"And unto the angel of the church in Thyatira write; These things saith the Son of God, who hath his eyes like unto a flame of fire, and his feet are like fine brass; " Revelation 2:18 (KJV)

The church at Thyatira is quite a bit inland from the Three churches we have already looked at; and she was a city built for defense. Actually, I should say she was a city "set-up" for defense in that she wasn't set high atop an Acropolis like Pergamum or other cities of the day, nor did she have high walls around her to protect her from her would-be enemies looking to pillage and loot. Thyatira's strength came from Rome. She was fortified and brought into prominence by Selucius a Roman General after the Order of Alexander the Great who brought prominence to it by commissioning the Elite Roman Guard to be stationed there. It was one of the first military garrisons of it's kinds. However, when it fell, it was TOTALLY Annihilated and rebuilt. Very little ruins left from the old city; maybe a city block altogether.

Thyatira was said to be the headquarters for the people of labor such as potters, tanners, carpenters, weavers, and road-makers. It was the working man's town.

But Jesus begins His letter to the church of Thyatira by saying:

"And unto the angel of the church in Thyatira write; These things saith the Son of God, who hath his eyes like unto a flame of fire, and his feet are like fine brass;" Rev 2:18 (KJV)

This was a message of Judgment... Eyes like unto a flame of fire / feet like burnished brass....

Interestingly enough Jesus begins as He has all of the Other churches so far,  with a word of commendation.

Now, let me say here that many think that Roman Catholicism is to be WHOLLY Condemned. But I have discovered here that there was a time (speaking of the church at Thyatira) where they were truly used of God in the humble beginnings. In fact, the Lord speaks to that when He says,

"I know thy works, and charity, and service, and faith, and thy patience, and thy works; and the last to be more than the first." Revelation 2:19 (KJV)

Their works in the beginning were wonderful works. And I believe that there is a reason why Our Lord placed these attributes of the early church of Thyatira (Catholicism) in the order that He did.

He mentions works first and then charity or love. I believe He was making it clear that He saw that it was their love that drove their works. Then He mentions their service. That word for service here is referring to their ministry as faithful servants to the Lord even in the "seat of Satan" which referred to the Ophites which were a cult that worshipped the serpent or Satan stating that he alone granted Adam and Eve True Wisdom while "the Creator" withheld it from them. But it was their steadfast faith in God and their patience (or consistency at the first) which He counted again for works. In fact He mentions that they had not waned in their works for the Lord, but commends them that they had increased their works for the Lord.

Condemnation

"Notwithstanding I have a few things against thee, because thou sufferest that woman Jezebel, which calleth herself a prophetess, to teach and to seduce my servants to commit fornication, and to eat things sacrificed unto idols." Rev 2:20 (KJV)

This was the period when idolatry and rituals began through the catholic church to be mingled with "Christian" worship. It was not the first time that Idolatry and rituals had been observed as a faith in and of itself, but it was the first that it began finding it's way into "Christian" worship. This is where Roman Catholicism took a turn for the worst during the period of Pope Gregory the 1st in and around 590 AD, and to the time of Pope Gregory the 7th in 1073-1085. It was during this time that the Papacy was elevated to a place of secular power, giving complete power of the church to the Pope. This was complicated even further by the institution of religious rituals where the Virgin Mary and the Christ Child became prominent ICONS of religious Worship. It was the period of time when the Pope and priests introduced the sacrament of MASS and the theology of Purgatory and the Mass for the dead were practiced.

Then came the document of the Donation of Constantine. The Donation of Constantine was nothing more that a forged document of the Emperor "Constantine the Great", which conferred large privileges and rich possessions on the pope and the Roman Church. This of course was in turn for their allegiance to the government.

But they weren't through... next came what was called the Decreedles of Isadora, which finally gave "Absolute Power" to the Pope over the church and all of it's people.

You see why The Lord refers to those who "bought into" all of these "new-age" heresies, as "Jezebel". He called her the forerunner of the Apostate Church, and here's what he said in His letter to her.

"And I gave her space to repent of her fornication; and she repented not. Behold, I will cast her into a bed, and them that commit adultery with her into great tribulation, except they repent of their deeds. And I will kill her children with death; and all the churches shall know that I am he which searcheth the reins and hearts: and I will give unto every one of you according to your works." Rev 2:21-23 (KJV)

But Jesus does speak of a remnant that had not agreed with nor allowed such a doctrine, and He says....

"But unto you I say, and unto the rest in Thyatira, as many as have not this doctrine, and which have not known the depths of Satan, as they speak; I will put upon you none other burden. But that which ye have already hold fast till I come." Revelation 2:24,25

That same message stands for the church even now. Never before have the Works of Jezebel been more prevalent in all churches. It is the message of compromise we hear every Sunday, not the Message of The Great Alpha and Omega the Beginning and The End. Think of it. The Doctrines of the church today are being offered up by mankind and out of their own reasoning and purpose. That is not the doctrine of the Lord who comes saying, Behold I come quickly, and

"Behold, I will cast her into a bed, and them that commit adultery with her into great tribulation, except they repent of their deeds. And I will kill her children with death; and all the churches shall know that I am he which searcheth the reins and hearts: and I will give unto every one of you according to your works." Rev 2:22,23 (KJV)

And those kind of warnings have been a bone of contention with many who wear the cloth today - most recently Carlton Pearson who lost everything to teach that God is NOT a God of Judgment, but a God of tolerance and compassion - so He will not judge anyone or send anyone to Hell.

But think on this for a moment. Every Religion believes in judgment of some kind. Every civilized country believes in Judgment of some kind or a rule of law which will bring about judgment.

So Jesus closes out the letter to the church at Thyatira for those who still true to Him and His Word and he says,

"And he that overcometh, and keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations: And he shall rule them with a rod of iron; as the vessels of a potter shall they be broken to shivers: even as I received of my Father. And I will give him the morning star." Revelation 2:26-28 (KJV)

Who is that Bright and Morning Star? That's Jesus, and we have that blessed hope of His coming very soon!

He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.