“He had in His right hand seven stars, out of His mouth went a sharp two-edged sword, and His countenance was like the sun shining in its strength“
He had in His right hand seven stars
Jesus held “seven stars” in His right hand. These “stars” are seven messengers (1:20). These messengers were probably the pastors of the seven churches. A star is a large body of light. Light declares and exposes. Light defines the object.
Preachers should show the light of God on their people. That light is the glory of God. Preachers are reflectors of the glory of God. Jesus contains the glory, and the preacher reflects the glory. In legalism, we produce glory; in grace, we reflect the glory of God.
Jesus held these seven pastors in His right hand. Evidently, Jesus was right-handed. That was the hand of His strength. These pastors were in good hands. Jesus holds preachers in His right hand. The right hand is the hand of sovereign control. He has responsibility for pastors. If pastors get out of line, Jesus will discipline them with double discipline, for they have double accountability.
out of His mouth went a sharp two-edged sword
The “sharp two-edged sword” was the Roman sword (Ephesians 6:17). The sword was the principal offensive weapon of the Roman Empire. It was a short sword for close fighting. Here it refers to the penetrating power of the Word of God. Jesus is now a man of war. He fights His war with words, for this sword comes out of His mouth.
“For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two- edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart” (Hebrews 4:12)
“Now out of His mouth goes a sharp sword, that with it He should strike the nations. And He Himself will rule them with a rod of iron. He Himself treads the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God” (Revelation 19:15).
The sword is the Word of God. Jesus speaks the Word of God, for He is the Word of God (John 1:1).
and His countenance was like the sun shining in its strength
No one knows what Jesus looked like. Artists have placed their imaginations of Jesus face in our minds, but none of them knew what He looked like. Jesus’ face will shine like the sun. His appearance will carry majesty and splendor.
“For it is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ” (2 Corinthians 4:6).
God’s glory shines through the face of Jesus.
The Bible promises that we will see His face.
“They shall see His face, and His name shall be on their foreheads” (Revelation 22:4).
Principle:
The responsibility of every preacher of God is to communicate God’s Word.
Application:
The essence of a pastor’s role is not to be an administrator, a money raiser, or a promoter, but a communicator of God’s Word. Pastors must study and preach.
The pastor is a “star,” not a doormat on which people wipe their feet. I do not think that we should carry the idea of a pastor being a “star” too far. At least, we must respect pastors as communicators of truth.
Hi Grant,
I like your insight, on quote, "These messengers were probably the pastors"
I do not know your stand or opinion on Ephesians 4:11 – 12, I would think the onus of responsibility would be on the entire 5 fold ministries ( apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers ) and also including EVERY child purchased by Grace through faith in the Blood of Christ, to make sure WE ALL are responsible. Many times when a child is misled, the normal circumstance is to put the sole blame on the preacher ( because of the lack of discernment on every believer who should be like a Berean who search the scriptures like during the time of Paul to make sure they are in line with scriptures )
This was just my opinion – I do not need to intend to add anything to your commentary but just sharing my thoughts as a brother in the Lord.
Nicholas
Grant
I would like to know your basis for the pastors being the stars or angels as described in 1:20. To my knowledge angels are spirits of God and some angels went with the bad angel satan. I can not imagine my pastor as an angel or spirit on any day. I do not understand. thank you
Grant, I’m sorry sometimes my thoughts don’t quite process well. Could these seven stars also be the seven spirits from 1:4 who are before his throne? Not the seven attributes of THE holy spirit? God’s angels, whom are spirits, are to do whatever God wants/needs them to do. Each of the seven churches having their own angel/spirit “assigned” to them? All this for God’s purpose and His glory. I am still having a problem with the pastor-angel statement. However it is definitely possible that those pastors of the early churches were in actuality God’s angels.
I apologize for my lack of education and my looong question, but I love The Bible. This my first attempt to
understand the book Revelation. Thank you again.
Gregg, the Greek word "angel" is literally messenger. The so-called angels of the churches of Revelation cannot be angels unless they are fallen angels because the Lord corrects the messengers or pastors for their churches going astray.
The Greek word “angel” is Angelos, not poimen, isn’t it? I am confused. Angels not pastors.
Ryan, As I indicated in response to another question the Greek word translated “angel” can mean what most people think of as angels, and it can also mean MESSENGER. Note its usage to the church pastors of chapters 2 & 3. Note this Lexicon’s usage of ἄγγελος:
ἄγγελος, ου, ὁ (Hom.+)
‘messenger’.
