Who are the Seven Stars?

 

Read RH, May 26, 1903

     The leaven of truth needs to be introduced into society. The means of God's people should be used to carry forward his work in new fields. But many have selfishly grasped for themselves all the means they dared, and have coveted more. Grave evils have sapped the life and zeal and virtue of the church. Let us change quickly, or he who holds the seven stars in his right hand, who walks in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks, will say to us, as he said to the church of Ephesus, "I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love. Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place." The work that God desires to see done by Seventh-day Adventists is not done. Unless there is a decided change, the people will accept as truth that which is not truth.—RH, May 26, 1903 par. 13

AA:578.1 - 592.3

     The church was defective and in need of stern reproof and chastisement, and John was inspired to record messages of warning and reproof and entreaty to those who, losing sight of the fundamental principles of the gospel, should imperil their hope of salvation. But always the words of rebuke that God finds it necessary to send are spoken in tender love and with the promise of peace to every penitent believer. "Behold, I stand at the door, and knock," the Lord declares; "if any man hear My voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with Me." Revelation 3:20.—AA:587.2

"Chap. 1 - Called With a Holy Calling

                In Christ's Stead

     In every period of this earth's history, God has had His men of opportunity, to whom He has said, "Ye are My witnesses." In every age there have been devout men, who gathered up the rays of light as they flashed upon their pathway, and who spoke to the people the words of God. Enoch, Noah, Moses, Daniel, and the long roll of patriarchs and prophets,—these were ministers of righteousness. They were not infallible; they were weak, erring men; but the Lord wrought through them as they gave themselves to His service.  
     Since His ascension, Christ the great Head of the church, has carried forward His work in the world by chosen ambassadors, through whom He speaks to the children of men, and ministers to their needs. The position of those who have been called of God to labor in word and doctrine for the upbuilding of His church, is one of grave responsibility. In Christ's stead they are to beseech men and women to be reconciled to God; and they can fulfil their mission only as they receive wisdom and power from above.
     God's ministers are symbolized by the seven stars, which He who is the first and the last has under His special care and protection. The sweet influences that are to be abundant in the church are bound up with these ministers of God, who are to represent the love of Christ. The stars of heaven are under God's control. He fills them with light. He guides and directs their movements. If He did not, they would become fallen stars. So with His ministers. They are but instruments in His hands, and all the good they accomplish is done through His power.
     It is to the honor of Christ that He makes His ministers a greater blessing to the church, through the working of the Holy Spirit, than are the stars to the world. The Saviour is to be their efficiency. If they will look to Him as He looked to His Father, they will do His works. As they make God their dependence, He will give them His brightness to reflect to the world. 
 
               Spiritual Watchmen

     Christ's ministers are the spiritual guardians of the people entrusted to their care. Their work has been likened to that of watchmen.…”—Gospel Workers, p. 13.1-14.2.

This is what the Bible has to say concerning who has charge over the seven candlesticks:

Revelation 1:20—“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."

Therefore both the Bible and the Spirit of Prophecy say, "The Seven stars are the angels of the seven churches."

The Bible says:

The Seven stars = The angels.

The Spirit of Prophecy says:

The ministers = The seven stars

Therefore the wise obedient church member will conclude:

the angels = the ministers

Will you be among the wise virgins or the foolish virgins in the SDA church?

They (the seven stars = the angels = the ministers) were in the right hand of Jesus Christ who was seen standing in the midst of the seven candle sticks. So to say that the angel of the church of Laodicea represents Jesus Christ, Himself, is not according to the Spirit of Truth. And if it is not according to the Spirit of Truth which spirit is it of? Isa. 8:20. Truth will never come from private interpretations.

     These "seven churches" were also symbolized by "seven candlesticks," and the leadership of the same churches, by "seven angels."  So we read: "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." (Rev. 1:20.)  "And unto the Angel of the church of the Laodiceans write." (Rev. 3:14.)  Note the message is addressed to the Angel (leadership), and not to the candlestick (the church as a body.) Therefore, the condemnation is not to the candlestick, but to the angel.  "Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked." (Rev. 3:17.)  My brethren, this is not against you, for it is Christ speaking who died for you, but it will be, if you change not your course of action.—2SR:94.1

     We quote: "The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches: and the seven candlesticks which thou sawest are the seven churches." (Rev. 1:20.)  It will be noticed that the messages to the seven churches are not addressed to the candlesticks (the church as a body), but to the angels, saying, "And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write." (Rev. 3:14.)  This angel is not a heavenly angel, for he is at fault—under condemnation and about to be spued out, except he repent.  It is this angel who has charge of the candlestick (church).  Therefore, the seven angels denote the leadership of the seven churches, and the candlesticks are the symbols of the seven churches.—2SR:283.5

ADDRESSED TO THE S. D. A. ANGEL.

   In The Revelation, chapter 1, the churches are symbolized by seven candlesticks, and the angels of the churches, by the seven stars (Rev. 1:20). {7SC7-12:3.11} 

   Being the attendants of the candlesticks (churches), the angels are thus seen to be the ministry, whose responsibility is to have the lamps trimmed, filled with oil, and burning brightly, so that the church may give light to all about her. {7SC7-12:3.12} 

   Hence as the Laodicean angel, him to whom the condemnatory message is sent, is symbolical of the ministry in Laodicea, he should consequently be the more anxious to discover where the trouble lies, for he is, says the Lord, {7SC7-12:3.13} 

WRETCHED, MISERABLE, POOR, BLIND, AND NAKED.

     With a ministry wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked, what church (candlestick) could possibly stay lighted?  And with her light thus gone out or but flickering dimly, how could she lighten the world as God has set her to do?  Through the eyes of the True Witness, therefore, the tragedy of Laodicea is starkly seen--"sleeping preachers preaching to a sleeping people" (Testimonies, Vol. 2, p. 337), while a sin-benighted world plunges on hell-bent in its darkness!  O what a piteous plight!  And yet it is so utterly overlooked! {7SC7-12:3.14} 

     With both ministry and laity in such a pitiful state of darkness, it is clear to be seen that though the Laodicean church is the last in the order of the seven, God cannot lighten the world and prepare His people for the Kingdom with her when she is in darkness and unprepared herself.  Hence the necessity of a new order, a new ministry, as predicted in Testimonies, Vol. 5, p. 80, and in Zephaniah 3:11, 12. {7SC7-12:3.15} 

     Then it will come to pass that "only those who have withstood and overcome temptation in the strength of the Mighty One will be permitted to act a part in proclaiming this message when it shall have swelled into the Loud Cry."--Review and Herald, Nov. 19, 1908. {7SC7-12:3.16} 

Vol. 7 Symbolic Code Nos. 7-12                  3

     In the light of these facts, the prophetic message to the angel of the Laodiceans must obviously be brought and proclaimed by someone other than the angel himself.  But this, of course, is the very thing that neither the ministry nor the laity expect or wish to happen.  For the sake of the faithful, nevertheless, it is happening. {7SC7-12:4.1} 

     So since God's Word says that the ministry of the Laodicean church is wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked, and that neither they nor the laity are aware of the fact, it lends heavy underscoring to the statements: "Sleeping preachers preaching to a sleeping people!" (Testimonies, Vol. 2, p. 337); and "the message of the True Witness finds the people of God in a sad deception, yet honest in that deception."--Testimonies, Vol. 3, p. 253.—7SC7-12:3.11-4.2