Sermon Tone Analysis

Today, we’re going to look at Thyatira, but before we do, I need to look at the structure of these letters with you.

These letters fall in what is called a chiasm.

Explain chiasm.

Chiasm, a VERY common structure in Scripture.

There are 49 Psalms alone which are chiastic in structure.

Scripture as a whole can loosely be categorized as a chiasm.

A Ephesus

B Smyrna

C Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis

B' Philadelphia

A' Laodicea

The point of this structure is the middle point.

Pergamum, Thyatira, and Sardis are the entire point of Jesus' letters to the churches.

Because in Ephesus and Laodicea, we see a couple of churches that Jesus is mostly displeased with, and in Smyrna and Philadelphia, we see churches for whom Jesus has no condemnation.

The middle three are smattered with some good and some bad.

And that’s the point: most churches are the middle three.

Most churches, and on a micro level, most Christians are the middle three churches.

We have areas where we’re doing well, but areas where we desperately need improvement.

So let’s read the message to the church in Thyatira to see what Jesus says to this church:

Let’s talk a little background for this church, then we’ll see why what Jesus says here is significant:

In Thyatira, there is a very heavy influence of bronze guilds in the city.

Rev. 13:17 refers to Christians' participation in idol worship and the receipt of the certificate that one would receive in that day once they had been cleared to participate in commerce as a result of worshipping the gods of their trade guild.

(Keener, Revelation 2:18-29)

Briefly explain trade guilds

And these trade guilds and the imperial cult work hand in hand with each other.

So when we see in Revelation 13:17 the mark of the beast having these consequences (and I’m genuinely excited to get to the mark of the beast to put some anxious minds to rest), the church would hear that verse and relate it to what was going on here in Thyatira:

And we’ll talk more about that when we get there, but that’s a consequence of not bowing down to the idols of the day: not being able to buy or sell.

Modern day Akhisar is built right over the ruins of Thyatira, and they have not yet excavated much of the city.

In fact, the existence of the modern city largely prevents any excavation at all.

But interestingly, we see in Acts that Lydia was originally from Thyatira (the guild of βαφεῖς was associated with the local agent referred to as the thing of which Lydia was a seller in Acts 16:14), and because this is where Lydia is from, we have strong evidence for the presence of trade guilds in that city.

And in the face of those guilds, Jesus sees their faith, patient endurance, and service, and he says literally, “your latter works exceed the first.”

You’re doing better, church.

Then there’s that pesky word, “but.”

Jesus is angry because these people have not followed his advice and the advice of Paul when dealing with someone who is putting a stumbling block before his people.

The word translated "permitting" is used in the same sense as the Pharisees used it in John 11:48

Jezebel incited King Ahab and Israel to compromise and fornicate by worshipping Baal.

(1 Kings 16:31-32; 21:25-26; 2 Kings 8:18; 9:22).

You see the progression in 1 & 2 Kings:

And she gets recompense from God. God appoints Jehu, the king of Israel, to take revenge for him, and he on God’s orders, he kills Jezebel and her family.

She becomes the archetype of a stumbling block for the people of God, and Jesus says the same here.

It's almost as if Jesus is saying, "If she enjoys leading my people into bed so much, I'll give her a bed..."

Who are Jezebel's children?

The people who follow her teaching.

Not necessarily her literal children.

Probably a reference to idol worship and trade guilds.

Those who follow these practices are truly children of Jezebel.

NIV in this verse captures the tone best of any translation.

This is SARCASM.

“Satan’s so-called deep secrets”.

Do you see Jesus’ compassion for his people?I know it’s hard.

Don’t give up, church.

This is a reference to the promise of the Messiah to come, to heal, to rule, to deliver, to save, and to complete the promise given to Israel:

If it also has a present application to the “overcomers,” who are said to participate already in the messianic kingdom (Rev.

1:5–6, 9; 5:10), then the “authority” they exercise in beginning to fulfill the Psalm is the witness that they bear through suffering to Christ’s death and resurrection, which becomes salvific protection for some but a basis of destruction for others (note the same dual effect of Paul’s apostolic witness in 2 Cor.

2:15–17 as in Rev. 2:27).

What does that mean?

What is the morning star?

Peter says this:

He talks about how we interpret scripture in light of having the "morning star rising in our hearts."

And, later in Revelation, Jesus says this:

Jesus defines that symbol.

Jesus is the morning star.

Latin for "morning star" is Lucifer.

And we use that as a title for what?

Satan.

The adversary.

That’s wrong, church.

It’s based upon a misinterpretation of Isaiah 14:12.

Satan isn’t the Morning star, Jesus is.

Does it surprise you that the Father of Lies has lies surrounding the origins of his name?

So this is the deal, church.

You are offered grace- a free gift.

All you have to do is receive it.

But grace comes with responsibility: we have to speak- against sin in our lives and in our church.

Tolerating sin in the church is the same in the eyes of Jesus as endorsing it.

We have to speak.

And sometimes that’s hard, but thanks to Jesus, the only other command is to hold on.

Hold on to Jesus and he will not fail you.

That’s grace.