Revelation 2:18Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

The fourth rank signifies the dignity of believers who labor daily and perform great works. Yet He indicates that even there are people who willingly consent to unlawful peace and give heed to new prophets.

He persuades and exhorts the rest, who are displeased by what is happening and recognize the levity of the adversary. Through these evils and deceits He seeks to remind believers of dangers. Therefore He says: "I will put no other burden upon you."

That is, I have not given you the observance and demands of the law, which is another burden. Rather, "hold fast what you have until I come" (Rev 2:24-25).

The fiery appearance of the eyes indicates the illumination of the righteous and the burning of sinners. The feet and chalcolibanus signify the fragrance of the spiritual myrrh of Christ in those being saved. They also signify the union in Christ of Godhead and manhood, without division and without confusion. This is inaccessible to human understanding, like something kindled by the Spirit of God.

His gaze penetrates all things. His immaculate flesh shines like bronze, brightly gleaming in the fire.

The words, "Thus says the Son of God, who has eyes like a flame of fire," indicate terror and threat to sinners. "And His feet are like chalcolibanus" signifies either the firmness and immovability of faith in Him, or the spiritual fragrance of the evangelical teachings.

Thyatira may be translated as "for sacrifice," for the saints make their bodies a living sacrifice.

Almost nine hundred years before Christ, the impious Ahab reigned in Israel. In his days idolatry reached an extreme degree. He was married to Jezebel, daughter of the king of Sidon, a corrupt woman with a malicious heart. She slew all the prophets of God in the kingdom of Israel.

She introduced public acts of fornication among the people and deceived them with various forms of sorcery. To establish seductive groves and pagan abominations, she maintained five hundred false prophets at her own expense.

In the Apocalypse, under the name Jezebel, there is depicted a heresy that corrupted the minds of the simple people and pretended to have the gift of prophecy. But Jezebel was thrown from the window of her palace, trampled by horses, and eaten by dogs.

"To the angel of the Church in Thyatira." Some suppose that the bishop was the aforementioned Carpus. Thyatira was a city in Lydia, by the River Lycus, between Pergamum and Sardis. Today it is a poor Turkish village, Ak-Hissar.

Then the Lord addresses the Church of the city of Thyatira, situated in northern Lydia, as the Son of God, whose eyes are like flame and whose feet are like chalcolibanus.

The Lord designates Himself in this way to show that the errors of the Thyatiran heretics and dreamers cannot be hidden from Him, although they presented themselves as true prophets.

Likewise the Lord's feet, like chalcolibanus or molten bronze, must burn and wipe from the face of the earth every exaltation of these proud dreamers.