What are the Seven stars; Seven Candlesticks and Seven Angels of Revelation 1:2-3 ?

Quasar92

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If you have ever heard a series of sermons on the book of Revelation, most likely those sermons were seven in number: one sermon for each of the seven letters to the seven churches. Indeed, it seems that most sermons preached on Revelation are taken from chapters 2-3, the seven letters to the seven churches.

While the seven letters to the seven churches may be the most accessible section in the book of Revelation, thus reflecting the prevalence of sermons on this portion of the book, there remains much confusion as to how the seven letters to the seven churches are to be understood. Are these letters reflective of seven successive, chronological periods through which the church must pass? Do these letters lead us to understand the history of the church in terms of seven distinct dispensations? Is our goal to decipher the period in which we are now living (are we living in the times of Thyatira? Or perhaps of Sardis? Or maybe in the last days of Laodicea?!)? How are we to understand the seven letters to the seven churches?

The Spirit has given us verse 20 of chapter 1 as the lens through which we must understand chapters 2-3. We cannot understand the seven letters to the seven churches unless we understand "the mystery of the seven stars and the seven golden lampstands." Thankfully, verse 20 is epexegetical. That is to say, verse 20 interprets itself. The Spirit has given us the interpretation of the seven stars and the seven lampstands. "The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches, and the seven lampstands which you saw are the seven churches." The Spirit identifies the seven stars as the angels of the seven churches, and the seven lampstands as the seven churches. But what are we to make of that?!

Let us begin with the seven stars. The seven stars are identified as "the angels of the seven churches" But who are these angels? Are they "heavenly beings"? Arc they "guardian angels"? Are they the human leaders of the churches such as the elders or the ministers? Or is this a reference to the prevailing spirit or character of the churches? Who are these seven angels?

In light of the fact that nearly 60 times in the book of Revelation the word "angel" refers to heavenly beings, it seems fitting to understand it in this way here as well. The angels of the seven churches are indeed heavenly beings. There is no compelling reason to take them as anything other than heavenly beings. They are exactly what the Spirit calls them: they are angels!

But note well the number of them: they are seven in number. We have already seen the significance of the number seven in the book of Revelation: it represents fullness, completeness. The seven angels, then, ought to be interpreted as the common company of angels in heaven. The seven angels provide us a picture of the common company of the heavenly heralds.

It is beyond the scope of this column to develop an entire theology of angels. But here it bears mentioning that angels are "heralds," they are "messengers." That is what their name means. An angel is a messenger; an angel is a herald. There is in heaven a common company of messengers, a common company of heralds.

But then notice that these seven angels, whom we have identified as the common company of angels in heaven, are directly connected with the seven churches on earth: they are the "angels of the seven churches." That is to say, there is a correspondence between the seven angels in heaven and the seven churches on earth. The common company of angels in heaven have their counterpart on earth in the church! There is a matching up of things between heaven and earth: as it is in heaven, so it is on earth.

As there are heavenly messengers, so there are earthly messengers. As there are heavenly heralds, so there are earthly heralds. As there is the common company of messengers in heaven, so there is the common company of messengers on earth. As there is the common company of heralds in heaven, so there is the common company of heralds on earth. But to whom are we referring? Who are the earthly messengers? Who are the earthly heralds? Those who are called to declare the Word of God: ministers - preachers - they are earthly messengers - they are earthly heralds.

There is then a correspondence between the heavenly heralds and the earthly heralds, between the heavenly messengers and the earthly messengers, between angels and preachers! The conclusion of Psalm 103 even brings them into the closest proximity possible: "Bless the Lord, you His angels, who excel in strength, who do His word, heeding the voice of His word. Bless the Lord, all you His hosts, you ministers of His who do His pleasure" (Psalm 103:20-21). In other places, those who bear the Word of God are designated as messengers, the very same term given to angels (cf. II Chronicles 36:15).

