Irish Scripture Scholar Frances Hogan, reads through the message to the church in Thyatira from the Book of Revelation Chapter 2 Verse 18 onwards. This was a city without emperor worship but there were temples to Apollo and Artemis. Jesus comes to Thyatira as the Son of God with eyes like blazing fire and feet like burnished bronze; He sees and judges everything in truth. Thyatira passed all the tests - charity, faith, devotion, constancy, and suffering but they also had temples to Apollo and Artemis which meant there were secret sins of idolatry and immorality. If they want to escape judgment, they have to face their secret. 

The Lord has given us the tribunal of mercy - the Sacrament of Reconciliation. It’s the only tribunal where the sinner confesses and receives Divine Mercy. If we don’t go to the tribunal of mercy, we have to go to the tribunal of justice. In this church, we see a false woman prophet by the name Jezebel who draws the people to idolatry and sin. She has refused any correction from the shepherds of the church; this means that she will face trials and difficulties to bring her around to God. Jesus says that faithful believers have the wisdom to keep away from “satan’s secrets”. 

The spiritual authority of a saint is more permanent than any worldlings; it is passive and lasts for generations to come. When Jesus says that He will rule with an iron scepter, He means that it is for eternity. They will receive the Morning Star (Jesus) in their hearts.

Bible References:

• Is. 62:6 and Is 65:15 - The people of God will receive a new name
• Rev. 2:18-29 - Message to the church in Thyatira 
• Act 16 - Lydia, Paul’s convert, was from Thyatira
• Rev. 1:14-15: Jesus comes as the Son of God
• Ezek. 8:2 - The Lord brought the prophet into the temple to see the secret sins
• 2 Thess. 2:7- The mystery of inequity was at work
• 1 Ki. 16 and 2 Ki, 9 - Jezebel, the infamous wife of King Ahab
• Matt. 28:20 - I will be with you even to the very end
• Ps. 139 - The Lord knows everything
• Ps. 2:8-9 - Dominion has been given to the Messiah
• Dan. 7:27 - Sovereignty is given to the people of God
• Ps. 49:11 - Worldly possessions mean nothing
• 2 Pet. 1:19 - Morning star rises in our hearts

Scripture Scholar, Frances Hogan, takes you to the world of the Apocalypse of John shown to us in the Book of Revelation written from the Greek island of Patmos. Through this podcast, we will try to understand the Book of Revelation through St. John’s warnings, the punishment that awaits, and the consolation the Lord offers to the faithful.

Frances Hogan: https://www.franceshogan.com/

Shalom World: https://www.shalomworld.org

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