Tolerance Is Not Always a Virtue!
The Book That Promises a Blessing!
A study of the book of Revelation
by Pastor Frank Rice
Revelation 2:18-29
Tolerance can be a positive thing. It may indicate broadmindedness or open-mindedness, lenience, acceptance, forbearance, patience, easiness, or charity. Intolerance could indicate the opposite. Some things we would never tolerate; some guy dumping trash or four-wheeling on your front lawn or introducing your child to pornography, drugs, or alcohol might create a little intolerance! Let’s face it; tolerance must have limitations!
Jesus commends and then confronts the church! Wisdom demands we note what He says and advises, then make needed adjustments!
I. Jesus Reintroduces Himself Distinctively to His People (V. 18).
v We’re introduced to the city where His people live, Thyatira, and the church body to which they belong (v. 18a).
1. This city enjoyed a thriving economy based on wool, linen, apparel, dyed materials (think Lydia), leatherwork, tanning, and excellent bronzework. Merchants profited and proliferated.
2. These commercial ventures gave rise to trade guilds or unions which were essential for economic survival. “Join us or fail!”
3. Each trade guild had its own patron deity, its own feasts, and seasonal festivities that included “women & wine & revelry.”
v We’re introduced to Jesus with a vivid description appropriate to the present situation in the church (v. 18b).
1. Jesus introduces Himself as the Son of God, an obvious claim to deity and Messiahship! He is the one speaking to them!
2. He describes Himself as one who possesses penetrating and inescapable discernment, one who is able to search to the very core of every human being.
3. He also describes Himself as the one with burnished bronze feet, a clear indicator of His strength and stability.
II. Jesus Assures His People That He Knows Their Positives (V. 19)!
v The Lord Jesus commends them for a faith that results in works.
1. He commends love demonstrated vertically and horizontally.
2. He commends service that reaches out to others.
3. He commends faithfulness that sticks to the task.
4. He commends endurance that does not quit. “Well done!” “These four describe a life of Christian caring for others and faithfulness to God.” (Osborne)
v The Lord Jesus also commends them for their spiritual progress.
1. In the aforementioned areas they displayed continued growth and not stagnation! They’d moved far beyond “being saved!”
2. They were duly commended for consistent growth. This has little to do with numerical growth, but growth in unity, stability, maturity, and service. “Well done!”
III. Jesus Confronts His People for Areas of Deficiency (Vv. 20-25)!
v Jesus refuses to trivialize / minimize their deficiencies (vv. 20-21).
1. There is one glaring issue; they are tolerating a woman who says she “speaks for God,” yet her teaching and example are luring His people into blatant and degrading immorality!
2. “The most serious problem with Jezebel was not that she taught but what she taught!” (Patterson) [It is doubtful that Jezebel was her real name but referred to her character.]
3. “The sin at Thyatira was the sin of tolerance. To contemporary ears, to say such a thing sounds strange since in the present climate, intolerance is about the only universally recognized sin.” (Patterson)
4. “For some people today tolerance is the only real virtue and intolerance the only vice.” (Michaels)
5. “Thyatira warns against the dangers of a ‘soft’ love that tolerates all things and judges none.” (Gonzalez)
6. “By ‘tolerance’ here we mean not the biblical virtue of loving those who disagree with us but the intellectual paralysis that comes from fear to disagree.” (Keener)
7. She’d been warned previously to turn from her promiscuous and horrible example and teaching, but she refused to change. (It wasn’t the sin but the refusal to repent that damned her!)
8. “The problem in Thyatira centered on the guilds. For persons to maintain their livelihood, some connections, indeed membership, in the guilds was a virtual necessity… Jezebel probably ‘taught’ that there was nothing wrong with a Christian taking part in the guild feasts and celebrations, for it was merely civil.” (Osborne)
v Jesus assures action against the guilty parties (vv. 22-23a).
1. The one primarily to blame for the corruption will be cast into a sick bed, usually indicating an agonizing death by disease!
2. Those who’ve been “messing around” with her will experience severe persecution unless they repent of their behaviors.
3. Those who’ve become her disciples (children) will be executed by the Lord Jesus Himself! (Lowly Jesus, meek and mild!?!)
v Jesus discloses the purposeful results of His actions (vv. 23b-25).
1. All of His people will know that He holds them accountable for their secret beliefs which lead to sinful behaviors.
2. His people will be “rewarded” according to how they respond to His directives. There are consequences for misbehavior!
3. His people who’d not gotten involved in the corruption and deceit are obligated to do one thing, hold on until He arrives!
IV. Jesus Pledges His People the Benefits of Obedience (Vv. 26-29)!
v Jesus promises significant rewards for steady service (vv. 26-28).
1. He promises they’ll somehow share in His absolute authority to rule over the nations (vv. 26-27)! (This is not the only place where believers are promised they will reign with Messiah.)
2. “To assign this as a promise merely for the ultimate eternal heavenly realm reduces to insignificance the reference to ‘the nations.’ More probable would be a view that would associate this promise with assignments in the millennial kingdom discussed in chapter 20.” (Patterson)
3. “Earthen pots were often inscribed with the names of a nation’s enemies and then ritually smashed to symbolize the future victory of the king.” (Osborn) Is this a national pep rally?J
4. He promises that when things turn dark, His own presence will provide needed light and guidance (v. 28; 22:16; Numb 24:17).
v Jesus calls His people to hear and respond positively (v. 29). It is our duty and should be our delight to read, mediate, and ask Him for clear directions that we may understand and comply!
v A few “take homes” are in order:
1. We should note and imitate the four items for which this church is commended.
2. We must know truth well enough to identify error when it seeks to enter and resist cultural pressures for unlimited tolerance.
3. We must be willing to make God our “primary business partner,” considering Him in all our decisions and affiliations.