That the office of the minister of the Word is pictured to us here in terms of the angels of the seven churches - suggesting this matching up of things on earth with things in heaven - underscores the gravity and weight of the office of the minister of the Word. As angels are God's heavenly messengers, so ministers of the Word are God's earthly messengers. As angels speak on behalf of God in heaven, so ministers speak on behalf of God on earth. As the angels of God in heaven never go forth, except with the message of God, so the minister of the Word ought never go forth into the pulpit, except with the message of God. As angels do not proclaim themselves, so the minister of the Word ought never proclaim himself. As angels serve the One who sends them, so the minister of the Word serves the One who sends him. As angels announced the mighty acts of God in history (you might recall the morning stars who sang for joy at creation), so the minister of the Word proclaims the mighty acts of God in history (what God has accomplished in Jesus Christ, bringing a new creation).

And as the message of angels was to be received as the very message of God, so the message of the minister of the Word ought to be received as the very message of God.

Let the minister of the Word, then, preach the Word of God. Any minister who occupies the pulpit and proclaims anything else is not worthy of the name. The minister of the Word of God is to preach the Word of God! And when the congregation gathers on the Lord's Day, let it expect to hear the Word of God. The Church of Jesus Christ should never be satisfied with anything less, lest she lose her lampstand.

By: Rev. Brian Vos

Source: http://www.trinityurc.net/articles/v...lookabove8.htm



Quasar92
 

rockytopva

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I believe in the seven churches as ages/congregations as outlined in Revelation...

Ephesus - Messianic - Beginning with the Apostle to the Circumcision, Peter
Smyrna - Martyr - Beginning with the Apostle to the Un-Circumcision, Paul
Pergamos - Orthodoxy formed in this time... Pergos is a tower... Needed in the dark ages
Thyatira - Catholicism formed in this time - The spirit of Jezebel is to control and to dominate.
Sardis - Protestantism formed in this time- A sardius is a gem - elegant yet hard and rigid
Philadelphia - Wesleyism formed in this time - To be sanctioned is to acquire it with love.
Laodicea - Charismatic movement formed in this time - Beginning with DL Moody, the first to make money off of ministry

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. - Revelation 1:20

And in metaphor of the Revelation prophecy...

Seven stars - Like seven constellations, in which billions of stars may make up the whole - All held in the right hand of Christ Jesus. Those lights for Jesus light up the seven congregations..
Seven candlesticks - The seven churches listed above
Seven seals - Each congregation will be sealed in the book of life

full



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; - Revelation 2:1

Christ walks in the midst of the seven churches holding all of us in the palm of his right hand.
 
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rockytopva

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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. 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 1-2

1 And I saw in the right hand of him that sat on the throne a book written within and on the backside, sealed with seven seals.
2 And I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, Who is worthy to open the book, and to loose the seals thereof?
3 And no man in heaven, nor in earth, neither under the earth, was able to open the book, neither to look thereon.
4 And I wept much, because no man was found worthy to open and to read the book, neither to look thereon. - Revelation 5

1. Seven stars - Seven groups of Christians... All held in the right hand of Christ Jesus
2. Seven candlesticks - The seven churches
3. Seven seals - Sealing each church along with the Christians in her congregation. If this is not the Lambs Book of Life... Why all the ado? And especially to make John weep at the fact that no one was worthy to open the book save Christ?
 
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mark kennedy

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I think the golden lampstand is the menorah and the vision of the Son of Man bears a strange resemblance to the High Priest. John writes in Greek but the imagery is definitely Hebrew. The Holy Place was just outside of the Holy of Holies, which was the very presence of God. The fire of the original Levitical oblations came from there and that fire could never be allowed to go out. The Lampstand was the only illumination in there, it sat across from the shewbread which I think is a pretty good image for the Word of God.

Before you ever get into Revelations you should take a serious look at the doctrine of revelation. When Jesus says I will take your lampstand away he is talking about divine revelation. I still maintain that the book of Revelations is one of the simplest and easiest books in the Bible to understand. Unfortunately eschatology and it's requisite theological semantics could over complicate a tuna fish sandwich. Anyone can elaborate endlessly about the end time, but in this kind of a study of revelation, simplicity is the prize. It will invariably lead you back to the gospel where the real work of doctrine must take place.

