5/19/07
There are many believers in the Lord Jesus Christ who see the letters to the seven Churches as having prophetic significance in revealing the unfolding of church history in seven sections of time.
Among those who hold this view would be many who see the Church as an institution, a political power structure. Others who hold this view would see the Church of Jesus Christ as the assembly of individual believers sprinkled among the societies and worldly institutions and who gather together in Jesus’ name in local fellowships.
Those of us who see prophetic, historical significance in the letters to the Churches may see in the letter to the Church at Thyatira reference to the period in which the Roman Catholic Church arose. Some say that the Church at Thyatira corresponds to the Roman Catholic Church and use this to justify tolerance of Catholicism and the considering of it as just another Christian denomination.
This is a grave and dangerous error!
The letters to the Churches in Revelation 1:20 through 3:22 are not written to institutions! They are not written to denominations or human organizations. They are written to the individual believers in Jesus who, together, make up the Ekklesia of Jesus Christ.
The letter to the Church at Thyatira may refer to the time of the Roman Catholic Church religious system but it is not written to that religious system. It is written to the believers in Jesus during the time of the Roman Catholic religious system.
If anything, it is the woman Jezebel that represents the Roman Catholic Empire. And the believers of Jesus during that time are being exhorted and warned by our Lord Jesus that some are tolerating this idolatrous system and those who do not do the work of that system and do not have the doctrine of that system are commended.
The Roman Catholic system claims that it, as an institution, is the only means by which people can approach God and be saved. Their gospel is inseparable from their institution with its sacraments, priests, and the Catholic Mary.
Their Eucharist is the eating of things sacrificed to idols.
The Church at Thyatira is commanded to hold fast to Jesus to keep the works of Jesus, not the Roman Catholic religious system.
If we love the brethren, if we love people in the Roman Catholic system, then we will reach out to them with the true Gospel in the name of the Jesus of the Bible. We do them no favors by endorsing their system and twisting scripture to justify their institution and false gospel.
And unto the angel of the church in Thyatira write; These things saith the Son of God, who hath his eyes like unto a flame of fire, and his feet are like fine brass;
I know thy works, and charity, and service, and faith, and thy patience, and thy works; and the last to be more than the first.
Notwithstanding I have a few things against thee, because thou sufferest that woman Jezebel, which calleth herself a prophetess, to teach and to seduce my servants to commit fornication, and to eat things sacrificed unto idols.
And I gave her space to repent of her fornication; and she repented not.
Behold, I will cast her into a bed, and them that commit adultery with her into great tribulation, except they repent of their deeds. And I will kill her children with death; and all the churches shall know that I am he which searcheth the reins and hearts: and I will give unto every one of you according to your works.
But unto you I say, and unto the rest in Thyatira, as many as have not this doctrine, and which have not known the depths of Satan, as they speak; I will put upon you none other burden. But that which ye have already hold fast till I come.
And he that overcometh, and keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations: And he shall rule them with a rod of iron; as the vessels of a potter shall they be broken to shivers: even as I received of my Father. And I will give him the morning star.
He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.
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