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Featured Stars are angels

Discussion in 'Baptist Theology & Bible Study' started by rlvaughn, Sep 3, 2019.

  1. rlvaughn

    rlvaughn Well-Known Member
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    I don't have to read your mind, just your posts in this thread.
     
  2. agedman

    agedman Well-Known Member
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    Is it not fair to hold that if God says something then it is true?

    At any other place in Scriptures is it found that pastor/elder are referred to as angel(s)?

    Some might think it odd that God would have John write to an angel rather than telling them Himself. It is as if John was subservient to angels.

    Yet, does not Scripture teach believers are to judge angels?

    It does ever amazes how some would construct an intellectual presentation of which resembles little in comparison to what is actually stated. Typically this is done when one is confronted with Scriptures that don’t fit the limited human rationale, and in seeking human acceptance and meaning are obliged to be remolded into that palatable.
     
  3. canadyjd

    canadyjd Well-Known Member

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    8
    Again, how does John write a letter to angels in heaven? By what method does he deliver such a message? If the letter goes to these churches, do you suppose the angels are sitting around waiting to read a letter from John to get instructions from Jesus?

    Does church history record the letters went the church leadership, or to angels?

    Peace to you
     
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  4. rlvaughn

    rlvaughn Well-Known Member
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    First, I don't think we have to suppose the angels were in heaven, do we. For example, the angel in Revelation 1:1 was sent to John from heaven to Patmos. We know the angels were/are messengers God sends to minister to the heirs of salvation. There are all kinds of miraculous and wondrous things in the Bible I can't explain. If I become satisfied that I understand what God said about, then I don't worry whether I can explain it all.
     
  5. rlvaughn

    rlvaughn Well-Known Member
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    When I read the following quote by someone named Andrew Wilson, I thought about your statement above. :)
     
  6. loDebar

    loDebar Well-Known Member

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    All angels are not mess angers but the ones designated to minister to the sinful.
    Heb 1:14 Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation?

    Other verses do have "morning stars" or "first lights in heaven" as unfallen angels Job 38:7

    Job 38:7 When the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy?

    the sons of God are the fallen angels

    so it makes since there are angels designated to the churches as well as hopefully obedient ministers who are also messanger to the congregations
     
  7. rlvaughn

    rlvaughn Well-Known Member
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    RevMitchell mentioned about two options. Here are four different views I had read people posit as the interpretation of the angels in Revelation 1-3.
    • The angels are heavenly spirit beings, what we most commonly think of when we hear the word angels.
    • The angels are envoys sent from the churches to John, during the time he was exiled on the Isle of Patmos.
    • The angels are those who audibly read the message to the churches.
    • The angels are the pastors/elders of the churches.
    In the view of some, the latter two are different, but with many others they are the same.
     
  8. canadyjd

    canadyjd Well-Known Member

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    Were the letters delivered to spirit beings (angels) at these churches, or were they delivered to the human leaders in those churches? Did John disobey God by delivering these letters to people instead of angels?

    Peace to you.
     
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  9. rlvaughn

    rlvaughn Well-Known Member
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    Brother, it seems to me that you are looking for something totally outside the text and our knowledge to satisfy yourself that something can't be a certain way.
     
  10. loDebar

    loDebar Well-Known Member

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    "unto the angel........ write"
    He did as he was told..

    He also saw things things outside of time

    Rev 1:19
    Write the things which thou hast seen, and the things which are, and the things which shall be hereafter;
     
  11. canadyjd

    canadyjd Well-Known Member

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    Ok. We can disagree brother. No problem

    Peace to you
     
  12. canadyjd

    canadyjd Well-Known Member

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    Thanks for the conversation.

    Peace to you
     
  13. rlvaughn

    rlvaughn Well-Known Member
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    Certainly, it is no problem to me. This question is an intriguing one, but doesn't make or break fellowship with anyone, at least on my part. As far as my reply to you, I was just wondering and investigating what might be behind your questions.
     
    #33 rlvaughn, Sep 4, 2019
    Last edited: Sep 4, 2019
  14. Reynolds

    Reynolds Well-Known Member
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    The word is aggelos. It is translated angel roughly 80 times and messenger about 15 times. Which is it here? Context would suggest messenger / pastor. We can't dogmatically prove which it should be.
     
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  15. canadyjd

    canadyjd Well-Known Member

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    I am interested in understanding scripture in the context it was written. I generally believe that the more I learn the more I realize how little I know. I'm always willing to be convinced that I've misunderstood a passage.

    In this case, it seems logical to me to understand the angels of these churches to be the leadership/pastor.

    Thanks for the conversation.

    Peace to you
     
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  16. David Kent

    David Kent Well-Known Member
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    The book of revelation is a symbolic book. Other scriptures are not symbolic, The stars are a symbol of Angels. In other scriptures stars represent people, so it is in keeping with scriptutre that the stars/angels represent leaders of the church.

    The candlesticks represent churches, so we can tell from that that the two witnesses in Rev 11 who are also described as candlesticks and olive trees are witnessing Churches in the dark ages.
     
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  17. loDebar

    loDebar Well-Known Member

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    where do stars represent people?
     
  18. agedman

    agedman Well-Known Member
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    When did the Scriptures state stars representing people?

    When was the Scriptures stating the candlesticks were the actual churches?

    Certainly there is symbolism in the Revelation, the same as nearly all the books of the Bible.

    For example the tabernacle was both real and symbolic.

    The high priest was both symbolic and real, too.

    Do not dismiss the real when it is also symbolic.

    One does not dismiss the other.

    The two witnesses are not symbolic in the Revelation, but in fact two actual people who will attend and trouble the whole world.

    How is it that the whole world rejoices, even gives presents to each other at the death of these two? Then how is it that three days later those same two are raised, and caught up into heaven?

    Perhaps your post is showing how sometimes one can become so wrapped up in the symbolic that all becomes symbolic and nothing is real.

    I take things exactly the opposite when it comes to the Revelation. That is I start from the premise that the events, the things presented are real. They may only be taken as symbolic if such is stated they are to be taken as such.

    For example, the following passage has key words highlighted to indicate when to take something symbolic:
    7The first angel blew his trumpet, and there followed hail and fire, mixed with blood, and these were thrown upon the earth. And a third of the earth was burned up, and a third of the trees were burned up, and all green grass was burned up.

    8The second angel blew his trumpet, and something like a great mountain, burning with fire, was thrown into the sea, and a third of the sea became blood. 9A third of the living creatures in the sea died, and a third of the ships were destroyed.

    10The third angel blew his trumpet, and a great star fell from heaven, blazing like a torch, and it fell on a third of the rivers and on the springs of water. 11The name of the star is Wormwood.b A third of the waters became wormwood, and many people died from the water, because it had been made bitter.

    12The fourth angel blew his trumpet, and a third of the sun was struck, and a third of the moon, and a third of the stars, so that a third of their light might be darkened, and a third of the day might be kept from shining, and likewise a third of the night.
    Each of these events will be factually seen and witnessed as reality. The only one of them that is given in sense of symbolic is that in verse 8.
     
    #38 agedman, Sep 4, 2019
    Last edited: Sep 4, 2019
  19. Alan Gross

    Alan Gross Well-Known Member

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    Does anybody know what a church is?
     
  20. David Kent

    David Kent Well-Known Member
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