The Church in Thyatira is the fourth of the Seven Churches of Revelation. The Church in Thyatira represented a church living during the time of apostasy, when true religion was rare and false religion abounded.
Historically, it especially points to the time of Papal supremacy in Europe, the time of the Dark Ages, and leading into the time of the Protestant Reformation. The true church was hidden away “in the wilderness”, while “Jezebel, the false prophetess” was propped up as the church. However, the counsels and warnings to this church apply to any age or believers who find themselves in a similar situation.
This book is the second-longest of Irving’s lectures on the churches, partly due to the inclusion of a 100 page dissertation on what it is that the church is to “hold fast” till Christ comes. He makes it clear that the things to hold fast are not just the gospel teachings, but the spiritual gifts, which Christ originally gave to the apostolic church and were to continue to the end. 252p
Contents
- Introduction
- The Style of the Chief Shepherd
- Son of God
- Eyes Like a Flame of Fire
- Thyatira and Jezebel
- The Commendation
- Works
- Love
- Service
- Faith
- Patience
- Works Again
- The Rebuke to the Angel
- No Excuse for Imperfection
- That Woman Jezebel
- Space to Repent
- Her End
- Those That Are Left
- Those Who Have Not This Doctrine
- The Depths of Satan
- No Other Burden
- Hold Fast
- Till I Come
- What the Church is to Hold Fast till Christ Come
- The Church is the Body of Christ
- What Power Has Christ Received?
- How Much Power is Revealed?
- A Firstfruit, or Earnest
- Power Over Five Areas of Creation
- Not Merely an Evidence of God’s Power
- Organization of the Church
- The Gifts
- Are the Gifts Withdrawn?
- Our Present State
- The Promise
- False Works
- Keeping Christ’s Works Unto the End
- Power Over the Nations
- The Morning Star
- Conclusion
