Revelation Chapter One, Seven Twice Over

Revelation 1:20 “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.

Our Lord gives John an explanation as to what the nature of the stars and lampstands are, so as not to leave the apostle (or us) in the dark. Christ is expositing His own word so that we may clearly understand the symbolism being invoked. And to be transparent, yes, symbolism is used in Revelation.

But that is not to say that Revelation is a book of pure allegory, malleable to the whims of the interpreter. Eisegesis is the act of reading into Scripture our own biases, rather than permitting the text to speak for itself. Not alone as an isolated verse, but in the context of its chapter, book, and the general theme it addresses. We learn first that the seven stars are seven angels. In Job we read, “the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy,” Job 38:7. The morning stars and sons of God are one and the same, having witnessed God creating the earth and singing His praises. We also know from Job that the sons of God are angels, since this language is employed to describe both holy and fallen angels right from the beginning of Job’s book, Job 1:6.

The Greek term for angel is, “aggelos,” and is a derivative of the word, “agello,” which means to bring tidings. The term means a messenger, especially an angel.

We find this in Luke, almost defined by the angel himself, when we read, “Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people,” Luke 2:10. The writer of Hebrews says of angels, “[God] makes His angels spirits and His ministers a flame of fire,” Hebrews 1:7. There are more than a few incidents in both the Old and New Testaments of angels visiting people to bring them messages from the Lord. It would not be shocking that God would appoint an angel to a particular church body since they are, “ministering spirits sent forth to minister for those who will inherit salvation,” Hebrews 1:14. The Old Covenant was conducted through the ministry of angels, we are informed, Acts 7:53. It would not be remotely peculiar that God would have His holy angels involved with His church.

And yes, I believe that the term angel in this verse does not necessarily mean a human minister, but the angel charged with overseeing the church body God appointed them to. If the verse did convey the communication of God to a specific man in the church, this might be precedent (really the only precedent) for arguing a pastor rather than a body of elders humanly governing a church. But I strongly believe that the reason Jesus refers to them as stars, and then calls them angels is simply that: they are celestial beings, holy angels tasked with a guarding or custodial duty within a church body.

The lampstands are the seven Asiatic churches. Christ stands in the midst, the True Vine, providing the fuel for the flame each church keeps alight. Zechariah saw a similar vision. He witnessed a solid gold lampstand with two olive trees to either side. The olive trees were two anointed ones–or sons of oil–that stand beside the Lord of the whole earth, Zechariah 4:11-14. But when the prophet asked the angel what he was seeing, he was told, “Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,’ says the Lord of hosts,” Zechariah 4:6. The lampstand, the fire, the olive trees were raised up by God, in service to God, empowered by God. The angel used this message to embolden Zerubbabel and the people of his time to complete the temple, Zechariah 4:7. We may take away the wonderful truth that the lampstand, or the church’s light is from Christ the True Vine. When we abide in Him, and He in us, and only then, may we serve Him in a manner that is acceptable to God. The fire is like the temple flame; it is never meant to go out. We know, however, that it can, 1 Thessalonians 5:19, Revelation 2:5.

The lampstand is a symbol of God’s presence both with us and in us as members of His church. Jesus explained that the purpose of light is to shine so that men may see it, Matthew 5:14-16. We are the corporate witnesses of the Lord’s truth, messengers of the gospel and ambassadors of Christ, pleading with the lost to be reconciled to God. The lampstand does nothing but wait for its intended and express purpose; it is the flame atop it that casts light and attracts the lost. Is this your church? To stand fast and simply let Christ’s light shine through you to others? Has our church become polluted by worldly wisdom and political correctness? Do we preach the gospel that saves, or a feel-good, watered down gospel that addresses felt needs but ignores man’s spiritual condition? God willing, we will read on and see what Jesus our Lord says of the spiritual condition of the seven churches, and what might be done to salvage true spiritual worship acceptable to God from even the worst we might offer.