The Church at Thyratiran had a lot going for it. This devotion reading looks at its commendation for its faith, love, and service.
Nuggets
- As with the other cities on the trade route, Thyratira was wealthy and grounded in pagan worship.
- This is the first letter to give the title Son of God, but then it veers off.
- This is a great commendation.
The congregation at Thyatira got one of the longest letters in the Book of Revelation. It got a pretty good commendation.
Let’s take a look.
Let's Put It into Context
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Devotions in the Letters to the Congregations series
To the Church in Thyatira
“And to the angel of the church in Thyatira write …” (Rev. 2: 18 ESV)
As with the other cities on the trade route, Thyratira was wealthy and grounded in pagan worship.
Thyratira was next city on the trade route. Little is known about its origins.
It would be logical that it was a commercial center, even though it was a small village, since it was on the trade route.
Even though it was small, it must have done a booming business. It was considered a wealthy city.
It was known for its trade guilds. One may have included Lydia. “One who heard us was a woman named Lydia, from the city of Thyatira, a seller of purple goods, who was a worshiper of God. The Lord opened her heart to pay attention to what was said by Paul” (Ac. 16: 14 ESV).
If she had been, Lydia would have had to quit the guild upon conversion. Disciples weren’t allowed in their ranks because they were tied to the pagan religion of the area.
Presently, Thyratira is the Turkish city of Akhisar.
Vision Man’s Greeting
“… ‘The words of the Son of God, who has eyes like a flame of fire, and whose feet are like burnished bronze” (Rev. 2: 18 ESV)
Son of God
This is the first letter to give the title Son of God, but then it veers off.
Since this is the New Testament, that would seem to point to this being Jesus. It shows that Jesus was not only the Son of Man but also the Son of God.
But remember, John only had the Old Testament or Torah to go on. The Jews didn’t think God was going to have an actual Son.
Humans with a special relationship with God had been described as a son of God. This term was used both for individuals and groups.
As for describing groups, the nation of Israel was called God’s firstborn son. “Then you shall say to Pharaoh, ‘Thus says the LORD, Israel is my firstborn son” (Ex. 4: 22 ESV).
Angels are considered to be God’s sons. Genesis 6: 2 is generally considered to refer to angels. “When man began to multiply on the face of the land and daughters were born to them, the sons of God saw that the daughters of man were attractive. And they took as their wives any they chose” (Gen. 6: 1-2 ESV).
Solomon and other kings descended from David were referred to as God’s son.
- “He said to me, ‘It is Solomon your son who shall build my house and my courts, for I have chosen him to be my son, and I will be his father” (I Chron. 28: 6 ESV).
- “When your days are fulfilled and you lie down with your fathers, I will raise up your offspring after you, who shall come from your body, and I will establish his kingdom. He shall build a house for my name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever. I will be to him a father, and he shall be to me a son. When he commits iniquity, I will discipline him with the rod of men, with the stripes of the sons of men, but my steadfast love will not depart from him, as I took it from Saul, whom I put away from before you” (II Sam. 2: 12-15 ESV).
But think about it. If this is talking descendant-of-David son of God, it isn’t talking about God’s only begotten Son – not singularly.
Here, I think the title Son of God is used to show His majesty. If it was Jesus that showed up that day on Patmos, it would be a fitting title.
Eyes like a Flame of Fire and Feet like Burnished Bronze
I also see how this description fits the description of Vision Man in Revelation 1.
- “… ‘The words of the Son of God, who has eyes like a flame of fire, and whose feet are like burnished bronze” (Rev. 2: 18 ESV).
- “… His eyes were like a flame of fire, his feet were like burnished bronze, refined in a furnace …” (Rev. 1: 14-15 ESV).
Ooo, baby. Almost word for word.
But that is a description of God, not Jesus. “His body was like beryl, his face like the appearance of lightning, his eyes like flaming torches, his arms and legs like the gleam of burnished bronze, and the sound of his words like the sound of a multitude” (Dan. 10: 6 ESV).
While Jesus never was described in these terms, we talked in Revelation 1 that this could be defining Jesus’ glorified body if Vision Man is Jesus. It would be like His earthly body, but more like His heavenly body.
Thyratira’s Commendation
“I know your works, your love and faith and service and patient endurance, and that your latter works exceed the first” (Rev. 2: 19 ESV)
This is a great commendation.
They had service that is ministry. They had and faith. They had endurance and growth.
Isn’t that what God is calling us to do? They were serving God by performing in His name what He has called them to do.
To me, the best part was they were growing, “… your latter works exceed the first” (Rev. 2: 19 ESV). The progression is there.
Works doesn’t necessarily mean the Matthew 25 to-do list. It means that they are succeeding in working out their salvation.
“Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure” (Phil. 2: 12-13 ESV).
Working out our salvation is growing God’s holy principles within us.
Too many times, I am afraid that disciples just want to stay where they are. Oh, we might say we want to know God better.
But we want just enough salvation to get us fire insurance and make minor changes to appease God.
Morris made an interesting observation. Most of the time, we see faith as our belief in God. He saw this to mean it is a confidence in God.
Resource
But isn’t that what God really wants for faith? James told us that even the demons believe in God. “You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe—and shudder!” (Jas. 2: 19 ESV).
It isn’t just about believing He is God. It is about having confidence that He is Sovereign God. He has made promises to us — and He will keep them.
“Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen” (Heb. 11: 1 ESV).
Faith is about consciously, purposefully putting our confidence in God. It proves His divinity.
Think about it. John had witnessed the Son of God walking on earth for three years. He was there on the Mount of Transfiguration to see Him in His glory (Mt. 17: 1-9; Mk. 9: 2-9; Lk. 9: 28-36).
John knew. He had the confidence.
Let’s dissect this a bit more. God and Jesus know every good part about us. They will always focus on the good.
Oh, yes. They won’t shy away from identifying or judging the bad.
But they know everything about us.
Making the Connections
Working out our salvation. Going from milk babies to steak adults. Navigating the Sanctification Road.
It is all the same.
We are called to be growing closer to God.
I know I sound like a broken record. Neither can we misunderstand this nor forget this.
Salvation is a three-pronged deal. We gain salvation at conversion. That is when we become regenerated. God makes us a new creation.
God comes to us where we are, but He doesn’t leave us there. He expects our character to become more like His. We can only do that by seeking Him.
God’s Word isn’t a self-help book. We don’t change ourselves. God changes us.
We can’t do the service without loving God. Oh, we can try, but we will be like Thyratira. It won’t be credited to our account.
It slams home the point – once again – that our actions aren’t what defines our spiritual condition. It is our heart and our attitude toward God.
How Do We Apply This?
Searching for and Seeking God
Hearing His Word (Rom. 10: 17)
Reading His Word (Rev. 1: 3)
Praying to Him (Heb. 4: 16)
Studying His Word (Ac. 17: 11)
Meditating on His Word (Ps. 1: 1-2)
Memorizing His Word (Ps. 119: 11)
Father God. We want to seek You. By spending time with You through prayer and being buried in Your Word, we will see Who You are. Only then can we imitate You. Amen.
What do you think?
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