A Message to the Christian Church

Read: Revelation 2:18-29 NLT – The Message to the Church in Thyatira – Bible Gateway

“Dear friends, do not believe everyone who claims to speak by the Spirit. You must test them to see if the spirit they have comes from God. For there are many false prophets in the world.” 1 John 4:1 NLT

Our news feed has on-going stories about the corruption in the world. Corruption, defined as “evil, depraved, taking bribes, extortion, racketeering, etc.” is making the headlines revealing those involved in the corruption and those who are pursuing to end it. Corruption can be found in all walks of life, in business and industry, in governments, in professional sports, in colleges and universities, in medical institutions, in personal relationships, and yes even in the church.

The church in Thyatira is an example of some churches in our day. Jesus’ letter to this church can very well be written today to those who are following the same path as the Thyatira church. False teaching, as in Pergamum, the compromising church, is again being accepted. But unlike the Pergamum church where the faithful were still the majority, the faithful in Thyatira were small in number. Jesus says, “But I have this complaint against you. You are permitting that woman—that Jezebel who calls herself a prophet—to lead my servants astray. She teaches them to commit sexual sin and to eat food offered to idols.” (Rev.2:20 nlt)

Jezebel, probably not her real name, but a Jezebel type as in the Old Testament, was used by Satan to corrupt the church. A false prophetess, who was permitted to teach by spreading the lies of Satan, was corrupting the church of God. Many were led into sin buying into this persuasive and attractive teaching. Many members of churches today are also buying into and following teaching that is contrary to the Word of God, corrupting Christ’s church.

Wherever we attend church, let us follow the apostle John’s teaching to “not believe everyone who claims to speak by the Spirit. You must test them to see if the spirit they have comes from God. For there are many false prophets in the world.” (1Jn.4:1 nlt)