Most of us appreciate the tease of a good riddle. As an example, “Jim’s father has three sons: Snap, Crackle and ____? “ (See answer below.) Sometimes the answer is veiled within a set of facts, and in some cases their answer contains the solution for yet another riddle that lingers behind. Within the Bible there are riddles (i.e. the inscription prophecy of Zechariah 3:8-10) and other times we might view a matter as veiled, when the answer may be right in front of us.
(Answer: Jim)
The question becomes, who are the twenty-four elders found in the Book of Revelation? Who or what do they symbolize? This has produced various views and interpretations over time. One of the most interesting things about the Book of Revelation is that it has a total of 404 verses and within them are almost 800 allusions or references (not illusions) found in the Old Testament. In other words, these different elements/symbols found in Revelation are explained somewhere else in Scripture. Many have said, you can’t understand Revelation unless you understand the Old Testament!
In fact, John would have expected his readers to know the Old Testament.
So what are the implications of 24? Where do we find this in the Old Testament? Or in the New Testament? Conjecture by some suggest the 24 elders are angels and others believe they represent the 12 Tribes of Israel and the 12 Apostles, or the convenience of 12+12=24. But Scripture does not seemingly support either of these conclusions.
How is the number 24 related to Christ’s rule? It is interesting to note that Psalm 72 lists 24 things that Jesus Christ, as High Priest after the order of Melchizedek, will do when He sits upon His throne and rules as King and Priest during His Millennial reign.
But the first major event surrounding the number 24 is found accordingly in 1st Chronicles 24. It is here in verses 1-19 that King David divides the Aaronic priesthood into 24 courses or 24 separate offices in order to conduct the house of God. The Chronicler denotes the division of Aaron’s sons for the priesthood but it is not to be confused with the Levitical priesthood that supports them. Aaron’s first two sons, Nadab and Abihu, died prematurely and had no sons. Therefore, his two remaining sons Eleazer and Ithamar were called to execute the priest’s office. King David divides the priesthood by lots among the 16 sons of Eleazer and 8 sons of Ithamar to govern the duties inside the Tabernacle or sanctuary of God. Among these 24 courses it is interesting to note that the eighth is that of Abijah or Abia, which is mentioned (Luke 1:5) as the course which Zechariah was of, the father of John the Baptist.
What is the significance of this Old Testament event? How does this apply to the Church?
What is notable is that every one of the 24 sons were assigned a specific duty within the priesthood. No one was excluded and it is the first time we see 24 impaneled or governing senior leaders ruling or governing within the house of God.
Likewise, as Christian believers we know that the distribution of gifts by the Holy Spirit enables each of us to minister within the Body of Christ, and that by the diversity of these gifts there is not only a division of labor but unity in the Body. No one is excluded, no one is dispensable. Thus, we are all called into a royal priesthood: “you also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ…. But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.” (1st Peter 2:5,9)
Okay, but how does this connect to the twenty-four elders found in Revelation?
“And round about the throne were four and twenty seats: and upon the seats I saw four and twenty elders sitting, clothed in white raiment; and they had on their heads crowns of gold.” (Revelation 4:4)
The word for “seats” is the Greek word “thronos” (Strongs G#2362) and it means “seats assigned to kings or judges, a stately seat or throne, seat of power.” From this word is derived “throne.”
Thus, what is being depicted is that these elders are to some degree in a position of ruling. As you read further in Revelation, we discover that these elders are not just observing.
As we are thrust into the throne room of Heaven with John, we are introduced to these elders and they appear to be a completed group. The elders represent leadership of the Church.
What we understand they CANNOT BE are Tribulation believers. How do we know that? Because based on Revelation 7:13-14 they are positioned to explain who the Tribulation believers are to John the Apostle. In effect, one of the 24 elders answers his own question in providing the explanation:
“Then one of the elders answered, saying to me, “Who are these arrayed in white robes, and where did they come from?” And I said to him, “Sir, you know.” So he said to me, “These are the ones who come out of the great tribulation, and washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.”
And from chapter 7 we also learn they CANNOT BE angels:
“And all the angels stood round about the throne, and about the elders and the four beasts, and fell before the throne on their faces, and worshiped God,” (Revelation 7:11)
So it is clear from this passage that the 24 elders are distinct from “all the angels.”
Nor can the 24 elders represent the Nation of Israel based on Revelation 7 & 12.
WHAT ARE THE DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS OF THESE 24 ELDERS?
- They sit on thrones or seats of power. (Revelation 3:21; 4:4)
- They are clothed in white raiment (Revelation 3:5, 4:4)
- They are wearing crowns of gold. (Revelation 2:10; 3:11; 4:4)
- They sing the Song of the Redeemed (Revelation 5:8-10)
- They are called “Elders; Kings & Priests” (Revelation 5:10)
I encourage you to review these verses. All of these characteristics are ones that we as Christian believers can identify with.
It is interesting to note that in the Bible there are only two “Kings and Priests”: Melchizedek and the Lord Jesus Christ who rules in the “order of Melchizedek.” (Genesis 14:18-20; Hebrews 7, 5:5-6). And now we learn in verse 10 that these elders are made kings and priests as well.
“Now when He had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each having a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints. 9 And they sang a new song, saying:
“You are worthy to take the scroll,
And to open its seals;
For You were slain,
And have redeemed us to God by Your blood
Out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation,
10 And have made us kings and priests to our God;
And we shall reign on the earth.” (Revelation 5:8-10)
Now, take a look at verses 9,10. Who has God redeemed by the blood of the Lamb? US! From where? From EVERY tribe, tongue, people and nation. US! That is what these 24 elders are singing in the Song of the Redeemed.
So, who are they? THEY represent US, the REDEEMED. The 24 Elders represent the complete CHURCH.
Now that is really interesting. And it helps clarify what it means that “we will rule and reign with the Lord Jesus Christ during His Millennial Reign.” But you said earlier sometimes an answer to a question or riddle can lead to the solution of another riddle. What did you mean by that?
To conclude that the 24 Elders of Revelation represents the Church, the Bride of Christ it is important to understand that this leads to additional conclusions. For one, we know that before the Seven Year Tribulation begins the 7 seal judgments, 7 trumpet judgments, and 7 bowl judgments have to commence in their order. Before any of this happens, the scroll with seven seals must be opened first.
The scroll with seven seals is not opened until the Lamb of God receives it.
Where are the 24 Elders when Jesus receives the scroll?
“But one of the elders said to me, “Do not weep. Behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has prevailed to open the scroll and to loose its seven seals.”
6 And I looked, and behold, in the midst of the throne and of the four living creatures, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as though it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent out into all the earth. 7 Then He came and took the scroll out of the right hand of Him who sat on the throne.” (Revelation 5:5-7)
The Redeemed are already in Heaven, in the presence of the Lamb as He opens the scrolls with seven seals. The Church has already gone before the Bema Judgment Seat of Christ and has received their crowns and bowing before Him casts their crowns before His throne. (Revelation 4:10) Thus, within these verses what we find is that the Rapture is a pre-Tribulation event.