The Revelation of Jesus Christ - The Herald

congregation have its teachers--elders, bishops, or pastors. These, doubtless, were the ones
referred to as the "angels," messengers, symbolically called "stars," in the seven local
Churches in Asia Minor. It should be borne in mind that the Savior has never abdicated
His right, never given to another, the honor and responsibility of qualifying, placing, and
upholding any of His ministering ones. The only Apostolic succession taught in the
scriptures is that referred to by St. Paul in his Epistle to Timothy, "And the things that thou
hast heard of me, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others
also."
Recognizing that these seven assemblies represented all the assemblies existing at that
time, it is a most reasonable and Scriptural deduction then that the term "seven stars"
would represent in the complete sense all the pastors and teachers of the different
churches over the world at that time--those duly and Scripturally selected by the different
congregations under the Lord's direction, to fill the positions, and thus represent them.
These, like the assemblies themselves, would be more or less imperfect, but according to
their faithfulness would be upheld and used by Christ in ministering, serving their
respective congregations. The responsibilities of these pastors would be first to Christ; and
their services and influence would be as far reaching as the Lord in His providence might
see best to make them.
Concerning the messengers to whom the messages were addressed, Mr. Barnes has very
truthfully urged:
"This does not refer to them as a collective or associated body, for the addresses are made
to them as individuals--an epistle being directed to 'the angel' of each particular Church.
(Chap. 2:1,12.) The evident meaning, however, is that what was recorded should be
directed to them, not as pertaining to them exclusively as individuals, but as presiding
over, or representing the Churches, for what is recorded pertains to the Churches, and was
evidently designed to be laid before them. . . . There has been much diversity of opinion in
regard to the meaning of the word angels here. By the advocates of Episcopacy, it has been
argued that the use of this term proves that there was a presiding bishop over a circle or
group of churches in Ephesus, in Smyrna, etc. . . .
"It cannot be proved that the reference is to a prelatical bishop presiding over a group or
circle of churches, called a diocese, for there is nothing in the word angel, as used in this
connection, which would be peculiarly applicable to such a personage--it being as
applicable to a pastor of a single church as to a bishop of many churches. There is no
evidence that there were any such groups of churches then as constitute an episcopal
diocese. The use of the word 'church' in the singular, as applied to Ephesus, Smyrna, etc.,
rather implies that there was but a single church in each of those cities. Compare chapter
2:1,8,12,18; see also similar language in regard to the Church in Corinth, 1 Cor. 1:1,2. . . .
"If it does not refer to a prelatical bishop, then it follows that it must refer to some one who
presided over the church as its pastor, and through whom a message might be properly
sent to the church. Thus understood, the pastor or 'angel' would be regarded as the