^2:1“To the angel^[a] of the church in Ephesus write:
These are the words of him who holds the seven stars in his right hand and walks among the seven golden lampstands.

“To the angel of the church in Ephesus write:

These are the words of him who holds the seven stars in his right hand and

This is part of the vision John saw in the first chapter (Revelation 1:16). The right hand denotes the hand of power and authority.

walks among the seven golden lampstands.

This, too, is where John's vision in Chapter 1 opens with "him like a son of Man" in the midst of the lampstands (Revelation 1:12). The fact that "he" walks among the golden lampstands verifies that these lampstands really do exist and may be removed (Revelation 2:5).

^[a] Or messenger; also in verses 8, 12 and 18