Day 51

“And to the angel of the church in Thyatira write: The Son of God, who has eyes like a flame of fire, and feet like burnished bronze” Rev 2.18 NASB.

The era of intense persecution of Smyrna had given way to Pergamum, the era of the church flirting with the world. This is when many pagan practices crept into the church through ‘compromise’ with paganism after the ‘conversion’ of Constantine. Many pagan practices were ‘Christianised’ at this time, statues of pagan idols were renamed, and practices like the celebration of Christmas and Easter (named after the Goddess Ishtar) were adopted and merged (sanctified) with Christian celebrations. For 300 years the church had never built a building – now they were granted pagan temples in which to worship. Constantine established the elite paid ministry to mimic the pagan priesthood, whereas before all spiritual gifts of the spirit were on an equal footing. Constantine also legislated the keeping of Sunday in 321AD with a decree that said, “Christians will no longer Sabbatise on the Sabbath but will keep Sunday in honour of the resurrection.” An indication that by this time both practices were in use. 

Jesus refers to the Balaam story from Numbers 22-24 is a reference to this eras’ union with heathenism. The Thyatira church, which covers the longest period of any of the letters (From about 538 to 1552) is the era of deepening darkness and permeating heresies. We even still call it the “Dark Ages” today. From the story of Balaam, we will move to the story of Jezebel 

John’s Christian opponents are here called followers of Jezebel. Whoever she was, she appears to represent the Thyatira branch of the group labelled “Nicolaitans” and “those who hold to the teaching of Balaam” (Rev 2:14-15). Apparently, all three names represent the same group because all three names involve the same two problems: eating food offered to idols and committing fornication. Interestingly enough, when you go to the Christian writings of the following century, the same two issues are front row centre.