[Thyatira]
The fourth church to which I wrote
was Thyatira. During this era, the apostasy
culminated with the complete centralization of power in
the bishop of Rome who was given the
title of 'Pope' or papa of bishops. The eastern section
of the organized church resisted this centralization of
power in the west, and gradually a schism developed to
such proportions that an open split resulted. After
commending the faithful of the church of Thyatira for
their works and charity and service and faith and
patience, I expressed my displeasure at the
increased apostasy: 'Notwithstanding I have a few things
against you, because you suffer that woman
Jezebel, which calls
herself a prophetess, to teach and to seduce my
servants to commit fornication, and to eat things
sacrificed to idols' (Rev.
2:20). That which was the 'doctrine of Balaam'
during the Pergamos era, became, in the Thyatira period
of the church, the seducing tactics of 'that woman
Jezebel.' Jezebel was the wife of the wicked king Ahab
during the days that Israel had
almost completely abandoned the faith of their
fathers. She was the daughter of a foreign king who
brought her alien religion into lsrael, and because of
the weakness of Ahab, she dominated the religious life
of the nation, destroying the true prophets of God and
establishing the prophets of Baal and Asherah. (see I
Kings 16:30-32, 18:4, 13, 19). This is the typical
picture I chose in order to portray the religious
condition of the Thyatira period, commonly referred
to as the Middle Ages: the inception of which was in the
years of growing papal power.
The word I spoke declares that
Jezebel seduced my servants to commit fornication.
Symbolically, this Jezebel is one and the same as the
great whore described in the 17th chapter of Revelation,
‘with whom the kings of the earth have committed
fornication, and the inhabitants of the earth have been
made drunk with the wine of her fornication' (Rev.
17:2). This 'fornication' has to do with the illicit
relationship of church and state, primarily;
however, it relates also to the unholy union of church
and man-made organizations which purport to speak for
me. It is the church turning to the arm of flesh for its
sustenance and propagating power. (See Jer. 17:5). This
'mother of harlots' is symbolic of false religion - that
which is alien to the true spirit of Christ. She has
filled the earth with her abominations, and the
inhabitants of the earth are drunk with the wine of
her fornication.
This woman has plied her trade for
many centuries, even before the Christian era began. She
is pictured as sitting upon many waters, or
peoples, and also upon a scarlet colored beast, full of names of
blasphemy, having seven heads and ten horns (Rev.
17:1-3). From the over-all historical perspective,
the seven heads are seven major nations or empires which
have been, or will be, influenced by this woman. They
are: Egypt, Assyria, Babylon, Medo-Persia, Greece, Rome
(both pagan and Christian, including those nations which
have apostatized into communism, raking upon their
heads the name of blasphemy - Rev. 13:1), and the coming
world government of the false prophet which must
continue for a short time (Rev. 13:11-18, 17:10, 19:20).
The woman, or false religion, will continue to hold sway
in the coming era of the seventh head, for the corrupt
religious systems, both Catholic and Protestant, will
enter into league with it. The sixth head, which ruled
in the apostle John's day (Rev. 17:10), has continued
until this day, as its hereditary power has continued
through Christendom, even though apostate and
blasphemous.
Historically, the woman, which is
the priestcraft of false religion, has affected the
affairs of the nations directly through the close
relationship of government and an officially
supported priesthood. The priesthood has helped the
ruling forces to maintain their power and control by
keeping the masses of people in subjection through fear
and supposed paternalistic favor. Thus the woman is
supported or carried by the beast through an official
working relationship between religion and state. In
those former Christian nations which have taken upon
their heads the name of blasphemy, however, there
is a different relationship between the woman and the
beast. The woman is responsible for the coming into
being of such Marxist dictatorships by fostering
conditions leading to severe reaction against the
corrupt system which prevailed through her fornication.
Thus false religion actually is responsible for
spawning communism; it is her off spring. And because
she has spawned it, she shall be judged by it. This is
portrayed in the prophetic picture by the following:
'And the ten horns which you saw on the beast, these
shall hate the whore, and shall make, her desolate and
naked, and shall eat her flesh, and burn her with fire"
(Rev. 17:16). The ten horns are ten nations which will
be completely taken over by Marxist elements and become
an integral part of the 'sea beast' of communism. (Rev.
13:1). They shall then turn on the religious systems and
decimate them, both Catholic and Protestant. This will
include the very stronghold of the Roman church system
in Italy - the
Vatican.
Think not that only the Catholic branches of apostate
Christianity will feel the wrath of the beast. The
harlot daughters of the Protestant fold will also
be greatly affected.
In the letter to Thyatira I gave
this warning concerning Jezebel: 'Behold, I will
cast her into a bed, and them that commit adultery with
her into great tribulation, except they repent of their
deeds' (Rev. 2:22). It will be during the great
tribulation that the great whore will be decimated by
the communist powers, which correspond to the dogs that
ate Jezebel after she was cast down and trodden under
foot. (See II Kings 9:30-37). I have given her much
opportunity to repent of her fornication but she has
refused, therefore "I will kill her children with death; and
all the churches shall know that I am he who searches the reins and
hearts: and I will give to everyone of you according to
your works' (Rev. 2:21, 23). My people, the time is
drawing near when all of these things shall take place.
Therefore consider what I speak to thee, for even now you are being tried; and even
now I am searching your heart. And to you I say, as I did to
certain ones in Thyatira, 'as many as have not this
doctrine, and which have not known the depths of Satan,
as they speak; I will put on you none other burden. But
that which you have already hold fast till
I come" (Rev. 2:24).
As in the other letters, there is a
promise given to the overcomers in the message to
Thyatira. 'And he that overcomes, and keeps my works to
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.’ (Rev. 2:26-28). In the letter to Thyatira,
the first mention is made of the great tribulation which
comes at the close of the church age. This is because
the apostate religious system which became entrenched
during the Thyatira period continues until the
tribulation and will be judged at that time. The initial
fulfillment of the promise to the overcomers will come
at the beginning of the tribulation period. I will
translate and take to myself 144,000 of the
choicest of my saints, and they will be given power over
the nations during the tribulation. They will be
functioning in their glorified bodies and will have
the power to appear and disappear on the earth. This
ability will constitute the ‘rod of iron' which
will be used as the means to speak my word and enforce
my judgments. As I have received of my Father authority,
so will I give to them authority to implement my will
among the nations, and those nations which heed not that
which they make known shall be broken in pieces as a
potter's vessel. These firstfruits saints are also given
the pledge of the 'morning star;' this is my betrothal
to them as the Bridegroom. They are the wise virgins,
received into the marriage at the midnight hour.
(Matt. 25:10). They make up 'the queen in gold of Ophir'
to be 'brought unto the king in raiment of needlework.'
(Psalm 45:9-14). 'The virgins her companions that follow
her' shall be brought to me at the close of
the tribulation. (see Psalm 45:14-15). They are
the foolish virgins who are not completely ready
at the beginning of the tribulation, when I come
as a thief in the night. (Matt. 25:11-13). He
that has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit is
saying to the church.