[264:4] According to others, the angel of a Church betokens the collective body of ministers connected with the society. He also explains the seven stars are the angels of the seven churches. More insights from your Bible study - Get Started with Logos Bible Software for Free! The angel could not be in two places at the same time; and, as it was his duty to offer up the prayers of the assembled worshippers, it was impossible for him to minister to two congregations. The Letters to the Seven Churches of Asia in Their Local Setting by Colin Hemer. This question warrants being included in this series, so let’s take a look. What was Jesus’ message to the church in Laodicea in Revelation. John saw Jesus holding the seven stars which “are the angels of the seven churches.” Jesus instructed John to write his vision in a book and send it to the seven churches (verse 11). In primitive times such angels were often sent to the brethren in confinement or in exile. These considerations abundantly attest the futility of the imagination that the angel of the Church was a diocesan bishop. It is not to be supposed that such a man was permitted in apostolic times to pine away unheeded in solitary exile. The mystery of the seven stars, which thou sawest in my right hand, and the seven golden candlesticks. Are the “angels” of the churches in Revelation 1–3 real angels, or are they human messengers? The Spirit identifies the seven stars as the angels of the seven churches, and the seven lampstands as the seven churches. This explanation satisfies all the conditions required by the laws of interpretation. The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches: and the seven candlesticks which thou sawest are the seven churches." It is obvious that the instructions contained in the epistles were designed, not merely for the angels individually, but for the communities of which they were members; and hence the exhortation with which each of them concludes -- "He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the Churches." What, then, can these angels be? A few days ago, a reader emailed me asking about the angels in Revelation 2-3. "The seven stars," says He, "are the angels of the Seven Churches, and the seven candlesticks which thou sawest, are the Seven Churches." In His hand, Jesus holds seven stars (Revelation 1:13, 16). "The seven stars," says He, "are the angels of the Seven Churches, and the seven candlesticks which thou sawest, are the Seven Churches." So the lampstands (or "candlesticks" in some translations) represent seven churches. It may, however, be fairly questioned whether the number of disciples in every one of these places was then so limited as such an inference would suggest. It is thus apparent that, whatever the angels of the Seven Churches may have been, they certainly were not diocesan bishops. The message of each of the seven letters is directed to the angel of the particular church that is mentioned. It was, therefore, by no means extraordinary that seven messengers from seven neighbouring Churches, to all of which he was well known, are found together in Patmos on a visit to the venerable confessor. Consequently, Revelation 12:4). It seems clear that the angel of the Church is a single individual, and that he must have been a personage well known to the body with which he was connected at the time when the Apocalypse was written. For example, Stephen charged the Israelites with worshiping the host of heaven, which included “the star of your god Remphan” (Acts 7:42-43). Nevertheless, many are still confused about the meaning of the seven stars. [264:2], In the foreground of this picture the Son of God stands conspicuous. Origen explains that these "angels" are the guardian angels of the churches, a … About forty years before, the Word of God "grew mightily and prevailed" [266:4] in that great metropolis; and, among its inhabitants, Paul had persuaded "much people" [266:5] to become disciples of Christ. This minister seems, indeed, to have now spent no small portion of his time in travelling between Rome and Macedonia. The Son of Man does not confine His care to the Seven Churches of Asia, for He who appears walking in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks is the same who said of old to the nation of Israel -- "I will set up my tabernacle among you, and my soul shall not abhor you, and I will walk among you, and will be your God, and ye shall be my people." [269:1] In like manner, the individuals selected to convey, to the poor saints in Jerusalem, the contributions of the Gentile converts in Greece and Asia Minor, are called "the messengers of the Churches." The seven churches are symbolized as seven. He is bidden to write to the respective angels of those Churches and distribute to each his meed of … Yea, they may forget, yet will not I forget thee. In the beginning of this book we have an account of a glorious vision presented to the beloved disciple. [264:3]. In the New Testament we have repeated references to the office-bearers of the synagogue; we are told of the rulers [265:2] or elders, the reader, [265:3] and the minister [265:4] or deacon; but the angel is never mentioned. The seven churches are the primary focus of the first three chapters of Revelation. The place where these angels are to be found in the apocalyptic scene also suggests the fallacy of the interpretation that they are the chief pastors of the Seven Churches. What do the seven stars represent in Revelation? The candlesticks represent the seven Churches of Asia; the stars, the angels of those Churches. As we saw earlier, Revelation 1:20 says the “stars” of the seven churches (verse 16) are “angels.” Such is not the language of human messengers of God. [265:1] This point, however, has never been fairly demonstrated. Whilst it reveals a concern for the welfare of John quite in keeping with the benevolent spirit of apostolic times, it is also simple and sufficient. They are the angels of the seven churches (Revelation 1:20). The angels or messengers of the seven churches are symbolized as seven. In prophetic language a star usually signifies a ruler, and it is probable that the angels sent to Patmos were selected from among the elders, or rulers, of the Churches with which they were respectively connected; for, it is well known that, at an early period, elders, or presbyters, were frequently appointed to act as messengers or commissioners. If then the angel of the Church discharged the same functions as the angel of the synagogue, it would follow that, towards the termination of the first century, there was only one Christian congregation in each of the seven cities of Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamos, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, and Laodicea. REVELATION 1:20 The mystery of the seven stars which thou sawest in my right hand, and the seven golden candlesticks. (Revelation 1:20) “20 The mystery of the seven stars which you saw in My right hand, and the seven golden lampstands: The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches, and the seven lampstands which you saw are the seven churches.” (Zechariah 3:9) “9 For behold, the stone That I have laid before Joshua: Upon the stone are seven … The church at Ephesus was weak because they had. The meaning ascribed to the seven stars of Rev 1:20 and recipients of the seven messages in Rev 2–3 . I am full, having received of Epaphroditus the things which were sent from you." 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