Revelation 2:19 “I know your works, love, service, faith, and your patience; and as for your works, the last are more than the first.
As always, our Lord begins by commending Thyatira for the things they are doing correctly. We are also developing a pattern. Jesus our Lord begins with each church–for good or for bead–by telling them that He knows their works.
Revelation 2:18 “And to the angel of the church in Thyatira write, ‘These things says the Son of God, who has eyes like a flame of fire, and His feet like fine brass:
Our Lord moves on to the fourth of the seven churches: Thyatira. There was Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamos, and now Thyatira. To keep something of a tally, Ephesus was addressed in 11 verses, Smyrna in a fleet 4, Pergamos in 6, and Thyatira–who is discussed for the remainder of the chapter–will occupy 12 verses.
Revelation 2:17 “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes I will give some of the hidden mana to eat. And I will give him a white stone, and on the stone a new name written which no one knows except him who receives it.”’
We come now to the third time our Lord says that he who has an ear (whoever is actually listening) let him hear what the Holy Spirit is saying to His churches. Yes, Christ is speaking, but as we read in chapter one, John was in the Spirit on the Lord’s Day. The Holy Spirit provides the inspiration for men to pen Scripture, 2 Peter 1:21.
Revelation 2:16 “Repent, or else I will come to you quickly and will fight against them with the sword of My mouth.
As we have addressed before, the term “repent,” does not mean to do penance; it means to change your mind. It is most famously found in Acts chapter 2, when Peter speaks to the Jewish audience about what they had done to Jesus. He addresses them several times, “Men of Judea,” Acts 2:14. “Men of Israel,” Acts 2:22. “Men and brethren (referring to his fellow Jews),” Acts 2:29. “Therefore let all the house of Israel know…” Acts 2:36.
