Hell's ticket holders. have no desire to repent. You come across a human being that has no desire. to get right with God. Knowing That their behavior is unacceptable, you have a ticket holder for hell in front of you.
Zephaniah the prophet speaking about the beloved Jerusalem. He says she has not obeyed his voice. She's not received correction. She has not trusted Jehovah. Yeah.
You're listening to Cross-Reference Radio with our pastor and teacher, Rick Gaston. Rick is the pastor of Calvary Chapel, Mechanicsville. Pastor Rick is currently teaching through the book of Revelation. Please stay with us after today's message to hear more information about cross-reference radio, specifically how you can get a free copy of this teaching. Thyatira, Love Counterfeited, is the title of Pastor Rick's message, and today he'll continue teaching in Revelation chapter 2.
Jesus had only one charge against this church, but that charge had tentacles attached to it. And it was colossal. It wasn't a little thing. Not that any of them were. But this was pretty big.
And that rendered their deeds meaningless before God. That's how big it was. Jesus was saying to those who were involved in their works, and their love, and their service, and faith, some of them were right there where they needed to be. Their love was true, their faith was right on, all of that was good. But that element that was listening to Jezebel Approving it tolerating it.
That would void out everything. And so he mentions, I know your works, I know your love. He's always mindful of what true followers are doing. and also the false ones. And we know from history, in spite of the dark ages under the popes, there were still many genuine believers outside of the Roman Catholic Church.
The Albadensians, the Waldensians. There were men like the Wycliffs and Jan Hus. There were others. They came later, but there were a lot of Christians that held true. to the faith.
in the dark ages, but they were in the minority and they paid for it. They were persecuted. by the popes.
So what Thyatira allowed no amount of love and sacrifice could undo In fact, about to be written on the door of this church was Ichabod. The glory departed. That awaited them. Malachi talks about those Jewish Believers before the church age, in in the days of Israel. After Israel had come back from her captivity, Malachi.
Just disgusted at the fake religion that was being practiced in Israel. He writes, Who is there, even among you, who would shut the doors so that you would not kindle a fire on my altar in vain? I have no pleasure in you, God speaking to the prophet. Says Yahweh of hosts, No, nor will I accept an offering from your hands.
So God says, is there anybody here? that can stop these fake sacrifices. And how many times you say, is there anybody here that could stop these false prophets, these people telling you, just give me money and God will bless you, a seed offering.
So they can get rich. They are false prophets. They are satanic in that regard. They are called the prosperity. teachers and there's a prosperity movement and God wants you rich.
So if you are privy to that, make sure you stand up against it. God had a single charge, as I mentioned, against this church, and that was Satan in God's house, in Jesus' name. Teaching things that God forbade, teaching that sin was fine. Wherever today you see that six-fingered rainbow church flag. They are worse than thy attire.
Because They know better.
Now, all the Bible was written at this time except the Revelation. When this was finally given to the churches, they had Paul's writings, they had Peter's, they had all that we have. The churches today that behave this way, where sin is taught as a service to God. have cornered themselves into an inexcusable position. The Balaam-esque influences Taught in Progamus on how to mix The world and disobedience in the church And now the Jezebel-esque influences Taught a thyratyra, How?
To replace Jesus, because that's where that was going. And this is what Jezebel of the Old Testament was all about. Thyatira's Jezebel was a nickname. There's a real woman there doing these things. We don't know her real name, we don't need to.
The nature, the name given to her, the nickname. speaks of her nature, how she behaved there.
Now, her namesake, the historical Jezebel. was an idolatrous Phoenician princess. who became a queen in the northern kingdom. And she introduced hardcore idolatry to Israel. 1 Kings chapters 16 through 19.
She lost a fight with gravity. That's how she died. Jehu threw her out of a tower window. and then the dogs ate most of her. Her corruptions appealed To the weak in this church.
The churchgoers and Thyatira thought she was onto something. They lack discernment. Because you know, the Word of God can get, you can become so familiar with the Word of God, you crave something else. And that's Those tickling ears is what will get you in trouble.
