Stars--Angels or Apostles

QUESTION: ARE THE STARS IN REVELATION 12 A SYMBOL OF THE APOSTLES OR ANGELS? Pr. Michael Pedrin Answer: There are 2 metaphoric usages of the word star in the Bible. Revelation chapter 12 employs both. In Revelation 12:1 the woman or the church is portrayed having a crown of 12 stars. “And there appeared a great wonder in heaven; a woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and upon her head a crown of twelve stars”. The 12 stars on the woman/church are, without a doubt, a reference to the 12 apostles who were the leaders of the Christian church. This symbol of a star is also seen in the Old Testament. Once Joseph had a dream and he saw “eleven stars” which paid him homage, and they represented his 11 brothers who would one day bow down to him. “And he dreamed yet another dream, and told it his brethren, and said, Behold, I have dreamed a dream more; and, behold, the sun and the moon and the eleven stars made obeisance to me” (Gen 37:9). So, the 12 stars in the Old Testament would represent the 12 tribes of Israel, and the 12 stars in the New Testament would represent the 12 apostles of Jesus Christ, who were leaders of the church. But, the metaphoric usage of stars has also been extended to the faithful leaders/members of the church who shine bright like the stars of the sky. Daniel wrote about the time where God’s people were persecuted during the dark ages. These faithful Christians were compared to stars. Daniel 8:10 “And it waxed great, even to the host of heaven; and it cast down some of the host and of the stars to the ground, and stamped upon them.” Daniel 12:3 “And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever.” Apart from the stars being symbolically used to refer to the 12 tribes or 12 apostles or the faithful leaders/members of God’s church, the metaphoric usage of stars are also used to symbolize angels. In the very first chapter of Revelation 1 we are told that stars symbolize angels. 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.” Also, when we compare Revelation 12:4 with Revelation 12:9 we clearly have the affirmation that the stars represent the angels.

Revelation 12:4, 9 “And his tail drew the third part of the stars of heaven, and did cast them to the earth…….he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.” Referring to the angels of heaven who celebrated the creation of planet earth, the bible metaphorically addresses them as stars. “When the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy?” (Job 38:7). Conclusion: The context of a passage would determine whether the star was representing angels or men, or literal stars. In Revelation 12:1 where the 12 stars are associated with the woman/church it represents the 12 apostles. Whereas Revelation 12:4 where the 1/3rd stars are associated with the devil represent the 1/3rd of the angels that joined him in rebellion. But when no symbolism is employed then they are a reference to the literal stars of the sky.