A. In war, enemies study one another in order to understand how they may exploit their respective tendencies.
1. For example, knowing that their Western enemies generally will not target schools, hospitals, nursing homes, or places of worship to protect the innocent and respect the sacred, Islamists will often use those places to hide and store weapons and soldiers.
2. This kind of approach tends to turn an enemy's virtue into a weakness. It often leads to a loss of virtue on both sides.
B. The same approach is used in the spiritual realm, for Satan has studied the followers of Christ, and he seeks to exploit our tendencies.
1. When we were raised up with Christ to walk in newness of life (Rom. 6:4), we entered into the spiritual war on the Lord's side.
a. God "raised us up with Him, and seated us with Him in the heavenly places, in Christ Jesus" (Eph. 2:6). We are still on earth, but we strive in a spiritual realm.
b. Now "our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places" (Eph. 6:12).
2. Let us recognize that Satan is our enemy in this war and that he is "prowling about like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour" (1Pet. 5:8). His soldiers are ordinary men often disguised as "servants of righteousness" (2Cor. 11:13-15) who sometimes serve him unwittingly.
3. Satan has no mercy, and he will use every advantage at every opportunity to prey upon us. He watches us carefully so that he will know when to pounce.
C. One of the most pernicious approaches of Satan at present is the disingenuous cry for the tolerance of sin by Christians.
1. Knowing that Christians are governed by love and that we are to love our neighbors as ourselves (Matt. 22:39; Rom. 12:8-10), Satan has sensed an opportunity to insert sin among us.
2. The call for the tolerance of sin is designed to play on our senses of love, compassion, fairness, and equality. It has been a very effective tactic.
3. The call for the tolerance of sin is disingenuous for several reasons.
a. It falsely equates tolerance and love, thus implying that those who do not tolerate a sinner in his sin cannot love him. Let it be noted that Jesus did not tolerate sin, but no one can accuse Him of failing to love sinners.
b. It falsely implies that a Christian's intolerance of sin is a violation of the sinner's rights, equating mere disapproval of sin with unjust and even violent persecution of the sinner.
c. It is not merely a call for peaceful coexistence, but rather it virtually demands that all Christians accept, endorse, and celebrate sin.
d. It is intolerant by its own definition, for those who make this call will not accept others who are opposed to sin. It is an intolerant tolerance!
e. It is in conflict with the word of God, which defines sin and assigns its penalties. This call for tolerance requires Christians to ignore the word of God and erase the concept of sin from their minds. It is truly a call for apostasy!
4. The most pervasive sins that are presently covered by this call for tolerance are homosexuality, fornication, and abortion. It has been used in the past to cover such sins as unscriptural divorce and remarriage, and it is likely to be used in the future to justify sins like pedophilia.
D. If we fall for this tactic by Satan, then we will share the same fate as the unrepentant sinners we tolerate. This was the very message taught by our Lord to the first century church at Thyatira.
II. THE CHURCH THAT TOLERATED JEZEBEL
A. The tolerance of a woman described as Jezebel was held against the church at Thyatira by the Lord (Rev. 2:20-21).
1. In this book of signs and figures, the name "Jezebel" is symbolically given to this false prophetess.
a. Jezebel was the wicked wife of King Ahab in Israel (1Ki. 16:29-33) who killed the prophets of God and installed her own prophets of Baal (1Ki. 18:4, 13, 19).
b. The use of this figure indicates the depth of wickedness in this false prophetess.
2. The Lord said that this unrepentant woman "teaches and leads My bond-servants astray so that they commit acts of immorality and eat things sacrificed to idols" (v. 20).
3. Despite this woman's sinful influence and refusal to repent, the Christians at Thyatira had continued to tolerate her influence in the church. For this, the Lord would not tolerate them.
B. Jezebel's punishment would be severe, and it would shared by those who shared her deeds (Rev. 2:22-25).
1. The figures used by Jesus to describe how He would punish the false prophetess are unmistakably clear and severe. They are not the words of a Lord who tolerates sin and unrepentant sinners.
2. Not only would He punish her, but He also would punish "her children," which were those Christians who had followed her. Their only alternative to punishment was repentance.
C. Those who did not hold to her teaching were spared. By refusing to follow her teachings and approve her behavior, they had refused to tolerate her.
III. MUST WE TOLERATE JEZEBEL TODAY?
A. If the Lord held the church at Thyatira accountable for tolerating the sinful conduct of a sinful woman, then will we be any less accountable for doing the same?
1. Jesus rebuked the church at Thyatira for tolerating false teaching and sinful practices. Has He changed His expectations for us? "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever" (Heb. 13:8).
2. Has the nature of the church changed since the first century? Is it not still the holy household of God and the pillar and support of the truth (1Tim. 3:15)? Does not God still say to us, "You shall be holy, for I am holy" (1Pet. 1:16)?
3. In a similar situation, the whole church at Corinth was corrupted when it tolerated a brother who engaged in gross immorality (1Cor. 5:1-13). Are we somehow immune to such corruption?
B. Let us not be deceived by the trickery of Satan. The call for the tolerance of sin rings loudly today, but the word of God still demands that Christians take a stand against sin and refuse to approve it.
1. Compare the false call for tolerance to the word of God in Ephesians 5:5-12:
5For this you know with certainty, that no immoral or impure person or covetous man, who is an idolater, has an inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God. 6Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. 7Therefore do not be partakers with them; 8for you were formerly darkness, but now you are Light in the Lord; walk as children of Light 9(for the fruit of the Light consists in all goodness and righteousness and truth), 10trying to learn what is pleasing to the Lord. 11Do not participate in the unfruitful deeds of darkness, but instead even expose them; 12for it is disgraceful even to speak of the things which are done by them in secret.
2. Consider the utter lack of tolerance allowed in God's word from 2Corinthians 6:14-18:
14Do not be bound together with unbelievers; for what partnership have righteousness and lawlessness, or what fellowship has light with darkness? 15Or what harmony has Christ with Belial, or what has a believer in common with an unbeliever? 16Or what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For we are the temple of the living God; just as God said, "I will dwell in them and walk among them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. 17Therefore, come out from their midst and be separate," says the Lord. "And do not touch what is unclean; and I will welcome you. 18And I will be a father to you, and you shall be sons and daughters to Me," Says the Lord Almighty.
3. Regardless of what men may say or the present sensitivities of the twenty-first century, "the word of the Lord abides forever" (1Pet. 1:25). It does not permit us to tolerate Jezebel today or ever.
IV. CONCLUSION
A. Do not misunderstand the message of this lesson. Christians have to tolerate sinners in the world.
1. Scripture says, "If possible, so far as it depends on you, be at peace with all men" (Rom. 12:18).
2. The word of God recognizes this necessity in 1Corinthians 5:12-13:
12For what have I to do with judging outsiders? Do you not judge those who are within the church? 13But those who are outside, God judges. Remove the wicked man from among yourselves.
B. However, Christians cannot accept, endorse, support, or celebrate sin, especially within the church.
1. Peaceful coexistence is not enough for those who make the false call for tolerance. They want unconditional acceptance of sin, which we cannot give.
2. Often sin overtakes Christians and churches in incremental steps beginning with resistance and proceeding to tolerance, acceptance, and finally participation. Which step are we on?
