Dr Tom Hover
April 21, 2024
Revelation 2:18–29 / Revelation 3:1-6
THE PAGAN CHURCH: THE CHURCH AT THYATIRA / THE DYING CHURCH: THE CHURCH AT SARDIS
THE PAGAN CHURCH: THE CHURCH AT THYATIRA
“JEZEBEL OR JESUS?” Text: Revelation 2:18–29
Introduction: Is it nice to be narrow? Is intolerance always wrong? Is intolerance always a vice? May it sometimes be a virtue? Sometimes it is nice to be narrow, and sometimes it is wise to be intolerant. There's nothing as intolerant as the intolerance of the tolerant against the intolerance of the intolerant. The church in Thyatira was a wonderful church, as we're going to see in scripture. But it was making a tragic mistake. The Church was tolerating something that it should not tolerate. It was putting up with something that it ought to put out. They, of course, thought that they were broadening their mind, but they weren't broadening their mind; they were just merely stretching their conscience. They were tolerating a woman who was teaching theological and moral error. How we ought to deal with theological and moral error.
I. THE SOURCE OF THE ERROR Revelation 2:20
A. Her Character To call this woman Jezebel would be like calling a man Judas.
2 Kings 9:30 The Old Testament Jezebel was a worshiper of an idol called Baal, and she was a worshiper of this god Baal, which was a fertility god. The worship of this god Baal was licentious, immoral, unspeakable; it even dealt with sodomy and homosexuality. She mixed the altar of Baal with the altar of Jehovah. The same demon spirit that controlled that Old Testament Jezebel was controlling this New Testament Jezebel.
B. Her Call "which calleth herself a prophetess" (Revelation 2:20).
I Timothy 2:12, Roman 16:1, 2 Kings 9:30, Romans 16:27, Acts 18:24-28
II. THE SEDUCTIVENESS OF THE ERROR Revelation 2:20, Galatians 1:8,
Titus 3:10, II John 1:10-11
III. THE SERIOUSNESS OF THE ERROR Revelation 2:20 “and to seduce My servants to commit fornication, and to eat things sacrificed unto idols. Jezebelism led to spiritual adultery. II Corinthians 11:2, James 4:4
IV. THE STUBBORNNESS OF THE ERROR Revelation 2:21 “And I gave her space to repent of her fornication; and she repented not.’
V. THE SPREAD OF THE ERROR Revelation 2:22-23
VI. THE SENTENCE UPON THE ERROR Revelation 2:22-23
VII. THE STAND AGAINST THE ERROR Revelation 2:24-25, Jude 3, Revelation 2:26, II Timothy 2:12, Revelation 2:27-28 Choose Jesus, with Jesus comes all the Father's wealth—if you choose Jesus. Here is what the Lord is saying: "To him that overcometh I will give the morning star" (Revelation 2:26-28).
Conclusion: Revelation 2:29 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.
PM SERVICE
THE DYING CHURCH: THE CHURCH AT SARDIS
Text: Revelation 3:1-6
I. THE REPUTATION OF THE CHURCH Revelation 3:1
II. THE RIGOR MORTIS OF THE CHURCH Revelation 3:1
When the Holy Spirit of God departs from our midst, then you can write "Ichabod" over the door; the Spirit is departed. I mean, the light has gone out for them, and God has removed the candlestick.
1. The Spirit Departs
2. The Feeling Goes II Corinthians 3:17, John 16:13
Holy Spirit will never draw attention to Himself.
3. The Strength Goes II Timothy 3:5
III. THE REFORMATION OF THE CHURCH Revelation 3:2-3, Hebrews 2:10
A. Remember
B. Repent I Thessalonians 5:2-5
IV. THE REMNANT IN THE CHURCH Revelation 3:4-6
Actually, in the church at Sardis, there were three classes of persons:
1.) The Dead
2.) The Dying
3.) The Dedicated
A. Their Virtuous Life Revelation 3:4-5
B. Their Victorious Life Revelation 3:5
: One of these days, we're going to Heaven, either by Rapture or by the grave. But we're going to Heaven. And, you know, I just believe somehow that the Lord Jesus is going to take us one by one by the hand and lead us down that golden street, past all of those angels and right into the throne room of Glory, and present us to the Father as His well-beloved. And, it'll be worth it all at that time. Thank God for these people, who are the Master's minority, who are faithful even unto death. Revelation 3:6 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.
