TEXT – REVELATION 2:18-29
TITLE – THE CHURCH OF THE WOMAN JEZEBEL
Ephesus the Model church, Smyrna the persecuted, Pergamos the worldly church – 500 years of church history.
Thyatira - dominating female, continual sacrifice. The church of Jezebel.
The local church of Thyatira. The spirit in this church produced darkness for a long time. The Pergamos church had a big influence on this local church. What they tolerated now became open teaching and excepted as truth.
The doctrine of Nico grew, finally created the bishop of Rome (a pope), above the Word of God. Making him the head of the church, a position only held by Christ. Denominationalism is a Jezebel Religion.
The doctrine of Balaam – we are all the same by marrying into the world – a union with the world. Daniels and the Kings image – feet of iron and clay – a mixing of Rome with the people of the world.
What started in the first, second and third age now becomes such a force it brings 1000 years of darkness.
The darkness grows through generations. Until there is no resemblance of Bible truth as there was at the beginning.
The Bible has been taken the people and replaced by a holy men and the birth of the Roman Catholic church. Referred to in this age as Jezebel. This was the spirit that dominated the church age and lived to the end. The longest age, given an opportunity to repent but would not. This had to be the spirit that was alive in the local church which Paul had established in Thyatira.
This church’s great sin was to replace Scriptural revelation with the teaching and authority of a man and to permit false doctrines to be taught. This was the spirit of fornication.
What started in perhaps a small way gave a beginning and a stronghold for these things. It produced death and darkness. Their judgment was to be put to death with death. The mark of the beast is religious.
False teaching or doctrines of devils. With the Bible removed there would be no conscience against wrong teaching (idolatry). They were totally dependent on priests, producing the dark ages. No Biblical support for what they taught (1 Tim 4:1-6). It came out of the bottomless pit (Rev 17:8).
Put the brethren in remembrance of these things, instructing believers to expose false doctrine - seducing spirits and doctrines of devils within the framework of Christianity. Doctrines that played on people's emotions especially when in grief… Purgatory. (Paul’s teaching to Timothy)
A church called Jezebel. What made her so bad? She painted her face to meet a man and God feed her to the dogs. She perverted worship and destroyed the church or those that believed in Jehovah.
She even had a negative effect on the great prophet Elijah, until he wanted to die.
So much was lost. However, there was a few, faithful that maintained their separation unto the Lord and kept pure doctrine, very few that would not bow. There were kicked out of the church and even killed.
Rev 2:24 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. 25 But that which ye have already hold fast till I come. 26 And he that overcometh…