So this church And the love for Christ that they started out with was targeted by Satan, and the service that they offered. in most or those who listened to her was contaminated. She may have impressed The people. But it drew God's ire. In fact, the service of the people who are corrupted in their theology may have impressed themselves as well as others.
But God's Anger was aroused, and this is evident from the intensity of his responses found in verses 22 and 23. Don't look yet. We'll get there. No fast forwarding. Anyway, faith is next mentioned.
Well, there were those with faith. This was the hope. In Christ, which Jezebel exploited. She needed to have people interested in Christ. in order to have somebody to corrupt.
Faith is an absolute essential. for genuine Christianity. There's no becoming a Christian without faith. It stands at the entrance of salvation. And this makes, again, true Christians targets as they were.
You young Christians, you teens, don't you for one minute think that Satan has forgotten about you. He knows you by name. He's had 2,000 years to develop his menu and he has got some flavor for you. Don't you devalue expository Bible teaching. Don't be the foolish one that goes and finds a church that doesn't teach the Bible because you just want to experience something new, sitting under the word is difficult.
By the sweat of your brow. Everything is hard in life that is good for you. At some point it becomes difficult. It's worth it though.
So pay attention. Try to grasp the things that are being said. What you don't understand, let those pass. Hold on to the things you do understand. He continues here in verse 19.
and your patience.
Well, patience has learned the benefit of waiting. It's to the advantage of the one that learns that benefit. But Satan knows how to wait too. He's patient also. Patients can morph into cowardice.
Well yeah, I'm just waiting when you should be acting And these things happen here in this church. They ended up with more patience than sound doctrine. They had patience to a flaw. Love, service, faith. were rendered subordinate to tolerance of that which should have been bounced out from the beginning.
As for your works, The last are more than the first. With a chilling observation, it says your Christianity is fading. It's not what it used to be. You're dying. And Ichabod will be written across your door, if not your life, if you're not careful.
Tolerance of evil was destroying the first things, which were the works, the love, the service, the faith. Jesus said, God is spirit. and those who worship Him must worship Him in spirit. and in truth They're not You cannot separate them. And so this is why we do expository preaching or verse by verse and/or, because you can go verse by verse, which is expository, or you can take a chapter and you can expound on a chapter.
and not go verse by verse, but bring points in from other s parts of Scripture. Because those who worship must worship in spirit and in truth. And I don't know of any other way to get there. Outside of God's Word and His system. Did they defend themselves with, but Jezebel's teaching helps us to love and to serve and to work.
and to help the needy. Because that's what they do. People who are not ready to repent will defend their wrong. They will double down. They will say things like, you know, Hitler was good for the economy in Nazi Germany.
Yeah, but where was this going? Verse 20: Nevertheless, I have a few things against you.
Now, really, it's one with tentacles. Because if you had taken her out of the way, you wouldn't have all the other stuff. But she's there, and because she's there, she's doing these other things. If you look at it that way. He says, because you allow that woman.
I just love how the English puts that together. It could have been that man. It was Balaam's idea back in Pergamus, but here it is Jezebel. who calls herself a prophetess. to teach and seduce my servants to commit sexual immorality.
and eat things sacrificed to idols.
Well, again, elements in Thyatira. Did not hold things against this woman.
So the Lord did it for them. He came to them and he pointed it out. Why couldn't she be like Lydia? Acts 16, verse 14: The Lord opened her heart to heed the things spoken by Paul. Not this woman.
Because you allow. That's what it says. I would not want to be you. If Christ was saying, You allow. Senseless insubordination to Christ to license evil.
is to be guilty of evil. Evil of declining to be the salt of the earth. There are times when we are to Hold our tongue. But not our behavior. We can salt the earth just by where we are and where we not are are not.
If we do not go to the saloon with them. That is the salt of the earth. An example. Jesus refused to let Evil people feel good about themselves, and we can do the same without saying a word. by just declining to participate, in those festivals unto their patron gods, which was happening in these cities in the days of this letter.
I fear Antichrist agendas. And I don't mind saying it. It is part of salting the earth. I am transphobic. I am homophobic.
I am Islamophobic. I am also communist phobic. I am thief-phobic. I am okraphobic. I've seen what these activists do when they advance, not the okra people.