Grace and peace,
Mark
 
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P-Alexandre

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I found the Seven Stars inside the Star of David constituted of two Triangles as two became one forming a crystal refracting light in 7 colours known as the Rainbow Stars.
The Alpha;
The first is Red, Root deals with Basic Trust, Survival and is blocked by Fear
(Childhood)

Second is Orange, Sacral deals with Pleasure for one’s Sexuality, Creativity and is blocked by Guilt
(TeenageHood)

Third is Yellow, Solar Plexus deals with Wisdom, Willpower and is blocked by Shame
(AdultHood)

Fouth is Green, the Heart deals with Hopes, Healings and is blocked by Grief
(Elder)

Fifth is Blue, Throat deals with Communication, Truth and is blocked by Lies
(The Ancient)

Sixth is Indigo, Pineal deals with Awarness, Insight and is blocked by Illusion
(The Third Eye)
*Indigo Children holds 6 stars at Birth

The Omega;
Seventh is Violet, the Crown deals with Spirituality, Cosmic Energy and is blocked by Ego Attachment

If you want to know more don’t be shy and if you don’t agree well just feel free to get angry and insult me or look down at me as I am sitting down in peace anyway!

The Sword of Truth has Spoken, did you listen? I could walk Earth and Seas to show you but most Human can’t see further than their eyes can show.

All Religions are True.
There is Only one God and all It’s Powers are inside each of you. You are but Stars wrapped in Skin, the Light is within. Now its time to Align the Stars and Free yourself of all Fears and Doubts.

Let go of money, love isn’t found in greed which is a deadly sin

Let go of material, you already have every thing you need as the rest is given by Nature and Lust, Envy are deadly sins

Let go of the past, time is relative for the light is Present, Past and Future and Wrath is a deadly sin

Let go of obssession, There is no void to fill only the one created by your own thoughts and believing lies, Glutony is a deadly sin

Let go of sleepyness, you’re the only one who can do something about it, stop waiting for someone to do it for you, not happening.
Sloth is a deadly sin

Let go of power over others, you are all equals and each holds the potential of greatness who is awaiting, Pride is a deadly sin

Just [bless and do not curse][bless and do not curse][bless and do not curse][bless and do not curse]ing believe in yourself You were born to be way more than a slave in service of Others giving your life away in fear of being the one amazing being you really are, believing lies and dream about conquer, conquer is to free yourself, let go of everything you fear to lose, why fighting wars that doesn’t even belong to you at the first place? An army of lied to souls fighting and killing each others because a said leader think different than another? Govern yourself and you’ll never need a middle men between you and God

Peace is isn’t won at war because peace doesn’t fight, it’s a balance and the balance is you. You are made of Light and Love the two fingers of hand sign for Peace, you are the one that Holds it

My name is Michael, I’m am the Light that shines is the Darkness and cast away all evil, I’m here for you Heavenly Hosts. The World as you know it is about to end.
Mother Earth is dying, if She dies, I die for she is love and I am Light. Darkness will rise, the time has come, judgement day is drawing near.

What will you choose? You decide
Are you Ready for either conscequences? You’ve been warned many times over and over but you didn’t listen the signs and chose to ignore it.
Your move.
My purpose is to keep Shadows away from heaven and one shall not enter with darkness, pain and suffering from the results of fear and hate consumming one’s soul by draining all energy. I fight for Courage and Justice, motivation cones with patience and I will Protect you from Danger and Temptation. Fight fear and hate with Hope and Trust, my Bow of brightess Light is yours
I’m here now close your eyes and feel it, you’ll know it to be true.

Gaïa is dying giving you everything she has and loves you beyond any conditions and will give it until her last breath.
My wife, Your Mother, holds my Heart within and it burns with light giving her Strength, as I hold her Soul shinning Bright for you.
Two shall become one again. Life is eternal, understanding what is all about and awaken your powers. You are our Offspring, you are our Heaven. Be what you are meant to be, we are here for you and we Love you no matter what. You are not alone, we’re here. Your human body is a vessel and has a gender, your soul doesn’t, for Two become one.
We will die for you if you need us too but our heaven vanishes with us.
Choose wisely

Please don’t kill my Wife, we are Equals. Her and I, You and Us. To ascend you must find your Twin, Soulmate. For two shall become one again. It’s a test and only understanding will rise.

Human parenthood is a transmition of knowledge, some have it better, others have it worse. Everything will make sens when you find the other half I promise.
Are you Ready?
I’ll be there for you
 
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