church in a small city with a history of being conquered. Yet, Jesus has the most to say to this church.
This should remind us that no matter how insignificant or irrelevant we think we are, we are not. The size of the church is no indication of its importance. God wants us to be a church following Him and Him alone wherever we are planted, whether there is 1,000 or 10 members. He wants a church to honor Him and His Word wherever their home is.
Jesus refers to Himself as the “Son of God”. That title is found only in Revelation. Jesus often referred to Himself as the “son of man” in the four Gospels. However, sitting at the right hand of God having died as a man and risen again, He now confers the title of the “Son of God”. This would be a contrast to the most commonly worshiped god in Thyatira, Apollo the sun-god, the son of Zeus.
His eyes of blazing fire is an image of His ability to know our innermost being. He sees all of who we are, our sinful thoughts, emotions, and actions. Nothing escapes His vision. No matter how we justify an action or even a single thought, He knows our true intent. He sees through our deceptive veils and He continually watches all that progresses.
His feet as bronze is an image of power. He is the master craftsman and He is prepared to tread under his feet the enemies of the Christian faith.
He knows this church’s deeds of love and faith. This is in contrast to Ephesus who had lost their first love. This church’s motivations were sincere. The works they did were based on their love. This might be why the works they did now are more than they did at first. There simply is no replacement for a worker with the right attitude and motivation. It is more important than their knowledge and skill. Those can be obtained, but attitude and motivation are most often a bigger obstacle. This church has the right motivation, their actions and service are outward signs of their hearts of love for God and for one another.
He knows their service and perseverance and now their works now are more than at first. This is a sign of growth. They have grown as individuals and as a church in their study, prayer, and response to the leading of the Spirit. And so their works have grown and they do more. “Do good things and grow in good things” is a wonderful goal for any church.
Ephesus was instructed to return to the works they did at first because they had lost their first love, but here Thyatira is commended for the works they do which are more than they did at first because they have love. There is an obvious foundation that must be present of love for Christ before any church can properly do works and grow in them. The instructions to these two churches makes this something every church should consider.
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