Revelation Chapter 1
Verse 20 (NIV) 
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20. The mystery of the seven stars that you saw in my right
hand and
of the seven golden lampstands is this: The seven stars are the angels
of
the seven churches, and the seven lampstands are the seven churches.
The mystery of the SEVEN STARS that you saw in my RIGHT
HAND
and
of the SEVEN GOLDEN LAMPSTANDS is this: 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 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 one 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 notion 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
.
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"Scripture taken from the The
Holy Bible, New International Version, Copyright ) 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by
permission of Zondervan Publishing House. All rights reserved.
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