Podcasts about Thyatira

From our series titled Revelation: Loyalty to the Lamb in the Land of Idols. In this series, we will look at the first five chapters of Revelation and learn what whole-hearted allegiance to the way of the Lamb looks like. Scripture reading: Revelation 2:18-29Additional readings: Daniel 3Daniel 71 Kings 16:29-34Jeremiah 17:1-12Recommended book: Reading Revelation Responsibly by Michael GormanLearn more about Redeemer Church at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠redeemerclt.org⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Today, we're going to study the fourth of the seven churches of Asia Minor—the church at Thyatira. While commending their growing faith, love and service, Jesus severely rebuked them for tolerating a false prophetess named “Jezebel.” She led believers into sexual immorality and idolatry. He then, warned of severe judgment, but promised ultimate victory and authority to those who remained faithful. Thanks for listening. God bless you! To find out more about our church please go to www.whccnb.org.

Revelation 2:18-23 New International Version To the Church in Thyatira 18 “To the angel of the church in Thyatira write: These are the words of the Son of God, whose eyes are like blazing fire and whose feet are like burnished bronze. 19 I know your deeds, your love and faith, your service and perseverance, and that you are now doing more than you did at first. 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.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Join us for this week's sermon!Whether you're seeking hope, direction, or a deeper connection with God, this message is for you. Each week, we open God's Word together to find truth, encouragement, and strength for the journey.

