Thyatira: Revelation 2:18-29

 from: “The Addresses to the Seven Churches” by Hamilton Smith (unedited)

In order to rightly interpret the address to Thyatira, and the addresses that follow, it is important to see the characteristic differences between the first three addresses and the last four.

It is clear that the first three Churches set forth the condition of the whole professing Church at three successive periods of its history. Moreover, the general condition set forth by these Churches does not continue throughout the Church's history; though, indeed, the evils that develop, during the periods set forth by these Churches, continue to mark the Christian profession for all time.

Thus the united testimony of the Church that marked the Ephesian period has passed away; though the loss of first love has ever since marked the Christian profession.

Barabbas

Part of the Consider Him Series... 

I would draw our attention to Hebrews 12, verse 3, Consider Him Who Endured, and although that might be a lifetime of study and consideration, that is what I’ve been doing. 

The Greek for consider according to Vine’s Dictionary and the Interlinear is:
(an-al-og-id'-zom-ah-ee), from which we get our word ANALOGOUS. I found it interesting that analogous means “something that is similar to something else and can be compared to another.” OR... “having similar features to another and therefore able to be compared with it.”

As I Consider Him Who Endured, I give sympathetic meditation, conscientious study, careful thought, quiet deliberation, and attentive observation (because that’s what “consider” means) to... JESUS... and Barabbas. 

Comfort

2 Cor. 1:3-7, Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and the God of all comfort, 4 who comforts and encourages us in every trouble so that we will be able to comfort and encourage those who are in any kind of trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. 5 For just as Christ’s sufferings are ours in abundance, so also our comfort, our encouragement, and our consolation is abundant through Christ, it is truly more than enough to endure what we must. 6 But if we are troubled and distressed, it is for your comfort and salvation; or if we are comforted and encouraged, it is for your comfort, which works in you when you patiently endure the same sufferings which we experience. 7 And our confident expectation of good for you is firmly grounded and unshaken, since we know that just as you share as partners in our sufferings, so also you share as partners in our comfort.