John had seen seven stars in Jesus’ right hand (Revelation 1:16) and had seen him walking among the lampstands (Revelation 1:13). Without an explanation from Jesus himself, John (and we!) would never have been certain what the stars or the lampstands represented; their significance would have remained guesswork. See also Daniel 2:29, Daniel 2:47. As it is, the Lord wants John and his readers (the seven churches of Asia Minor, Revelation 1:11) to know that those very churches and their “angels” are in his hand.
20 As for the mystery of the seven stars that you saw in my right hand, and the seven golden lampstands, the seven stars are the angels of the seven churches, and the seven lampstands are the seven churches.