Throughout history, the Christian church has been no stranger to persecution. Jesus warned all would-be followers that persecution came with the calling (John 15:18-25). In fact, when Christ commissioned the apostle John to pen letters to the seven churches in Asia Minor, as recorded in the book of Revelation, the early church was facing historic persecution under the Roman Emperor Domitian. Unfortunately, it was not political persecution or external pressure that threatened to destroy many local churches. In the case of the church at Thyatira, internal compromise, false teaching, and a willingness to tolerate sin deeply troubled God.
Of course, John’s letter to the church at Thyatira was addressed to a community of first-century believers dealing with specific issues. However, Christ’s warning to the church of Thyatira and call to repentance are relevant to Christians today.
Where Does Revelation Mention the Church at Thyatira?
John writes specifically to the church at Thyatira in Revelation 2:18-29. Interestingly enough, although the church at Thyatira was located in the smallest city of the seven churches mentioned in Revelation, John’s letter to the Thyatiran church is the longest of the seven letters.
Like several of the churches addressed in Revelation, little is known about the founding of the church at Thyatira. However, this was not the first time the city of Thyatira is mentioned in the New Testament.
In the book of Acts, one of Paul’s first converts in Europe is a woman named Lydia, who resided in Thyatira (Acts 16:14-15). Paul had met Lydia just outside Philippi, where he was ministering.
It is unknown whether Lydia returned home to help start the church at Thyatira. Some scholars believe the church was formed as an extension of Paul’s ministry in nearby Ephesus (Acts 19:10). In any case, we know Lydia became an important figure in the church at Thyatira, and some of her family members came to Christ and were baptized following her conversion.
Where Was the Church at Thyatira Located?
The book of Acts also notes an important detail about Lydia’s profession in relation to Thyatira: Lydia was a seller of purple fabrics (Acts 16:14).
Textiles, specifically the export of wool and dyed goods, boosted Thyatira’s economy, making it a regional powerhouse of commerce. Thyatira was known for its numerous trade guilds, including wool merchants, bakers, potters, tanners, and coppersmiths. Many of these guilds worshipped a particular deity and expected members to make sacrifices to it. Those who refused often struggled to find work—which proved complicated for Christians who left idolatry behind.
As for the city itself, Thyatira was located approximately 35 to 40 miles southeast of Pergamum, the northernmost city of the seven mentioned in Revelation.
Settled by one of Alexander the Great’s generals, Thyatira was initially founded as a military outpost to guard the north-south road. The Greek garrison at Thyatira was charged with delaying invaders heading north to Pergamum. Unlike the city of Sardis, however, Thyatira had little to no natural defenses, situated on mostly flat land. For this reason, the Roman Empire swiftly conquered and annexed Thyatira in 190 BC.
Under Roman occupation, Thyatira became a successful commercial center, reaching its peak by the time Revelation was written.
What Got the Church at Thyatira in Trouble?
Christ had many concerns with the church at Thyatira. However, He also made it a point first to remind believers that He had not forgotten their faithfulness. “I know your deeds, and your love and faith, and service and perseverance, and that your deeds of late are greater than at first.” (Revelation 2:19).
Despite many flaws, the Thyatiran believers had persevered through many trials and maintained a strong love for God and each other. This church had grown and matured in Christ over the years. Christ wanted to commend the believers at Thyatira for what they had done well.
However, even a faithful church like the church at Thyatira needed serious refinement.
“But I have this against you,” Christ instructed John to write, “that you tolerate the woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess, and she teaches and leads My bond-servants astray so that they commit sexual immorality and eat things sacrificed to idols. I gave her time to repent, and she does not want to repent of her sexual immorality. Behold, I will throw her on a bed of sickness, and those who commit adultery with her into great tribulation, unless they repent of her deeds. And I will kill her children with plague, and all the churches will know that I am He who searches the minds and hearts; and I will give to each one of you according to your deeds.” (Revelation 2:20-23).
There’s a lot to unpack here, but the biggest issue facing the church at Thyatira was it allowed false teaching to enter the church, spread, and remain unchallenged. Under the influence of a false prophet and teacher named Jezebel, many in the church not only accepted this false teaching as truth. Some participated in her sexually immoral behavior and ate meat sacrificed to idols.
