Why wasn’t the church in Thyatira told to withdraw from the Jezebel in their midst?
Question:
Dear Jeffrey,
I hope you are well. I have a question concerning the church at Thyatira in Revelation 2:18-29. The letter to the church mentioned a Jezebel. Some compared her with the wife of Ahaz, who instilled and practiced evil. In the Revelation case, Jezebel teaches false doctrines, leading others to commit fornication and eat things offered to idols. The fundamental issue is that she is spreading false doctrines or teachings in the church. Then in Revelation 3:24-26, the "rest in Thyatira" are not partakers of her evil, but are encouraged to "hold fast till I come".
My question relates to excommunication. Why did the Lord not instruct the "rest" to excommunicate" Jezebel or to leave this church and go set up another congregation free from these false doctrines?
In a similar application today. Suppose there is a founding leader of a church congregation who openly or discreetly teaches or permits some doctrines that are not in line with the Scripture (such as marriage and divorce). The rest of the church is not strong enough to challenge this person (because he is the founding member). Should the "rest" of the members leave to start another congregation, or should they just "hold fast" in the truth but co-exist with the false leader? In the case of Thyatira, it appears the instruction is to co-exist until the Lord takes action (which may be metaphorical).
Answer:
"I know your deeds, and your love and faith and service and perseverance, and that your deeds of late are greater than at first. But I have this against you, that you tolerate the woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess, and she teaches and leads My bond-servants astray so that they commit acts of immorality and eat things sacrificed to idols. I gave her time to repent, and she does not want to repent of her immorality. Behold, I will throw her on a bed of sickness, and those who commit adultery with her into great tribulation, unless they repent of her deeds. And I will kill her children with pestilence, and all the churches will know that I am He who searches the minds and hearts; and I will give to each one of you according to your deeds. But I say to you, the rest who are in Thyatira, who do not hold this teaching, who have not known the deep things of Satan, as they call them--I place no other burden on you. Nevertheless what you have, hold fast until I come" (Revelation 2:19-25).
Jesus states that there are many things that he likes about the church in Thyatira, but he holds something against the group: "you tolerate the woman Jezebel" (Revelation 2:20). What was wrong about the church in Thyatira? They had not taken action against the false prophetess. Jesus is saying they should have removed her from their congregation. It is only those who overcome the sin introduced by this false prophetess and those who keep Jesus' commands who will receive authority over the nations (Revelation 2:26). This is both an award and a reminder that they have authority from the Lord, and sometimes the use of authority will seem harsh. The righteous are called to rule with a rod of iron, just as Christ does. Jezebel and her followers have no real authority, nor can she grant authority to others.
It is because the church has been reluctant to follow Christ's command that he says he will take action against Jezebel and her followers. He hadn't done so earlier because he desired to give them a chance to repent. However, she has made it clear that she doesn't want to repent (Revelation 2:21). When Christ does take action, everyone (wicked and righteous, this congregation and others) will realize that Jesus knows each person's mind and heart, and that he has the authority to judge people according to their deeds (Revelation 2:23).
To the faithful, Jesus said he would place no other burden on them. What burden has been placed on them?
"A kind Saviour says, that he would bring upon them no other and no weightier burden, than must arise from his purpose to inflict appropriate vengeance on the guilty themselves. The trouble which would grow out of that would be a sufficient expression of his displeasure. This is, in fact, often now all that is necessary as a punishment on a church for harboring the advocates of error and of sin. The church has trouble enough ultimately in getting rid of them; and the injury which such persons do to its piety, peace, and reputation, and the disorders of which they are the cause, constitute a sufficient punishment for having tolerated them in its bosom. Often the most severe punishment that God can bring upon people is to "lay upon them no other burden" than to leave them to the inevitable consequences of their own folly, or to the trouble and vexation incident to the effort to free themselves from what they had for a long time tolerated or practiced" [Albert Barnes].
The problems in the church stemmed from their negligence of duty. The issues they will have to face as Jesus cleans up what they failed to do will also have to be faced. Regardless, they must not stop or give up. Jesus is not encouraging tolerance of sin. He is commanding them to remain faithful despite the hardships that have resulted from their failure. I would take that as encouragement to address the sin now, even though they failed to do so earlier.
