Is Your Church a Revelation Church?

   I do not intend to teach a study on the Revelation, in this short article, but to take a look at just one of the churches the letter is addressed to, Thyatira, found at Revelation 2:18-29. Let’s ask ourselves if the overall church in America, and specifically our own local church,  could benefit from the words the Son of God directed to the church at Thyatira.

   The church at Thyatira is the smallest of the seven churches to which the Revelation letter is sent, but is as all the rest, located in Western Asia Minor and what is today the country of Turkey. Thyatira was a commercial center with a large number of trade guilds, a medieval term for trade unions.  Extra Biblical writings and inscriptions tell us that there were trade guilds in the city for wool, linen, and makers of outer clothing, dyers, leatherworks, tanners, potters, bakers, slave dealers, and bronze smiths. The town was famous for wool dyeing. Lydia, from Acts 16:14, was from Thyatira.

   I believe all present day communities have similarity to Thyatira in that there are commercial businesses, unions and other business and employee organizations in them and all around them.  So far this letter could apply to any community or church today.

  The words, to this church are from the Son of God, the only place the title is used in the Revelation, and emphasizes the majesty of his person. Psalm 2:6-9. The apocalypt ...