THYATIRA The Compensation Revelation 2v 26-29.
"He that cometh to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him." (Hebrews 11v6); so wrote the writer to the Hebrews. There is no doubt that God rewards faithful service. Jesus defines what is meant by "the overcomer;" it is "he who keepeth My works unto the end." The demand on the Christian is for perseverance and loyalty even in the midst of departure, even when others around us are falling away. The level of compensation here for faithful service is quite staggering. Jesus is speaking here of global domination. So we ask, what is the link between the church at Thyatira and the idea of global domination? There is little doubt that the object of political Rome was global domination (this failed). In like manner, religious Rome which is the "child of the church at Thyatira" also had in mind global domination in the spiritual sense (this will also fail). The evidence for this is that the counterfeit church, which had its beginnings here, is stated in chapter 17 to have the goal of spiritual domination "over peoples and multitudes and nations and tongues." (Revelation 17v15). the link therefore becomes abundantly clear, that what ungodly people seek whether politically or religiously (and which they will never achieve) will be given to the humble, devoted servants of the Lord.
- "I will give power over the nations." - Jesus told His disciples in Matthew chapter 28 the all power (authority) had been given unto Him in heaven and on earth. He is now saying to faithful believers I will give you a public status of authority over the nations. It is as if He was saying "you may be marginalized now, even in a minority, and in lowly status in your situation, but in that day everyone will know you and you will become part of My global empire." What men wanted, yet failed to achieve, without Me, I will give it to you. He said to His disciples in Luke 22 v 30 " you will sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel." In 1st Corinthians chapter 6v2&3 the apostle makes clear that "the saints shall judge the world" and "we shall judge angels." In Revelation 20v4 it says " I saw thrones and they that sat upon them and judgement was given to them." In Revelation 20v6 it says "Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and Christ and shall reign with Him 1,000 years.
- He says further "He shall rule them (the nations) with a rod of iron; as the vessels of a potter shall they be broken to shivers." - When Christ sets up His kingdom on this earth, as He surely will, the world will continue pretty much as it is today with one great difference, His word will be law in all nations, "The law of the Lord shall go forth from Jerusalem." Isaiah 2v3, and all sin and rebellion will immediately be put down. The saints, those saved by the grace of God and faithful to God in their lives will have a part in this wondrous administration, the level of which will be determined by their loyalty here; but all will have a part. Daniel says in chapter 2v44 "The God of heaven shall set up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed: and the kingdom shall not be left to other people, but it shall break in pieces, and consume all these kingdoms and it shall stand forever. What we have promised here is to be part of a worldwide government which will control all rebellion with no possibility of failure.
- There is an interesting contrast here, showing the nature of the rule of Christ, because the word for "rule" is to "tend as a shepherd" and yet it is allied to inflexible judgement such that all sin and rebellion will be crushed. There is a combination of tenderness and mighty power in connection with His rule. The word for "rule" again is used three times in the book of Revelation. In chapter 7v17 it is rendered "He shall feed them." In chapter 12v5 it is rendered "to rule as a shepherd all nations with a rod of iron." Again in chapter 19v15 it is rendered the same. The One who will rule this world has an unalterable hatred of sin, but at the same time has a tender shepherd heart.
- He continues "even as I received of My Father." - The authority His Father gave Him to rule the world in righteousness and in tenderness, He will give exactly the same to His faithful people and they will become the administrators of the kingdom with the blessing of the Father God. This whole passage was predicted in Psalms 2v6-9. It is stated in the form of a divine decree . The Father (Jehovah God) completely satisfied and delighted with all that His Son had done said "Thou art My Son; this day have I begotten Thee. Ask of Me and I shall give Thee the nations for Thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for Thy possession." In the language of the New Testament where He is seen to be the "heir of all things" we are seen to be "joint heirs with Christ." What a staggering thought!
- There's more "And I will give Him the morning star." - What is He saying here? Very simply the morning star hails the dawning of a new day. In Revelation 22v16 He Himself is the morning star. When the old earth was created it was stated that "when the morning stars sang together and all the sons of God shouted for joy." Job 38v7 This was at the creation of the world. The significance of the morning star here is that it is the dawning of the new creation and we human beings will have a part, we are now the sons of God, we will share this glorious new day, a day that will never have a night, that will continue for all eternity.
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