No Other Burden Put Upon Thyatira Revelation 2:24

After John the apostle saw the vision of Jesus in chapter one of “Revelation”, he began to write to the “seven churches in Asia”. He started with the church located in “Ephesus”, then the “church of Smyrna”, the “church in Pergamos” and after commending the “church in Thyatira” he told them, “I have a few things against you, because you suffer that woman Jezebel, which calls herself a prophetess, to teach and to seduce my servants to commit fornication, and to eat things sacrificed unto idols” and he added, “Behold, I will cast her into a bed, and them that commit adultery with her into great tribulation, except they repent of their deeds.” In chapter two and verse twenty-four of Revelation, John shared how Jesus told “the church in Thyratira” how he would, “put upon you none other burden” where we read:

But unto you I say, and unto the rest in Thyatira, as many as have not this doctrine, and which have not known the depths of Satan, as they speak; I will put upon you none other burden.

The verse begins, “But unto you I say, and unto the rest in Thyatira, as many as have not this doctrine, ...” John began with the word, “but” which means “nevertheless, notwithstanding, yes and moreover” “unto you I say” or “toward the church in Thyatira Jesus speaks, declares, utters and proclaims”, “and unto the rest” which means “and toward the other people” “in Thyatira” which refers to “a colony of Macedonia Greeks, situated between Sardis and Pergamos on the river Lycus where its inhabitants gained their living by traffic and the art of dyeing in purple and means odors of affliction”, “as many as have not” or “to those who have not held, owned or possessed” “this doctrine” which refers to “the teaching and instruction of Balaam”. Jesus addressed other people who were in Thyatira who did not follow or adhere to the “spiritual fornication and idolatry” of “Balaam”.

The verse continues, “... and which have not known the depths of Satan, as they speak; I will put upon you none other burden.” John added the words, “and which have not known” or “and these within the church in Thyatira were unaware, had not perceived or become acquainted with” “the depths” which means “the extreme deepness and extent” “of Satan” or “pertaining to the prince of evil spirits and the inveterate adversary of God and Christ”, “as they speak” or “as these people say, affirm, maintain, exhort, advise, command and direct”; “I will put upon you” or “Jesus would insert or pour out on the church in Thyatira” “none other burden” which means “no additional heaviness, weight or trouble”. For the people within the “church in Thyatira” who avoided these teachings of “Satan” there was to be no additional “trouble or heaviness”.

When we consider John's words in this verse, we see how it was important for the “church in Thyatira” to avoid and keep away from the “doctrines” which were from “Satan”. Jesus Christ desires people to follow His teaching and to avoid instruction that is contrary to Him. For those who receive Jesus as their personal “Savior and Lord”, He promises to “put upon” them no additional “heaviness”, but woe be to those who follow and keep the teachings of “Satan”.

Next time John writes how Jesus tells the “church of “that which you have already hold fast”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

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