 The mystery of the seven stars which you saw upon my right hand, and the seven golden lampstands: the seven stars are the messengers may mean messenger or angel they are often messengers. Since 2:20 below says your wife, referring to the messenger, we should presumably understand messenger here as referring to a man. It is possible that messengers from these churches were visiting John, on Patmos, or had visited him earlier. of the seven churches, and the seven lampstands that you saw are seven churches. 