The Church In Thyatira

Write this letter to the angel of the church in Thyatira. This is the message from the Son of God, whose eyes are like flames of fire, whose feet are like polished bronze:” ‭‭Revelation‬ ‭2:18‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Thyatira was located about 30 to 40 miles southeast of Pergamum. If you were to look at a map, Ephesus (the first church) was located on the west coast of Asia Minor (modern day Turkey). Just north, on the same coast, was Smyrna. North, and inland slightly, was Pergamum. Begin a southeast descent and you will  come to Thyatira. The city is about 50 miles inland from the Aegean Sea. Originally, it was an ancient Greek city named Pelopia. During the Hellenistic era, around 290 B.C., the city was named Thyateira. This city was famous for its dyeing facilities and was the center of the purple cloth trade. The purple dye was derived from the Murex snail. The Murex snail is a medium to large size predatory snail that has an extensive bony-like, spine-like shell. A labor intensive process was used to extract the purple dye from these creatures. Tyrian purple (known as royal purple) was the finished product. This was the city's main industry.  The population of the city was smaller than all of the other seven cities named in Revelation 2 and 3. The modern city name is Akhisar.  Here in Revelation 2:18, the first thing we read about is Jesus Christ. We see Him depicted as He was in Revelation Chapter 1, except this time He is referred to as the Son of God instead of the Son of Man. The Son of Man refers to His humanity. As a man, He identifies with our sorrows and suffering and moves with compassion upon us. As the Son of God, He is the Divine Lord and Judge of humanity. In this case, He comes to state, to the church,  that His flaming eyes see all of their works and identify their deepest motives. His feet are polished bronze hat have been prepared in hot fire. His feet are ready to trample out the judgment that looms over this church. In Revelation 19:11 to the end of the chapter, we read of this judgment that will come on the world. Yes, Jesus is loving, graceful, and compassionate. However, let us not fail to recognize His Omnipotence, Omniscience, and Omnipresence. He is coming in judgment to the world. The only way to escape this judgment is repentance.  He is calling His church to repent. He sees everything about us. The churches which haven't proclaimed and lived the truth will be foremost in the coming judgment. The church is God's bride and body. We are to represent Him. If the church is sinful, where does that leave the world around us?  “For the time has come for judgment, and it must begin with God’s household. And if judgment begins with us, what terrible fate awaits those who have never obeyed God’s Good News? And also, “If the righteous are barely saved, what will happen to godless sinners?” ‭‭1 Peter‬ ‭4:17-18‬ ‭NLT‬‬ Church, where do we stand? What would Jesus say to us? Are we so complacent in our routines of religious observance that we feel confident and comfortable? Have we gotten so accustomed to our "feel good" sermons that we have lost our view of His holiness?? May Jesus help us to see through His eyes of flaming purity and walk with His feet of burning holiness. May we be His church, prepared for the second coming of Christ.