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.
Ver. 20. The mystery] In this whole book there are so many words, so many mysteries, which made Cajetan forbear to comment upon it; a though many monks (far less able than he) thought it a goodly thing to be meddling in these mysteries, which they as little understood as he that derived Apocalypsis of Απο , re, et clipsor, quod est velo, quoth Faber the Augustinian monk.
Are the angels] Ministers are fitly called stars, which affect these inferior things by motion, light, and influence.
Are the seven churches] Lighted by Christ the High Priest morning and evening continually; and thereby as much differenced from the rest of the world, as Goshen was from Egypt in that palpable darkness. But now (alas) they have sinned away the light, and are fearfully darkened. Let us take heed how we put our light, not under a bushel but under a dunghill, as do our libertines, so that we may well cry out with Polycarp, Deus, ad quae nos tempora reservasti? Lord, what times are these?
a Apocalypsim fateor me nescire exponere iuxta sensum literalem: exponat cui Deus concesserit.