The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

Revelation 2:18-24 “And to the angel of the church in Thyatira write: The Son of God, who has eyes like a flame of fire, and His feet are like burnished bronze, says this:
19 ‘I know your deeds, and your love and faith and service and perseverance, and that your deeds of late are greater than at first.
20 ‘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.
21 ‘I gave her time to repent, and she does not want to repent of her immorality.
22 ‘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.
23 ‘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.
29 ‘He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’”

To date, we have surveyed the churches at Ephesus, the Cooling Church, 2:1-7; Smyrna, the Crushed Church, 2:8-11; and Pergamum, the Compromising Church, 2:12-17. Now, we come to Thyatira, the Corrupt Church, 2:18-29. Thyatira means “unweary, continual sacrifice.” Thyatira is also the home of Lydia, the first western convert to the Christian faith (cf. Acts 16).

There are some serious commendations to this church. First, the church is commended for its deeds (works). It is also commended for its love. Agape is the love that seeks the best for others and expects nothing in return. The church is commended for its faith and service and perseverance. Are these aspects for which we could be commended? How many of these positive aspects do you and I bring to our local church?

There is also a serious condemnation: the Thyatiran Church tolerated sin (v. 20). The Jezebel who is mentioned,
may in reality refer to the local pastor’s wife. In any event, this Jezebel is dominantly forcing her ways upon the church. She claims the right to the office of priestess, and urges the church to continue its pagan worship. Still further, Jezebel tutors the people saying, “…you shall be as gods…,” contrary to the true teaching of the Scriptures (Gen. 3:5). Some of the finest Christians I have ever known were women. Yet, when doctrine erodes, the erosion of morals is not far behind.

Jezebel was encouraged to repent of her sin (v. 2:21); but she steadfastly refused! Repentance (metanoia) means “to change one’s mind”; and true, genuine repentance is a repentance that confesses and forsakes sin! (Compare Mary Magdalene!)

There is a final notification regarding the saints in the Thyatiran Church “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. He who overcomes, and he who keeps My deeds until the end, TO HIM I WILL GIVE AUTHORITY OVER THE NATIONS; AND HE SHALL RULE THEM WITH A ROD OF IRON, AS THE VESSELS OF THE POTTER ARE BROKEN TO PIECES, as I also have received authority from My Father” (2:24-26).

We need to take an honest look at the church we attend. Is it what the LORD requires, or are there those who
advocate and teach contrary to the Word of God? We also need to ask: “Am I what the LORD wants of me? Are my beliefs and is my involvement what He requires? Am I truly repentant of my sin? How would the LORD use
me if I were all that He desires?

Heartily in Christ Jesus,

(Dado III)

P. S. For excellent 26-minute videos on the Seven Churches of the Revelation go to:

Dr. Stowell’s videos are excellent! He covers all seven Churches of the Revelation in free videos.

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.
Springdale, Arkansas 72764
United States of America

“We never know that Christ is all we need until He becomes all that we have.” – Corrie ten Boom

Dear Grands,

Revelation 2:12-17, “And to the angel of the church in Pergamum write: ‘The One who has the sharp two-edged sword says this:
13 “I know where you dwell, where Satan’s throne is; and you hold fast My name, and did not deny My faith, even in the days of Antipas, My witness, My faithful one, who was killed among you, where Satan dwells.
14 “But I have a few things against you, because you have there some who hold the teaching of Balaam, who kept teaching Balak to put a stumbling block before the sons of Israel, to eat things sacrificed to idols, and to commit acts of immorality.
15 “Thus you also have some who in the same way hold the teaching of the Nicolaitans.
16 “Repent therefore; or else I am coming to you quickly, and I will make war against them with the sword of My mouth.
17 “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes, to him I will give some of the hidden manna, and I will give him a white stone, and a new name written on the stone which no one knows but he who receives it.”’”

There is a logical, downward regression visible in the early Church through the Letters to the Seven Churches. When the Church left her First Love (as at Ephesus), she removed herself from the LORD’s protective custody. As a result, she came under severe persecution from the ungodly world around her (as did the Smyrnan Church). Thus, Ephesus, the Cooling Church, resulted in Smyrna, the Crushed Church, which in turn led to Pergamum, the Compromising Church. Ironside notes that “Constantine’s patronage did what (Emperor) Diocletian’s persecution could not do: it corrupted the church, she forgot her calling as a chaste virgin, and gave her hand in marriage to the world that had crucified Him.”