REVELATION EP 2 SEVEN CHURCHES PROPHETIC DIMENSIONS Two very well-known and very misunderstood chapters of the Bible in Revelation are chapters two and three of Revelation - The letters to the seven churches.  These letters are addressed to seven historical congregations in Asia Minor, and they reveal consequential spiritual conditions of rise and decline that appear throughout the Church in every age. Each letter follows a similar pattern: Christ identifies Himself, commends what is faithful, exposes what requires repentance, and promises a reward to those who overcome. Together they present a comprehensive picture of discipleship, warnings correction, and hope.   Taken together, the seven letters reveal Christ as the Lord of the Church, walking among His people, intimately aware of their strengths, failures, struggles, and victories. They demonstrate that faithfulness is measured not merely by outward success but by love, holiness, perseverance, truth, and dependence upon God. The letters also show that divine judgment begins with God's own household, yet His purpose is restorative, calling believers to spiritual renewal in Christ and renewed communion with him and with one another. The futurist interpretation of Revelation is strengthened in these letters as Ephesus and Pergamos and Sardis and Thyatira and Philadelphia are all told by Jesus to be prepared for the coming of the Lord ‘behold I come' in various tones, and Laodicea is told that he is actually standing at the door. The Holy Spirit is currently working to reverse the tragic consequence of many people's abandonment of faith that has occurred over the years. The repeated exhortation, “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches,” transforms these letters from ancient correspondence into an ongoing universal call to all. Their central message is that Christ seeks a purified, faithful, overcoming people who will participate in the final triumph portrayed throughout the remainder of Revelation. There is a fourfold multilayer architecture of how these letters function simultaneously as four distinct dimensions happening here in the one passage of text. 1. They are first century letters to congregations, from Jesus through John. 2. They are a blueprint of the entire church age. 3. They are a prophetic warning to the Church today about the End Times and the Coming of The Lord, 4. They are a spiritual map of the healing and salvation of the human soul.  This fourth dimension reframes how we personally interact with the letters as this is the inward spiritual application and the mirror of our soul's journey. In this dimension there is an inward ongoing unveiling of Jesus and the work of the Holy Spirit in us. These seven churches represent seven distinct conditions of the human soul in its journey toward full union with God. Church Historical Period (approximate) Ephesus Apostolic Church (30–100 + AD) Discernment then loses first love Smyrna Persecuted Church (100+ –303) Trials10 years/Diocletian/worn down Pergamos Imperial Church (313–590 Marriage of church and state (Constantine) Thyatira Medieval Church (590–1517 Pagan superstition/Jezebel) Sardis Reformation Church (1517–1900 faith, division, deadness) Philadelphia Holy Spirit Church (1900 to now) mission faith power love holiness  Laodicia  End-time Church (1900 to now) money, politics, power, celebrity, image  The church in Ephesus was praised and warned Revelation 2:1 I know your works, your labor, your patience … and you have persevered and have patience, and have laboured and not become weary. Nevertheless, I have this against you, that you have left your first love.  The next church, Smyrna did become weary through persecution. John wrote vs.8 the devil will throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested and have tribulation ten days. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life. Exhaustion of persecution in Smyrna inevitably led to the church in Pergamos (marriage) to accept the protection of the Roman Empie through Constantine and to accept the compromise of the marriage of state and church. This led to the superstitious pagan church of Thyatira being rebuked for allowing the immoral and idolatrous influence of Jezebel. Then followed the church of Sardis which represents the historic stage of reformation of faith under Luther which decayed into dead denominationalism. John wrote “I know your works, that you have a name that you are alive, but you are dead. Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die,  Then came the churches of Philadelphia and Laodicea. These churches both represent the experience of Holy Spirit revival life coming to the church worldwide. Philadelphia type churches and Laodicea type churches both emerged in the 1900 Pentecost Holy Spirit revival, and many people of the many thousands of dying denominations were touched by it. Jesus said at Pentecost ‘you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you and you will become witnesses of me'. The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of God' s love and holiness and power and truth and of Gospel mission and witness. Some church movements from the 1900 revival became holiness churches and others became Holy Spirit power churches. Others became doctrinal truth teaching churches and others missionary movements. And there always was and still is the possible drift from Philadelphia love and faith and holiness to Laodicea worldly power and image and complacency. But church history is not destined for abandonment, xand neither is the human soul. We can awaken and recognise any hypocrisy and that awakening sparks the Philadelphia stage of transformation. The Philadelphia type churches receive encouragement, and though weak in worldly strength, if they remained faithful to Christ, they are promised an open door that no one can shut.  The Laodicea type churches get rebuked for lukewarm self-sufficiency (the word Laodicea means ‘the opinions of the people). Though they were materially prosperous, Jesus called them spiritually poor and blind. Yet even here Jesus extends a gracious invitation to renewed fellowship: “Behold, I stand at the door and knock.” Note –  Philadelphia is the church of brotherly love - the name comes from phileo meaning affection or love – and delfos - brother, so it means brotherly love and this represents a historical movement experiencing genuine spiritual life of an open door of spiritual power - an open door that no human institution can shut. Laodicea has a closed door locked on the inside that Jesus stands at and knocks to be let in But that brotherly love to one another and to God and the spirituality of grace and Holy Spirit freedom and renewal will operate differently to a religiously structured church like the church of Laodicea - the lukewarm church. And if the spirit of a Philadelphia church does not become compromised, they keep an open door that no one can shut and they receive no rebuke from Jesus. That brings us back to all of us holding a dynamic history textbook, a ticking prophetic clock and a mirror of our transforming soul all at once.  And the number of seven churches isn't an accident. It represents end time completion. These letters represent an exhaustive range of spiritual conditions found in humanity. everyone has a bit of all seven churches within them - we have a bit of Ephesus a bit of Sardis a bit of Laodicea somewhere within our own soul - this aligns with the apostle Paul's teaching in 1Corinthians 2:11 says that only our spirit can discern what we have in our soul, and he later says examine yourselves whether you are in the faith 2Corinthians 13:5 These seven conditions of the soul are deeply connected to those seven areas of historic church experience and spirituality, and they don't just exist in a vacuum. One spiritual state of a church directly triggered the vulnerabilities of the next stage in a remarkable progression and it does so also in our souls.  Philadelphia can reflect or mirror a person's soul or it can reflect an historical movement or a current day church that experiences the genuine spiritual life of an open door of God's life and love and power - an open door that no human institution can shut. Laodicea can reflect the soul of worldly religious mindsets and structures of opiniated complacency and self-sufficiency. The Church of Philadelphia can stay pure by the grace of God at a grassroots level of relational integrity while the Laodicean church may resist that simplicity and freedom. The wealth and image of the Laodicean church that thinks they're rich and need nothing receives a divine diagnosis that is devastating. Jesus says ‘you are wretched and poor and blind and naked - that's a harsh reality check.  So a question arises for me right here. If one stage naturally triggers the next - as we saw in the exhaustion of persecution in Smyrna leading to seeking relief in the worldly power in Pergamos which led to the superstitious pagan church of Thyatira. Then followed the faith reformation, then the dead religion of Sardis. Then the divergence of Philadelphia and inevitably the worldly power of the opiniated Laodicea.  Laodicea looms as an historical dead-end doom loop. And is the human soul also doomed to a dead-end doom loop? Where do we get off?  The answer is we get to choose where we stay on the map and it is unequivocally clear the antidote to the doom loop is to deliberately anchor ourself in the Philadelphia state of life because the text of the Scripture is entirely intentional here. The logos design in this text wants us to feel for our own souls the weight of that possible downward spiritual spiral we saw in the letters to the churches because we are accountable for the state of our own souls. Only the Philadelphia life brings faith and hope and love and freedom. A person can be living a Philadelphia type life in any kind of church if they know how and the Bible tells us how. and you stay free! And the Bible tells us how. There are people attending a Laodicea type church that are living in a Philadelphia type church life in their soul and there are people going to a Philadelphia type church and living a Laodicea soul life. Only God knows the hearts, and we cannot judge peoples' hearts – we can simply observe church structure and test the spirit of the church. 2Timothy 2:24 pursue righteousness, faith, love, peace with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart. But avoid foolish and ignorant disputes, knowing that they generate strife. And a servant of the Lord must not quarrel but be gentle to all, able to teach, patient, in humility correcting those who are in opposition, if God perhaps will grant them repentance, so that they may know the truth, and that they may come to their senses and escape the snare of the devil, having been taken captive by him to do his will. The entire purpose of Revelation unveiling these stages is to expose the recurring cycles whether you are analysing 2000 years of human history or just the last 10 years of your own personal spiritual development. Seeing the pattern and living the spiritual process of the salvation of the soul that marks the church of Philadelphia is the Scriptural way to break the cycle of perishing and completing the cycle of being saved and healed and how to break every chain of bondage. We're living in days when because of the cultural immorality and chaos and confusion and betrayal that's going on in the world people can feel they're in bondage to certain kinds of ideologies or feel if they don't believe what the group has as a certain kind of new age or some kind of way of thinking - if they don't join with them politically in their opinions they'll be left out. So they've become joined  to it and that can become a bondage to something that's got nothing to do with what God saying to the world. But we focus on what God's doing and what he's saying. The end part of that little prayer of presence I presented last week is, Lord I thank you that you own this moment and that in this moment you are restoring and reordering all things out there in the world. I might be thinking in my mind anxiously about the chaos that's happening out there but my prayer is Lord this moment that you own is bringing your never-ending activity of reordering into all of that chaos and that brings me great comfort. The last line is, thank you Lord for including me in your reordering in the spirit - no matter what's going on and what other people are doing and no matter what kind of challenge that's making me feel my own emotional reactions and confusion I know that God is at work saying stay at peace, I am reordering everything. Watch and you will see the result of how I am bringing things to the surface and working these things all together for good to you because you're wanting my will in your life.  It does come down to a very simple formula of rather than being self-conscious about what's going wrong, being God conscious of what he is now making right. That is his agenda no matter what is happening on the outside or whatever is being shouted from the rooftops and from pulpits, God is speaking to you on the inside and promising you he is reordering your life to be walking with him in his perfect will.  And we will go through trials - the fire will burn - no pain no gain. The Clippers will be out to chop off the dead branches and they'll get thrown into the fire, and the fire can burn - that's not hell you going to - that's the here and now burning off of the dead wood - the loss of what is not of God. But as that outward part starts to get burned off and perish the inward is being renewed day by day. Amen. Pul OSullivan – pauloss@me.com

