Angels of Churches

Do angels mean spirits or messengers? While angels can certainly mean both, the Greek term can be used for either human messengers or spirit beings. If we look only at this passage, it could mean either. Since “angel” in the book of Revelation means “heavenly spirit” in the other 60 uses of the word in the book, then it would make sense that it means so here.

But what is the relationship between a church and their angel? The spirits are often rebuked for the actions of the churches in the next couple chapters. But this seems to be the identity responsibility of the mediator— the spirit represents God to the church and the church to God. Thus the church might often speak to the angel as God— not to worship the angel, but to bring to God the message— and Jesus might speak to the angel as the church—again, not to blame the angel, but as a representative of the church.