They're really okay. They just haven't figured it out that they don't like what they said they like. You know People will fight you over food. You gotta be careful. That's like he you know Anyway, coming back to this.
the fanatical, hateful behaviors They're indecent, they're intolerant, they're violent, they're destructive enough. to be afraid of what they do. Yeah, I couldn't be out there with a sign telling people that abortion is a sin and it's wrong. Because once they try to, some little old lady will come try to grab my sign from her, and I'm going to punch her out. And that won't look good for anybody.
I'll go to jail. I mean, there's just certain Christians and people can do this. They're built for it. And some of us are just not. We just get in the flesh too quickly over certain things.
So it's just the thought of giving them the satisfaction. of doing that. Uh is have you watched when they Electrify that's People try to steal the Trump signs and electrify them. I mean, it's so satisfying. I mean, it's just, I love it.
Anyway. Because we want to see evil dealt with.
So he says that woman Jezebel. One of the worst people in the Bible. The majority texts, now, you know, we have our. I can't we don't have time to go into it, but There are ancient manuscripts. that read Uh Your wife Jezebel.
And that's that they had joined. They had, you know, entered into this covenant with her. And that would not be accurate or inaccurate, I should say. Jezebel was a striking figure of speech, chosen by the Lord. Replate with Old Testament significance, because there's nothing good about her.
She is one of the most disliked people In Scripture. Certainly in the Old Testament, Herodias the The wife of Herod that asked for the head of John the Baptist, she's just as hateful, but there's not as much information about her. There doesn't need to be. King Ahab married this Phoenician princess, and together the two plunged the Israelites into idolatry and sorcery. We could call her a monster.
So if you have someone, male or female, in a church, Preaching Satan's things, you have a monster. That's what you have.
something that you should not be comfortable with. that is going to do you harm. Only thing this monster is not dealt with under the blanket. She, this Jezebel, represents imported evil because Ahab, again, brought her into the northern kingdom from. The Phoenicians.
It is a church catastrophe when these things are permitted. It was a catastrophe in Israel. I don't know, something close to the saying. I don't fear strong men as much as. I fear when strong men allow weak men to make the decisions.
And that's what you have here. You had strong believers in this church. But they allowed the weak ones. to make decisions. You know, we we want to keep the peace.
If you're going to be an effective Christian, you're going to have to keep some chips on your shoulders for several things. Things where you've drawn the line and say I am not tolerating that. Because if you don't, then you'll look to appease. And the appeasement It's fine when you're trying to pick out a restaurant. But it's not fine when it comes to the Scripture and serving the Lord.
Ahab That king found types of Ahab in this church Who allowed her to gain this momentum and evil influence and bring the flame of the Lord's eyes with brass feet upon them? Hell Used her big fat mouth to deliver its message, and he still does stuff like this. He doesn't care if you're Male or female. If you're going to deliver his message for him, he's going to use you. She was getting away with killing the church as Jezebel was getting away with killing the Israelites who worshipped Jehovah.
So, you have two demons in this church at work: the teacher of lies. and the fools that advocated those teachings. We'll go back to Jezebel II in ancient Israel You had a comical moment with two men of God: Elijah the great prophet, and Obadiah. And Elijah, of course, would call fire down on people and they would die. And so he was he was feared by many.
Well, Elijah starts this trouble with Jezebel and Ahab, and he goes off into the wilderness. The drought comes, and there's a big problem.
Meanwhile, Jezebel is persecuting the righteous. And Obadiah worked in her administration. And while he worked there, he was saving the prophets, hiding them in caves, bringing them food. He risked his life for the righteous. And then Elijah shows up.
Tell the king Elijah's here. And Obadiah says, wait one minute. Yeah, you tell me that, I go tell him, and then you go, who knows where? And then I'm stuck, and you're going to kill me. Because he really hates you, Elijah.
So, as they go back and forth, Obadiah begins to tell the great prophet. The things that he's been doing, and there's a note of frustration. Like, I've been here cleaning up this house, doing these dishes, and you've been out gallivanting. It's kind of that attitude. He's saying, you know, you've been who knows where, but I've been stuck.
around Jezebel and Ahab, risking my life, and here you are, Elijah's here.