Wednesday Evening

Laodicea, an important city of the Roman Empire, had a serious issue with drinkable water. Hot Springs filled with impurities were a main source of water for the city. Archaeological excavations have revealed an attempt to bring water from an outside source in through stone pipes containing limestone deposits which would have contaminated the water for drinking. Just as lukewarm water is useless, the church in Laodicea is useless to Jesus. Dependency is a sign of maturity for a Christian. The danger of wealth is that it has the potential to create independent people. They may feel competent and successful but they are in actuality poor, and pitiful. Jesus strong words are a love gift to wake them up and reset their lives onto a new trajectory. They need only to repent, turn away from self-sufficiency and turn back to Jesus!------------------------By now we can see each church named is located in a real place with real temptations, hardships, and opposition. This is how it is for all Christians in all centuries – for we do have a very real enemy and this world is not our home. Additionally we have also seen how Jesus uses illustrations from the reader's own environment to communicate deep spiritual truths for greater understanding among its hearers. He did this all throughout the gospels as well!  In Summary:• **Ephesus – drifting church:** right doctrine but did not have love• **Smyrna – suffering church:** going through persecution—encouraged to stay faithful• **Pergamum – compromising church:** held to the truth—exhorted to not compromise• **Thyatira – tolerant church:** tolerance led to unfaithfulness• **Sardis – defeated church:** apathy and material wealth lead to defeat• **Philadelphia—suffering church:** going through persecution—Jesus reminds them of His love.• **Laodicea—lukewarm church:** apathy and material wealth lead to uselessnessThe pattern laid out in these letters is: *who Jesus is, who the church is, exhortations and promises.*Let us take to heart the condition of each church, examining our own walk and the culture of our own church against each possible state. Let us receive both Jesus' words of encouragement in suffering and His warnings in apathy. Above all else let us wake up to and rejoice in our “great need for a Saviour and a great Saviour for our need!” (Spurgeon)Prepare for this week's teaching by reading Revelation 3:14-22

Laodicea, an important city of the Roman Empire, had a serious issue with drinkable water. Hot Springs filled with impurities were a main source of water for the city. Archaeological excavations have revealed an attempt to bring water from an outside source in through stone pipes containing limestone deposits which would have contaminated the water for drinking. Just as lukewarm water is useless, the church in Laodicea is useless to Jesus. Dependency is a sign of maturity for a Christian. The danger of wealth is that it has the potential to create independent people. They may feel competent and successful but they are in actuality poor, and pitiful. Jesus strong words are a love gift to wake them up and reset their lives onto a new trajectory. They need only to repent, turn away from self-sufficiency and turn back to Jesus!------------------------By now we can see each church named is located in a real place with real temptations, hardships, and opposition. This is how it is for all Christians in all centuries – for we do have a very real enemy and this world is not our home. Additionally we have also seen how Jesus uses illustrations from the reader's own environment to communicate deep spiritual truths for greater understanding among its hearers. He did this all throughout the gospels as well!  In Summary:• **Ephesus – drifting church:** right doctrine but did not have love• **Smyrna – suffering church:** going through persecution—encouraged to stay faithful• **Pergamum – compromising church:** held to the truth—exhorted to not compromise• **Thyatira – tolerant church:** tolerance led to unfaithfulness• **Sardis – defeated church:** apathy and material wealth lead to defeat• **Philadelphia—suffering church:** going through persecution—Jesus reminds them of His love.• **Laodicea—lukewarm church:** apathy and material wealth lead to uselessnessThe pattern laid out in these letters is: *who Jesus is, who the church is, exhortations and promises.*Let us take to heart the condition of each church, examining our own walk and the culture of our own church against each possible state. Let us receive both Jesus' words of encouragement in suffering and His warnings in apathy. Above all else let us wake up to and rejoice in our “great need for a Saviour and a great Saviour for our need!” (Spurgeon)Prepare for this week's teaching by reading Revelation 3:14-22

