We are in a series of messages looking at the seven letters in revelation 2–3. Seven letters written to seven different churches sent through the apostle John from Jesus himself. The church at Ephesus had lost his first love even though they were doing great things. The church at Smyrna was undergoing great suffering and so Jesus encourages them. The church at Pergamum was living in hell‘s headquarters but they have begun to compromise. Revelation 2:18 “And to the angel of the church in Thyatira write: ‘The words of the Son of God, who has eyes like a flame of fire, and whose feet are like burnished bronze. His eyes penetrate everything. Jesus sees it all. He sees the good – the bad – he sees a secret places of our life – He even knows about the thoughts and the intentions of our heart – 19 “I know your works, your love and faith and service and patient endurance, and that your latter works exceed the first. Thyatira was known to be a place that produced textiles and armor. It was also place that was highly unionized. To live in Thyatira and prosper one almost had to be a part of one of these unions. Now Jesus begins to compliment his church in VS 19. He says, “I know all the things you do.” This was no slacker church. They were on top of things. 1. He first mentions love. 2. Love led to faith. Faith is believing it is so – when it’s not so – because God said so – and so it will be so. 3. Faith led to service. 4. Love, faith and serving resulted in patient endurance. The opposite of these four things would be… - I don’t care - I don’t have time - why should I bother - and let somebody else do it. Jesus recognizes that this church really had it going. Their faith was alive. But unfortunately, something else was going on in this church that Jesus needed to address. Here’s what Jesus says to this church… Revelation 2:20 But I have this against you, that you tolerate that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess and is teaching and seducing my servants to practice sexual immorality and to eat food sacrificed to idols. 21 I gave her time to repent, but she refuses to repent of her sexual immorality. 22 Behold, I will throw her onto a sickbed, and those who commit adultery with her I will throw into great tribulation, unless they repent of her works, 23 and I will strike her children dead. And all the churches will know that I am he who searches mind and heart, and I will give to each of you according to your works. Jezebel! - She calls herself a prophet and claims to have a spiritual aura and deep teachings about God and new revelations. - She is teaching wrong things. - Her so-called prophecies are no better than the fortune cookies from panda express. - In fact, her prophecies are words of deception that contradict the clear word of God. - She is leading my people to commit sexual sin. Jesus says that she is undermining the authority of his teachers and his leaders. She usurps the authority of God’s spiritual leaders. False teachers and false prophets… - they will ruin Jesus for you - they will ruin your experience of grace - they will ruin the Bible for you - and they will ruin your fellowship with others - they will ruin the church - They will ruin you Jude 3 I found it necessary to write appealing to you to contend for the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints. Romans 1:16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. You can’t just believe anything and be a Christian at the same time. Tolerance is not a virtue in this church. Jesus is calling for intolerance toward whatever threatens his church. Revelation 22:1 I gave her time to repent, but she refuses to repent of her sexual immorality. 22 Behold, I will throw her onto a sickbed, and those who commit adultery with her I will throw into great tribulation, unless they repent of her works, 23 and I will strike her children dead. And all the churches will know that I am he who searches mind and heart, and I will give to each of you according to your works. 24 But to the rest of you in Thyatira, who do not hold this teaching, who have not learned what some call the deep things of Satan, to you I say, I do not lay on you any other burden. 25 Only hold fast what you have until I come. 26 The one who conquers and who keeps my works until the end, to him I will give authority over the nations, 27 and he will rule them with a rod of iron, as when earthen pots are broken in pieces, even as I myself have received authority from my Father. 28 And I will give him the morning star. 29 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’ 1. I’m coming after Jezebel and those who are sleeping with her and unless they make a change in repent it’s going to turn out bad for them. 2. Hold fast until I come.