The Seven Stars of Revelation

"The mystery of the seven stars which thou sawest in my right hand, and the seven golden candlesticks. The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches: and the seven candlesticks which thou sawest are the seven churches." (Rev 1:20)

What or who are these stars described as being in Jesus' hand? Revelation 1 identifies them as angels.They are clearly identified with the angels of the seven churches but are those angels actually angelic beings? An examination of the original words translated as "angels" shows that they can have the more general meaning of "messenger" and be used in reference to beings other than angels. Here is the verse following the one quoted above:

"Unto the angel of the church of Ephesus write; These things saith he that holdeth the seven stars in his right hand, who walketh in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks;" (Rev 2:1)

John is here being told to write a message to "the angel." It seems very unlikely that God would send messages to angels via a human (Can you imagine: "John, please write a memo for me to this angel.") No, it is the other way around; in Revelation 1:1 an angel gives the message to John. Also, the "angels" of the churches are included in the rebukes given to many of the churches.

"Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love." (Rev 1:4)

The stars cannot be literal angelic beings - the message to Ephesus is not directed to a literal angel. A careful examination of Revelation 1:1-3 shows the order of communication of the revelation:

The stars of the seven churches are not symbols of angels as in angelic beings but angels as in the other common use of the word - messengers. We could think of "stars" here as representing the leaders or elders of the churches. Such are mentioned for various churches including Ephesus:

"And from Miletus he sent to Ephesus, and called the elders of the church." (Acts 20:17)

It is not too much to believe that John would be asked to write letters to the elders of the churches of Asia Minor of which he was actually the pastor to give them counsel.

"Unto the angel of the church of Ephesus write; These things saith he that holdeth the seven stars in his right hand, who walketh in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks;" (Rev 2:1)