“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 [in the Roman province of Asia], and the seven lampstands which you saw are the seven churches.” Revelation 1: 20

Through the Holy Spirit, the apostle John sees Jesus in a vision. The above passage is Jesus’ explanation of what the apostle is witnessing. The meaning of the seven lampstands is clear, but not so with the seven stars called angels.

The Greek word behind angels is angelos, which simply means messenger. In the Bible, angelos is usually applied to angels, the celestial messengers from God. However, the word has also been applied to people who were messengers of God’s Word. For example, angelos is the word behind John the Baptist being called a messenger (Matthew 11: 10). As a result, some interpret Revelation 1: 20’s angels as literal, celestial beings. Others interpret the angels as human beings.

I agree with the latter group. Here’s why. Over the next two chapters, Jesus tells John to write a different letter to each of the angels. In turn, the letters’ messages are to be read to the churches’ congregations.

Would a letter actually be written to a celestial being? Would the letter be read to the assembly by a celestial being? I think not.

It seems reasonable and practical that the letters were addressed to the leaders of each church. Church leaders are human leaders: bishop, elder, or pastor. Under any and all circumstances, these people are regarded as messengers of God.