Revelation
By Topics
Who are The Angels of the Seven Churches, Literal or Symbolic?
Nab B. March 1, 2023
(Understanding the Book of Revelation spiritually!)
"The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches, and the seven lampstands which you saw are the seven churches."
(Rev 1:20)
In the book of Revelation, seven messages or revelations are sent to the seven Churches through seven angels (also called seven stars).
Do you suppose these are heavenly angels or something else? I will explain that angels in many passages of Revelation do not exactly refer to heavenly beings. They symbolize Christ’s MESSAGES or FULL revelations sent by His followers and disciples and not angelic beings!
Here are some of my reasons for you to examine:
EXIBIT #1
It should not be immediately assumed that an angel is a heavenly being. Angel means a messenger (either human or spirit being). Only the context determines who’s who!
Now, Revelation is written in signs. So, when it speaks of angels, it signifies Christ's messages to His Churches through human disciples, His messengers. (This doesn't negate the fact that heavenly angels do minister to humans as Christ sees fit).
It is Christ’s messages, and not so much the messengers, that matter the most! Therefore angels/messengers could also be understood to mean messages from Jesus in the form of seals, trumpets, and plagues.
2 Cor 3:2 reads,
“You are our letter (or message), having been inscribed in our hearts, being known and being read by all men.”
Here, humans are portrayed figuratively as letters or messages written on the hearts and read by all (referring to the fruitful work done among them). Based on this, a spiritual message can refer to people or vice versa.
EXIBIT #2
We know that the seven angels = seven stars who are sent to ➤ the seven churches that are placed in Jesus’ right hand of authority.
Carefully note Revelation 1:16 begins with:
“He (Jesus) had in His right hand seven stars,”
And it ends with:
“And out of His mouth came a sharp two-edged sword.”
Can you see the connection here? The seven stars (seven angels or messengers or messages) carry the "Word of God" (or the Sword) to the Churches to cleanse and purify them.
These messages (revelations and enlightenment) are designed to build up the body of Christ. Isaiah 11:2 depicts Christ possessing the fullness (seven) of God’s Spirit. With such fullness, Christ’s messages (revelations) are sent through His human messengers (who are His apostles, prophets, missionaries, preachers, teachers, servants, etc)
“He gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ.” (Eph 4:11-13)
EXIBIT #3
In Revelation chapters 2 and 3, each church received a message from Jesus. Notice that the emphasis is on Christ’s messages and not the messenger (heavenly or earthly)! Yet, many emphasize only heavenly angels (perhaps a form of angel worship, see Col 2:18) rather than Christ and His messages to the churches.
“To the angel (messenger) of the church of Ephesus write.” (2:1)
“To the angel (messenger) of the church in Smyrna write.” (2:8)
“To the angel (messenger) of the church in Pergamos write.” (2:12)
EXIBIT #4
Jesus speaks “in the Spirit” or the Holy Spirit and through His spirit-led faithful followers. He sends messages and warnings; gives advice and takes action. In the verses below, Christ is the one acting with no heavenly angels seen involved. Note the use of the personal pronoun ‘I’.
“I am coming and will remove your lampstand” (2:5)
“I will give you the crown of life” (2:10)
“I will make war with the sword of my mouth” (2:16)
“I will cast her ... into great tribulation” (2:22)
“I will kill her children with pestilence” (2:23)
“I will give authority over the nations” (2:26)
“I will come like a thief ... upon you” (3:3)
“I will not erase his name from the book of life” (3:5)
“I have put before you an open door” (3:8)
“I will cause those of the synagogue of Satan” (3:9)
“I will keep you from the hour of testing” (3:10)
“I will make him a pillar in the temple of My God” (3:12)
“I advice you to buy from Me gold” (3:18)
“I reprove and discipline” (3:19)
“I stand and knock ... I will come in and dine” (3:21)
Today, Jesus is heard “In the Spirit”. The verses shown below have been experienced since the Day of Pentecost!
“But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things and will bring to your remembrance all things that I have said to you.” (John 14:26)
“And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself (in the Spirit); that where I am, there you may be also.” (John 14:3)
EXIBIT #5
These figurative stars are illuminated through Christ’s spiritual light. Without Him, there’s no light, truth, way, or life.
“I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me WILL NOT WALK in darkness (in Babylon) but will have the light of life.” (John 8:12)
The seven stars are Christ’s full spiritual messages and revelations to lead all followers (past, present, and future) out of Babylon's darkness and into the city of God.
“My sheep hear my voice.” (John 10:27)
“I have other sheep…I must bring them in…they will listen to My Voice.” (John 10:16)
In Revelation, words such as stars, moon, sun, illuminate, a lampstand, and a morning star refer to God’s spiritual lights. In this case, Christ is God’s only true light which gives life to all men.
“ I am the light” (John 8:12)
“In Him was life, and the life was the light of men.” (John 1:4)
“I, Jesus ... I am … the bright and morning star.” (Rev 22:16)
“To the one who is victorious ... I will also give the morning star [Jesus gives himself to us to partake of]” (Rev 2:26-28)
Christ’s followers shine like stars that reflect God's light through Christ:
“You are the light of the world.” (Matt 5:14)
“Until the day dawns and the morning star (Christ) rises in your hearts.” (2 Pet 1:19)
“Become blameless and pure ... shine like stars in the sky.” (Phil 2:15)
“Those who are wise shall shine like the brightness of the sky, and those who lead many to righteousness, like the stars forever and ever.” (Dan 12:3)
We are also enlightened when the veil (spiritual darkness) is taken away:
“The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints.” (Eph 1:18)
In SUMMARY
All seven stars (angels/messengers, messages, and revelations) are in Jesus’ right hand of authority. They encompass His full and complete messages signified as 7 seals, 7 trumpets, and 7 plagues.
These messages are carried primarily through Christ's messengers throughout the earth. He gave spiritual gifts to many to carry all His messages to the entire Body of Christ, building, guiding and perfecting them.
"If any man serve me, let him follow me; and where I am, there shall also my servant be: if any man serve me, him will my Father honour." (John 12:26)
"Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father." (John 14:12)
Seven signifies the fullness of Christ's bright messages in perfecting His Churches, exposing Babylon's deception and falsehood, and enlightening their "Eyes of understanding" leading them to life.
"I am come a light into the world, that whosoever believeth on me should not abide in darkness." (John 12:46 KJV)
True believers are the ones Jesus Christ uses to do His work in the world to advance the Kingdom of God and fill the earth with the "knowledge of God." There is no reason to believe that Jesus will use heavenly angels to do what He equipped and assigned us to accomplish!