And unto the angel of the church in Thyatira write;
these things saith the Son of God, who hath
His eyes like unto a flame of fire, and His feet
are like fine brass; I know thy works; and
the last to be more than the first. Notwithstanding
I have a few things against thee, because
thou sufferest that woman Jezebel, which
calleth herself a prophetess, to teach
and to seduce my servants to commit fornication,
and to eat things sacrificed to idols. And I gave
her space to repent of her fornication;
and she repented not.
Revelation 2:18-21
Before I move on I must address the words "white stone," and "hidden manna," spoken of to the Church at Pergamos. The word "stone" in Greek in the Bible uses lithos that has six derivatives and used 82 times in the New Testament. The other word, "petros," is used 161 times translated "Peter," and time as "stone." Those words are not used here in Revelation. The Greek word, Psephos, is used on 2 times in the New Testament and used once as stone and the other time used by Paul in Acts 26:10 and translated vote. Bible scholars have had a tough time with this word saying that it is a mystery and several interpretation have been proffered. Let the Bible interpret the Bible. This Greek word carries the meaning of a pebble, and this pebble was variously employed, especially in a ballot, a vote, that which was given as a token. For us today we have a problem with certain symbols, or words but this would not be true of those living in the time when those symbols were used, as here in Revelation. So we look to how that word was used by those other than Biblical writings. In ancient Greece a jury would cast a white stone to signify acquittal, a black stone proclaimed the defendant guilty. In ancient Roman a custom used was to award a white stone to the victor of an athletic game. To be an overcome, a victor as a Christian then the promise of Jesus Christ that an overcomer would have eternal victory and be admitted to the banquet prepared for all the bride of Christ. A new name given to an overcomer refers most likely to the work of the Holy Spirit of conforming believers to the holiness of Jesus Christ (Romans 8:29; Colossians 3:10). The "hidden manna" is the revelation of God a revelation that was hidden from the world and is to be revealed in this last time. Manna fed the Hebrews in the desert after leaving Egypt and the manna today is our food found in Scripture. Again we look to history for answers and we find that the provision of manna was a special provision, so special that it was placed in a 'golden pot' within the Ark of the Covenant, hidden from he people but visible to God. So it is today, hidden from the people but present to God. God sees all, everything, your works or lack of works.
God sees your faith, your charity, your service and knows that whether or not you put yourself ahead of others. The Church at Thyatira did all the write things but still were not doing all that needed to be done to be a holy people in the sight of God. This Church was allowing that which God held against them, Jezebel. We once again return to history to get some clarification as what this means and why God was holding this against this Church. Who is Jezebel? You can find the account about Jezebel in 1Kings 16: 31, 18:4,13; 19:1,2; 21:5,7,11,14-15, 23,25; 2Kings 9:7,10,22,30,36,37. Ahab who now was the king of Israel took for himself a wife, Jezebel the daughter of Ethbaal king of the Zidonians and went to serve Baal and worshipped him. Jezebel cut off the prophets of Jehovah and even killed the prophets of Jehovah. Jezebel even threatened the life of king Ahab. Due to her wickedness it was prophesied that she would be eaten by dogs. All this due tot the fact that she stirred up wickedness while attempting to be a prophetess. Jezebel was called a whore and one who practices witchcraft. Jezebel painted her face to make herself more attractive but in the end the real Jezebel stood up for what she was and this ended in her death. This woman, queen has been used for thousand of years to describe cunning, ruthless and reprehensible women. She typifies evil and is synonymous with idolatry, prostitutes and sorcerers.
Can you now see why God hates those who are similar to Jezebel. When you, the Church, allow doctrines that are not Scriptural you are adulterers, and if you allow images that are nothing more than idols and worshipped as to have some special ability God holds this against you. If a person who is using cunning, or is ruthless, are reprehensible to God. This Church was allowing this to occur in their Church and God wants that removed. Check your Church and remove all that is reprehensible to God and you have this example of Jezebel to aid you to ensure holiness.
Whoso keepeth the law is a wise son:
but he that is a companion of
riotous men shameth his father
Proverbs 28:7
Test all things: hold fast to the good
Richard L. Crumb
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