Epaggelia

v12, Seven Golden Lampstands, Jesus proclaimed that he is the Light of the world, Jn 8:12. In this vision, the stars (representing angels of the churches) are in the hands of Jesus. Lampstands are actually the congregations, v20, and Jesus is in their midst.  Paul describes the church as a pillar of the truth, 1^st Tim. 3:15, which again offers the idea of stability for projecting light, not the light itself. They originated as the Menorah in the Temple, destroyed in 70AD. 

v13-15, Jesus in a long robe with a golden belt, pure white hair, flaming fiery eyes, polished bronze feet and a trumpeting thunderous voice from a mouth that brought out a sword. The four features of hair, eyes, voice and mouth are all from a face as bright as the sun. Why? He is the light of the world and also the head of the church. His body is in a priestly robe fastened by a golden belt representing royalty and he moves with feet that can trample any enemy. The term Son of Man being given power from the Ancient of Days originates in Daniel 7:13. Now the church will announce, fight, suffer and win with the power prophesied from Daniel and fulfilled from John’s revelation. In 1^st Chron. 28:18 the Cherubim have these type feet and move with destruction. Paul talks like the war still rages on until Jesus defeats every enemy and submits his Kingdom to the Father, 1^st Cor. 15:24-26.  When he returns to judge the world, we will hear the roaring voice, 1^st Thes 4:16.  

v16, “Seven Stars”  & “Sword”, These represent angels. The word angel simply means a messenger. The angels in this vision are not figurative, they are real literal messengers within each church. In Gen. 18:1-3, Abraham met three angels, whom he recognized as mere men but also esteemed them as master or lord. The Hebrew writer claims that this similarly can possibly happen with Christians, Heb. 13:2.  In one sense, every Christian is a light that shines in a dark world, because we reflect the light of the world, Php. 2:15.  But these angels are seen as stars in each church because they are mature examples of Jesus seeking the lost and instructing the saved.  Jesus taught us that our charity on earth is rewarded in Heaven, when our good deeds to strangers are actually done to Himself, Mat. 25:34-40. In this vision, each church has revealed that they will likely have this encounter and they had better be ready to help. Obviously the Sword is the message itself, which the messengers would distribute, Eph. 6:17 & Heb. 4:12, and God would make good, effective and powerful. How can we use a sword that is alive?

v17, Jesus proves himself to be the Alpha & Omega,  Isa. 44:1-8, 48:12.  The glory and power of Christ in this vision, makes John collapse and faint as dead. Manoah, Ezekiel, Daniel and Jacob all come near to the presence of God and fall to faint, but none of them lose their consciousness.  The right hand that held the stars, touches John and brings him back to consciousness. It could be what miraculously happens to the soldiers in Gethsemane approaching Christ when he utters the words, “ I AM”, John 18:6.

v18,  He has the keys of Death and Hades (grave). This indeed is how Satan gets and remains locked within a chain and pit, 20:1-3.  The keys are similar to the key for the house of David, Isa. 22:22 and mentioned in Rev. 3:7. In Mat. 22:42, he accepts the term of Son of David, but this position changes from the cross, and at the resurrection he proves he is the Son of God. He qualified for and obtained the keys during the ‘three days’ in the grave!

v19-20, John must write what he is seeing and what he is about to see which will take place after the visions. The messengers to the churches will be making it clear and the message will strengthen the Christians to see the fulfillment, tasting the victory Christ gives them.  Job knows of this controlling power God has, which John sees in this vision, read Job 42:1-6.  The angels of the 7 churches could very well be executing the job Jesus mentions in Matthew 18:10-14. These 7 messengers or angels have a message to deliver, what is it? v11 & 19 would infer the entirety of Revelation, not just the individual statements referencing each congregation.