“And to 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:  “I know your works, love, service, faith, and your patience; and as for your works, the last are more than the first.  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.  And I gave her time to repent of her sexual immorality, and she did not repent.  Indeed, I will cast her into a sickbed, and those who commit adultery with her into great tribulation, unless they repent of their deeds.  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. 

Now to you I say, and to the rest in Thyatira, as many as do not have this doctrine, who have not know the depths of Satan, as they say, I will put on you no other burden.  But hold fast what you have till I come.  And he who overcomes, and keeps My works until the end, to him I will give power over the nations–‘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; and I will give him the morning star. 

He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.” Revelation 2:18-29

Commendation:

This is praise to you from the One who sees everything about you, the One who has piercing eyes like a flame of fire.  (1) He notes all your service for Him in Idaho Falls.  You are taking care of people in this community and alleviating some of the suffering of those who have very little.  You are outdoing even the Boy Scouts with all your service projects.  Your church bulletin is packed with doing things for others.  (2)  Your love is abounding.  It’s agape love.  You are showing compassion to others with no strings attached.  Your acts of charity provide a striking contrast to the greed and selfishness.  It’s warm and attractive.  (3) Your faith is strong.  You pray, give, and build big.  It’s astounding to watch. (4) And you have the patience of Job.  There is a perseverance under all kinds of obstacles.

Rebuke:

But we have got a problem.  You are tolerating a Jezebel in your midst.  She might be charming and a good teacher, and it could be that she has a large following from those in the church family, but this has all got to stop.  She is an activist for sexual immorality.  In your love and compassion for others, she is desiring to exploit this.  Sh e is probably telling you that toleration equals love.  If you don’t tolerate, than you became the narrow-minded Christian.  The hateful bigot.  The homophobic.  And the list of names goes on and on.  So some might decide it to be better to just show love, grace, and patience and not confront the false prophetess in your midst.  This is a fatal mistake.

Time has been granted to repent.  But there has been no change in her heart.  So Jesus is going to act, resulting in destruction and death in the midst of the church.  And other churches on the outside in Southeastern Idaho are going to know that it is clearly King Jesus who searches the minds and hearts of professing Christians in Idaho Falls.

Praise the Lord for the small pocket of faithful in your church family.  The Lord commends you and tells you to hold fast.  To you who are faithful to the end, the Lord will give to you (1) power over the nations and (2) the morning star.  And what better gift is there?  The Morning Star.  If you have the Star, you have everything.