“To everyone who overcomes—who to the very end keeps on doing things that please me—I will give power over the nations. You will rule them with a rod of iron just as my Father gave me the authority to rule them; they will be shattered like a pot of clay that is broken into tiny pieces. And I will give you the Morning Star! “Let all who can hear listen to what the Spirit says to the churches. Revelation 2:26–29 LBP [1]
7. The Promise: to the Overcomers (Revelation 2:26–29).[2] |
|
E. The
Message to Thyatira: The Church That Is Compromising or Permissive,
|
|
|
1. The Recipients
a. The messenger of
the church b. The Thyatira
churchDS1 2. The Speaker:
Jesus |
18 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; |
|
3. The Commendation
for Deeds or Works a. For love &
faith b. For service &
perseverance c. For expanding
ministries |
19 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. |
|
4. The Complaint:
Allowing a Jezebel to Teach a. They tolerate a
false prophetess b. They tolerate
false teaching, sexual immorality, & idolatry |
20 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. 21.
And I gave her space to repent of her fornication, and she repented not. |
|
5. The Warning:
To the Compromising & Corrupt a. To Jezebel: She
will be cast into a bed of suffering |
22.
Behold, I will cast her into a bed, and them that commit adultery with her
into great tribulation, except they repent of their deeds. |
|
b. To Jezebel’s
followers: The same fate c. The purpose of
the warning 1) To honor Jesus 2) To execute
justice |
23 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. |
|
6. The Counsel:
To the Faithful a. There will be no
other burdens or demands made upon the faithful |
24 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. |
|
b. They must hold
fast |
25 But
that which ye have already hold
fast till I come. |
7. The Promise: To the Overcomersa. They will be given authority & power over the nations |
26 And he that overcometh, and keepeth My works unto the end, to
him will I give power over the nations:
27 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. |
b. They will be given the Morning Star, Christ Himself |
28 And I will give him the morning star. 29 He that hath an ear let him hear what the Spirit saith unto
the churches.[3]
|
The Compensation (Revelation 2:26–28)
“He that overcometh” (Revelation 2:26). The compensation for the
overcomer is mentioned as with the other churches.
• The stipulation for the
compensation. “He that … keepeth my
works unto the end” (Revelation 2:26).
Holy character is the prerequisite for all who wish to receive Divine
compensation. The overcomer is the one who has overcome temptation and has
lived a holy life.
• The strength in the compensation. “Him will I give
power over the nations; and he shall rule
them with a rod of iron” (Revelation
2:26, 27). This is the millennial rule by the saints. Evil men often
crave power to rule, but they will never have the power God’s people will have
to rule during the millennium.
• The star in the compensation. “I will give him the morning star” (Revelation 2:28). The “morning star” is Jesus (Revelation 22:16). The carnal mind cannot fully appreciate this reward but suffice it to say that no reward is greater than having the presence of Jesus Christ in your life in a saving way.
The Charge (Revelation 2:29)
“He that hath an ear let him hear what the Spirit saith
unto the churches” (Revelation
2:29). This appeal, as we noted in the previous letters to the church,
is an appeal or charge made to all the churches. It is an appeal of the
stewardship that involves three things.
The capacity to hear. “He that hath an
ear.” Use the ability, assets, and advantages given to you by God to
honor God.
The character of hearing. “Let him hear.”
Be attentive, interested, and respectful.
The communication for hearing. “What the Spirit
saith.” “What the Spirit saith”
is the Word of God (Ephesians 6:17). Too
many use their ears only to hear defiling things.[4]
(Revelation 2:26–29) Overcomers—Promises: There
Are the Promises to The Overcomers.
Two wonderful promises are made to the believer who overcomes and does not compromise with the world—who overcomes the seduction, fornication, immorality, drunken and lose parties, idolatry, and false teaching of the world—who keeps on living and working for Christ.
1. The Overcomer Is Given Power Over the Nations
(Psalms.
2:8–9). This is clearly the promise of ruling and reigning with Christ
throughout eternity. The day is coming when Jesus Christ will return to earth
and conquer all the forces of evil. Every knee shall bow and confess that He is
the Lord God of the universe. The overcomers shall participate in that day, the
glorious day of redemption with Jesus Christ. They shall be given positions of
rule and service throughout the universe. They shall serve the Lord Jesus
Christ in the new heavens and earth. (Rev. 14:13;
Rev. 21:24–27).
“And He said unto him, Well, thou good
servant: because thou hast been faithful in a very little, have thou authority
over ten cities” (Lu. 19:17).
“Ye are they which have continued with Me
in My temptations. and I appoint unto you a kingdom, as My Father hath
appointed unto Me” (Lu. 22:28–29).
