Thyatira: The Fourth Message to the Church
By Orlando Soule
“AND UNTO the angel of the church in Thyatira write: These things saith the Son of God, . . . 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.” Rev. 2:18, 19. To have a clear understanding of this state of the church, it becomes necessary to glance briefly at that which preceded it. The second and third chapters of Revelation contain seven messages which were given by Christ to the churches through the medium of John the Revelator. We think these messages apply to the entire Christian church in this dispensation; also that they apply in chronological order, each message being applicable to the condition of the church during a period of time, longer or shorter, as the case may be. Thus, the first message is thought to apply to the church during the first century; the second to the church during the second and third centuries; the third, which commenced in the first part of the fourth century, ended at the setting up of the papacy, A. D. 538; and the fourth, which was Thyatira, commenced with the establishment of this wicked power, and continues until its close. This view of these messages is sustained by commentators and Bible students in general down to the commencement of the eighteenth century, at which time Daniel Whitby originated the doctrine of a temporal millennium. This doctrine supposes the conversion of the world, while the last message to the church shows that the world will not be converted; so, in order to retain this false theory, men have been forced to give these messages another application. If these messages show the state or condition of the church, we shall find that during the fourth, or Thyatiran state, the church had severe trials that called for the exercise of patience and faith; and that she performed the task allotted to her with a commendable zeal during the first part of the period; but during the last, with a far greater zeal, so that it could be said truly that the last was greater than the first. Verse 19. Commencing with the setting up of the papacy in A. D. 538, what would naturally be the first work of the people of God? Surely, nothing short of crying out against papal superstitions. This they did with astonishing boldness. Men took their lives in their hands, and went forth to warn the people in regard to these things, and in many instances, lost their lives for their zeal. See Fox’s Book of Martyrs, also Image Controversy, in Manual of Church History, chap. i. But though they manifested a commendable degree of patience in contending against such superior numbers, they finally yielded many points to their adversaries. Henry E. F. Guericke, author of the church history above referred to, fourth part, sect. 1, says that about the year 1000, A. D., a general assembly of pagan and Christian priests acknowledged Christianity as the national religion of Norway; thus bringing in many of the very heresies that before had been withstood; and the Book of Martyrs, part 6, chap. ii, speaking of image worship, says, “At first the fathers entirely rejected their use, but finally gave way to this tide of evil that had set in against them.” This evidence brings to our notice that of which they were accused, and for which they were condemned; viz., suffering that woman Jezebel to teach among them. Verse 20. Jezebel was remarkable for her corrupting influence on the people of God. See 1 Kings chapters 18, 19, 21. This character the Lord has seen fit to use as an illustration to show the craftiness of those that should seduce his people in this dispensation; and it was fulfilled, as the above evidence indicates, by teachers of the papal superstitions. Now with these things before the mind, it is evident that the last, or closing work of this Thyatiran period was farther opposition to the papacy, and that it met a striking fulfillment in the reformation of the sixteenth century. At this time the reformatory work was carried on with such vigor that persecution ceased some time before the temporal power was taken from the pope; thus fulfilling the declaration of our Lord that for the elect’s sake those days should be shortened. Matt. 24:21. So marked a fulfillment of the predictions of prophecy, as is thus given of verses 19, 20, must be evidence to all that the interpretation is a correct one. ORLANDO SOULE.