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NASB | Revelation 2:1 "To the angel of the church in Ephesus write: ¶ The One who holds the seven stars in His right hand, the One who walks among the seven golden lampstands, says this: |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | Revelation 2:1 "To the angel (divine messenger) of the church in Ephesus write: "These are the words of the One who holds [firmly] the seven stars [which are the angels or messengers of the seven churches] in His right hand, the One who walks among the seven golden lampstands (the seven churches): |
Bible Question: Are the angels of the seven churches in Rev.2 pastors, or are they just symbolic messengers? |
Bible Answer: My understanding is that the "angels" who are associated with the seven congregations of Asia Minor are actually pastors. This interpretation is based on the Greek word angelos which is better translated as "messager," not angel. It was the congregational leader's responsibility to correct people and address trends in their flock, but not the normal role of winged heavenly messagers. Therefore, Yeshua (Jesus) directs John to write instructions to leaders of seven specific assemblies. The warning John passes on to the Messager of Ephesus is that if the congregation doesn't "return to their first love," that is, Yeshua, then He will "remove their lampstand," Rev. 2:5. I understand this to mean that their light as a witnessing community would be extinguished if they didn't correct the prevailing trend within their group. Tough love from John! According to Eusebius' Ecclesiastical History (written about 200 CE), John lived in Ephesus before and after writing Revelations from Patmos. So John had a personal connection to the congregation, pastor, and populace of Ephesus. He had a vested interest in the Ephesians actively revealing Yeshua's love to the community. It was important that this message be given to the Messager of Ephesus -- the pastor, not an angel -- so the congregational leader could act on it. Evidence of John's pre-occupation with the Yeshua's command to love one another is seen in the recurrence of this theme in the Johannine Epistles. And according to Eusebius, when John later returned to Ephesus, he continued to emphasize how vital it was that this congregation continue to show Messiah's self-sacrificing love in action. |