Revelation 2:20-23 - Thyatira

20 Nevertheless, I have this against you: You tolerate that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophet. By her teaching she misleads My servants into sexual immorality and the eating of food sacrificed to idols. 21 I have given her time to repent of her immorality, but she is unwilling. 22 So I will cast her on a bed of suffering, and I will make those who commit adultery with her suffer intensely, unless they repent of her ways. 23 I will strike her children dead. Then all the churches will know that I am He who searches hearts and minds, and I will repay each of you according to your deeds.

In the midst of all that is going well, the increasing good works and hearts born in love, there is a Jezebel. Is there a reason we don’t know anyone with the name Jezebel? Of course there is! The very name is a reference to a deceitfully wicked and evil person. It is said that “we name our sons David and Paul, and our daughters Mary and Rachel, but we name our dogs Goliath; and we name our cats Jezebel.”

Jezebel was the most wicked queen in Israel’s history. She was the daughter of the king of Sidon who had killed Pheles to seize the throne. She was married to King Ahab to seal a trade alliance between Israel and Phoenicia. Being from another land, she worshipped other gods. Unfortunately, King Ahab was weak and she led him to worship her pagan gods rather than he leading her to the One true God. She led the people to kill God’s prophets. Only Elijah couldn’t be conquered and his faith embarrassed her leading to the murder of most of her false prophets on Mt. Carmel. She arranged an “inquisition” of false witnesses, condemnation, and execution of a righteous man named Naboth for his land. She was treacherous and cunning. Her exploits are described beginning in 1 Kings 16 and 2 Kings 9.

In this land of guilds where people had to participate in the guild practices or lose their economic livelihood, there are parallels to the evil ruling of Jezebel. Should you not participate or pay your dues, you might lose not only your job, but your home as collateral.

Most commentaries I’ve read believe that this Jezebel was a real person there in the city of Thyatira. She was a self-proclaimed prophet leading people with a heretic interpretation of Christianity that included participating in the guild required worship traditions. The Words of Jesus describe anger towards someone who influences others away from Him. This is language mostly heard in the Old Testament. Death to her, her followers, and her children born into her theology. All who know of her and see her demise will know there is One God who sees into man’s heart and He repays each one according to the works that result from that heart.

William Hendriksen says in More than Conquerors, “Thyatira was indeed a lampstand, a light-bearer. But this does not constitute an excuse for failure to exercise discipline with respect to members who make a compromise with the world.”

“Now, we should be clear. God does not expect us to be perfect, though perfection is the mark we strive for. What He does expect is for us to be a community of repenting sinners. What He does expect is for us to call sin what He calls sin.” (Christ-Centered Exposition Commentary, 71)

Daniel Akin describes four areas of danger and temptation for a church.

1. A Personality Cult. “You tolerate that woman Jezebel.” Any strong, powerful personality that influences a church that leads people away from God and His lordship shouldn’t be tolerated.
   
    
2. An Authority Problem. Anytime people are following someone, there is a problem. Any good leader in a church will always reflect Jesus. Every opportunity to honor someone will always be a time for testimony and witness to God’s work, not theirs. There is no self-proclamation of title and ability. Also, when such a person justifies actions that are not biblical as legitimate actions because they help others or show more love for others, they are saying that they know better than God about what is right. I had a person who was in adulterous relationships and actively pursuing more, try to tell me how he was doing the right thing by forcing his wife and family go through their divorce. He made every argument he could conjure up how he was serving his family in doing this. In essence, he was saying his words are more important than God’s Words.  
3. A Theology Problem. An authority problem leads to a theology problem. If the absolute authority is not God and His Word, then it is man’s theology. MAN’S THEOLOGY WILL ALWAYS DETHRONE JESUS. Doctrine matters. Theology matters. Truth matters and it is too easily compromised.  
4. A Morality Problem. As we have seen with the other churches, there is the sense here to compartmentalize your sacred and secular worlds. Do this as you live in the world and do this as you live in the church. Don’t mix these two worlds. God calls Christians to holiness and He wants His ways to be preeminent in our lives. He has no room for any other idols as the king of your life. God calls us to follow Him, not the world.