Overcomers reward
Jesus through the apostle John speaks this to the church in Thyatira. John records,
“To the angel of the church in Thyatira write:
These are the words of the Son of God, whose eyes are like blazing fire and whose feet are like burnished bronze.
I know your deeds, your love and faith, your service and perseverance, and that you are now doing more than you did at first.
Nevertheless, I have this against you: You tolerate that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess. By her teaching she misleads my servants into sexual immorality and the eating of food sacrificed to idols.
I have given her time to repent of her immorality, but she is unwilling.
So I will cast her on a bed of suffering, and I will make those who commit adultery with her suffer intensely, unless they repent of her ways.
I will strike her children dead. Then all the churches will know that I am he who searches hearts and minds, and I will repay each of you according to your deeds.
Now I say to the rest of you in Thyatira, to you who do not hold to her teaching and have not learned Satan’s so-called deep secrets (I will not impose any other burden on you): Only hold on to what you have until I come.
To him who overcomes and does my will to the end, I will give authority over the nations— ‘He will rule them with an iron scepter; he will dash them to pieces like pottery’—
just as I have received authority from my Father.
I will also give him the morning star.
He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. Revelations 2:18-29.
Here Jesus notes that the church in Thyatira is doing more than it had been doing. However he points out that they tolerate a woman called Jezebel. Whether this is her real name or a nickname likening her to queen Jezebel of old Testament fame in 1Kings 16, and 2 Kings 9. This woman is leading people in the church to commit sexual immorality.
Jesus makes it clear that He will cast her and those who commit adultery with her to suffer intensely, unless they repent. Jesus also states He will strike her children dead. This is to show the church that He is the one who searches hearts and minds and will repay each person according to their deeds.
The church cannot compromise its morality in any way, sexual or otherwise. God has given the Church a moral code which it must follow.
If those calling themselves Christians do not follow this code they will they will be judged according to what they have done. Jesus in this letter to the church at Thyatira could not make it more clear.
There is however a reward for those who overcome and follow Jesus. John records,
“To him who overcomes and does my will to the end, I will give authority over the nations— ‘He will rule them with an iron sceptre; he will dash them to pieces like pottery'— just as I have received authority from my Father.I will also give him the morning star.
So the question becomes; How will you be judged?
Please think about it.
