It is already difficult for us now to understand exactly what was happening in the church of the city of Thyatira, whom exactly Jesus compares with Jezebel and why. Jezebel, who in antiquity effectively ruled...
It is already difficult for us now to understand exactly what was happening in the church of the city of Thyatira, whom exactly Jesus compares with Jezebel and why. Jezebel, who in antiquity effectively ruled the Northern, Israelite, Kingdom, was famous for deciding to introduce there a second official cult, an openly pagan cult; evidently it was the cult of the Baal of Carmel, who was worshiped on Carmel as lord of heaven.
Previously paganism, of course, had also in fact flourished in the Northern Kingdom, but formally Yahwism was preserved there, though "reformed." Jezebel threw off all masks and discarded all formalities, introducing the official state cult of a pagan deity.
It is possible that the study of the "depths of Satan" mentioned by the Savior was also spiritually akin to the situation with Jezebel and the cult she introduced. It is hard to say exactly in what sense the local "Jezebel" studied these depths and how far she immersed herself in them. The issue may be the unhealthy interest in the dark world and dark powers that Christians have often had and still have. Some of them want to know everything about hell and demons: it seems to them that such knowledge is necessary for full spiritual life or for "spiritual safety."
Sometimes people even speak of "fighting the devil," which these people supposedly conduct. In fact, however, it is not at all necessary to know everything about Satan's works in order to avoid them. For this one must know God, God's will, and God's works, in which a Christian will have to participate one way or another. And the desire to know everything about demons and hell usually only distracts from the main thing and can only complicate a person's life, sometimes quite seriously. This, strictly speaking, is what the Savior reminds John about.
2 Of the following letters to the angels of the seven churches it may be necessary to speak first in general, and then particularly. In general we may observe, when the Israelites were to receive the law at Mount Sinai, they were first to be purified; and when the kingdom of God was at hand, John the Baptist prepared men for it by repentance. In like manner we are prepared by these letters for the worthy reception of this glorious revelation. By following the directions given herein, by expelling incorrigibly wicked men, and putting away all wickedness, those churches were prepared to receive this precious depositum. And whoever in any age would profitably read or hear it, must observe the same admonitions. These letters are a kind of sevenfold preface to the book. Christ now appears in the form of a man, (not yet under the emblem of a lamb,) and speaks mostly in proper, not in figurative, words. It is not till Rev 4:1, that St. John
enters upon that grand vision which takes up the residue of the book.There is in each of these letters,
- A command to write to the angel of the church;
- A glorious title of Christ;
- An address to the angel of that church, containing A testimony of his mixed, or good, or bad state; An exhortation to repentance or steadfastness; A declaration of what will be; generally, of the Lord's coming;
- A promise to him that overcometh, together with the exhortation, "He that hath an ear to hear, let him hear"
The address in each letter is expressed in plain words, the promise, in figurative. In the address our Lord speaks to the angel of each church which then was, and to the members thereof directly; whereas in the promise he speaks of all that should overcome, in whatever church or age, and deals out to them one of the precious promises, (by way of anticipation,) from the last chapters of the book.2:24 But I say to you who do not hold this doctrine - Of Jezebel. Who have not known the depths of Satan - O happy ignorance! As they speak - That were continually boasting of the deep things which they taught. Our Lord owns they were deep, even deep as hell: for they were the very depths of Satan.Were these the same of which Martin Luther speaks? It is well if there are not some of his countrymen now in England who know them too well! I will lay upon you no other burden - Than that you have already suffered from Jezebel and her adherents.