The Seven angels of the Seven Churches

The first Church: was Ephesus: meaning “First” or “desirable” this period covered the time in which the apostles lived beginning at Pentecost 33 A.D. to about 100 A.D.

“The angel of this Church is the Apostle Paul who wrote the greater part of the New Testament —ALL in the form of letters to the various churches and to the Hebrews as a group. Texts like 2 Cor 11:28 and Acts 9:15 demonstrate his position. But perhaps one of the strongest texts is 1 Cor 7:6-10. In this text, Paul takes two positions: one as an inspired Apostle, the other as an angel to the Church, speaking NOT from an inspired viewpoint, but as an enlightened angel to the Church. This is the position of all the “angels” to the seven stages of the church, and Paul clearly distinguishes between his two offices in the Corinthians text cited.” (N.A.N.O.R. Page 56)

“In the effort of the early Christian Church to promulgate the gospel, two names predominate: the Apostles Peter and Paul. Of the two, Paul was chosen as the Lord’s special representative and servant to the Church at large during this era chiefly because his ministry, in both scope and influence, was more far-reaching than that of Peter. Although Peter possessed remarkable supernatural powers and performed many astonishing wonders, “God wrought special miracles by the hands of Paul,” so that even the fallen spirits recognized Paul’s superior authority (Acts 19:11, 15).

Furthermore, Paul’s repeated warnings of existing detrimental conditions in the Church, as well as his constant exposure of dangerous teachers and teachings inimical to the interest of the Church, reveal that he was adapted for and fulfilled the prophetic description of the service to be performed by the servant of that era (Acts 15:1, 2; Gal. 1:6, 7; 1 Tim. 1:19, 20; 2 Tim. 1:15; 2:17). “The care of all the churches” rested upon Paul; he was a vessel chosen to bear the Lord’s name “before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel” (Acts 9:15; 2 Cor. 11:28; Gal. 1:15). Moreover, the Church of Ephesus was founded by Paul.

It was not necessary for Paul’s ministry to have commenced at Jordan or at Pentecost to permit his designation as the first “star” of the Church, any more than this condition was essential for his apostleship.” (The Keys of Revelation, Page 27, 28)

“Paul was a brilliant converted Pharisee who became the apostle to the Gentiles, the greatest logician of the Christian faith and the mainstay of the early church. His birth as a Roman citizen, knowledge of Greek culture and training in orthodox Judaism afforded a providential background for his special ministry. He was of keen intellect, tremendous drive, lofty principle and impeccable integrity.

He preached with boldness and energy and endured much suffering and opposition (2 Cor. 11:23-28). Employing his skills as orator and teacher with tact and insight, he won many converts to Christ. He was given special visions by God (2 Cor. 12:1-7) and was recognized as functioning with divine authority (Gal. 2:6-9). He authored most of the New Testament books, setting forth the basics of Christian belief and practice. He taught that salvation was by the grace of God, made possible by faith in Christ and his atoning sacrifice (Rom. 1:16; 5:1,2). His outstanding achievements firmly planted Christianity in the Greco-Roman world and furnished it with much of its essential biblical foundation.” (The Seven Churches of Revelation: C.F. Redeker)

For a more detailed verse by verse look at the first church please see, Revelation Chapter 2, Part 2

In our next post we will take a look at the First Seal as it reveals the beginnings of the great falling away in the Church