Observe the LORD’s Commendation (v. 13, “’I know where you dwell, where Satan’s throne is,,,, Antipas…, my faithful one, …was killed among you.’” Christianity was confronted by some major pagan religions, and the character of the church revealed the nature of the church’s heart. It was not good.

The church had resorted to the teachings of Balaam (vv. 14-15), who taught Israel’s leader, Balak, to put a stumbling block before the sons of Israel by eating things sacrificed to idols and committing acts of immorality (cf. Num. 22). Further, they subscribed to the teachings of the Nicolaitans, who taught that “in order to master sensuality, one must experience the whole range of it” (Vincent). Imagine!

The Notification of the LORD was: “…repent; or else I am coming to you quickly, and I will make war against them with the sword of My mouth” (v. 16). “Repentance means “to change one’s mind”; and it is mandated (imperative)! “Coming to you quickly” references neither the Second Coming nor the Rapture! It is judgment!

The LORD’s prediction is addressed to the spiritually alert: “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches” (v. 17). Hopefully, the prediction will catch the ear of the spiritually alert in every age. We cannot count on the protection and blessings of the LORD if we ignore His mandates. What does not work for the Church overall will not work for individuals. Today is the day of salvation! “Today, if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts” (Heb. 4:7).

Heartily in Christ Jesus,

(Dado III)

P. S. For excellent 26-minute videos on the Seven Churches of the Revelation go to:

Dr. Stowell’s videos are excellent! He covers all six Churches of the Revelation in excellent videos.

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.
Springdale, Arkansas 72764
United States of America

“We never know that Christ is all we need until He becomes all that we have.” – Corrie ten Boom

Dear Grands,

Revelation 2:8-11, “And to the angel of the church in Smyrna write: ‘The first and
the last, who was dead, and has come to life, says this:
9 ‘I know your tribulation and your poverty (but you are rich), and the blasphemy
by those who say they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan.
10 ‘Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to cast some of you into prison, so that you will be tested, and you will have tribulation for ten days. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life.
11 ‘He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. He who overcomes will not be hurt by the second death.’”

The Church at Ephesus (our previous study) could easily be called “A Cooling Church,” inasmuch as over time she allowed herself to be influenced by the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eye, and the pride of life. The LORD challenged the Church at Ephesus to “…remember from where you have fallen, and repent…” (2:5).

The Church at Smyrna could well be designated “the Crushed Church,” for the LORD said, “I know your tribulation and your poverty…” The pressures of extreme poverty had been brought upon this church through external circumstances; yet, the LORD encouraged the church saying, “but you are rich…Do not fear what you are about to suffer…”

Although different, it may well be that the LORD’s Church has never suffered what it is suffering today! So much of the world has invaded the Church that some believers have simply surrendered to those invading powers. Assuming that to be so, we must remain faithful. We must hear and believe the encouragement He gives to us through the Smynan Church. Faithfulness produces a Crown of Life! And that Crown of Life supersedes all others!

As born-again believers in our LORD Jesus Christ, we must never surrender to the Adversary Satan! Every church is comprised of people that we hope and trust are born-again. Unfortunately, some (perhaps most) may be spiritually weak or even spiritually lost. It’s the spiritually born-again people that perceive the church’s weakening condition and often elect to abandon her altogether. This particular message cries out for the spiritually observant NOT to abandon the Church. Remember the parting words of the Savior:

“…the first and the last, who was dead…has come to life…” (v. 8).

We must encourage the weak by being stronger ourselves. Attend the Church! Be
faithful to the LORD! Pastors and teachers may be weaker than you would like.
Pray for them! Encourage them! Don’t allow them to suffer weakness! Stand with
them, as the LORD stands with you. There is guaranteed Victory at the end of the
road.

Heartily in Christ Jesus,

(Dado III)

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.
Springdale, Arkansas 72764
United States of America

“We never know that Christ is all we need until He becomes all that we have.” – Corrie ten Boom

Dear Grands,

Revelation 2:1-7, “To the angel of the church in Ephesus write: ‘The One who holds the seven stars in His right hand, the One who walks among the seven golden lampstands, says this:
2 “I know your deeds and your toil and perseverance, and that you cannot tolerate evil men, and you put to the test those who call themselves apostles, and they are not, and you found them to be false;
3 and you have perseverance and have endured for My name’s sake, and have not grown weary.
4 ‘But I have this against you, that you have left your first love.
5 ‘Therefore remember from where you have fallen, and repent and do the deeds you did at first; or else I am coming to you and will remove your lampstand out of its place– unless you repent.
6 ‘Yet this you do have, that you hate the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate.
7 ‘He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes, I will grant to eat of the tree of life which is in the Paradise of God.’””

