There is variety of opinions among commentators as to what is meant by the term “angel” in the context of the church. Suggestions are as follows:
Each church has its own guardian angel (as each nation has, per Daniel 10:1–21).
The reference is to a heavenly intermediary who brings Jesus’ word to the church (as happened in Judges 2:1).
The term describes earthly messengers who bring the word from Patmos to a given church (for the term
angel
actually meansmessenger
).The church leader or bishop/minister is described by the term
angel
= messenger, the person who brings or explains God’s word to the church.
It is not possible to be absolute as to which explanation is correct. However, the preference is for number 3. Then the idea would be that there was present on Patmos a representative from each of the seven churches listed in Revelation 1:11 who could take a copy of John’s complete revelation back with him to the church from which he came.
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.