Well, they get it straightened out and it works well. But it's just a cute moment in scripture, it's worth reading.
Well what in Scripture is not worth reading?
Well, Leviticus chapter no, we're kidding. Who calls herself a prophetess? They always do. They're always self-appointed teachers. They've read more books than you, therefore they deserve a platform.
God disagreed. We can hear her double down. as the popes insisted, I am the vicar of Christ. I am the authority. It's for the good of the empire.
It's for the good of Christendom. Cult leaders do the same. 1 Timothy 4, speaking lies in hypocrisy, having their own conscience seared with a hot iron. And so, who calls herself a prophetess to teach, you will know them by their fruits. And she's teaching sexual immorality.
to teach. There's that barrel of ink they gave her to publish her lies with. That's the pulpit they gave her, James 3. This wisdom, you young Christians, if you haven't been understanding and following me, you'll understand this. This wisdom does not descend from above, but is earthly, sensual, demonic.
It feels good. But it's not right. Sexual immorality. to indulge Is acceptable even if it goes against the prophets and the apostles. She was an instructor of instructor, not a.
of depravity. Look at that. You can go to the universities and you can take courses in depravity nowadays. They have them. Verse 21.
And I gave her time to repent of her sexual immorality, and she did not repent.
Well, this is the grace, not tolerance of God. This is patience of God, but not permission from Him. Hosea is In that northern kingdom. That was about to end. He writes to them: He says, They do not con God speaking, they do not consider in their hearts that I remember all their wickedness.
Now their own deeds have surrounded them. They are before my face. God says, I'm on this. Thy attire was not seduced. Elements in Thyatira had gone rogue.
They decided we're just gonna do what we like, what's good for us And we're going to use you Christians to do it, and it still happens. of her sexual immorality. She was unmoved by good sermons. When she got to this church, there were good sermons, but they didn't impress her enough to have her repent and turn away. And Jezebel went beyond mixing.
into Israel Idolatry. She sought to kill true worshipers, as mentioned with Obadiah hiding the prophets of God. And she did not repent. Evil was preferred. Hell's ticket holders have no desire to repent.
You come across a human being that has no desire. to get right with God. Knowing that their behavior is unacceptable, you have a ticket holder for hell in front of you. Zephaniah the prophet speaking about the beloved Jerusalem. He says she has not obeyed his voice.
She's not received correction. She has not trusted Jehovah. She's not drawn near to God. Is that not powerful? How we miss these kinds of verses because we're too busy memorizing verses from other books of the Bible, which is good.
But look at this gem in the little prophecy of Zephaniah. She's not obeyed his voice. She has not received correction. That's the impenitence. She has not trusted Jehovah.
She has not drawn near to God. May it never be said of you. May it never be said of me. Lost yearnings for obedience. Confirm separation from the Holy Spirit.
When you no longer care to obey, You're in deep trouble. And the severity of the Lord's threats says it all. Verse twenty two Indeed, I will cast her into a sick bed, and those who commit adultery with her into great tribulation, unless they repent of their deeds. Here's the Lord constantly trying to fix this with them. Gives them a say-so in their eternal destination.
You have no say-so in your first birth. You have a big one. as to being born again or not.
Well, indeed I will cast her into her sick bed. That means the Lord is going to meet her on her own turf. And he's gonna beat her. He's gonna win. This has been Cross-Reference Radio with Pastor Rick Gaston.
This program is a radio outreach of Calvary Chapel, Mechanicsville, in Mechanicsville, Virginia. Pastor Rick has been teaching through the book of Revelation, but if you're interested in learning about a different book of the Bible, we have hundreds of past episodes available to listen to on demand. Just visit us online at crossreferenceradio.com and you'll find an archive of Pastor Rick's past teachings. While you're there, you can also find links to follow our program on your favorite podcast app, as well as links to get connected with us on Facebook and YouTube. There's also an interviews tab where you can learn more about Pastor Rick's heart for ministry.
Well, we hope you'll join us next time here on Cross Reference Radio. Hello.
