Hold On

Introduction

Of the seven churches Christ addressed in Revelation, the church at Thyatira was located in the least known, least important, and least remarkable of the cities. Thyatira was not comparable to Ephesus in size, beauty, or importance. It was militarily founded to serve as a buffer zone designed to slow down advancing armies. There was nothing special about the city. But it did have one advantage. It was on various trade routes and so was noted for its prosperous manufacturing and marketing center. The city was especially noted for its large number of trade guilds. A guild was an organized group of workers who banded together to set prices and oversee business practices. There were numerous trade guilds including those who oversaw the business of wool, linen, dyed material, shoemakers, and bronze work. These guilds also organized around the worship of an idol. Each guild had its own patron deity, feasts, and seasonal festivities that may have included sexual revelries. While it was not obligatory to be a part of a guild, few workers failed to belong for the guilds were the center of social life as well as commerce.

So the religious life of Thyatira was influenced by these guilds. There was extreme pressure on Christians to participate in the idolatry of the people. For the feasts were the heart of the social and commercial life of the city. To refuse to participate meant the loss of both goodwill and business. The primary god worshipped in Thyatira was Apollo, the sun god and the son of Zeus. There was also a temple to the goddess Artemis (as there was in Ephesus) in Thyatira. Thus, the people were either connected to the temple of Apollo, Artemis, or one of the guilds. And if a Christian wanted to make a living in a trade, he had to be a part of the guild. And if you were part of the guild, the pressure was on to attend the banquets, participate in the worship, and meet clients. The pressure was on to compromise one’s values for the sake of survival. Let’s see what Jesus had to say to this church.

The Church Described

Jesus identifies himself as the Son of God whose eyes are like blazing fire and whose feet are like burnished bronze. This description is not coincidental. First of all, the worship of Apollo as the son of Zeus would be insignificant in contrast to the true Son of God. Second, the use of bronze would have fit into the commerce of the day. Since there was a bronze workers guild, Jesus is said to have feet of burnished bronze. Again the idea is one of superiority over what is present. Certainly there is the expectation that the church at Thyatira would recognize that Jesus is far above the common elements of the day and with this recognition the church is expected to listen.

Jesus commends the church for the good things they are doing. Jesus praised the church for its virtues—love, faith, service, and perseverance. In fact, these virtues had multiplied since the church began. The church at Thyatira had much to commend it. These four things remind me of Park Avenue. Throughout the years, it is our love which has sustained us in difficult times as well as in times of great joy. We have wept with those who are weeping and rejoiced with those who are rejoicing. We have tried to welcome people into our family and loved them as they were. Our family has had numerous people come and go and instead of becoming jaded because of the pain associated with separation we have continue to love and extend love to others.

Our faith is well attested. We have put people on the mission field by faith and we have built a building by faith. I am looking into the eyes of people who truly have servant hearts. I see people who assist, visit, and encourage others without asking for anything in return. I see people who have long ago learned that it isn’t about recognition it is about helping others to see God. And our perseverance is remarkable. We have persevered as a congregation in Japan for almost 30 years. You have persevered with two preachers for well over 20 years. You have watched a number of transitions and persevered through them all. Just as God was pleased with the church in Thyatira so he is pleased with you as you exhibit the same values as these Christians from 2000 years ago.

But for all these commendable things, Jesus has something negative to say about the church as well. There is a woman within the congregation whose false teaching is being tolerated. She is called Jezebel because it would conjure images of the heinous and godless person who was married to Ahab, one of the kings in Old Testament Israel. She is seen as a person who is spiritual but she is misleading Christ’s disciples into sexual immorality and idolatry. Let me explain. Because of the guilds and the importance of being a member of a guild in order to conduct business, the conjecture is that this woman is teaching that “business is business” and “church is church” and God understands that a person must make a living while at the same time spend time with fellow Christians. She has been given time to repent but she hasn’t.

What is interesting is that the rebuke is not against the woman but against the church. They are tolerating this woman’s message. They are accepting her words and actions when they are clearly against the word of God. It is the church’s acceptance of this woman which is being criticized. Unless the church repents then there will be severe consequences. There is in verse 24 a clear distinction made between those who have rejected this woman and her teaching and those who haven’t. Those who have rejected this woman and her teaching are told to hold on. They are to remain uncompromising in their appreciation and following of truth. And the promise is that when Jesus returns he will give to them authority and himself as a reward.

Application

So what does this have to say to us? Listen carefully. If people deliberately reject the Lord’s authority, He is no longer their God. The result is, they must find another god. It is impossible for the human spirit to live without something to live for. That is what a god is. Whatever you are living for, or whatever makes life worthwhile to you, that is your god. It may be the god of pleasure, or sexual immorality. It may be the god of wealth. It may be the god of power, or lust, or ambition, or comfort. It may be the god of fame or recognition. But don’t kid yourself. Whatever you’re living for, that’s your god.

Don’t fool yourself. It is good for us to feel the pressure of compromise. It is good for us to feel the pressure that we take a stand for God or we take a stand for another god. But don’t fool yourself into thinking that we can say yes to God on Sunday morning in this building and then bow down to our idol on Monday and God is going to be pleased with that.

Don’t accept a substitute for God’s authority. Anytime someone teaches or someone follows something contrary to scripture, they have to claim another authority besides God’s Word, the Bible. Anytime someone says that “they just don’t feel like God would be displeased with a certain practice” then the authority has become themselves and they are bowing down to the idol of self-interest. Anytime someone says “that God just wants me to be happy” then they are bowing down to god of self-satisfaction. And most people who are caught up in sexual immorality claim their personal feelings and society’s norms as their authority.

But Jesus tells us, “Hold on to what you have.” In other words, don’t let go of God’s authority in your life. Don’t accept degrading moral standards. Don’t go along with sexual immorality. Don’t accept the idea that sexual lust is just part of a healthy libido. Don’t accept the idea that adultery is only a minor sin. Don’t replace the God who proved His love for you on Calvary, for a god of your own choosing or your own making. “Hold on until I come,” says Jesus. And if we will hold on, then Jesus promises that he will be rewarded.

Our authority is the word of God. Are you listening?

Follow Jesus

If you’d like to respond to this message or learn more about following Jesus, please reach out.