Revelation 1:20Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

The way of those who belong to the Church extends throughout the whole world, because it possesses the firm tradition from the Apostles. It lets us see that all have one and the same faith.

For all receive one and the same God the Father. They believe in the same divine economy of the Incarnation of the Son of God, and know the same gift of the Spirit.

They keep the same commandments, maintain the same form and order of the Church, await the same coming of the Lord, and admit the same salvation of the whole man, that is, of soul and body.

The preaching of the Church is true and firm, since in her the one and same way of salvation is shown throughout the whole world.

Since Christ is the true light (Jn 1:9), those enriched by His illumination are like a lampstand enlightening the darkness of the present life.

Properly speaking, the churches are called lampstands because they possess luminaries. According to the Apostle, these contain within themselves the word of life (Phil 2:15-16).

The lampstands and candlesticks are golden because of the honor and purity of their faith.

The Lord says that each of them has a guardian angel standing before it (Mt 18:10).

Gregory the Theologian, understanding the present chapter, says that the churches are called stars figuratively, because of their purity and brightness.

The stars in God's right hand are the souls of the saints, or the whole assembly of the faithful, who have existed and will exist until the end of the world.

Likewise, we have said that the seven lampstands are the one true Church, created during the seven days of the world, strengthened by triune faith, and established by the sacred action of the heavenly mystery.

John himself, the beloved disciple and bosom friend of the Lord Jesus, saw Him clothed in dread majesty and fell in fear at His feet. So unbearable it is for mortal nature to recognize the immortal God in glory.

The same happened to many ancient prophets when God appeared to them.

To strengthen the weak mortal for the work before him, this mighty Man laid His hand upon him and told him not to fear, for He knew him.

As One who lived and died, He is man. As One who lives unto the ages of ages, He is God: Jesus Christ, the God-man, who by His death trampled down death and therefore holds the keys of Hades and death.

“The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches.” These are not angels in the proper sense, since almost all of them are rebuked for the loss of love and of former purity.

They are called to repentance and correction, which can in no way be said of angels. Nor are they personifications of the spirit of the churches, because it would be impossible and useless to address admonitions and demands to them.

It is best and most natural, in agreement with all the ancient fathers of the Church and the best interpreters of the Apocalypse, to understand here the bishops, as presidents and representatives of the churches.

By the angels of the churches no one can be understood except the bishops. Therefore it is said further: "To the angel of the church of Ephesus write: you have endured much; you have fallen; repent" (Rev 2:1-5), and so forth.

All this cannot be applied to the blessed spirits properly called angels. It applies only to the human presidents of the churches, or bishops.

The existence of such presidents in the apostolic age completely refutes the heretical teaching about the universal equality of the members of the Church.

In conclusion, it must be added that the majestic image of the "Son of Man" appeared to John in the midst of the seven lampstands (Rev 1:13), with this explanation: "the seven lampstands which you saw are the seven churches" (Rev 1:20).

To them the inspired seer of mysteries was immediately commanded to write corresponding epistles, with praises and instructions, but also with rebukes and threats.

By the image of lampstands, recalling the ancient lampstand of God's tabernacle, it is made clear that each local church is a division or branch of the universal Church.

It spreads around itself the light of the knowledge and worship of God amid the impiety and sinful darkness of this world.

Then the Lord gives him the command to write down what he has just seen, that is, the appearance of Christ.

He is also to write what Christ will then say concerning the state of the Church in John’s own time. Finally, he is to write what will be shown to him concerning the future destiny of the Church.

But before writing the epistles to the seven churches, John must learn that the seven lampstands he has just seen signify the seven churches.

The seven stars signify the seven pastors or presidents of the churches. They are compared with stars, of course, because in antiquity stars served as guides for travelers in general, and for sailors especially.

The churches are called lampstands because they bear within themselves the light of Christ and scatter it in the world covered with darkness.

What are the angels of the seven churches? They are the bishops, the representatives of those churches. This is clear from the words Saint John addresses to them.

The lampstands in this vision signify the churches.