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July 2000

A MILLENNIUM MESSAGE FOR THE CHURCH
THYATIRA – ROYAL IN CHRIST (REV 2:18-29)

Rev. Bill van Schie
 

Following the overland route from Pergamum to Sardis the traveler would head eastward along the south bank of the Caicus River, turn southward over a low lying range of hills and descend into the broad and fertile valley of the Lychus. His journey of about forty miles would take him just across the Mysian border to the city of Thyatira.

Entering the ancient ruins of Thyatira the visitor is struck by how little there really is. There is a colonnaded stoa and another public building but there are no theatres, no stadium, no great temples or even paved streets. One senses that this small border city is an outlying city of no great importance. Thyatira was founded as a military outpost to guard one of the approaches to the empire.

With the coming of stable conditions under Roman rule, Thyatira was destined for growth and prosperity as a center for manufacturing and marketing. An outstanding characteristic of Thyratira was the large number of trade guilds that flourished there. Inscriptions indicate the existence of woolworkers, linen workers, makers of outer garments, dyers, leatherworkers, tanners, potters, bakers, slave dealers and bronze-smiths. In Acts 16:14 we meet “a women named Lydia, from the city of Thyatira, a seller of purple goods”.

Closely associated with the trade guilds and the commercial and manufacturing life of the city was the worship of “Tyrimnos” the son of Zeus. With this pagan religion there were many religious observances and festivals that often led to sexual promiscuity in which all those involved in commerce and manufacturing were expected to participate. This created real economic and social difficulties for anyone who had different moral scruples.

In this manufacturing city dominated by guilds and pagan cults, the Lord planted a small Christian Church. We are told that this church was very active and growing in its service to the Lord. It was a church full of love and faith for the Lord and this love worked itself out in its various ministries. However this church was sadly divided.

There were those who followed a prophetess who claimed to be speaking from the Lord and who taught that because idols were nothing, the pagan religious observances of the trade guilds didn’t mean anything either. Like Jezebel of old she seduced people into thinking that because our souls were saved what happens to the body was not relevant. Therefore being involved in sexually immoral pagan festivals did not affect one’s faith. Those that followed her teachings compromised their faith with the cult practices of Thyatira and were able to earn their livelihood.

There were those who opposed this compromise with paganism. They held fast to the truth and remained loyal to the Lord. As a result they suffered the social ostricization and economic effects of being boycotted by others.

When ones livelihood is at stake we can understand the temptation to compromise, can we not? Issue like union membership, Sunday observance, unpaid overtime expectations, dedication to work before the family, tax cheating and questionable financial practices are still with us today. Satan today still tries to undermine our faith and walk with the Lord by seducing us into the compromise of “everybody does it, it doesn’t mean anything” syndrome.

What does the Lord say to this compromised church? He comes as the real Son of God. Tyrimnos is only a fable. He comes as the one with all seeing eyes and with almighty feet. He condemns Jezebel to sickness and will destroy her followers so that all the churches will know the He, as the Lord of the churches, knows and responds to what happens in each church.

Then the Lord says something beautiful. He encourages the faithful to hold on to what they have because he who overcomes even though he seems so small and helpless will have authority to rule nations. He will have the royalty of the “morning star”.

As we enter this new millennium let us remember who we are. As it says in 1 Peter 2:9
“But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.”

Let us then live as princes and princesses of the king, not compromising what the Lord has done for us. Let us remember who is our king and provider and not compromise our beliefs and values. We can live royally because Jesus has made us royal.
 

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