① a human messenger serving as an envoy, an envoy, one who is sent
ⓐ by humans (Hom.+; ins, pap; Gen 32:4, 7; Jdth 1:11; 3:1; 1 Macc 1:44; 7:10; Jos., Ant. 14, 451, Vi. 89):
• in his earthly ministry Jesus ἀπέστειλεν ἀγγέλους (Diod S 2,18,1 the king of India to Semiramis; 4, 65, 4) Lk 9:52;
• of John the Baptist’s disciples 7:24;
• of Joshua’s scouts Js 2:25 (cp. Josh 7:22).
ⓑ by God (prophets Hg 1:13; Mal subscr.; a priest Mal 2:7.—1 Esdr 1:48f. S. also Theognis 1, 769, where the poet is Μουσέων ἄγγελος; Epict. 3, 22, 23; 38; Ael. Aristid. 37 K.=1 p. 15 D.; Maximus Tyr. 11, 9c Plato, as the one who brings us information about God, is called ὁ ἐξ Ἀκαδημίας ἄγγ.; Oenomaus in Eus., PE 5, 20, 3; 5 Carnus the soothsayer is ἄγγ. of the gods) of John the Baptist as forerunner Mt 11:10; Mk 1:2; Lk 7:27 (all Mal 3:1; cp. Ex 23:20).
Arndt, W., Danker, F. W., Bauer, W., & Gingrich, F. W. (2000). In A Greek-English lexicon of the New Testament and other early Christian literature (3rd ed., p. 8). University of Chicago Press.:
ἄγγελος, ου, ὁ (Hom.+)
‘messenger’.
① a human messenger serving as an envoy, an envoy, one who is sent
ⓐ by humans (Hom.+; ins, pap; Gen 32:4, 7; Jdth 1:11; 3:1; 1 Macc 1:44; 7:10; Jos., Ant. 14, 451, Vi. 89):
• in his earthly ministry Jesus ἀπέστειλεν ἀγγέλους (Diod S 2,18,1 the king of India to Semiramis; 4, 65, 4) Lk 9:52;
• of John the Baptist’s disciples 7:24;
• of Joshua’s scouts Js 2:25 (cp. Josh 7:22).
ⓑ by God (prophets Hg 1:13; Mal subscr.; a priest Mal 2:7.—1 Esdr 1:48f. S. also Theognis 1, 769, where the poet is Μουσέων ἄγγελος; Epict. 3, 22, 23; 38; Ael. Aristid. 37 K.=1 p. 15 D.; Maximus Tyr. 11, 9c Plato, as the one who brings us information about God, is called ὁ ἐξ Ἀκαδημίας ἄγγ.; Oenomaus in Eus., PE 5, 20, 3; 5 Carnus the soothsayer is ἄγγ. of the gods) of John the Baptist as forerunner Mt 11:10; Mk 1:2; Lk 7:27 (all Mal 3:1; cp. Ex 23:20).
Arndt, W., Danker, F. W., Bauer, W., & Gingrich, F. W. (2000). In A Greek-English lexicon of the New Testament and other early Christian literature (3rd ed., p. 8). University of Chicago Press.:
ἄγγελος, ου, ὁ (Hom.+)
‘messenger’.
① a human messenger serving as an envoy, an envoy, one who is sent
ⓐ by humans (Hom.+; ins, pap; Gen 32:4, 7; Jdth 1:11; 3:1; 1 Macc 1:44; 7:10; Jos., Ant. 14, 451, Vi. 89):
• in his earthly ministry Jesus ἀπέστειλεν ἀγγέλους (Diod S 2,18,1 the king of India to Semiramis; 4, 65, 4) Lk 9:52;
• of John the Baptist’s disciples 7:24;
• of Joshua’s scouts Js 2:25 (cp. Josh 7:22).
ⓑ by God (prophets Hg 1:13; Mal subscr.; a priest Mal 2:7.—1 Esdr 1:48f. S. also Theognis 1, 769, where the poet is Μουσέων ἄγγελος; Epict. 3, 22, 23; 38; Ael. Aristid. 37 K.=1 p. 15 D.; Maximus Tyr. 11, 9c Plato, as the one who brings us information about God, is called ὁ ἐξ Ἀκαδημίας ἄγγ.; Oenomaus in Eus., PE 5, 20, 3; 5 Carnus the soothsayer is ἄγγ. of the gods) of John the Baptist as forerunner Mt 11:10; Mk 1:2; Lk 7:27 (all Mal 3:1; cp. Ex 23:20).
Arndt, W., Danker, F. W., Bauer, W., & Gingrich, F. W. (2000). In A Greek-English lexicon of the New Testament and other early Christian literature (3rd ed., p. 8). University of Chicago Press.