Rev 2:18-29 | TNotes | STEP | Summary for Rev 2:18-29: 2:18-29 The letter to the church in Thyatira confronts Christians who mix Christianity with pagan practices and a worldly lifestyle. 2:18 Thyatira was an outpost city known for its many trade guilds, including weavers and dyers (Acts 16:14 ). • The flaming eyes of the Son of God indicate penetrating perception; the solid feet portray Christ’s stability, in vivid contrast to the famous Colossus of Rhodes, an enormous statue which had once been thought to be firmly planted until an earthquake destroyed it in 226 BC .

Summary for Rev 2:18-29: 2:18-29 ^a The letter to the church in Thyatira confronts Christians who mix Christianity with pagan practices and a worldly lifestyle. 2:18 ^b Thyatira was an outpost city known for its many trade guilds, including weavers and dyers (Acts 16:14 ^c).

• The flaming eyes of the Son of God indicate penetrating perception; the solid feet portray Christ’s stability, in vivid contrast to the famous Colossus of Rhodes, an enormous statue which had once been thought to be firmly planted until an earthquake destroyed it in 226 BC.
2:19 ^d Christ emphasizes knowing and seeing all things as he praises the Thyatirans.
Summary for Rev 2:20-21: 2:20-21 ^e The mention of Jezebel, who led Israel into pagan idolatry and immorality (1 Kgs 16:31-33 ^f; 21:5-26 ^g), indicates a serious problem. Like the Old Testament queen who led the pagan cult of Baal (see 1 Kgs 16:31 ^h; 18:4 ⁱ; 19:1-3 ^j), this unknown Jezebel called herself a prophet but was leading God’s people into various forms of immorality, including sexual misconduct and straying from God into idolatrous alliances and actions (Exod 34:15-16 ^k; Ps 106:39 ^l; Isa 57:7-8 ^m).
2:21 ⁿ Through messengers such as John, Christ had given this false prophet opportunity to repent of her sinful teachings and actions, but like many, she had refused (cp. 9:20-21 ^o).
Summary for Rev 2:22-23: 2:22-23 ^p Christ’s judgment on this “Jezebel” and her followers comes in three stages: (1) Jezebel is on a bed of suffering; (2) her followers will suffer greatly; and (3) her children will die (cp. Acts 5:5 ^q, 10 ^r; 1 Cor 11:30 ^s). This judgment echoes the plagues on Egypt that ended with the deaths of Egypt’s firstborn sons (see Exod 12:29-30 ^t).

• God sees thoughts and intentions (see Jer 17:10 ^u; Acts 1:24 ^v; Heb 4:12-13 ^w), and he gives whatever sentence people deserve (see Rev 22:12 ^x; Jer 17:10 ^y; Matt 16:27 ^z).
2:24 ^aa The depths of Satan might be a striking reference to the Gnostic god named “Depth” (Bythos), who with his partner “Silence” (Sigē) formed a philosophic godhead. Gnosticism placed great emphasis on secret knowledge.
Summary for Rev 2:26-28: 2:26-28 ^ab Christ promises that those who are obedient will share authority with him, as symbolized by the iron rod that will smash the opposition like clay pots (quoting Ps 2:8-9 ^ac; cp. Rev 12:5 ^ad; 19:15 ^ae).

• The morning star is the planet Venus, which signals the coming of a new day. Here it refers to the promise of resurrection at Christ’s return (22:16 ^af; 2 Pet 1:19 ^ag).