“To all who are victorious, who obey me to the very end, to them I will give authority over all the nations. They will rule the nations with an iron rod and smash them like clay pots. They will have the same authority I received from my Father, and I will also give them the morning star! “Anyone with ears to hear must listen to the Spirit and understand what he is saying to the churches.” Revelation 2:26-29
God’s exhortation to these churches is, “Repent! Change your minds!” It is not only lost sinners who need to repent, but also disobedient Christians. If we do not repent and deal with sin in our lives and in our assemblies, the Lord may judge us and remove our lampstand. How tragic it is when a local church gradually abandons the faith and loses its witness for Christ!
Jesus Christ is “the Bright and Morning Star”. The promise in Revelation 2:28 suggests that God’s people shall be so closely identified with Christ that He will “belong” to them! But perhaps there is also an allusion here to Satan, who wanted the kingdom for himself and who offered the world’s kingdoms to Christ if He would worship him but once (Matt 4:8–11). In Isaiah 14:12, Satan is named Lucifer, which in Hebrew means “brightness, bright star.” The compromising people in Thyatira were following “the depths of Satan,” which would lead to darkness and death. God’s overcomers, on the other hand, would share the Morning Star!
The concluding words, “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches,” are a charge to follow the message of the letter to the church at Thyatira. Three important truths stand out. First, this letter reveals the seriousness of practicing and tolerating sin, and that God will judge sin in the church. Second, a pattern of obedience marks true Christians. Finally, God’s gracious promise is that, in spite of struggles with sin and error in churches, Christians will experience all the fullness of Christ as they reign with Him in His kingdom. Those churches, like Thyatira, who fail to obey the message, will receive divine judgment. Those who do obey its message will receive divine blessing.”