The place where these angels are to be found in the apocalyptic scene also suggests the fallacy of the interpretation that they are the chief pastors of the Seven Churches.  The stars are seen, not distributed over the seven candlesticks, but collected together in the hand of Christ.  Though the angels seem to be in someway related to the Churches, the relation is such that they may be separated without inconvenience.  What, then, can these angels be?  How do they happen to possess the name they bear?  Why are they gathered into the right hand of the Son of Man?  All these questions admit of a very plain and satisfactory solution.

An angel literally signifies a messenger, and these angels were simply the messengers of the Seven Churches.  John had long resided at Ephesus; and now that he was banished to the Isle of Patmos “for the word of God and for the testimony of Jesus Christ,” it would appear that the Christian communities among which he had ministered so many years, sent trusty deputies to visit him, to assure him of their sympathy, and to tender to him their friendly offices.  In primitive times such angels were often sent to the brethren in confinement or in exile.  Thus, Paul, when in imprisonment at Rome, says to the Philippians—­“Ye have well done that ye did communicate with my affliction ...  I am full, having received of Epaphroditus the things which were sent from you.” [268:1] Here, Epaphroditus is presented to us as the angel of the Church of Philippi.  This minister seems, indeed, to have now spent no small portion of his time in travelling between Rome and Macedonia.  Hence Paul observes—­“I supposed it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus, my brother and companion in labour and fellow-soldier, but your messenger and he that ministered to my wants.” [269:1] In like manner, the individuals selected to convey, to the poor saints in Jerusalem, the contributions of the Gentile converts in Greece and Asia Minor, are called “the messengers of the Churches.” [269:2] The practice of sending messengers to visit and comfort the saints in poverty, in confinement, or in exile, may be traced for centuries in the history of the Church.  It also deserves notice that, in other parts of the New Testament as well as in the Apocalypse, an individual sent on a special errand is repeatedly called an angel.  Thus, John the Baptist, who was commissioned to announce the approach of the Messiah, is styled God’s angel, [269:3] or messenger, and the spies, sent to view the land of Canaan, are distinguished by the same designation. [269:4]