REVELATION Ep1 Full Disclosure Just as Genesis is the book of beginnings, Revelation is the book of consummation. In it, the divine program of redemption is brought to fruition, and the holy name of God is vindicated before all creation. Although there are numerous prophecies in the Gospels and Epistles, Revelation is the only New Testament book that focuses primarily on prophetic events. Its title The Apocalypse means “unveiling” or “disclosure” or “revelation.” It is also called The Revelation of Jesus Christ. This means both a revelation which came from Christ and a revelation which is about Christ—both are true. Revelation 1:1 The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave Him to show His servants—things which must shortly take place. And He sent and signified it by His angel to His servant John,  2. who bore witness to the word of God, and to the testimony of Jesus Christ, to all things that he saw.  3. Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written in it; for the time is near. 4. John, to the seven churches which are in Asia: Grace to you and peace from Him who is and who was and who is to come, (theme of past present and future) and from the seven Spirits who are before His throne,  5. and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler over the kings of the earth. To Him who loved us and washed us from our sins in His own blood,  6. and has made us kings and priests to His God and Father, to Him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen. 7. Behold, He is coming with clouds, and every eye will see Him, even they who pierced Him. And all the tribes of the earth will mourn because of Him. Even so, Amen. 8. “I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End,” says the Lord, “who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.” (NB theme of past present and future) 9. I, John, both your brother and companion in the tribulation and kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ, was on the island that is called Patmos for the word of God and for the testimony of Jesus Christ.  10. I was in the Spirit on the Lord's Day, and I heard behind me a loud voice, as of a trumpet,  11. saying, “I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last,” and, “What you see, write in a book and send it to the seven churches which are in Asia: to Ephesus, to Smyrna, to Pergamos, to Thyatira, to Sardis, to Philadelphia, and to Laodicea.”(turkey not Jerusalem) 12. Then I turned to see the voice that spoke with me. And having turned I saw seven golden lampstands, 13.  and in the midst of the seven lampstands One like the Son of Man, clothed with a garment down to the feet and girded about the chest with a golden band.  14. His head and hair were white like wool, as white as snow, and His eyes like a flame of fire;  15. His feet were like fine brass, as if refined in a furnace, and His voice as the sound of many waters;  16. He had in His right hand seven stars, out of His mouth went a sharp two-edged sword, and His countenance was like the sun shining in its strength.  17. And when I saw Him, I fell at His feet as dead. But He laid His right hand on me, saying to me, “Do not be afraid; I am the First and the Last.  18. I am He who lives, and was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore. Amen.  And I have the keys of Hades and of Death.  19. Write the things which you have seen, and the things which are, and the things which will take place after this.  20. The mystery of the seven stars which you saw in My right hand, and the seven golden lampstands: The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches, and the seven lampstands which you saw are the seven churches. The Book of Revelation is the unveiling of who and what Jesus is to the church to the world and to eternity. Scholars have viewed these prophecies through four primary lenses. While each perspective seeks to honour the work of the Holy Spirit, I hold  the Futurist view in this study because it mentions things that have happened in history, inspires faith in the "here and now" of Christ's absolute authority over and through His Church and it looks forward to the future Second Coming with a living hope. 1. Preterist - depicting the current Roman struggle against the church and not future prophesy throughout the ages of the second coming of Christ. They say he came in 70 AD when Rome destroyed the Temple in Jerusalem. But we see in Revelation 1:7 that John was prophesying the Day of The Lord - the Second Coming and judgement. 2. Historical - The struggle of the church against the world system through the ages. 3. Spiritual - depicting nothing literal or historical at all, but purely symbolical. 4. Futurist - depicting events that would surely take place in the church, the world and eternity, after the time of John, and beginning significantly with the opening of the first of the seven seals in chapters 5 and 6 (also see Ch.4 vs 1 – things to come)  Revelation 4:1… And the first voice which I heard was like a trumpet speaking with me, saying, “Come up here, and I will show you things which must take place after this.” This leads us to take note of the three divisions of time. Revelation 1.19 write the things that you have seen, and the things which are, and the things which shall be hereafter. 1. Things you have seen - chapter 1 2. Things which are - chapters 2 to 4 – the 7 churches. 3. Things with shall be - chapter 4 onwards. There are three persons involved in this revelation – Jesus – John – The messenger. I submit to you that the messenger, or angel that gave this prophecy to John is Enoch, and we will now look at some evidence.  1. Records in Genesis 5 and Hebrews 11 confirm that Enoch is physically in Heaven with God. This creates a theological necessity – Enoch has been given a Divine exemption and is released from the prison of his appointment with death.  Hebrews 9:27 it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment. But he is not the only one! There will be a generation of people who will be caught up from the earth to meet Jesus in the air when he returns.   Psalm 102:18 This will be written for the generation to come, That a people yet to be created may praise the LORD…From heaven the LORD viewed the earth, to hear the groaning of the prisoner, To release those appointed to death, 2. The Bible link for Enoch  Revelation 1:7 Behold, He is coming with clouds, and every eye will see Him, even they who pierced Him. And all the tribes of the earth will mourn because of Him - and Jude 14  Jude 14. Now Enoch, the seventh from Adam, prophesied about these men also, saying, Behold, the Lord comes with ten thousands of His saints, to execute judgment on all. This prophecy of the Second Coming is virtually identical to Revelation 1:7 3. When linked with the messenger's self-identification in Revelation 19:10 And I fell at his feet to worship him. But he said to me, See that you do not do that! I am your fellow servant, and of your brethren who have the testimony of Jesus. Worship God! For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.  And ch.22:9 Then he said to me, “See that you do not do that. For I am your fellow servant, and of your brethren the prophets, The evidence presents this historical figure as being uniquely commissioned to return and declare the unveiling to John. The Book of Revelation was written about 95-AD by the apostle John on the Isle of Patmos while he was in exile under the persecution of Domitian. The apostle Peter and Paul had been martyred just previously under the persecution of emperor Nero. This dating mainly comes from early church testimony, especially Irenaeus in the second century, who said the vision was seen “toward the end of Domitian's reign.” Irenaeus lived from 120 to 202 AD, and the future hope of the return of Christ became the dominant position in both Eastern and Western Christianity and still is. Added to this is the fact that the seven churches in Asia Minor that John writes to would logically have been more developed and established at that time. The book of sevens  Revelation 1:4 - John to the seven churches which are in Asia. Grace be to you, and peace, from him which is, which was, and which is to come - and from the seven spirits which are before his throne. (see also vs.20) Here there are mentioned seven spirits and seven churches, and of great significance later in the book are 1. The 7 seals 2. The 7 trumpets from seven agels 3. The 7 vials 1. The seven seals - the seven seals are seals of a book of events which are to happen worldwide (ch5.1) Which include the revelation of a conquering church, judgments upon the earth, and signs and wonders in the heavens. These events take place progressively and will be studied in detail later. The 7th seal actually contains another series of events called the seven trumpets.  2. The seven trumpets- The seven trumpets blown by seven angels are also a series of worldwide events that are judgments upon the earth, they are not final judgments but are meant to turn people to God. And the 7th trumpet contains in its blast, the seven vials.  NB The 5th angel releases locust/scorpion spirits which torment people for five months but those sealed with the Holy Spirit are protected – just as Noah and family were protected for 5 months in the ark. I met up with some close Christian friends from Inverell at a function this week and I shared that I'd be teaching the Book of revelation this coming Sunday, and they mentioned the passages about the scary demonic locusts that had a sting like scorpions (ch.9). They said that some people thought they were symbolic of fighter planes etc. But we agreed that they were definitely of a spiritual nature, set free by an angel for five months and not allowed to kill those with the seal of God – the Holy Spirit. And the next day, Thursday there was a report from the Whitehouse that the Senate had been asked to disclose information about aliens and UFO's… Three years ago the USA Senate were asked to disclose that information about aliens and UFO's, and the topic was quashed, because the number of reports and polarising opinions was causing too much chaos. The same thing happened in the early 70's in the midst of a move of the Holy Spirit. At that time there were reports from aeronautical scientists and the AirForce and the Military about Roswell and objects seen to be moving at incredible speed. Odd but human-like little aliens were reported to have even been captured or preserved or whatever. That report was shut down many months later under suspicious circumstances. So now the senate is about to do the disclosure of all the evidence of the various reports from over the years. And conveniently on Thursday there appeared ads of a new release of a movie called ‘Disclosure Day' directed by Stephen Spielberg about aliens and UFO's and cosmic chaos in the Heavens.  I don't know why the Government and the media and Hollywood or whoever else are hitting the global airwaves with this and trying to control some sort of cultural narrative but it will have a scary chaotic spiritual influence on our current society. It will be deceptive bur will contain enough true documentation to get people all over it with the usual opinions and political and tribal disputes If I am going to be asked questions I'd like to be as prepared as I can be because there will be distortions and confusion abounding.  Luke 21:11 Then He said to them, “Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be great earthquakes in various places, and famines and pestilences; and there will be fearful sights (phobitron- frightening things that strike terror) and great signs from heaven. 3. The seven vials - the seven vials are seven final judgments which come up on the earth during the time of the great tribulation. The key verse- Revelation 1:7 - behold he comes with clouds. And every eye shall see him, and they also who pierced him. And all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen This is ‘The Day of The Lord' – which incorporates  1. The Resurrection of the dead (including they who pierced him, the Romans, the Jews, our sins),  2. The inauguration of Judgement,  3. The unveiling of Christ,  4. Books being opened and  5. Creation being brought into its final state before God (Romans 8:21)  All this will occur in stages as we see in the Book of Revelation, in a way beyond our imagination or earthly view, as if of some court case in a grand mammoth court. This book is an unveiling of the character and program of God and that is what we shall be seeking to understand through the Holy Spirit in our study of Revelation Paul OSullivan  pauloss @me.com

