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Fulfilling the Mystery
To the angel of the church of Ephesus write, “These things says He who holds the seven stars in His right hand, who walks in the midst of the seven golden lampstands.”
John’s first apostolic “note” within the greater Apocalypse epistle was to the church at Ephesus. Curiously, the Lord instructed him to write to the angel of the church, and yet its contents clearly reveal that it was written to the believers themselves.
The Greek term AGGELLOS (angel) is also rendered as “messenger” in the New Testament. This term can refer to human beings, created spirit beings, or God himself being His own Messenger. For example, the disciples are called AGGELLOS in Luke 9:52 and Mark uses the same term in referring to John the Baptist.
As it is written in the Prophets: “Behold, I send My messenger (AGGELLOS) before Your face, who will prepare Your way before You.”
(Mark 1:2)
So, with whom was the Lord communicating at Ephesus? Was it a man? An angel? Some have argued that it was the pastor of the church. The problem with such a conclusion is that there was no such thing as a single pastor overseeing each local church in the New Testament. This only became an established practice many years after the close of the book of Acts.[2]
What we see in the New Testament differs radically from what is the generally accepted norm for church government in our day. Local churches were overseen by a plurality of elders who shepherded or pastored the believers (Acts 14:23). Pastors were but one ministry among four others given for equipping the saints (Ephesians 4:11-12).
Near the end of his ministry, Paul met with the elders of this church (Acts 20:17 - 38). He informed them that they would not see his face anymore and that savage spiritual wolves would come among them, not sparing the flock. Even from among the leaders themselves, there would arise men speaking twisted things in order to draw away disciples after them. Consequently, his advice was that the elders should be on guard for themselves, as well as for the flock of God. It seems clear that if there had been such a position as “the pastor of the church”, that particular meeting would have been a good one for him to attend.
In light of the coming shaking, Paul met with the men who were responsible for the flock at Ephesus. He made it clear to them that it was not he but the Holy Spirit who had given them that role. They (as a plural group) were to pastor the church.
Therefore take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd (Greek, POIMAINO - to pastor) the church of God which He purchased with His own blood.
The apostle Peter also wrote that the Lord’s flock was to be pastored by a plurality of elders (1Peter 5:1 - 4). God has designed His house in such a way that pastors, teachers, prophets, apostles and evangelists (See Ephesians 4:11 - 12) learn to walk together in peer level relationships so that a more complete expression of Christ the Chief Shepherd can be ministered to the local expressions of His Church.
So, if the angel of the church is not the pastor, who is he? It seems likely that when the Lord planted the church at Ephesus, He assigned a mighty, strategic angel over that city. If so, would it not also seem likely that He has also released angels to every place where He has planted local churches even in our day?
The angel of the Lord encamps all around those who fear Him, and delivers them.
While we may not have seen, heard, or talked to angels, yet they encamp around us. Jesus said that children have angels and that these heavenly beings behold the face of our Father in heaven (Matthew 18:10). When Peter was in prison, God sent an angel to free him. But when Peter came to the gathering of believers praying for his release, they thought his angel was at the door (Acts 12:15). While they were not immediately certain that their prayers had been answered, they certainly believed that Peter had an angel!
Believers have guardian angels sent by God to minister to them (Hebrews 1:14). Along with these, it seems that towns and cities also receive specially designated angels when God sends His people there to plant a church. The principalities and powers of darkness are not the only spiritual forces influencing regions and cities. Just as these fallen angels have an effect on certain geographical areas, God also sends His mighty heavenly powers to serve the heirs of salvation.
But one would think that if God wanted to communicate with an angel, He would just talk to him directly. And I am sure that He does so on many occasions. But in John’s letter to Ephesus, it seems that the Lord addressed the people so as to communicate His truth to His strategic warring angel over that city.
Is it possible that God has purposed to bring His people in on His communication of “military intelligence” with His angelic forces? Is this a part of His strategy in spiritual warfare? Do the Scriptures support the concept that He speaks to us in order to reveal His strategic wisdom to the spiritual powers warring against evil forces in the heavenly places? It seems that when the Lord communicated with His angel over the city of Ephesus, He did so by speaking with His people.
Today, God continues to speak to His Church. As we hear and respond to what He is saying, His intent is:
…that the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known through the church to the rulers and the authorities in the heavenly places.
(Ephesians 3:10 NAS)
Scripture does not say that His wisdom is made known through the apostles, the elders, those who are seminary trained, etc. His wisdom is revealed through the Church. Therefore, each of us must walk in the Spirit. It is not sufficient for a few select believers to be spiritually sensitive; Christ’s body must respond to Him.
Spiritual warfare is not simply a matter of saying prayers. We fight successfully by embracing the cross, walking in obedience and declaring what God is doing in us. It is not enough to simply declare His word. What He is saying must be worked into the fiber of our lives so that we become a local corporate expression of that word to our specific region. It is when we make that declaration together corporately (through speech and action), that a strategic word ascends to the angel of the church, causing repercussions in the heavenly places.
God will continue to call His Church into the divine order that reveals His heart for the nations. As we respond in obedience to Him, strategic heavenly instructions will be communicated to the forces of heaven over our geographic regions. Our Commander in chief is coordinating His forces in heaven and earth so that all the earth may one day be filled with the knowledge of His glory as the waters cover the sea.
In the next chapter we want to consider the throne at the center of the universe. John was caught up into the eternal realms and was given revelation of the Sovereign Ruler of time and eternity.
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