Revelation 1:16

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16 And [kai] he had [echo] in [en] his [autos] right [dexios] hand [cheir] seven [hepta] stars: [aster] and [kai] out of [ek] his [autos] mouth [stoma] went [ekporeuomai] a sharp [oxus] twoedged [distomos] sword: [rhomphaia] and [kai] his [autos] countenance [opsis] was as [hos] the sun [helios] shineth [phaino] in [en] his [autos] strength. [dunamis]    KJV-Interlinear

16 And in His right hand He held seven stars; and out of His mouth came a sharp two-edged sword; and His face was like the sun shining in its strength.    NASB

We have seen in this first chapter, that the seven spirits represent the learning and spiritual growing process.

The seven lampstands represent the completed church, all believers in our dispensation.  The cities listed were those in Asia Minor, and not cities in Judah.

Now we have the image of seven stars which are held in Christ’s right hand.This holding is not one for safety or security, but one of control.  Jesus Christ is the head of the Church, Eph 4:15; 5:23; Col 1:18.Jesus Christ controls history, Isa. 41.Jesus Christ guides His Church through life by means of doctrine.  Jesus Christ is the ruler of the Kingdom of God, Col 1:13.

Jesus Christ holds the stars, which are mentioned in verse 20 as the angels of the churches, in His right hand, and therefore possesses control over them.

In Rev 2:1 and 3:1, the stars are referred to as angels, ‘angeloi,’ which is not a reference to actual angels, but to messengers, Luke 7:24; 9:52; James 2:25.  The stars are told to repent (angels have no need to repent; that portion of their history has already been completed), and to communicate that same message to their constituents.  And since the message from God in our current dispensation is through the written word, and communicated to believers by means of instructors, then the seven stars represent the instructors of doctrine.

The hand is not the left hand, not any hand, but the right hand and is representative of the hand or position of authority.  Jesus Christ is the ultimate authority over all that exists and certainly of His own family, and Church.

Christ's two edged sword can go either of two ways.One way to discipline or judge, and the other way is to heal surgically.  With punishment on the one hand and grace on the other, Christ controls the outcome of each of our lives.

Typically the sword represents the defense of the Church from enemies that are outside of the Church, Rev. 19:15, 21.  But here and in the next couple of chapters, this defense is for the Church from enemies which are within the Church itself, Rev. 2:12, 16, Acts 20, 30.Those who disseminate discord, lies, and such from within the church through false doctrines.  As well as those who lead dysfunctional spiritual lives through ignorance.

Gods Word is powerful, Heb 4:12-13, and will be used against His enemies, 2 Thess 2:8, and therefore nothing will prevent Christ from building His Church, Matt. 16:18.

John finishes his vision of the glorified Christ with the description of His radiant glory, which was apparent on His face, Judg. 5:31.

The radiant glory of Jesus Christ shines forth from Him and through His Church, reflecting His glory, Matt 13:43, 2 Cor 4:6, Eph 3:21.

The reflection of Christ’s glory comes through His Church, through those who advance to spiritual maturity.  And this despite all of their failures, hardships, or flaws in this life.

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