Revelation 2:18-29

Speaker: Pastor Justin Greene Series: Dear Church Scripture: Revelation 2:18-29 Date: May 24, 2026

Dr. David Swanson | Revelation 3:7-12Building on the message from May 3, the church at Thyatira faced false teaching as well, and they did something about it - those who would not accept discipline were thrown out of the church. We have to realize why we have theological and doctrinal standards. These protect the Church while equipping the next generations. Strategic Priority 2!

What if Jesus wrote our church a letter? Revelation 2 records the first four messages from Jesus to seven churches in the Roman province of Asia. Jesus provided encouragement, especially regarding persecution, but also warned against the dangers of complacency and compromise. Read more...

Jesus is the First and the Last—the One who was there at the beginning, and the One who holds the final word. What feels unfinished, broken, or uncertain in our lives is not beyond His reach. In Him, every chapter finds its meaning, and every ending is held in hope. This Sunday, we're leaning into the truth that Jesus completes the story. Not with fear, but with victory. Not with despair, but with redemption. Come and be reminded: what stands against us will not outlast the One who stands for us. If you are new to Community Church, WELCOME! We would love to get to know you. Please fill in the following form and we look forward to connecting with you: https://bit.ly/cc-new-connect You can find all timely and relevant links from this service on https://bit.ly/cc-links You can also find out more about us at https://communitychurch.hk/ ================ This Week's Scripture: // Revelation 1:9-20 (NIV) // John's vision of Christ I, John, your brother and companion in the suffering and kingdom and patient endurance that are ours in Jesus, was on the island of Patmos because of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus. On the Lord's Day I was in the Spirit, and I heard behind me a loud voice like a trumpet, which said: ‘Write on a scroll what you see and send it to the seven churches: to Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia and Laodicea.' I turned round to see the voice that was speaking to me. And when I turned I saw seven golden lampstands, and among the lampstands was someone like a son of man, dressed in a robe reaching down to his feet and with a golden sash round his chest. The hair on his head was white like wool, as white as snow, and his eyes were like blazing fire. His feet were like bronze glowing in a furnace, and his voice was like the sound of rushing waters. In his right hand he held seven stars, and coming out of his mouth was a sharp, double-edged sword. His face was like the sun shining in all its brilliance. When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. Then he placed his right hand on me and said: ‘Do not be afraid. I am the First and the Last. I am the Living One; I was dead, and now look, I am alive for ever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and Hades. ‘Write, therefore, what you have seen, what is now and what will take place later. The mystery of the seven stars that you saw in my right hand and of the seven golden lampstands is this: the seven stars are the angels of the seven churches, and the seven lampstands are the seven churches.

By Bart Bornhorst - A look into the churches of Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamos, and Thyatira and the spiritual application to our lives today.

Rev. Patrick Donohue

The “Son of God” addresses the church in Thyatira with an urgent rebuke and warning (Revelation 2:18-29). Their tolerance of an insidious false prophetess and her error had taken its toll on them, and it was time to repent.

The next two letters, both found in Revelation 2, speak to churches that are both being influenced by false teaching. And both instances encourage us to look back to two Old Testament figures...Balaam and Jezebel. 

Lydia was from Thyatira and was a dealer in purple cloths. She was converted in Philippi when she heard Paul speak (Acts 16:1-15) Paul accepted her invitation stay with her in her home and he and Silas returned to her home when they were released from prison. (Acts 19:16-40)   Thyatira was a small and insignificant area famous for the dying of cloth.  The trade guilds were places of idolatry and sexual immorality yet essential for all who conducted business in the arts and trades.  This posed a significant problem for the Christians there as they would need great fortitude to continue in their trade and earn an income while abstaining from the idolatrous practices that were so prevalent among the guilds.  Jesus knows that they have been growing in their love, faith, service, and endurance. He knows the level of idolatry they are facing and it is reassuring to know He addresses it with authority and with mercy. He quotes from Psalm 2 when He encourages the overcomers and this Psalm is a reminder that He is more powerful than any nation on this earth. This knowledge would help the church of Thyatira to endure and stand strong in the midst of their trials and is a comfort for us in the midst of all that is wrong in our world today. Repentance is available to us for the areas we have compromised along with strength for maintaining loyalty and commitment to Christ above all else.  When our livlehood is threatened, we can remain faithful by the power of the Holy Spirit and by remembering that our time on earth is short. Our trials are temporary and our God is mighty. He will forgive us when we repent, He knows how hard it is and what we are up against. His mercies are new every morning and His love does not fail. ------To keep the gospel in the forefront as we read these letters, we invite you to memorize Revelation 12:11: “They overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, they did not love their lives so much as to shrink from death.”-----Prepare for this week's teaching by reading **Psalm 2, Acts 16, and Revelation 2:18-29**

Letter to Thyatira Josh Pavel

Dr. David Swanson | Revelation 2:18-29It is becoming increasingly hard to identify as a Christian and not take some heat for it or be faced with hostility. This was the situation for Thyatira as well. God writes to that church to encourage them to stand firm and to watch out for false teachers. This is why elders and deacons matter in the life of the church. Truth and doctrine must be guarded carefully.

