Revelation 1:20 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.
God's ministers are symbolized by the seven stars, which He who is the first and the last has under His special care and protection. The sweet influences that are to be abundant in the church are bound up with these ministers of God, who are to represent the love of Christ. The stars of heaven are under God's control. He fills them with light. He guides and directs their movements. If He did not, they would become fallen stars. So with His ministers. They are but instruments in His hands, and all the good they accomplish is done through His power. . GW 13.3
bible says the 7 stars are the angels of the 7 churches
SOP says the stars are the ministers
How do we meld this information together for clear understanding?
If we look at the Greek behind "angels" in Revelation 1:20, it means "messenger", and the same Greek word is used in Matthew 11:10 and 2 Corinthians 12:7.
In the former case, the word is a reference to John the Baptist, and in the latter case, a reference to an evil angel.
This implies that "angels" in Revelation 1:20 is not necessarily a literal reference to heavenly beings.
This point is further reinforced by passages like Revelation 2:1, where John is writing to the angel of the Ephesus church. This probably does NOT mean that John was instructing divine beings.
If we say that the "angels" in Revelation 1:20 can be human, then this opens up some possibilities.
For example, the Bible says that the 144,000 follow Christ everywhere (Revelation 14:4), and the SOP goes on to say that the 144,000 are "singled out" and stand before the whole world (see quote below).
They certainly qualify as messengers.
---
A transformation has taken place, and you are a different man. You are not the same passionate man that you used to be. You are not the same worldly man that you were. You are not the man that was giving way to lust and evil passions, evil surmisings and evil speakings. You are not this man at all, because a transformation has taken place. What is it? The image of Christ reflected in you. Then you are bearing in view that there is a company to stand by and by on Mount Zion, and you want to be one of that company, and you are determined that you will form a part of that company. Let me read: [Revelation 14:1-3, quoted.] {1SAT 72.2}
Why were they [the 144,000] so specially singled out? Because they had to stand with a wonderful truth right before the whole world, and receive their opposition, and while receiving this opposition they were to remember that they were sons and daughters of God, that they must have Christ formed within them the hope of glory. They were ever keeping in view the great and blessed hope that is before them. What is it? It is an eternal weight of glory. Nothing could surpass it. {1SAT 72.3}
We know that there is much symbolism in The words and various parts of revelation
will keep this in mind as we read more and more
I think it may be possible to go a bit further with this.
You already cited the first quote below, about how the seven stars symbolize God's ministers.
It's possible to come up with several examples about how such ministry works in practice.
One example is found in the second quote below. It talks about how the message of the seventh church, the one described in Revelation 3:14-22, is given. The Laodicean message is given by ordinary people like you and me.
Another example is found in the third quote, that talks about how the righteous will vindicate God's law, and perform the same work as Job did -- testifying in behalf of the divine government (Job 42:7). The righteous will overcome as Christ overcame (Revelation 3:21), and this is a key part of their work as messengers and ministers and witnesses.
---
God's ministers are symbolized by the seven stars, which He who is the first and the last has under His special care and protection. The sweet influences that are to be abundant in the church are bound up with these ministers of God, who are to represent the love of Christ. The stars of heaven are under God's control. He fills them with light. He guides and directs their movements. If He did not, they would become fallen stars. So with His ministers. They are but instruments in His hands, and all the good they accomplish is done through His power. {GW 13.3}
---
At this time the Laodicean message is to be given, to arouse a slumbering church. Let the thought of the shortness of time stimulate you to earnest, untiring effort. Remember that Satan has come down with great power, to work with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish. {1SM 196.1}
---
Those who truly unite with Christ, will be found doing the same work that Christ did while on the earth,--they will be found magnifying the law and making it honorable. But these who stand to vindicate the honor of God's law, will be objects of Satan's enmity; for he was a despiser of the law from the beginning, and his seed will war against the righteous, and the wicked will endeavor to exterminate the good from the face of the earth. {ST, July 11, 1895 par. 10}
