Thyatira had no special significance, religious or political. Yet the Lord devotes more words to it in his letter than He does to any of the other seven churches.
Thyatira was a closed shop union town, and one's ability to make a living required union membership. The problem for Christians was that the unions were dedicated to idols and required idol worship, eating meat sacrificed to idols and orgies.
Jezebel taught Christians that there was a way they could outwardly participate in all that as long as they inwardly stayed faithful to the Lord -- just as some today say you can participate in the idolatrous worship of Roman, Orthodox and many Protestant churches as long as you reject that inwardly.
Hear what the Lord thinks of that teaching.
This is an update and expansion of the sermon preached several years ago on this passage. Pastor Mencarow and his wife visited the site of Thyatira in January, 2012. This sermon incorporates what they learned from their visit and additional research.
RECOMMENDED FOR FURTHER STUDY on whether you can participate in or even attend unbiblical worship as long as you "inwardly" reject it: "Come Out From Among Them: Anti-Nicodemite Writings of John Calvin" (Protestant Heritage Press, 2001)
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