Revelation 1:20

20 The mystery of the seven stars which thou sawest in my right hand, and the seven golden candlesticks. The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches: and the seven candlesticks which thou sawest are the seven churches.

Jesus tells us that the seven stars that He totally controls with His right hand are seven angels of the seven churches (literally messengers). It appears that each church, church type or church age has a special angel empowered by God to carry out His will. Some say these messengers are pastors but nothing in the text would suggest that they are anything other than angels. Pastors or Church leaders are not ever described as stars in scripture but in several places, angels are implied when the word star or stars is used.

The verse clearly says that the seven candlesticks are the seven churches. Since Jesus is in the midst of the candlesticks in Revelation 1:13 it should be clear that Jesus is in the midst of His Church. In the next two Chapter s, John will write the words of Jesus to the seven churches, church types and church ages that are on earth during the Church age.