Lesson 4 Revelation 2:18-29

Lesson 4 Revelation 2:18-29

Lesson Outline

I. MAJOR POINTS

1. Metaphysical meaning of the church of Thyatira.
2. Praise for the church.
3. Criticism for the church.
4. Promise of reward for overcoming that which is criticized.

II. READINGS

1. Rev. 2:18-2:29
2. Metaphysical Bible Dictionary: "Thyatira"
3. Be Ye Transformed 212, 213

III. QUESTIONS

1. Metaphysically, what does the church of Thyatira stand for in human nature?
2. Give a general summary of praise given to the church.
3. Give a general summary of criticism given to the church.
4. Give a general summary of the reward for overcoming to be given.

Lesson Text

Rev. 2:18 LETTER TO THE CHURCH OF THYATIRA

Thyatira means "rushing headlong; burning incense." The Metaphysical Bible Dictionary gives the metaphysical meaning of this church as: "Zeal is the central thought represented by this church; it is also connected with power and faith." (p. 654) We can think of the church of Thyatira as the zeal center within us in connection with our spiritual unfoldment. Zeal is the quality which makes us enthusiastic and interested in all that aids our growth in consciousness. It enables us to remain enthusiastic and interested in life itself. Without it we would be entirely passive, subjective, and mechanical. With it we are always able to be motivated and inspired.

Rev. 2:19 "'I know your works, your love and faith and service and patient endurance, and that your latter works exceed the first.'"

We notice that in the wording of this praise, the first thing mentioned is "works," and the last thing mentioned is also "works," followed by, "and that your latter works exceed the first." In other words, progressively greater works. This is true progress. Zeal is the quality most involved in gaining progress. If the zeal center (church of Thyatira) was not active in us, our lives would be in danger of becoming treadmills of tedious and pointless activity. Spiritual unfoldment would be impeded seriously. But zeal prevents this from happening.

Rev. 2:20 "'But I have this against you, that you tolerate the woman JEZEBEL ...

The word Jezebel means, among other things, "licentious; adulterous; uncontrolled." Metaphysically she stands for negative emotions. Negative emotions can be very hard to control but unless they are, they can do great damage. As an actual character, Jezebel was evidently a seductive but extremely dangerous person. Metaphysically this also seems true about what she symbolizes. Few persons can resist their allure. But to succumb to them always brings painful results.

Why is there something so strangely attractive to us in negative emotions? Possibly one reason is that they always promise us the pleasure of a kind of excitement. We are attracted to excitement, even negative excitement. But negative excitement is so often followed by depression. That is often the penalty for succumbing to Jezebel (negative emotions).

Rev. 2:22 "'Behold, I will throw her on a sickbed, and those who commit adultery with her I will throw into great tribulation, unless they repent of her doings.'"

The type of adultery mentioned here consists of connecting our sense of I AM to any negative emotions. Negative emotions come into'all persons at various times. But no great harm is done if they simply come to a person. But great harm will be done if a person places his sense of I AM into them. This is the "sin" of adultery. To "repent of this sin" simply means to disconnect your sense of I AM from whatever negative emotion it had been connected to. Once we begin to seriously practice refusing to connect our sense of I AM to any negative emotions that come to us, we are on the way to perfect self-control and spiritual dominion and mastery.

Rev. 2:26-28 "'He who conquers and who keeps my works until the end, I will give him power over the nations, and he shall rule them with a rod of iron ... and I will give him the morning star.'"

This reward symbolizes perfect self-control; non-negative self discipline. There is no guilt or regret connected with this kind of self-control and discipline. The "morning star" is a symbol of divine guidance. Divine guidance being followed with zeal, self-control, and self-discipline helps us to become what we are designed to become: MASTERS OF EXISTENCE!