^1:20 "As for the mystery of the seven stars which you saw in My right hand, and the seven golden lampstands; the seven stars are the angels of the seven churches, and the seven lampstands are the seven churches.

"As for the mystery of the seven stars which you saw in My right hand, and the seven golden lampstands; the seven stars are the angels of the seven churches, and the seven lampstands are the seven churches.

A mystery is something formerly held out of view but now is revealed or identified. John uses this term referring back to when the STARS and LAMPSTANDS were previously given in this chapter (Revelation 1:12 and Revelation 1:16). John also uses it in Revelation 10:7 as the mystery of God and in Revelation 17:7 with respect to the mystery of the woman and the beast. As with all "mysteries" of Revelation, they are explained either in Revelation itself or elsewhere in the Bible.

If a person takes this verse literally, it is implied that each church has an angel assigned to it. Some believe that this is the pastor or elder, but the verse says an angel, so an angel it must be. This is supported by Scripture which indicates that this concept was accepted by Paul and Peter. See 1 Corinthians 11:10, 1 Corinthians 4:9, Ephesians 3:10, 1 Timothy 3:16, 1 Timothy 5:21, and 1 Peter 1:12.