Revelation: Until I Come

Revelation: Justification by Faith

Until I Come

[By M.L]

Revelation 2:24–25
"But to the rest of you in Thyatira, who do not hold this teaching, who have not learned what some call the deep things of Satan, to you I say, I do not lay on you any other burden. Only hold fast what you have until I come."

Jezebel had a strong influence in Thyatira, but not all were caught up in the teaching of Satan.

What Is This Teaching?

It is the doctrine of the Nicolaitans, which taught that one could pursue idolatry without consequence. Jezebel herself would be judged, but the remnant in Thyatira was given no additional burden other than this: hold fast to what they had until Christ’s return.

Jesus promised to return, at which point the distinction between idolatry and serving God alone would become unmistakably clear. Then, they would receive the morning star in their hearts, and its light would shine brightly.

In the meantime, they were to hold on to what they had. No additional demands were placed upon them. Yet, this did not mean they were to do nothing. By holding fast, they would gain a reward.

I will not add to such a simple description of what faith entails.
To those who tremble and feel the pull of sin: "Hold fast what you have until I come!"

Christ has assured us that He will not delay His coming. He is patient.

2 Peter 3:8–10
"But do not overlook this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance. But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a roar, and the heavenly bodies will be burned up and dissolved, and the earth and the works that are done on it will be exposed."

For those who will not be present at His return, death will come too soon. Yet the first sound after their rest will be the voice of Christ, calling them to awaken, as He did with Lazarus.

Therefore, hold fast and look to the perfecter of our faith and our High Priest. Do not despair at earthly powers like Jezebel, nor lose courage and let go of what we have. Hold fast until He comes.

The Promise for Overcomers

Revelation 2:26–29
"The one who conquers and who keeps my works until the end, to him I will give authority over the nations, and he will rule them with a rod of iron, as when earthen pots are broken in pieces, even as I myself have received authority from my Father. And I will give him the morning star. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches."

The rod of iron is mentioned in the Psalms:

Psalm 2:6–9
"As for me, I have set my King on Zion, my holy hill. I will tell of the decree: The LORD said to me, 'You are my Son; today I have begotten you. Ask of me, and I will make the nations your heritage, and the ends of the earth your possession. You shall break them with a rod of iron and dash them in pieces like a potter’s vessel.’”

Christ is the true and rightful heir of all these promises. He will shatter the pottery and inherit the nations. He is the Son of God, with feet like burnished bronze, who will destroy the nations.

Every overcomer will share in this victory with Jesus, receiving the same authority He rightly inherited. Yet, this is not something we earn by our own worthiness, but it is given to us by grace alone—through the true Son of God, Jesus Christ, who stood in our place and secured for us what we could never claim for ourselves.

Hold Fast to What You Have

Even as we see Jezebel’s influence in this world today—and even as she masquerades as a false "Christian" prophetess in the church, persecuting true believers—we can rest assured that soon these powers will be broken to make way for a more certain kingdom.

At that time, we will receive the morning star:

2 Peter 1:19
"And we have the prophetic word more fully confirmed, to which you will do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts."

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