Revelation 1:9–20 9 I, John, your brother and partner in the tribulation and the kingdom and the patient endurance that are in Jesus, was on the island called Patmos on account of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus. 10 I was in the Spirit on the Lord's day, and I heard behind me a loud voice like a trumpet 11 saying, “Write what you see in a book and send it to the seven churches, to Ephesus and to Smyrna and to Pergamum and to Thyatira and to Sardis and to Philadelphia and to Laodicea.”12 Then I turned to see the voice that was speaking to me, and on turning I saw seven golden lampstands, 13 and in the midst of the lampstands one like a son of man, clothed with a long robe and with a golden sash around his chest. 14 The hairs of his head were white, like white wool, like snow. His eyes were like a flame of fire, 15 his feet were like burnished bronze, refined in a furnace, and his voice was like the roar of many waters. 16 In his right hand he held seven stars, from his mouth came a sharp two-edged sword, and his face was like the sun shining in full strength.17 When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. But he laid his right hand on me, saying, “Fear not, I am the first and the last, 18 and the living one. I died, and behold I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of Death and Hades. 19 Write therefore the things that you have seen, those that are and those that are to take place after this. 20 As for the mystery of the seven stars that you saw in my right hand, and the seven golden lampstands, the seven stars are the angels of the seven churches, and the seven lampstands are the seven churches.

"And so were the churches established in the faith, and increased in number daily. Now when they had gone throughout Phrygia and the region of Galatia, and were forbidden of the Holy Ghost to preach the word in Asia, After they were come to Mysia, they assayed to go into Bithynia: but the Spirit suffered them not. And they passing by Mysia came down to Troas. And a vision appeared to Paul in the night; There stood a man of Macedonia, and prayed him, saying, Come over into Macedonia, and help us. And after he had seen the vision, immediately we endeavoured to go into Macedonia, assuredly gathering that the Lord had called us for to preach the gospel unto them. Therefore loosing from Troas, we came with a straight course to Samothracia, and the next day to Neapolis; And from thence to Philippi, which is the chief city of that part of Macedonia, and a colony: and we were in that city abiding certain days. And on the sabbath we went out of the city by a river side, where prayer was wont to be made; and we sat down, and spake unto the women which resorted thither. And a certain woman named Lydia, a seller of purple, of the city of Thyatira, which worshipped God, heard us: whose heart the Lord opened, that she attended unto the things which were spoken of Paul." Acts 16:5-14

In Revelation 2:18–29, Jesus comes to the church at Thyatira and we see the concern that he has for her and for her leaders. Jesus confronts the church, not because he's impatient, not because he doesn't care, but because he does care and he loves her and he doesn't want her to hide. Listen as Pastor Josué Pernillo preaches on this passage, showing that Jesus can see all, even the things we try to hide, so he calls us to repent that we may live holy lives in him. Part of a series on the book of Revelation. From Sunday Worship, April 26, 2026. ------------------------------- allsoulspca.org All Souls (Urbana, IL) is a part of the Presbyterian Church in America (PCA), a Christian, Reformed denomination with historic and theological roots in the Protestant Reformation.

The letter to the church in Thyatira reminds us that Jesus in indeed Lord of His church, and He does not tolerate evil within it. If He needs to bring discipline (even harsh discipline), He will. The same Jesus who wouldn't break a bruised reed will also one day rule with a rod of iron. […]

Send us a message! (or visit outloudbible.com/contact to start a conversation)We slow down in Revelation 2 and 3 and let the letters from Jesus read us instead of us just reading them. We ask what repentance looks like when the problem isn't loud rebellion but quiet comfort, subtle compromise, and spiritual autopilot. • why the seven letters are for us today, not just ancient churches • the common structure of each letter: who Jesus is, what he praises, what he confronts, what he promises • Ephesus and leaving your first love, the “sweatpants Christian” warning, doing the deeds you did at first • Smyrna and the uncomfortable question of whether we fear suffering • Pergamum and the danger of “almost true” teaching, testing every message against Scripture • Thyatira and why tolerance is not the same as love, refusing to normalize sin • Laodicea, lukewarm usefulness, and the threat of self-sufficiency • Jesus knocking at the door, responding with openness, conviction, and repentance  At outloudbible.com, you can find free resources to help you study the Bible. And while you're there, send us a message to say hi, or start a conversation about having us at your church or event. If Outloud Bible has been a valuable part of your understanding of the Bible, please consider supporting the ministry by visiting outloudbible.com.Support the showCheck out outloudbible.com for helpful study resources, and to discover how to bring the public reading of God's word to your church, conference, retreat, or other event.

Send us a message! (or visit outloudbible.com/contact to start a conversation)Contact me and let me know: (1) how has OBP helped you in your relationship with God?(2) what you'd like to see in the next season of the podcast(3) questions about the Bible We start the Book of Revelation and set our hearts on its main purpose: revealing Jesus Christ as the risen King who will win the final victory over sin and death. We read Revelation 1 to 3 aloud and let Jesus' letters to the seven churches search our lives with both warning and hope. • inviting listener feedback as we near the end of the first Bible read through • how the podcast has helped your relationship with God and sharing testimonies • what to expect in Revelation as prophecy and as a revelation of Jesus • John's exile on Patmos and why Revelation is written • the blessing of reading prophecy aloud and hearing and obeying it • Jesus walking among the lampstands and knowing His churches • the repeating pattern in the seven letters: praise, correction, call to repent, promise to conquer • personal reflection prompts from Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, Laodicea  At outloudbible.com, you can find free resources to help you study the Bible. And while you're there, send us a message to say hi, or start a conversation about having us at your church or event. If Outloud Bible has been a valuable part of your understanding of the Bible, please consider supporting the ministry by visiting outloudbible.com.Support the showCheck out outloudbible.com for helpful study resources, and to discover how to bring the public reading of God's word to your church, conference, retreat, or other event.

