{SEVEN LETTERS}
Finding a Moral Compass_
Revelation 2:18-29
It’s hard to picture Jesus as an angry person – and yet Jesus, in certain circumstances, was furious.
The difference between Jesus’ anger and our anger is that Jesus never got angry over personal offenses or insults. That is not true in our lives.
When someone cuts in front of me in traffic, hurts me, or damages something of mine, I get mad. Jesus got mad when the Father was insulted, or when powerless people were oppressed, or when pious religious people harbored hatred in their hearts.
[Group discussion starter] What things in our world today, do you think, make Jesus angry? How do we, as Christians, respond to those same things?
Jesus gets angry at his own people too.
He comes to the wicked church at Thyatira with a rod of judgement, with a sword to cut them apart.
He gives them time to repent, but if they refuse his grace, he will come in swift judgement...
[Read Revelation 2:18-29]
If all we knew about the church in Thyatira was what we are told in verse 19, what would your evaluation of the church include?
What would Jesus write about you or your church in the realm of love?
Faith? Service? Perseverance?
The church in Thyatira looked good on the surface, but underneath that appearance was a heart of wickedness. This wasn’t just a church tempted to do evil, but one that had ‘married the world and moved in with it’.
In verse 20, how did that wickedness reveal itself in the church at Thyatira?
Jesus calls the leader of this sinful element “Jezebel” - not because that was her real name, but because she had the same character as a wicked queen in the Old Testament. Jezebel was not a believer in the Lord. She was an idolater who led the people of Israel into idol worship and immorality. How do you think this woman was able to lead some of the Christians in Thyatira away from God’s standard of holiness?
This woman also claimed to have access to secret wisdom by calling herself a prophet (verse 20) and by teaching “Satan’s so-called deep secrets” (verse 24).
How would you evaluate a person in your church or bible study who claimed to speak by direct authority from God, or said they possessed spiritual truth that no one else had seen?
Does God respond to this woman with grace or with judgement, or both?
Explain.
In verses 22-23, what instruments of punishment does Jesus threaten to use?
Not everyone in the church had followed the false teacher.
What encouragement does Jesus give to the faithful remnants in Thyatira?
How do you respond when you are confronted about wrong and sin in your life?
Jesus promises two blessings to the believer who remains faithful to him. First, he promises authority over the nations. In Jesus’ future reign as King, faithful followers with reign with him (Revelation 20:4-6). Going through the difficult process of confronting sin in the church is preparation for ruling in the age to come.
Jesus’ second promise is “I will give that one the morning star” (Revelation 2:28). We aren’t given any more explanation of what that means until the end of the book when Jesus says this: “I am the Root and the Offspring of David, and the bright Morning Star” (Revelation 22:16). Those who hold fast until Jesus returns receive, not only authority in His Kingdom, but possession of Christ Himself.
Right now, we are Christ’s possession... someday He will be ours too!
How are those promises already being fulfilled in your life and experience?
Who can you tell about the complete fulfillment of those promises in the future?
Comments
Post a Comment