Hold On To What You Got - Revelation 2:18-29

"A false teacher was leading many Christians of Thyatira to embrace open immorality but an all-knowing, all powerful Lord will punish her followers severely." [1]  Christ comes to this Church as the all-knowing and all-powerful Son of God.  This Church is commended for its love and faith which probably leads to service and perseverance.

Christ's criticism is toward a false teacher named Jezebel.  The first Jezebel (1 Kings 19ff) led God's people into idolatry and this modern "Jezebel" was doing the same. “Nevertheless, I have this against you: You tolerate that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophet. By her teaching she misleads my servants into sexual immorality and the eating of food sacrificed to idols.” (Revelation 2:20, NIV). However "verse 24 offers an important clue about this immoral teacher with immoral teachings: Satan’s so-called deep secrets. Cults and “mystery religions” flourished in the first century. A common feature was the delicious promise that after persons were initiated into the cult, they gained “deep secrets” or special wisdom. No doubt this was part of “Jezebel’s” allure." [2]

Apart from repentance, "Jezebel" and her followers were promised suffering and death.  God took this matter rather seriously.  I wonder if the so-called "deep things of Satan" were probably presented as the "deep things of God."  It is a "red flag" in a Church where someone is learning things from God that no one else has ever heard.

This Church must have experienced hardship because of "her".   Christ compassionately says to the remnant of the faithful: “. . . ‘I will not impose any other burden on you, except to hold on to what you have until I come.’” (Revelation 2:25b, NIV).  In a day when the magnetism of compromise is everywhere, it is good to hear from our Saviour that it is sufficient that we simply "hold on".  I don't face "Jezebels" of this nature, but she often dresses herself in the clothing of other worldly traditions.

The Church is constantly being invited to borrow equity from the world to make it more appealing.  Some even suggest through various techniques and philosophies that they have the "secret" to make the Church more effective.  Secret knowledge whether its from mystery religions or corporate Canada cannot make the Church more appealing or more effective.   We need to hold on to what we got.

Paul said to Timothy, recorded in 2 Timothy 1:13–14 (NIV), "¹³ What you heard from me, keep as the pattern of sound teaching, with faith and love in Christ Jesus. ¹⁴ Guard the good deposit that was entrusted to you—guard it with the help of the Holy Spirit who lives in us."

The Church is to hold on to what we got: sound doctrine and the Gospel.  Thankfully we don't do this alone but with the omnipotent aid of the Holy Spirit.

Lord God, we are faced constantly with new things, new ideas, new approaches.  We are constantly sought to make the Church more appealing to the nonChristian world.  We are even invited to borrow techniques and ideas that make worldly enterprises successful, assuming they will cause Your Church to flourish.  Help us Father by the aid of Your Holy Spirit to hold on to what we got.  Help us to guard it; to defend it.  What a trust you have given us in the Gospel.  Thy Word is a lamp unto my feet.  The Gospel is the power of God to salvation.  The Word of Christ is able to build us up and give us an inheritance with all the saints.  It is no secret.  Help us hold on.

 

 

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1.  Easley, K. H. (1998). Vol. 12: Revelation. Holman New Testament Commentary (40). Nashville, TN: Broadman & Holman Publishers.
2. Ibid, (41).