In the letter to the church at Thyatira Jesus appears as the
One whose “eyes are like blazing fire and whose feet are like burnished
bronze.” (Rev 2:18) His eyes “search the hearts and minds of men” (vs. 23). His
feet are clad in the same metal that was overlaid the altar (Ex 27:2). Since
Jesus is now our high priest, we symbolically eat from His altar (Heb 13:10),
He being the sacrifice. Our lives and the works we do are to be offerings of
holiness upon this altar.
Jesus comes to tell Thyatira that she needs to raise her standards, to holiness. He is calling them into account for tolerating the false prophet, Jezebel, and letting her pollute the congregation with her false teaching. In the Old Testament the priests were required to be holy, set apart from worldliness and sin. Though our priesthood is spiritual, we are still called to holiness.
Jezebel was a person of authority amongst believers, who had no authority from God. She therefore sought the power of “secret knowledge” as evidenced by her sharing satan’s deep secrets (satan’s deep secrets are his desire to be as God – Isaiah 14:13-14). As a false prophet speaking to believers, she was encouraging them to offer “strange fire” (satan’s lie of the benefits of self will) upon God’s altar in their hearts. In the Old Testament, Aaron’s sons (as priests) brought strange fire to the Lord, and were slain (Lev 10:1). God’s true ministers do not use the fire from satan (falsehoods from self, others, and the world) to empower their ministry; instead they rebuke these lies as Jesus did in the wilderness (Matthew 4). Therefore, when the Lord deals with those who follow in Jezebel’s footsteps, He will “strike her children dead (vs. 23).”
Jezebel led her pupils into spiritual adultery: combining their spiritual relationship with God together with their desire for authority and the benefits of self will. They sought to come to God through their own self determination instead of through the cross. Those who seek praiseworthy works and power that come from their own hands will be tempted to follow a Jezebel’s lies instead of the Lord’s Truth. Because their hearts are not holy in their love of the Lord, they will not lay their will down in favor of His will, and they will be positioned to follow satan’s temptations.
However, to those who do not listen to “a Jezebel’s teachings” but overcome this temptation of self- determination, they will be given true power; “authority over the nations”. When Jesus gives them true authority and the spiritual power that accompanies it, they will destroy false kingdoms so that God’s kingdom can be established. This is illustrated in His reward; “He will rule them with an iron scepter; he will dash them to pieces like pottery.” (Rev 2:27) Those who follow Jesus' example, turning their backs on the power satan promises, can be entrusted with God’s authority. The foundation for this overcoming is being holy in spirit, soul, and mind. Let us, therefore, lay our lives down on His altar as a holy sacrifice, seeking to establish His kingdom and not our own. Amen.
Jesus comes to tell Thyatira that she needs to raise her standards, to holiness. He is calling them into account for tolerating the false prophet, Jezebel, and letting her pollute the congregation with her false teaching. In the Old Testament the priests were required to be holy, set apart from worldliness and sin. Though our priesthood is spiritual, we are still called to holiness.
Jezebel was a person of authority amongst believers, who had no authority from God. She therefore sought the power of “secret knowledge” as evidenced by her sharing satan’s deep secrets (satan’s deep secrets are his desire to be as God – Isaiah 14:13-14). As a false prophet speaking to believers, she was encouraging them to offer “strange fire” (satan’s lie of the benefits of self will) upon God’s altar in their hearts. In the Old Testament, Aaron’s sons (as priests) brought strange fire to the Lord, and were slain (Lev 10:1). God’s true ministers do not use the fire from satan (falsehoods from self, others, and the world) to empower their ministry; instead they rebuke these lies as Jesus did in the wilderness (Matthew 4). Therefore, when the Lord deals with those who follow in Jezebel’s footsteps, He will “strike her children dead (vs. 23).”
Jezebel led her pupils into spiritual adultery: combining their spiritual relationship with God together with their desire for authority and the benefits of self will. They sought to come to God through their own self determination instead of through the cross. Those who seek praiseworthy works and power that come from their own hands will be tempted to follow a Jezebel’s lies instead of the Lord’s Truth. Because their hearts are not holy in their love of the Lord, they will not lay their will down in favor of His will, and they will be positioned to follow satan’s temptations.
However, to those who do not listen to “a Jezebel’s teachings” but overcome this temptation of self- determination, they will be given true power; “authority over the nations”. When Jesus gives them true authority and the spiritual power that accompanies it, they will destroy false kingdoms so that God’s kingdom can be established. This is illustrated in His reward; “He will rule them with an iron scepter; he will dash them to pieces like pottery.” (Rev 2:27) Those who follow Jesus' example, turning their backs on the power satan promises, can be entrusted with God’s authority. The foundation for this overcoming is being holy in spirit, soul, and mind. Let us, therefore, lay our lives down on His altar as a holy sacrifice, seeking to establish His kingdom and not our own. Amen.
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