“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.” Commentary: Biblical scholars for the most part in commentaries over hundreds of years believe the seven angels are the seven pastors of the seven churches in Asia Minor! The Greek word “angel” can be translated Pastor! The Apostle John imprisoned in a slave labor camp by the Romans on Patmos was given this vision for those churches to communicate to them his will, direction, correction and encouragement to the Body of Christ! Jesus does not name these pastors or churches because Caesar would arrest and imprison them! His letter had to be coded so that the churches would be protected! God by his spirit communicates with those he loves in visions and dreams so that our enemies are confounded! These messages are also to those congregations! Church leaders are very important to God! Whether leading small or large congregations! Pastors are the shepherds of the sheep! Not perfect and neither are we but appointed by God and anointed by God to build his kingdom down here on earth! I want to share a personal experience with you when back in 1983 we were commissioned as missionaries to India for 3 years by the world’s largest church located in Seoul Korea. The Pastor was Paul Yongi Cho and we spent 10 days there in Korea with him and his church which then was about 500 hundred thousand members and today over 1 million members! I was then really green behind the ears and we had our own idea’s how to do the work in India! However after spending about 15 minutes in his office everything changed! Cho told us our primary mission to India was to help local pastors across all denominational lines with our time, money, prayers, encouraging, correcting when necessary, preaching, evangelizing and coming under the authority of those pastors! Why? He told us the way Satan tries to destroy the church is to attack the head or pastors of those local churches! Cho understood the importance of God’s plan of the church to reach the entire world with the Gospel! No lone rangers in the Kingdom of God! Our mission today is still the same! Those who never come under authority God will never put in authority! James & Hamsa Sasse. IndiaJesusLovesYou.com
Tag: revelation1:20
Mystery Solved! Revelation 1:20
Comment: The word mystery translated from the Greek means a sacred spiritual mystery! Something that is hidden but to be revealed later. This is why a believer in Christ lives by faith! We do not see everything about our faith immediately but God reveals himself to us in steps as we progress in following him! The word angels used here simply means a messenger! Someone with a message! It could be Gabriel however this word angel in the Greek can also mean a Bishop, Pastor or a designated elder! The word churches means a congregation of believers following Christ. I believe the angels were the seven Pastor’s of the seven churches in Asia Minor (Turkey). This letter was for them! Some believe the Roman guards would have read John’s letters so he coded them so only the churches would understand what he was saying! When the Roman guards read these letters they probably thought John was crazy! I am sure the world today looks at us the same way! The foolishness of God is wiser than the wisdom of men! The reason the Romans released John from prison is probably because they thought he was not a threat to Caesar but just plain crazy! Remember the whole Book of Revelation is the unveiling or uncovering the mystery of Jesus Christ! Look for Jesus Christ as you read and study this Book! To those who have not received the Revelation of Jesus Christ this Book would look foolish yet to those who have received him it is the power of God! The stars and the candlesticks ultimately all point to Christ! There was a star over Bethlehem and Jesus is the light of the world! Let him light your path so you do not stumble in the darkness! James and Hamsa Sasse. GodWhoisGod.com