“Do ye not know that the saints shall
judge [oversee, rule] the world? and if the world shall be judged by you, are
ye unworthy to judge the smallest matters?” (1 Co.
6:2).
“If we suffer, we shall also reign with
Him: if we deny Him, He also will deny us” (2 Tim.
2:12).
“And from Jesus Christ, who is the
faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the
kings of the earth. Unto Him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in His
own blood, and hath made us kings and priests unto God and His Father; to Him
be glory and dominion forever and ever” (Re. 1:5–6).
“To him that overcometh will I grant to
sit with Me in My throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with My
Father in His throne” (Re. 3:21).
“And I saw thrones, and they sat upon
them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were
beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not
worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon
their foreheads or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a
thousand years” (Re. 20:4).
“Because he hath set his love upon Me,
therefore will I deliver him: I will set him on high because he hath known My
name” (Ps. 91:14).
“And they that be wise shall shine as
the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness, as
the stars forever and ever” (Da. 12:3).
“The Lord God is my strength, and He will make my feet like hinds’ feet, and He will make me to walk upon mine high places” (Hab. 3:19).
2. The Overcomer Is Given the Morning Star.
This is Jesus Christ Himself. Revelation 22:16 calls Jesus “the bright and
morning star.” The hearer and overcomer are to receive Jesus Himself forever
and ever, never to be away from Him again.
Note: the
person who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to this church. Let
him separate from the world. Let him never compromise and become corrupted with
the sins of the world. Let him never allow a Jezebel—a compromising or corrupt
person—to teach in the church.[5]
“To all who are victorious, who obey Me to the very end, I will give authority over all the nations. They will rule the nations with an iron rod and smash them like clay pots.” Revelation 2:26–27 NLT
Christ
says that those who are victorious (over
Jezebel, etc.) and who obey to the very end will rule over
Christ’s enemies and reign with Him as He judges evil. Earlier, Christ had
given this promise concerning those who obey to the very end: “Those who endure
to the end will be saved” (Matthew 24:13 nlt). The “end” refers
to Christ’s second coming.
The promised authority over
all the nations fulfills Psalm 2, a messianic psalm describing how God will
hand the nations of the world over to Christ: “Only ask, and I will give you
the nations as your inheritance, the ends of the earth as your possession. You
will break them with an iron rod and smash them like clay pots” (Psalm 2:8–9 nlt).
Christ applies this psalm to the readers by showing that the future reign of
the Messiah will be shared with those who remain faithful (see Rev. 1:6; Rev. 3:21;
Rev. 20:6; 1
Corinthians 6:2).
The iron rod symbolizes total
judgment. In Isaiah 30:12–14, God warned His
rebellious people, “Because you despise what I tell you … you will be smashed
like a piece of pottery” (nlt).
Jeremiah issued a similar warning: “As this jar lies shattered, so I will
shatter the people of Judah and Jerusalem beyond all hope of repair”(Jeremiah 19:11 nlt).
This warning was being given to the cults. Believers dare not take a light view
of heresy because heresy will destroy people for eternity. Those who stay true,
however, will rule with Christ. This promise must have been a great
encouragement to the believers in Thyatira who were facing difficulties because
of their faith in Christ.
“They will have the same authority I received from My Father, and I will also give them the morning star!” Revelation 2:28 NLT
Those
who are victorious in Thyatira were promised the same authority that Christ had received from the Father; they
would also receive the morning star. Christ is called the morning
star in Rev. 2:28; Rev.
22:16; and 2 Peter 1:19. A morning
star appears just before dawn when the night is coldest and darkest. When the
world is at its bleakest point, Christ will burst onto the scene, exposing evil
with His light of truth and bringing His promised reward. The morning star may
also picture the authority given to the saints because of their faithfulness (Numbers 24:17).
“Anyone who is willing to hear should listen to the Spirit and understand what the Spirit is saying to the churches.” Revelation 2:29 NLT
The
conclusion that marks each of these messages to the churches implores everyone
to listen
and understand
what the Spirit is saying to the churches. All these letters would
be read to all the churches. The message included in each letter was for more
than just the church to whom it had been written. The other churches should
listen and hear, as should churches of the present day. We, too, are called to
listen and understand what the Spirit is saying to us.[6]
THYATIRA: VICTORS FOR CHRIST REIGNING WITH HIM
In some respects, this letter is
similar to the last. In one respect, it is unique. Its similarity arises from
the fact that in Thyatira, as in Pergamos, there was much that was excellent
clogged with much that was impure; that the Saviour stood before the Church as
a heart-searching Saviour; that unless the evil was put away, the Church would
be severely judged, as a lesson and warning to the Churches round about; that
the evil ones themselves would be visited with tribulation and with death; that
the only burden which the Lord would put on the Church was that it should put
away the evil and hold fast the good “until he comes.”
