A Revelation Invitation

“And to the angel of the church in Thyatira write: ‘The words of the Son of God, who has eyes like a flame of fire, and whose feet are like burnished bronze.

“‘I know your works, your love and faith and service and patient endurance, and that your latter works exceed the first. But I have this against you, that you tolerate that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess and is teaching and seducing my servants to practice sexual immorality and to eat food sacrificed to idols. I gave her time to repent, but she refuses to repent of her sexual immorality. Behold, I will throw her onto a sickbed, and those who commit adultery with her I will throw into great tribulation, unless they repent of her works, and I will strike her children dead. And all the churches will know that I am he who searches mind and heart, and I will give to each of you according to your works.’” (Revelation 2:18-23 ESV)

Most of us have seen the classic portraits of Jesus with the little children gathered around him. Sitting on a rock in a grassy meadow Jesus is surrounded by little ones vying for his attention. Smiling pleasantly he has one child in his lap while embracing another at his side. They sense no danger because they see in him a gentle, loving shepherd. Jesus genuinely enjoys the moment with these dear, innocent, humble children. It is a sweet picture of our Savior. These children, who show no fear, are unaware of what deadly judgment this man is capable of.

Contrast that portrait of Jesus with the one presented to the church in Thyatira? To this church he strikes fear in their hearts as he threatens punishment, tribulations and death. That’s such a contrast that we would be forgiven if we thought that they were pictures of two different men. However, Jesus is famously “the same yesterday and today and forever” (Hebrews 13:8 ESV). So, maybe the way we see Jesus is more a reflection of our own hearts. To the innocent Jesus is a comfort and a refuge. To Jezebel and those who tolerate her Jesus appears as indignant, outraged and ready to execute judgment. The same Jesus is featured in both portraits; but because the people are different, they see him differently.

The charge against the church in Thyatira was that they tolerated that woman Jezebel. Whoever she (or he) was, Jesus cast her in the role of Jezebel, wife of wicked King Ahab (1 Kings 16-22; 2 Kings 9), who introduced foreign gods to Israel and persuaded her husband to do many other wicked things. In western society toleration has become an ideal to model and celebrate. It is unfashionable to judge or exclude people for just about any behavior no matter how perverse. However, Jesus doesn’t want his church to be deceived by Jezebel’s smooth and persuasive words.

What did the church in Thyatira see when they looked to Jesus? They saw eyes like a flame of fire. Their secrets will not remain hidden because he produces the light that exposes those deeds. And it’s not only their deeds that cannot be hidden. He sees through into their hearts. He exposes hypocrisy. He exposes shameful schemes. He exposes secret sins. Nothing is hidden from his sight. It all comes to light. Thus he claims, “I am he who searches mind and heart.”

Jesus has feet like burnished bronze. With such feet Jesus presents himself as immovable, as one who cannot be toppled. Were they to oppose him, he would trample and destroy them. So he warns, “I will give to each of you according to your works.”

The modern church must not turn a blind eye to wickedness when it infects the body. When influential people in the church become a cancer that eats away from within, we must cut them out. At a personal level we must confront the wickedness in our own lives cutting out that sin. This picture of Jesus underscores that some things simply must not be tolerated.

Lord Jesus, give me a discerning heart and righteous zeal for the purity of your church. Give me the wisdom to distinguish the evil, divisive person who must be cut out from the sinner who needs grace and mercy. I certainly need your grace and mercy. But when it is time to act, give me the courage to do so. Amen.