The book of Revelation opens with seven letters to seven churches written by the apostle John on behalf of Jesus. They were addressed to the “angel” of each church. The word “angel” might also be translated “messenger,” as each letter would be expected to be read aloud by a messenger to the church, who was most likely that church’s pastor.
Each letter followed a similar outline:
1) Place to. (In this case, Thyatira, the ruins of which lie in the modern city of Akhisar, Turkey.)
2) Person from. (In every case, Jesus. To the church at Thyatira He is the omniscient judge, with “eyes of fire” and “feet of brass.”)
3) Praise given. (Jesus commended Thyatira for their “works” saying “the last are more than the first.”)
4) Problem named. (Thyatira was “allowing” or tolerating false teaching from a woman named “Jezebel.”)
5) Prescription given. (“Hold fast” until Jesus returns.)
6) Promise offered. (God would give them authority. After all this is what they had lost with their tolerance of Jezebel.)
Christ’s letter to the church at Thyatira is a warning to any church that makes tolerance their main doctrine and therefore gives up the authority of God’s Word.