Revelation 1:16 Revelation 1:16 And he had in his right hand seven stars: and out of his mouth went a sharp twoedged sword: and his countenance was as the sun shineth in his strength. "And he had in his right hand seven stars," etc. These "seven stars" are interpreted, \ to be the seven angels of the seven churches See KNOLLYS: Revelation 1:20 See KNOLLYS: Revelation 2:8 See KNOLLYS: Revelation 2:12 See KNOLLYS: Revelation 2:18 who are called "Stars" metaphorically, as the church of God is called heaven \ and Christ is called the Sun, \ so his ministers are called stars \ for their shining both in doctrine and conversation. \ And they are said to be in Christ right Hand to teach us, first, that Christ only hath authority and power to call, appoint, and send ministers to preach the gospel. \ Secondly, that Christ is with his ministers in their work. \ The Hand of the Lord was with them. \ Thirdly, that Christ preserves his faithful ministers, and keeps them safe from the rage of devils and wicked men. Their rage shall turn to his praise, and the remainder he will restrain. \ "And out of his mouth went a sharp two-edged sword," etc. Christ’ s kingly and priestly offices were signified by his robe and girdle, \ and his prophetical office is represented here by his "sword," \ the Sword that proceedeth "out of his Mouth, which is the Word of God." \ It will discover to sinners and to saints the thoughts and intents of their hearts, cutting them to the heart, \ and pricking them in the heart. \ So shall the word of the LORD be that goeth out of his mouth, it shall accomplish that which he pleaseth, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto he sends it \ "And his countenance was as the sun shineth in his strength" When the sun shineth in its strength it produceth various effects upon the earth; the trees, the corn and the grass, etc. grow and spring, so doth the countenance of the LORD Jesus Christ: I shall instance in three various effects, first, the clear shinning of the sun after rain, causeth the tender grass to spring out of the earth, \ so doth the clear manifestations of the love and grace of God in Christ (called the Light of his Countenance; Psalms 11:7; Psalms 42:5), clear the hearts of sanctified believers, and doth make them exceeding glad, \ yea those lights and shinings of Christ makes a spring of grace, joy, and peace of the Lord, and the excellency of our God. Secondly, the clear shining heat of the sun, when the rain and dews are withheld, scorcheth and withereth the grass, and burns it up, \ so doth the rebukes of God, and his angry countenance. \ The frowns of the Almighty are dreadful, so was his fiery countenance unto Pharaoh’ s host \ Read Psalms 2:9-12, Kiss the Son, least HE be angry, and ye perish, etc. Thirdly, the clear and bright-shining of the sun in its full strength dazzleth our natural eyes (especially if they before are weak sighted). So did the shining glory of Christ cause the prophet to cry out, Woe is me, for I an undone. \ This shining glory of the sun of righteousness amazed Christ’ s three disciples, Peter, James and John, so that they fell on their faces and were afraid to look up. \ And the like effect had this vision of Christ’ s glorious countenance upon the apostle, as is testified by him in the next verse.