Having been founded by the Apostle Paul, while on his Third Missionary Journey, the church had been faithfully served throughout the years by Apollos, Aquilla, Priscilla, Tychicus, and Timothy, as well as by Paul. Not many churches can boast of having had such a cadre of eminent leadership

Say what you will, however, geography and culture often adversely affect the Church. Ephesus was, at the time, the most important city in Asia Minor; yet, it was significantly affected and altered by the overt presence of politics, economics, and evil religion.

Politically, Ephesus was important because the Roman Governor ruled from that city.
Economically, Ephesus was important because it was on the Via Ignatia from Rome.
Religiously, Ephesus was the home of the Temple of Diana, one of the seven wonders of the world. Diana’s temple so overflowed with opulent treasures that it served as the Bank of Asia. One can hardly fail to note this trilogy of Ephesus’ importance without also seeing the focus of the coming Antichrist on Politics, Religion, and Economics!

Churches today do not exist in a vacuum. Members often hold varying political and economic positions; and where they emerge and mingle within the church, the church’s spiritual position weakens within the community. Satan loves that! It takes the focus off of
the LORD Jesus and forces light on lesser matters.

Which is worse: a church that proclaims false doctrine, or a church that believes in the Christ of Scripture, but fails to adequately proclaim Him? –or a church that fails to emphasize missions? –or a church that is satisfied to be a mission?

The next major biblical event to occur is the Rapture, the snatching away of all true believers to meet the LORD Jesus! How many church members would be left behind?
How many of your family would be left behind? or your close friends? Do you think there
is plenty of time? There isn’t! Get ready now!

“Then they will see THE SON OF MAN COMING IN A CLOUD with power
and great glory. But when these things begin to take place, straighten up
and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near” (Luke 21:27-28).

Heartily in Christ Jesus,

(Dado III)

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.
Springdale, Arkansas 72764
United States of America

“We never know that Christ is all we need until He becomes all that we have.” – Corrie ten Boom

Dear Grands,

Revelation 1:19, “”Therefore write the things which you have seen, and the things which are, and the things which will take place after these things.”

As a young child, I remember being told that our church didn’t get into the Book of Revelation because it contained some things hard to understand. Our family was a solid Christian family. Our church, however, was small and not-at-all wealthy, which translates into often having pastors, who were devoid of formal training in the Scriptures, and preached “topical,” rather than “expository,” sermons –sometimes repeatedly.

Stranger still is the fact that Rose Marie, the girl who later became my wife, gave me my first introduction into the Book of Revelation. At that time, we were simply students in Bible College. It’s a long story, but I have since learned more and will endeavor to share some accurate summations of this wonderful Book!

The basic Outline of the Revelation divides into three sections:

1.The “Things Which Have Been” (1:1-20).
The Apostle John is a political prisoner on the Isle of Patmos. He
identifies the LORD Jesus Christ as the central Person of the Revelation.
2.The “Things Which Are” (2:1-3:22).
John identifies the “seven churches.” Each is a real church, with a real problem, but also represents a specific time period in early Christian history.
3.The “Things Which Shall Be Hereafter” (4:1-22:21).
(1)Two specific, future events will occur in Heaven (4:1-5:14).
A.First, the Church will be Raptured (taken up) from Earth into Heaven
(4:1-11).
B.Second, Christ will then receive the “Title Deed” to the Earth (5:1-14).
(2)Several additional, vital events will then occur on Earth (6:1-18:24).
This is the era of The Great Tribulation!

For those of you who are born-again Christians, this should come to you more easily. For those of you who are contemplating salvation in Christ alone, you will understand the Revelation better when you have the Holy Spirit as your Teacher. The Holy Spirit takes up residency within you when you trust Jesus as your LORD and Savior and invite Him into your life.

I pray for you daily! Please pray for me, as well. None of us can have too much prayer.

Heartily in Christ Jesus,

(Dado III)

P. S.

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.
Springdale, Arkansas 72764
United States of America

“We never know that Christ is all we need until He becomes all that we have.” – Corrie ten Boom