“The Angel of the Church.”
By Sarah A. H. Lindsey
BRO. WHITE: Will you permit me to ask a few questions in regard to Revelation, chapters ii and iii? 1. Is there not a distinction between the “angel of the church” and the “church” itself? In these two chapters we find seven repetitions of these words, “Unto the angel of the church . . . write,” and also, “He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.” 2. Is not this distinction quite plain in chapter i, 12, 13, 16, 20? “And I turned to see the voice that spake with me. And being turned, I saw seven golden candlesticks; and in the midst of the seven candlesticks one like unto the Son of man. . . . And he had in his right hand seven stars. . . . The mystery of the seven stars which thou sawest in my right hand, and the seven golden candlesticks. The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches; and the seven candlesticks which thou sawest are the seven churches.” 3. Is not this distinction still further manifest in the fact that the “angel of the church” is addressed grammatically in the second person? For example, “I know thy works, and thy labor, and thy patience, nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love. Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick (or church) out of his place.” But the church is spoken of grammatically in the third person, “To him that overcometh, &c.” 4. Is it not quite evident that the first six verses of this second chapter contain a testimony to the “angel of the church,” and the seventh verse a testimony to the church. So also chapter iii, 14–19 inclusive; are they not especially addressed to the “angel of the church,” verse 16 having been sadly fulfilled in the cases of Messrs. Hull, Snook, Brinkerhoff, and other messengers who have given up the great sanctifying truths of the third angel’s message, and as plainly as verse 19 has been fulfilled in the affliction of those servants whom God loves? Is it not equally clear that verses 20 and 21 are what the “spirit saith unto the church” in Laodicea? SARAH A. H. LINDSEY.
Ulysses, Pa., Sept. 25, 1866. NOTE. This is essentially the position taken by the Gen. Conf. Committee in Review, Vol. xxvii, No. 20. The special dealings of God with any of the seven churches we might expect would chiefly concern the “angel” or the ministers of that church, they standing as the representative of the church; and for the same reason the warnings and instructions designed for the church are addressed to them, and by them to be made known to the people. We can read very plainly in our own history thus far, the fulfillment of a great part of the message to the Laodiceans. Shall we not soon reach the fulfillment of the closing portion of verse 20?—ED.