As we continue our study of the prophetic church at Thyatira (538-1798 AD), understanding Jezebel is a key to understanding what happened to the church in this time. There has been much teaching in the church about the “spirit of Jezebel,” which is derived from the biblical character who was King Ahab’s wife. Ahab was one of the wickedest kings in Israel’s history. It seems that Jezebel influenced many of his evil ways.

     Jezebel was the most prominent wife of any king of Israel. She exerted significant influence and power over the nation by the force of her...

         This week we will begin our study of the church at Thyatira. Please take a moment to read through the Lord’s message to this church as recorded in Revelation 2:18-29:

       And to the angel of the church in Thyatira write, “These things, says the Son of God, who has eyes like a flame of fire, and His feet like fine brass: 

         "I know your works, love, service, faith, and your patience; and as for your works, the last are more than the first. 

         Nevertheless, I have a few things against you,...

         This week we will complete our study of Pergamos that dwelt “where Satan’s throne is” and seemed to open the church to the biggest gates of hell. We study this to apply the lessons to our own lives and times. How has the church responded recently when they went from being persecuted to being respected? How would we personally respond if marginalized at work for being a Christian but then suddenly the head of the company gets converted and we are instantly promoted? We need to see these lessons on all levels.

         Soon after the conversion of Emperor...

         As we have been covering, the church at Pergamos faced one of the greatest trials of all—going from one of the worst periods of persecution to being elevated to the highest position of authority in the empire. It also dwelt at the place of “Satan’s throne.” As the church and state “married” during this period, the church took on many of the ways of the world and adopted the Empire’s hierarchal form of government. The Emperor then elevated the Bishop of Rome over all the other bishops and called him the “pope” or “papa,” the father over the entire...

         The world has changed in profound ways from the time of the prophetic church of Pergamos. Even the forms of government are different. We still have many autocratic governments where power is centered in a strongman (or woman) and usually supported by an elite political class. We also have a number of more democratic governments. However, the issue of how governments and the church, or other religions, relate to each other remains.

         As we have covered, when Christianity became the state religion of the Roman Empire, making it mandatory for anyone holding a position in government to be...