Pastor Dan Nickerson – March 29th, 2021
18 “And to the angel of the church in Thyatira write, ‘These things says the Son of God, who has eyes like a flame of fire, and His feet like fine brass: 19 “I know your works, love, service, faith, and your patience; and as for your works, the last are more than the first.20 Nevertheless I have a few things against you, because you allow that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess, to teach and seduce My servants to commit sexual immorality and eat things sacrificed to idols.21 And I gave her time to repent of her sexual immorality, and she did not repent. 22 Indeed I will cast her into a sickbed, and those who commit adultery with her into great tribulation, unless they repent of their deeds.23 I will kill her children with death, and all the churches shall know that I am He who searches the minds and hearts. And I will give to each one of you according to your works. 24 “Now to you I say, and to the rest in Thyatira, as many as do not have this doctrine, who have not known the depths of Satan, as they say, I will put on you no other burden. 25 But hold fast what you have till I come.26 And he who overcomes, and keeps My works until the end, to him I will give power over the nations. 27 ‘He shall rule them with a rod of iron; They shall be dashed to pieces like the potter’s vessels’ as I also have received 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.” ’
Thyatira was located in the the fertile Lykos Valley, now the modern Turkish city of Akhisar. It was located some 40 miles south east of Pergamos and almost due east of Athens, about 50 miles from the Aegean Sea. Thyatira was the smallest of the seven cities mentioned in the letters to the churches and it was founded by Alexander the Great some 300 years before Christ, as a military buffer in the Lykos valley for the city for Pergamos the capital at that time. When enemies invaded from the east or the south they would naturally come through the valley of Lykos to Thyatira, however, its location did not allow it to defend itself very well. Its mission was to hold the enemy just long enough for Pergamos to prepare itself for battle and as a result Thyatira was destroyed and rebuilt many times during its history.
The main trade route that went through the city so tradesmen from around the world bought and sold there. During the Roman era, it was famous for its dyeing facilities and was a center of textile guild and trade. One of those items for sale was a very expensive purple dye that was valued by royalty and the wealthy of that era, and this dye was obtained from a certain shellfish, and a single drop of this dye was coupled with the high mineral water of Thyatira which allowed for colors that could not be reproduced anywhere else on earth (Acts 16:14-15).
More guilds were known in Thyatira than any other contemporary city in the Roman province of Asia at that time. Inscriptions were found on stones in Thyatira mentioning the following – wool-workers – linen-workers – makers of outer garments – dyers – leather-workers – tanners – potters – bakers – bronze-smiths – silver smiths – all banded together to set prices and to guarantee work. To refuse to join a guild was to give up all prospects of work, this little fact will become important as we move through these verses.
The guardian god of the city was “Tyrimnos” – who was identified with Apollo was worshiped there. Caesar was considered Apollo incarnate and worship of him was merged with that of Apollo, both being called sons of Zeus
Thyatira’s one religious claim to fame was the shrine dedicated to fortune-telling, it was presided over by a female oracle named Sambathe – where guild workers would go for advice.