of Fire“And to the angel of the church in Thyatira write, ‘These things says
the Son of God, who has eyes like a flame of fire, and His feet like fine brass.” Revelation 2:18
The Lord gives his church that is falling in love with the world system a second aspect of His character. Economic pressure and threat of loss of job is causing this church to love money more than God. Threat of loss is causing this church to fear man more than God. Therefore, the Lord reveals a second feature of Himself. In doing so He verifies His authority. All power has been given to the Lord. He is the Son of God. He does not remind them of His love or compassion. He reminds them of His authority over ALL of His creation to command and to be obeyed. This reminder of the Lord’s full authority to judge sin is intended to awake this church out of its stupor. Who has eyes like a flame of fire Again we are stunned as the Lord reveals Himself to Thyatira. The word eyes is used both literally and figuratively. Here the Lord uses it to remind us of His moral and spiritual insight. His eye represents God’s watchfulness and careful scrutiny of all His people do. This Greek phrase “the eyes of Him” carries a sense of uniqueness about Jesus’ eyes that are different from the eyes of all others. The way He sees His church is unequaled, unmatched, and unlike the way He views anyone else. This is His bride. The Lord also uses the phrase “flame of fire”. A flame is a blaze that is consuming and which is indicative of divine judgment. The word “fire” describes a powerful element that can either destroy or purify or refine. Thus the phrase “flame of fire” depicts a brightly burning fire with flames swirling, whirling, flickering, twisting, turning, and arching upward toward the sky. Note John does not say the Lord’s eyes are a flame of fire but that they look like it. John tells us that the thing the church at Thyatira would notice about the Lord were his eyes, eyes of anger and righteousness. They would see that the Lord’s eyes watch their actions with a searching gaze, knowing the truth and knowing that His church is sinning against Him. As the Son of God with all authority given to Him the Lord has the right to search the church and command them to change their behavior This is not a new image to this church. They would remember in Daniel 10 where he records meeting with One who is dressed in linen with a gold belt (Daniel 10:5). His face is bright like lightning, and His eyes are like flaming torches, and His arms and feet gleam like polished bronze, and the sound of His words are like roaring (Daniel 10:6). In Daniel 10 this person comes to reveal the future to Daniel. Here to the church of Thyatira the eyes of fire tell this church where they are headed is not good. What can we learn? We read this passage and it terrifies us. This is the Lord who died for us. He comes to His church who has forgotten His authority. We fear what is about to happen. Yet before we jump to the judgment of God we must remember He always acts in love. When the Holy Spirit was given to the church He appeared as a flame of fire. One of His roles is to rebuke us when we sin and bring us back to the Lord. Here the Lord comes in love to tell His church to change their willful rebellion. God never judges without warning or correcting us. Only if we refuse to hear His voice does He judge din but judge it He will. He is no respecter of persons and He is jealous of the love of His bride. What a message this is to our generation that forgets our Lord is holy.