7 Church Angels????

A very good question Lacy, and I have heard various answers. There are those (Ray Steadman, etc.) who see these as literal angels. If so, this would be something rather unique, in that, a message previously, if angels were involved, was: from God, to angel, to man.
But this would be: from God, to man, to angel, to man. Unprecedented, but not impossible.
It is worthwhile to look at the Greek word there, and, not being a Greek scholar, I rely on Strong's definitions:
aggelos (ang'-el-os)
a messenger, envoy, one who is sent, an angel, a messenger.
This pretty well leaves it open. So, I can only give my humble opinion: I don't feel that John would be writing to literal angels, so this must be to a significant person in each Church.
Note that, at a different time, John himself would no doubt have been the significant person at Ephesus.

 

I agree with watchman on the fact that it would be odd to sent written words from a man to an angel. As for the second theory, there is no internal eviddence to support this ( I think this one is the hardest to prove). A single person speaking or teaching in a locakl church does not dismiss plurality of elders. Notice that there is a differance in the duties even in this plurality ( see I tim. 5:17, this verse would imply that not all elders were speackers.)

While all are possibilities, I favor Pastor, or at the least, the main speaker or preacher of the churches.

 

Yes Lacy, I've always felt that way throughout all of these recent threads. I feel that there is a balance between a central leader, and co leaders that scripture provides a model for. Even in the picture of the Tri-unity of the Godhead they are compleatly God, each one, yet they take on different roles and even submit to each other in function. As I've said, there is a possibility that the scripture provides both Pastor and plurality of Elders. They do not contradict each other.

 

I agree with pastorjeff's comments. There appears to be an underlying theme of situational leadership that supports the primary or "head" elder premise.

 

It appears to me to be the Pastors who are being addressed.
The messages all use personal pronouns in the instructions for each church.
I will take just one as an illustration.
Rev 2:1-6
thy works
thy labour
thy patience
thou canst not bear them
thou hast tried them
hast found them to be liars
hast bourne
hast patience
hast laboured and hast not fainted
somewhat against thee
thou hast left thy first love
thou art fallen
repent
do the first works
come unto thee
remove thy candlestick
except thou repent
thou hatest the deeds of the Nicolaitanes

Each of the messages to the churches are in the first person.
I believe God is both encouraging and rebuking the pastors for their leadership of the churches. Or lack of leadership.
I don't think it is that hard to prove at all that in this case "the angel of" is definitely the Pastor.
Any reason why not?
In His service;
Jim

 

Paul addresses and instructs "the elders" of Ephesus. Given that the New Testament faithfully uses the terms Bishop, Elder, Overseer, etc, in other places, it seems to me that if "Pastors" were the intended target of the messages in Rev. 2& 3, the Holy Spirit would have seen fit to either use a common word (pstor, elder, bishop) or establish (somewhere in scripture) a precedent for calling a pastor an angel.

lacy

Why do you say brother that there MUST be a precedent for this?
Do we not agree that if God says it one time then it is authoritative just because He said it?
Also; those references you speak of are all of Pauline origin. Since we know John to be a bit more, how shall we say, (mystical) than Paul would it not be within John's character to use "angel"?
In His service;
Jim

 

I see where this is going now.
Ok, care to expound? This is new to me. It has been my understanding that the Pastor is Undershepherd of the flock. We don't see more than one man leading a flock very often. He may use dogs to help him but often it is one man.
If indeed you see a plurality of men leading the flock then what happens to "tie-breakers"?
It appears there would be chaos. I am open to instruction here but right now it does not make sense.
In His service;
Jim

 

But IF plurality then what happens to the first person pronouns in this passage?
In His service;
Jim

 

Oh yeah. one more thing.
If 'angels', literally, then how can we explain things like "left thy first love"?
In His service;
Jim

 

Whats wrong with casting lots?

 

Lacy;
Makes sense to me...now.
I will have to look into it further.
I accessed the link you provided. Interesting and informative. Still, not convinced so will study a bit.
Signing out for now.
In His service;
Jim