Now was Jezebel the actual name of this false teacher? Probably not. This was likely a moniker given to a dangerous woman. It would remind Revelation’s readers of the Old Testament queen Jezebel, who corrupted her husband, King Ahab, and enabled Baal worship to infiltrate the nation of Israel (1 Kings 16:30-31).
Few Old Testament figures were as reviled in God’s eyes as Jezebel. It is serious to lead God’s people into any form of sin, let alone sexual immorality and idol worship. This is why Jesus Himself warned of the punishment awaiting anyone who harms or misleads His children: “whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to sin, it is better for him that a heavy millstone be hung around his neck, and that he be drowned in the depths of the sea” (Matthew 18:6).
Unfortunately, the church at Thyatira had not only given this Jezebel a platform to preach. They had also failed to challenge her false teaching. They had instead chosen to follow some of her sinful ways.
This sin had evidently been tolerated for quite some time.
God, however, has always desired holiness and purity for His church. He instructs His people to confront sin by correcting those caught in it. Historically, churches that tolerate sin or fail to discipline their members using proper biblical methods have too often crumbled from within, bringing upon themselves the eventual judgment of God.
In His grace, however, God chose to call the church at Thyatira to repentance.
The false teacher Jezebel had also been given an opportunity to repent. However, she refused. So, God promised she would be “thrown onto a bed of sickness,” indicating eternal, spiritual separation from God. Her children, meaning those who had followed her teaching, would further be cast into “great tribulation” until they repented.
God has always promised to give to individual believers, each according to their own deeds. To those who participated with Jezebel in her sin, judgment awaited. No other burden would be placed upon those who had not listened to her teaching or sought to know the “deep things of Satan” (Revelation 2:24). To withstand a powerful cult-like leader’s false teaching while abstaining from sin and sexual immorality was its own burden.
Furthermore, to those who had overcome Jezebel’s lies and had held fast to what was good and true, God promised that they would rule over nations beside Him in His millennial kingdom, reflecting the glory of Christ in its fullness for all eternity (Revelation 2:26-29).
What Can We Learn from the Church at Thyatira Today?
The church at Thyatira was not a perfect church by any means. No church is. However, Christians should learn many important lessons from the mistakes made and warnings given to the church at Thyatira.
Arguably these believers’ biggest mistake was allowing a false prophet to enter their congregation, preach false teaching, and persuade their congregation.
Of course, some would argue they violated God’s instructions regarding female preachers and teachers by giving the false prophet Jezebel a platform (1 Timothy 2:12). However, the bigger concern was they allowed a false teacher into the church, giving her words the soil to take root.
As a result, this false prophet, either by clever wisdom or false signs and wonders, had persuaded an entire congregation with wrong thoughts followed by wrong deeds.
False teaching, heresy, and other perversions or distortions of the gospel must swiftly be challenged with the authoritative Word of God. True believers “hold fast” to this Word and use it to challenge all forms of teaching and test all spirits and prophetic words (or those claiming to be).
False teaching cannot be allowed to infiltrate and infect the body of believers. The cancerous influence of both the Old Testament and New Testament Jezebel should provide ample warning to Christians in all ages of what happens when they do.
Furthermore, in the name of unity and compassion, many Christians have tolerated sin in the church. In doing so, they have shown neither compassion for the individual nor regard for the church’s health and well-being.
In calling His church to be holy, Christ urges His followers to confront sin head-on, both in their own lives (Matthew 7:3-5) and fellow Christians’ lives (Matthew 18:15-17).
The goal is not to pass judgment or heap condemnation upon the individual believers. The goal is to call believers back to a healthy, holy way of living and, if necessary, remove people who refuse to repent.
It takes courage to confront sin. However, the consequences of letting sin go unchecked, both in the church and the individual’s life, can prove costly.
Thankfully, God had offered the church at Thyatira an opportunity to repent. The same call is given to Christians today who’ve been led astray or caught in sin. For “the one who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches” (Revelation 2:29).
The prudent soul will not hesitate to fall at the feet of God when their sin is exposed. True believers will hold fast to the Word of God and the hope they have in the promised return of Jesus Christ, in whom they’ve been given the strength to overcome all temptation and withstand every form of persecution.
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This article is part of our larger End Times Resource Library. Learn more about the rapture, the anti-christ, bible prophecy and the tribulation with articles that explain Biblical truths. You do not need to fear or worry about the future!
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