{The mystery of the seven stars} (	o must(8872)ion t(936e) hepta
aster(936e)). On the word must(8872)ion see on 烘t 13:11; 2Th 2:7; Col
1:26|. Here it means the inner meaning (the secret symbol) of a
symbolic vision (Swete) as in  10:7  13:18  17:7,9  Da 2:47 .
Probably the accusative absolute (Charles), "as for the mystery"
(Robertson, _Grammar_, pp. 490, 1130), as in  Ro 8:3 . This item
is picked out of the previous vision ( 1:16 ) as needing
explanation at once and as affording a clue to what follows
( 2:1,5 ). {Which} (hous). Masculine accusative retained
without attraction to case of aster(936e) (genitive, h(936e)). {In my
right hand} (epi t(8873) dexias mou). Or "upon," but en t(8869),
etc., in verse  16 . {And the seven golden candlesticks} (kai
tas hepta luchnias tas chrus(8373)). "The seven lampstands the
golden," identifying the stars of verse  16  with the lampstands
of verse  12 . The accusative case here is even more peculiar
than the accusative absolute must(8872)ion, since the genitive
luchni(936e) after must(8872)ion is what one would expect. Charles
suggests that John did not revise his work. {The angels of the
seven churches} (aggeloi t(936e) hepta ekkl(8873)i(936e)). Anarthrous in
the predicate (angels of, etc.). "The seven churches" mentioned
in  1:4,11 . Various views of aggelos here exist. The simplest
is the etymological meaning of the word as messenger from
aggell(935c) ( Mt 11:10 ) as messengers from the seven churches to
Patmos or by John from Patmos to the churches (or both). Another
view is that aggelos is the pastor of the church, the reading
	(886e) gunaika sou (thy wife) in  2:20  (if genuine) confirming
this view. Some would even take it to be the bishop over the
elders as episcopos in Ignatius, but a separate aggelos in
each church is against this idea. Some take it to be a symbol for
the church itself or the spirit and genius of the church, though
distinguished in this very verse from the churches themselves
(the lampstands). Others take it to be the guardian angel of each
church assuming angelic patrons to be taught in  Mt 18:10  Ac
12:15 . Each view is encompassed with difficulties, perhaps fewer
belonging to the view that the "angel" is the pastor. {Are seven
churches} (hepta ekkl(8873)iai eisin). These seven churches
( 1:4,11 ) are themselves lampstands ( 1:12 ) reflecting the
light of Christ to the world ( Mt 5:14-16  Joh 8:12 ) in the
midst of which Christ walks ( 1:13 ).