What are the depths of Satan, what is the morning star?Revelation 2:24-29

Is the holiest, best Christian mom a stay at home mom? Depending on your context, this may be the messaging you have heard and maybe struggled with. It might be that you love your job, you need to help your family financially, or you are a better mom when you work outside of the home. In this episode of the Bible Moms series, Kate and Rebecca travel to Greece, literally and biblically, to meet Lydia of Thyatira: a wealthy, immigrant entrepreneur, a dealer of purple cloth, and the woman whose home became the first church in all of Europe. If you’ve ever wondered whether God can use your ordinary life, your career, your open door, your willingness to just show up, Lydia’s story is your answer. And if you’ve ever felt the sting of the working mom vs. stay-at-home mom debate, this episode will settle something in you. Because God didn’t wait for Lydia to close her business before He opened her heart. Her influence and resources were the very things that God used to reach a people group and provide the space for them to meet as a church. TAKEAWAYS FOR MOMS God opens hearts that are faithfully showing up. Lydia was already meeting, already praying, already seeking — and God met her there. You don’t have to have it all figured out. Keep showing up. The working mom vs. stay-at-home mom debate is not a Bible debate. Lydia was a businesswoman, an entrepreneur, and an immigrant — and God never asked her to be otherwise. The question scripture asks is: whose kingdom are you building with what you have? Your house needs you — and people need your house. Lydia didn’t just get saved; she opened her home. The first church in Europe started because someone was willing to say come in. You don’t need a perfect house. You need an open door. God goes ahead of you to prepare hearts. Before Paul ever arrived at that riverside, God had already been preparing Lydia. You are not the only one working in your children’s and your community’s lives. God goes before you. Faithfulness in your specific arena is holy work. Different arena, same consecration. Whether you’re running a business or running carpool, the question is the same — are you placing it at the feet of Jesus? SCRIPTURES REFERENCED Acts 16:11–15 — Paul’s vision to go to Macedonia; meeting Lydia at the riverside in Philippi Acts 16:40 — Paul and Silas leave prison and return to Lydia’s house, where the church had gathered Philippians — Paul’s “love letter” to the church at Philippi, the very church that started in Lydia’s home EPISODE TIMESTAMPS 00:00 — Opening: Lydia, consecration, and the working mom debate 06:00 — Welcome to Episode 213 + where we are in the New Testament story 08:30 — Moving from the Middle East to Europe: Paul’s second missionary journey 14:00 — Greece! Kate and Rebecca share their very different Greek vacation stories 21:00 — The city of Philippi + why there was no synagogue (and what that tells us) 26:00 — Meet Lydia: immigrant, entrepreneur, seller of purple — and what that means 33:00 — The snail dye, purple cloth, and why royalty wore it (yes, really) 38:00 — God opens her heart + her whole household gets baptized 43:00 — Lydia prevails upon Paul to stay at her house (the Greek hospitality energy is real) 48:00 — The slave girl, Paul in prison, and the earthquake — what happens while Paul is at Lydia’s 53:00 — The first church in Europe starts in Lydia’s living room 58:00 — Working mom vs. stay-at-home mom: what does the Bible actually say? 1:04:00 — Your house needs you — and people need your house 1:10:00 — Application: sharing the overflow of your faith with your family RESOURCES MENTIONED Family Values — Gather Moms curriculum for teaching core values in the home Moms Let’s Talk — Gather Moms curriculum for intentional faith conversations with your kids Footsteps of Paul Tour — Rebecca’s Greece trip (highly recommend for the tzatziki alone) Gather Moms: Instagram | Twitter | Facebook Kate Henderson: Instagram | Facebook Rebecca Bradford: Instagram | Facebook

Faith Christian Fellowship Sermonwww.fcf-web.org

The Son of God vs. the Daughter of Baal forms the basic conflict in Thyatira, as Christ warns against seeking the deep things of Satan

**Through the Resurrection all who trust in Jesus can live Victoriously.** Seven churches in Asia minor were each given a letter with encouragements, corrections and promises to those who overcome. How do we overcome and live victoriously? It is by faith alone, through grace alone. Jesus' victory is ours through faith in His work on our behalf. All Praise, Honor, and Glory to Jesus, the Living One who was dead and is alive for ever and ever!!**A Note on the book of Revelation:**Revelation is a letter of prophecy written to seven churches in Asia minor. There are differing perspectives among Biblical scholars as to how Revelation is to be read and understood. This is true of not yet fulfilled prophecy in all of scripture, both Old and New Testament alike. We need not be afraid of reading this portion of scripture because of all the controversy. As with every text of God's word – Jesus is both the One revealed and the One who is doing the revealing. Jesus makes Himself known to us and as long as we keep our eyes focused on magnifying Jesus and resting in His consistent character we can allow room for mystery and our own limitations without losing heart or getting off track.Our sermon series will focus on each individual church's letter found in chapters 1-3. These first-century churches in the Roman province of Asia (currently western Turkey) are mentioned; Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, and Laodicea. We'll begin with the Apostle John exiled on the island of Patmos where he sees Jesus in all His glory. John does his best to record what he has seen and heard within the limitations of human language. (Chapter 1)To help us maintain our focus over the next eight weeks, we invite you to memorize Revelation 12:11: “They overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and the word of their testimony, they did not love their lives so much as to shrink from death.”To help you begin, take time to write the memory verse on notecards and place in an ideal location for your daily review.Additionally, as you prepare for this week's teaching, read Revelation 1:1-20 and your study Bible's introduction (if applicable, or Click here for the ESV Global Study Bible's Introduction to Revelation)

March 22, 2026 - Thyatira: The Tolerant ChurchPastor Caleb Curtis

The last book of the Bible opens with a vision. It's not a vision of judgment meant for explaining at a prophecy conference. It's a vision of the Sovereign Savior meant for sustaining churches, ordinary local churches like Ephesus, Thyatira, Pergamum, Laodicea, and even Heritage Bible Church. After an opening greeting of grace, a colossal vision of a cosmic Christ comes at us in Revelation 1. And that is no accident. More than anything else, we must see Jesus. In Revelation 1:8–20, God provides a surprising vision to sustain us in our work and witness. Here is a vision of Christ to sustain the work for Christ. Listen to this sermon by Brad Baugham, lead pastor at Emmanuel Bible Church in Mauldin.