The feature in this epistle
which is absolutely unique is the remarkable promise which is given to “him
that overcometh”—a promise, verbally at least, unlike any other in the New
Testament, and one which has given rise to some interpretations which are
totally repulsive to Christian feeling, and alien from the spirit of the Word.
And we confess that it would not surprise us if some Christian should say,
“Either I do not understand this promise, or else its fulfillment would be
little joy to me; to promise me that I should ‘rule the nations with a rod of
iron,’ is to promise me something from which I altogether shrink. I have no
wish to break people into shivers.”
We are the more anxious,
therefore, to clear up this part of the epistle (the only intricate one) since
some, of coarser temperament than others, have gathered therefrom that it would
be the work of the righteous, in the millennium, to go about, sword in hand, slaying the wicked! One hopes it is not irreverent
to say we trust other work will be ours. We should lose the spirit of the
promise in the letter if we were to put any such interpretation thereon; we
should be guilty of neglecting to compare Scripture with Scripture.
Undoubtedly, Christ promises to the victor power over the nations. Whether or not
it would be a blessing for us to have it must depend on what the power, or
authority, is. There is the power of the sword as wielded by the warrior; the
power of the scepter in the hands of a king; the power of the staff as borne by
a shepherd; and the power of the truth in the mouth of a faithful witness. To
ascertain which kind of power is here intended, we must advance slowly and
thoughtfully and in harmony with the whole Word of God. Attempting to interpret
the words as if they stood absolutely alone and out of appropriate relation to
the entire revealed plan of God would be foolish and even reckless.
I. The Lord Jesus Christ has received from his Father power over the nations.
Since the promise is “to him
will I give … as I also have received of my Father,” it is all-important, for
the elucidation of the promise, that we should see what this authority is which
Christ has received. We are told in the following passages: John 17:2; Ps.
2:7–10; Ps.132:11; 2 Sam. 7:11, 2 Sam.12; Isa. 9:6, 7; Jer. 23:5; Acts.
2:29–36; Acts. 5:31; 1 Pet. 3:22; 1 Cor. 15:25, etc. We must allow no such
falsification of Scripture as is involved in the affirmation that the kingdom
of Christ is not yet in being. For the word (Rev. 2:27) is decisive against that.
The kingdom of Christ has,
indeed, varied stages of development. There is the present state of things,
during which our Lord is subduing evil by the Word of his grace and the Spirit
of his power. The next stage of it will be reached when “he hath put all
enemies under his feet” The final development of it (so far as revealed to us)
will be in the heavenly state. There is, however, one special method of
Christ’s ruling which is specified here. In Rev. 2:27, but in Ps. 2:9, the same
verb is used (LXX.) and is translated as “break.” Again, in Micah 7:14, it is
also used and is there translated as “feed,” so Micah 5:4. Thus, the same word
is rendered “break,” “tend,” “feed,” “rule.” The fact is that the Lord is
regarded as a Shepherd of the flock. The shepherd’s care is to “tend” the
flock; in doing this, he feeds and leads the sheep and breaks the power that
would ravage them. This is precisely the case with the Lord Jesus as the
Shepherd and Bishop of souls. He feeds, leads, and rules his own and breaks the
opposers’ power. He will rule in judgment; “he will not fail nor be discouraged
till he hath brought forth judgment unto victory.” His Word is the “rod of his
strength;” his Spirit is the breath of his power.
II. THE Lord Jesus and his people are united in a close fellowship of war and victory.
Even now, they are planted
together, crucified together, dead, buried, risen, sitting, living together;
and they are destined hereafter to be glorified together. They are one with him
in heart, life, and suffering; they will be united with him in triumph and in
glory. From this point of view, is not the puzzling and repelling aspect
disappearing from this promise? and does it not begin to gleam with glory? Out
of this present oneness with Christ, the fulfillment of the promise in the text
must certainly come. Several steps of thought will show this.
1. Those who are contending with sin without and within are fighting for
Christ. To them, life’s great conflict is all for Christ. And to them, the
world and life seem to have naught in them that is worth all the responsibility
and care of a battle, save as Christ is coming thereby to be enthroned in, and
the evil one dethroned from, the hearts of men. The life of the individual
Christian, and the collective life of Churches, are of value only as they help
on this end.
2. Wherever souls are won for Christ, believers share the joy of their
Saviour’s victory. It is, in fact, a triumph for them when their Lord wins
any trophies of honor. For them to live is Christ. Their joys are indissolubly
bound up with that of their Saviour.
3. Believers are constituted by Christ as a great commonwealth of kings
and priests unto God. Priests, to lead men to God; kings, to away them for
him. With the scepter of a right royal dominion, they are to sway the world for
Jesus, and we hesitate not to say they are doing it.
