Revelation 2:18-3:6 Lesson 472
Read both the "King James Bible" and the "New Living Translation."
In this lesson:
Lesson 471 continues.
Thyatira, the compromising church (2:18-29).
Sardis, the dead church (3:1-6).
Look for Jesus' praise, denunciation, warning, and promise to both churches.
Lesson 471 continues.
Thyatira, the compromising church (2:18-29).
Sardis, the dead church (3:1-6).
Look for Jesus' praise, denunciation, warning, and promise to both churches.
Where was...
Thyatira -
Thyatira was an important city in the Roman province of Lydia in Asia Minor (modern day Turkey) located forty miles from Pergamos. The city sat on the Lycus River and had a large, mostly Greek population. With its manufacturing and numerous trade guilds (unions), Thyatira would be considered a blue collar town today. Its most profitable products were dyes (made from local roots), linens, and pottery. To every Christian tradesman's horror, many of the workers guilds worshipped their own patron god. The church in Thyatira was long on faith, love, Christian service, and patience (2:19) but had trouble withstanding false prophets, pagan rituals, and immorality (2:20). The Bible only mentions Thyatira here and in Acts 16:14.
Sardis -
Famous for its dye works, the city of Sardis was located on the banks of the Pactolus River near Mount Tmolus and was the capital of Lydia. Although in decline by John's day, Sardis was still a well to do commercial center. Despite being an early seat of Christianity many of its citizens worshipped Cybele, the pagan goddess of nature. By the time Jesus was dictating this letter the Sardis church was spiritually dead (3:1). The Bible only mentions Sardis in this passage. The city no longer exists, but its ruins have been well explored.
Thyatira -
Thyatira was an important city in the Roman province of Lydia in Asia Minor (modern day Turkey) located forty miles from Pergamos. The city sat on the Lycus River and had a large, mostly Greek population. With its manufacturing and numerous trade guilds (unions), Thyatira would be considered a blue collar town today. Its most profitable products were dyes (made from local roots), linens, and pottery. To every Christian tradesman's horror, many of the workers guilds worshipped their own patron god. The church in Thyatira was long on faith, love, Christian service, and patience (2:19) but had trouble withstanding false prophets, pagan rituals, and immorality (2:20). The Bible only mentions Thyatira here and in Acts 16:14.
Sardis -
Famous for its dye works, the city of Sardis was located on the banks of the Pactolus River near Mount Tmolus and was the capital of Lydia. Although in decline by John's day, Sardis was still a well to do commercial center. Despite being an early seat of Christianity many of its citizens worshipped Cybele, the pagan goddess of nature. By the time Jesus was dictating this letter the Sardis church was spiritually dead (3:1). The Bible only mentions Sardis in this passage. The city no longer exists, but its ruins have been well explored.
Study Tip:
We tend to read as if we're in a race, but slow down when
you read the Bible and take the time to meditate on each passage.
Allow the true meaning of Gods word to enter you.
We tend to read as if we're in a race, but slow down when
you read the Bible and take the time to meditate on each passage.
Allow the true meaning of Gods word to enter you.