This teaching opens with thanksgiving for answered prayer and fellowship, celebrating God's healing power and faithfulness, then transitions into a biblical exhortation rooted in Book of Revelation 2, focusing on the church in Thyatira—a small, working-class city facing intense pressure to compromise faith for economic survival through pagan trade guilds—while drawing illustrative parallels from Book of Acts 12 (Peter's miraculous release from prison), Book of Acts 16–17 (Lydia of Thyatira, a faithful seller of purple who responded to the gospel), and the resulting witness seen in the church addressed in Epistle to the Philippians, emphasizing that although Thyatira was culturally insignificant, Christ addressed it with the longest letter to warn against tolerated sin, false teaching (symbolized by “Jezebel”), and moral compromise, while calling believers to perseverance, holiness, and unwavering loyalty to Him despite social, financial, and spiritual cost. 

In this episode, Fr. John and Mary continue their series on Jesus' words to the 7 Churches in the Book of Revelation. Today, they look at Jesus' words to the Church in Thyatira and how relevant what He said to them so long ago is for us here and now. Connect with us and our community on our websites and social media. Or simply reach us via email at [mission@actsxxix.org](mailto: mission@actsxxix.org) ACTS XXIX - Mobilizing for Mission Web: https://www.actsxxix.org Instagram: @acts.xxix Facebook: @ACTSXXIXmission The Rescue Project Web: https://rescueproject.us Instagram: @the.rescue.project Our Streaming Channels Web: https://watch.actsxxix.org/browse YouTube: @actsxxix (https://youtube.com/actsxxix)

In his teaching on Revelation 2:18-29, Michael addresses the message to the church of Thyatira to emphasize the importance of maintaining unwavering allegiance to Jesus within the marketplace. The ancient city of Thyatira was a prosperous commercial hub where economic survival required joining trade guilds that mandated participation in idol worship and immoral practices. The specific threat to this early church was an influential archetype named "Jezebel," who promoted syncretism and misled believers into thinking they could compromise their faith for social and business success. Today, this translates to the danger of compartmentalizing religious values on Sundays while adopting culturally acceptable but unethical business practices during the rest of the week. Using the example of Chick-fil-A remaining closed on Sundays despite substantial financial loss, the text illustrates that rejecting the modern idols of capitalism and prioritizing faith will inherently carry a cost. Ultimately, believers are challenged to name their idolatry, make King Jesus the ultimate CEO over their careers, and persevere through marketplace pressures to receive the eternal reward of reigning with the Son of God.

Description: The church of Thyatira was a church zealously committed to love and good deeds. Like many churches' of our day, they excelled in social justice, and serving as the hands and feet of Jesus, extending compassion toward those in need. Yet in time, their love grew without discernment, and in the name of tolerance they began to love the very things Jesus hates. In this message we'll examine what it looks like to be a church that is all love with no truth, and learn how we can guard ourselves from the current cultural temptation of doctrinal and moral compromise.

Now a certain woman named Lydia heard us. She was a seller of purple from the city of Thyatira, who worshiped God. The Lord opened her heart to heed the things spoken by Paul. [1 hour 2 minutes]

To get a copy of our new book "Embracing the Truth" or to have TS Wright speak at your event or conference or if you simply want spiritual or life coaching or just a consultation visit:www.tswrightspeaks.comVisit our website to learn more about The God Centered Concept. The God Centered Concept is designed to bring real discipleship and spreading the Gospel to help spark the Great Harvest, a revival in this generation.www.godcenteredconcept.comKingdom Cross Roads Podcast is a part of The God Centered Concept.Title: Unpacking the Message to the Church in Thyatira: Lessons for TodayIntroduction: Welcome to our exploration of the Church in Thyatira, a topic that resonates deeply with both historical and contemporary audiences. In this blog post, we will delve into the lessons derived from Revelation 2:18-29, exploring the warnings and encouragements directed at this early church and how they apply to our lives today.Main Content:1. **The Image of Christ** The passage opens with a powerful description of Jesus as the Son of God, whose eyes are like blazing fire and whose feet are like polished bronze. This imagery conveys authority and judgment, reminding us that Jesus is not only our savior but also a figure of immense power who sees and knows all. This establishes a foundation for understanding the message to the church in Thyatira.2. **Commendation for Good Works** Jesus acknowledges the congregation's deeds, love, faith, service, and perseverance, stating that their latter works exceed their first. This commendation emphasizes the importance of growth in our faith and actions. Thyatira was praised for its commitment to the gospel and its ability to withstand challenges while actively demonstrating love and service to others. This serves as an encouragement for us to continually strive to deepen our faith and increase our good works.3. **A Serious Warning** Despite the positive remarks, Jesus delivers a stern warning against the tolerance of a false prophetess named Jezebel. Her teachings led many astray into sexual immorality and idolatry. This aspect of the message highlights the dangers of complacency and the acceptance of moral compromises within the church. It serves as a crucial reminder for modern believers to remain vigilant against influences that contradict biblical teachings.4. **The Challenge of Cultural Compromise** The church faced the challenge of pluralism, where the teachings of Christ were mingled with societal norms that contradicted the gospel. This is akin to many contemporary issues where believers may unintentionally adopt values that are contrary to their faith. Jesus calls His followers to reject such compromises, urging a commitment to purity and holiness in their walk with Him.5. **The Call to Repentance** Jesus expresses His desire for Jezebel to repent, highlighting His patience and mercy. However, the refusal to turn away from sin leads to dire consequences. This aspect of the message serves as a sobering reminder of the importance of repentance in our own lives. It challenges us to reflect on areas where we may be compromising and to seek a return to a pure and devoted relationship with God.Conclusion: In summary, the message to the Church in Thyatira offers timeless lessons about faithfulness, the importance of good works, the dangers of cultural compromise, and the necessity of repentance. As we reflect on these teachings, let us strive to be a community that embodies love and service while remaining steadfast in our commitment to the truth of the gospel. Key...

The letter to the church in Thyatira was a warning. Jesus is judging His church. He is pictured with eyes like fire, searching them out. His feet are like burnished brass, representing judgment. But Jesus also commended them for their love for Him and how it prompted works of service, faith, patience, and endurance—all produced by the Holy Spirit. A practical study from Dr. J. Vernon McGee on this fifth church of Revelation.