I’m pretty certain these Angels were men, most likely overseer’s of the churches.
Ministering spirits that people entertained but were unaware.
Spirit gives birth to spirit.
Flesh gives birth to flesh.
Angels are spirit. Men are flesh. --and yet, on earth as it is in heaven. All that exists above is in some way reflected below. In the scene above we have this guy that looks like a man-- but it's in spirit, so we know it's a spiritual being--- the Christ. And we have these lampstands and these stars- but we don't have to wonder or guess or speculate as to what these are, because it's explained and defined for us right in the text.
The lampstands are churches.
The stars are angels.
The one who walks among the lampstands in spirit is the Christ-- the one who entertains (hosts) this spirit, is a man---- Jesus.
And so of course, the ones who host these seven other angels are also men. Where do we have seven men set apart- as ministers? If you think it's coincidence when you see things like 12 brothers, or 12 tribes, and 12 apostles, 12 gates, 12 foundations---- and these numbers keep coming up again and again--- on earth, in physical settings, and in heaven-- and all that imagery.... it's not. As with the seven.... When it's 12, it's 12. When it's 7, it's 7..... it's no coincidence. It's significant, one a reflection, or representation of the other.
So the twelve called the whole group of the disciples together and said, “It is not right for us to neglect the word of God to wait on tables. But carefully select from among you, brothers, seven men who are well-attested, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we may put in charge of this necessary task. But we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word.” The proposal pleased the entire group, so they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit, with Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolas, a Gentile convert to Judaism from Antioch. They stood these men before the apostles, who prayed and placed their hands on them. The word of God continued to spread, the number of disciples in Jerusalem increased greatly, and a large group of priests became obedient to the faith.
Angels above
, hosted below. The spirits are the light (stars) for the lampstands (churches), led by men guided by these spirits.
Do you remember the feeding of the multitude from 5 barley loaves?
How many baskets of leftover bread was gathered? 12
And what about another time, when 4000 were fed?
They all ate and were satisfied, and they picked up the broken pieces left over, seven baskets full.
Jesus himself, pointed out the significance.... Mark 8
Though you have eyes, don’t you see? And though you have ears, can’t you hear? Don’t you remember? When I broke the five loaves for the 5,000, how many baskets full of pieces did you pick up?” They replied, “Twelve.” “When I broke the seven loaves for the 4,000, how many baskets full of pieces did you pick up?” They replied, “Seven.” Then he said to them, “Do you still not understand?”
