This text is taken from the 16th and 20th verses of the first chapter of Revelation.  To being this subject, I would like to quote these Scriptures, "And he had in his right hand seven stars: and out of his mouth went a sharp two-edged sword: and his countenance was as the sun shineth in his strength...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."

 

Now, of course, in the quotation of these Scriptures, we find mentioned the seven candlesticks.  They both, the seven stars and seven candlesticks, are described by the angel as containing a mystery with the interpretation given by the Lord, but still, they leave the subject in somewhat of a mystery if one does not know the codes of the Book of Revelation.  At this time, I want to dwell on the Seven Stars.  We notice that the Seven Stars, placed upon John's head and in the right hand of Jesus, represent seven angels.  These angels cannot be heavenly angels since the Scriptures point out that heavenly angels are not preachers and are not allowed to preach; therefore, they  must be earthly ministers of mysteries.  The Scriptures support this statement when they call ministers of the gospel, angels in many places of the Bible.  When we think of stars, we must think of seven characters, outstanding and of notice and recognition.  These are called the stars of the program, as the spotlight is directed at the star character.  So, in speaking of stars, we will turn the subject to men of wonder.  In the last issue of The Vision Speaks, if you read it, you noticed that my subject was "The Seven Thunders".  Now, these Seven Thunders and Seven Stars, in the appearance of the Scriptures, are the self-same.  Remember that John was directly connected with the Seven Thunders in receiving the whole revelation in the 10th chapter of Revelation when he ate the Little Book given him by the angel.  This same John, receiving from Jesus' right hand the Seven Stars placed upon his head in this anointing is connected directly with the Seven Stars, called Angels, who are Men of Wonder of these last days, preparing to come on the stage of action to assist John in revealing the great mysteries of the Book of Revelation and of all that the prophets have spoken since the beginning of the world.

 

For anyone to get a clear conception of this mighty last days' program, he will have to see that the Scriptures support the return of the Beloved Disciple, John, in these last days to direct the program written in the Book of Revelation, which John, himself, wrote in the early centuries.  If one will carefully read Revelation 10:10-11, Revelation 1:1-4, Matthew 24:44-45, Revelation 21, and other Scriptures, such as the one in the last chapter of St. John (written by John, the Beloved), he can definitely see, if he is earnest-hearted, that God has planned a return for John in these last days.

 

Let us return to the Seven Stars.  These Seven Stars are referred to throughout the Bible.  Let me give you a good example to prove that I am correct in my interpretation of these codes of Revelation.  Jesus, Himself, is called The Bright and Morning Star, and, of course, Lucifer was the Morning Star, but is now fallen.  He will be replaced in this world in the figure of a star whose name is in the mysteries of the Scriptures.  The star to inherit this position was the Beloved Disciple, John.  According to the Bible, both Jesus and Lucifer were lights.  The Greater Light is Jesus, and the Smaller Light is Lucifer, the Revealer of Light.  Jesus was the Light of the world, and Lucifer was not willing to take second place as the Revealer of Light.

 

Do not think or get the impression that I am preaching people to be angels; for heaven is the pattern of the earthly, and the firmaments (the beautiful stars) portray His glory.  These are all patterns of the redeemed and blood washed men and women on earth who play the star characters of these patterns, just as a story is placed with characters.  To prove what I am stating, let me quote my old favorite Scripture found in Romans 1:20, 'For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even  his eternal power and godhead; so that they are without excuse.'  I would like to go a little further with the subject if I felt that the people were able to bear it, but I think if anyone is a reader of the Bible, he is well aware, or should be, that the Revelation of Christ all through the Bible (Word of God) is portrayed in the Seven, such as in the Garden of Eden; Noah's Ark; the hair on the head of Sampson; the Altar of Elijah and his Seven prayers; Moses with the candlestick with Seven Lamps that were commanded to be placed in God's tabernacle; Jesus Christ, the Lamb with Seven Horns and Seven Eyes; the Early Church with its Seven Pillars; and now in the last days' Church, John, with his Seven Stars, who are the Seven Thunders.  The Seven Spirits of God upon the Seven Men of God to be wondered at in these last days will reveal the greatest story of all mysteries of all the ages.

 

I have these Seven Men of Wonder of these last days in The Church of God, now, preparing themselves to sound.  Let every man take heed when he reads, that he use not the revealing of these mysteries to build or to form something of his own, for I warn every man by the 22nd chapter of Revelation, verses 18-19, 'For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book.  If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book:  And if any man shall take away from the words of this book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.'  Amen.

 

 

* Article Written By:  The Late Grady R. Kent, St. John II, Chief Bishop of The Church of God, 1957-1964. This sermon was taken from The Vision Speaks, Volume 5 : Number 4 : October 1962.

All grammatical and typographical errors have been corrected except for direct quotations from the Author.  Thought content of said article has not been changed