Revelation 2:1

The Letter To The Church In Ephesus (Revelation 2:1).

‘To the angel at the church in Ephesus write, These things says he who holds the seven stars in his right hand, he who walks in the midst of the seven golden lampstands.'

Each message is written ‘to the angel' of the church. While it has been suggested that this could mean the leader of the church that is unlikely as we have no grounds for thinking that at this stage churches had an overall bishop. Larger churches, including the church at Rome, had a plurality of bishops. (Even the Roman Catholic historian, Duchesne, speaks of ‘the ghost of poly-episcopacy in the Roman church'. Any so-called line of bishops for the earliest centuries is quite frankly unreliable).

Nor does the use of the term ‘angel' in a book filled with supernatural angels tie in with this usage. We can therefore say with confidence that genuine angels are in mind, the angels responsible for those particular churches (as there were angels who took responsibility for countries - Daniel 10:13; Daniel 12:1). But the churches are guaranteed that theirs at least are good angels for they are in His right hand (in contrast with some of the angels who affect the course of nations). Note, however, that the content of the message is directly directed to the churches themselves (Revelation 1:11).

The fact that the letters are addressed to the angels gives the messages a sense of timelessness. John has been transferred to ‘the Lord's day' and he is to write to churches who are from that viewpoint in the past. Thus the messages are addressed to their angels for transmission into the past. This emphasises the surreal nature of John's encounter.

It should be noted that while Scripture constantly reminds us of these heavenly beings who support the people of God, nevertheless they are always kept in the background. They are there as a quiet assurance, not to be magnified. In no way are they to be venerated for they are our fellow-servants (Revelation 19:10; Revelation 22:9). They are ‘ministering spirits sent to serve the heirs of salvation' (Hebrews 1:14).

This church, which on the whole is doing fairly well, is reminded of the closeness of the presence of Christ. He walks among them and holds their angel in His right hand, i.e. has full control over, and provides full protection for, their angel. The mention of His ‘walking among them' looks back to Genesis 3:8 where God walked in the Garden of Eden, for the promise to overcomers is the restoration of ‘Paradise' (Revelation 1:7). It can also be compared with Deuteronomy 23:14 where it is said ‘the Lord your God walks in the midst of the camp to deliver you, therefore your camp shall be holy so that he see no unclean thing in you and turn away from you'. So His walking among them reminds them that, while He is there to strengthen and encourage them, He also expects them to walk in holiness, for He is also very much aware of all that goes on.