1) By the
power of clear and strong arguments, they are breaking the false philosophies
of the day to shivers.
2) By the
power of holy living, the people of Christ are shaming the world. Men like Paul
and John are not found save in the Christian camp.
3) There
is a growing yearning in believers to draw closer together and combine their
forces against the foe. And they will do
it! For:
4. Christians are an army of warriors and a powerful commonwealth.
(Eph. 6) Their weapons are not carnal, but they are mighty through God. Their
watchwords are “The Word of God only!”
The cross of Christ only!” “The might
of the Spirit only!”
5. Christians will win the day, and the day of Christ’s triumph will be the day of theirs. They will
lift up their heads when the enemy has fled.
6. Their ultimate triumph will involve the “breaking to shivers” of all
opposition. “If we suffer, we shall also reign with him.” Having been
co-workers with him, we shall have taken part in crushing his enemies and ours.
And we must not lose sight of the promise, “And I will give him the morning
star.” Christ says elsewhere, “I am … the Morning Star.” So that the promise is
equivalent to, “I will give him myself.” Yes. But as a morning star. When the
long and weary struggle is over, and the dark night of sin has passed away,
then will be seen, distinct and clear, ere break of day, the star heralding the
approach of morn. From the obscurity of the conflict, Christ shall shine forth
in clear and cloudless splendor, blest presage of a heavenly day which no
dimness shall obscure, no sin shall mar, no night shall close. And then—then,
where will they be who have raged against our Lord and against his Christ? “As
the vessels of the potter, they shall be broken to shivers!” Then the dominion
shall belong to the saints of the Most High. They “which have followed” him,
“in the regeneration, when the Son of man shall sit upon the throne of his
glory, they also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of
Israel.” What may be the detail of all this, none may venture to say. But the
principles on which that share in Christ’s sway will be based, and the methods
by which it is even now being wrought out, are perfectly clear and are intended
to have an inspiring influence upon Christian workers and warriors. For note:
(1) What an encouragement this
is to cleave to Christ through evil and through the good report!
“For
right is right, since God is God,
And
right, the day must win.
To
doubt would be disloyalty,
To
falter would be sin.”
(2) What an argument for those
who are halting, to cleave forthwith to their Lord and to take part with him in
breaking evil to shivers! By stern loyalty to Christ in the struggles of this
sinful world, we may prove our fitness for larger trust in the world where the
struggle shall be over.
(3) Let each one remember the
dread alternative between which he stands—either that of “reigning with Christ”
or of being “broken to shivers.”[7]
Revelation 2:26–29 The Promise To The Overcomers To Everyone Who Overcomes—Who To The Very End Keeps On Doing Things That Please Me—I Will Give Power Over The Nations.
[1] Taylor, Kenneth Nathaniel. 1997. The Living Bible,
Paraphrased. Wheaton, IL: Tyndale House.
[2] Leadership Ministries Worldwide. 1996. Revelation.
The Preacher’s Outline & Sermon Bible. Chattanooga, TN: Leadership
Ministries Worldwide.
DS
Deeper Study
[3] Leadership Ministries Worldwide. 1996. Revelation. The Preacher’s Outline & Sermon Bible. Chattanooga, TN: Leadership Ministries Worldwide.
[4] Butler, John G. 2010. Analytical Bible
Expositor: Revelation. Clinton, IA: LBC Publications.
[5] Leadership Ministries Worldwide. 1996. Revelation.
The Preacher’s Outline & Sermon Bible. Chattanooga, TN: Leadership
Ministries Worldwide.
NLT
Scripture quotations marked NLT are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996. Used by
permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, Illinois 60189. All
rights reserved.
nlt Scripture quotations marked NLT are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation,
copyright © 1996. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc.,
Wheaton, Illinois 60189. All rights reserved.
nlt Scripture quotations marked NLT are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation,
copyright © 1996. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc.,
Wheaton, Illinois 60189. All rights reserved.
nlt Scripture quotations marked NLT are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation,
copyright © 1996. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc.,
Wheaton, Illinois 60189. All rights reserved.
nlt Scripture quotations marked NLT are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation,
copyright © 1996. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc.,
Wheaton, Illinois 60189. All rights reserved.
NLT
Scripture quotations marked NLT are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996. Used by
permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, Illinois 60189. All
rights reserved.
NLT
Scripture quotations marked NLT are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996. Used by
permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, Illinois 60189. All
rights reserved.
[6] Barton, Bruce B. 2000. Revelation.
Edited by Grant R. Osborne. Life Application Bible Commentary. Wheaton, IL:
Tyndale House Publishers.
[7] Spence-Jones, H. D. M., ed. 1909. Revelation.
The Pulpit Commentary. London; New York: Funk & Wagnalls Company.
No comments:
Post a Comment