Words and Phrases

The Twenty Four Elders

“Around the throne were twenty-four thrones, and on the thrones I saw twenty-four elders …” (Rev 4:4)

A quick search of the internet will reveal that there are various opinions held as to who precisely these elders are; in fact on this very forum we have likewise found several.

While the predominant view appears to be that they are the raptured (?) or glorified saints, i.e. the church, others suggest they are the twelve Patriarchs or tribal leaders of Israel and the twelve Apostles. Still others suggest that the elders represent the total N.T. church from Pentecost to the rapture, as well as the O.T. believers, one even suggested that they were merely 24 distinct (saved) individuals taken from the various stages of the church throughout the Gospel age.

It appears the majority believe them to be literal beings; however we believe this to be out of harmony with the general flow of this vision that it’s more likely that they have a special symbolic significance or importance, just as the rest of the beings and items described in this vision do.

Think about it for a moment, if as shown thus far the “door”, the “throne” and the one sitting upon the throne are only meant to be symbolic representations why should we now consider the twenty four elders as being anything less?

 Remember the book of Revelation is a symbolic prophecy, NOT a literal prophecy. What is being described is a portrayal or picture of what was, is and is to come. This vision was deliberately portrayed in a symbolic form, which is in symbols, “signs” so as to hide its true meaning and understanding from the world and the worldly church (the nominal Christian). The vision was only meant for the true John class (the spirit begotten) to understand, and then only in its “due time”. To all others it still remains a “sealed book”, a great mystery, which is clearly made manifest by the abundance of conflicting interpretations being published on the subject, especially of note amongst our literalist friends.

In this study we will take a look at the five of the most prevalent views (which we believe covers most of the views held on the forum with the addition of two not considered), one of which we believe fits perfectly the symbolic nature of this prophecy as well as meeting all the necessary criteria mentioned in the description of the twenty four elders.

1) Of the five most prevalent views held by many, one not mentioned on the forum is the idea that they are angels, angelic beings. This interpretation, however, cannot be correct, because the angels are mentioned separately in the vision as residing in the outer circle, surrounding the throne, the living creatures and the elders. See Rev 5:11.

2) Our next suggestion is one which was mention on the forum that they represent the twelve Patriarchs or tribal leaders of Israel and the twelve Apostles.

Although it’s true that these two groups together do add up to 24, nevertheless we cannot accept this view for several reasons. First of all there is nothing in the vision with which to substantiate such a conclusion, nothing which differentiates between the supposed two groups in fact there is nothing in the text which in anyway implies that the 24 elders were divided into two groups at all. Furthermore it is merely an assumption that there were 12 elders positioned on one side of the throne and 12 on the other. Verse 4 seems to imply that they were positioned in a circular pattern “around” the throne, with no indication of a division of the number. The angels likewise are said to be located in a similar fashion.

However the most important reason why we cannot accept this interpretation, why this cannot be a depiction of the 12 tribal leaders of Israel sitting on thrones in heaven is because the 12 sons of Jacob like that of all the faithful patriarchs of the past from John the Baptist back to Abel all lived and died prior to the death of our Lord, prior Pentecost and the begettal of the Holy Spirit. Therefore they never experienced a change of nature, and as the Apostle makes clear “Flesh and blood cannot inherit the Kingdom,” therefore we must all be changed from the earthly nature to the spiritual nature if we would inherit the Kingdom (the spiritual or heavenly phase of the kingdom). 1 Cor 15:50

The Scriptures draw a clear distinction between the reward of the Patriarchs and that of the Church. In Hebrews Chapter 11 we are informed that the faithful of the past having obtained a good testimony all died in faith (the faith of Abraham) not yet having received the promise (the promise of a “better resurrection” Verse 35, an earthly reward, an instantaneous resurrection to human perfection), “God having provided something better for us (the “First Resurrection”, a heavenly reward Verse 39, an instantaneous resurrection to spirit perfection), that they should not be made perfect (should not receive their reward), apart from us (i.e. before us, before the Church is completed and glorified).”

3) As was stated in our previous post of the five most predominant views as to whom the twenty four elders represent the most widely held is that they represent the Church in the glorified state.

Our Futurist friends naturally hold to this view, because it is the belief of many of them that the Church is glorified before any of the visions of the Revelation from Chapter 4 and on have their fulfillment. These expositors believe that the witnessing, suffering saints pictured in the several visions of the Revelation, instead of representing the Church, describe a JEWISH REMNANT in the time of Jacob’s trouble, which of course if this interpretation were correct would be after the Church is glorified. This view is disproved by every symbolic reference to these witnessing Saints throughout the Book. As a noted writer has said concerning this matter:

“We observe these saints who are thirteen times mentioned in the Apocalypse doing and bearing exactly what we know from other Scriptures the saints of the Christian Church-must do and bear in this dispensation [Gospel Age].

 We find them watching, waiting, praying, enduring tribulation (Rev 13:10), and resisting unto blood (their deaths), resting in heaven (Rev 14:12,13), and at last manifested as the Bride of Christ, and ‘the armies which were in heaven,’ clad under both emblems with the ‘fine linen clean and white,’ which is the righteousness of the saints; we find them associated with the martyrs of Jesus (Rev 17:6, killed during the Gospel age especially during the 1260 years of Papal power), a clear proof that they cannot be Jewish saints.

In short, instead of the Church being actually in heaven at the commencement of the prophetic drama of this Book, she is seen on earth during its entire course. She is seen collectively under various symbols, such as the one hundred and forty-four thousand (Rev. 7:4), and the sun-clad woman (Rev 12:1), the armies of heaven (Rev 19:14), the New Jerusalem (Rev 21:2); and her members are seen separately; singly as THE ‘SAINTS.’

They are seen first in their suffering and then in their glory; first slain for Jesus’ sake, then enthroned beside Him. Can it be questioned that the saints who pray and wait and suffer and die as martyrs of Jesus are the same saints, the ‘called and chosen and faithful,’ who are seen with the Lamb afterwards as His Bride and as His white-robed followers? If they are not, then the unity of the Book is gone. It becomes an incomprehensible mystery.”-H. G. Guinness.

In Rev 14:1-5, we find the 24 elders being mentioned in the same vision with the 144,000 of the church. Again, in Rev 19:1-7, the elders and the saints are found together; although after that we hear nothing more from the elders. This makes it difficult, if not impossible for the 24 elders to be the church, since we don’t think that the same thing would be represented by two different symbols, in the same scripture verse.

4) Another possibility that many Bible students favor is that the twenty four elders represent 24 Old Testament prophets. This seems like a likely solution at first glance, even though there are more than 24 prophets in the Old Testament (I believe there are 29). Some solve that problem by stating that there are only 24 prophets that have spoken about restitution, and this again is a possibility, although there are some difficulties and differences of opinion in choosing who they should be. One other problem with this interpretation is that when the books are opened later to do the judging (Rev 20:12), it would not include ALL of God’s word, but only those prophets who spoke of restitution.

The 24 literal prophets also have the problem that they should not be in heaven in the first place being they lived and died prior to Pentecost and therefore were never spirit begotten. These were never made any heavenly promises their rewards were all earthly promises, earthly rewards. Instead the scriptures state that they will take their share with the rest of the ancient worthy class who as, “princes in all the earth”, will constitute the Lord’s visible representatives in the earthly phase of the Kingdom.

The main reason why many “Bible Students” favor this view is due to the mistaken belief that the Pastor endorsed this position. This particular view was published in an early article written by Brother Mann in (Z. Sept ’83-5; R528). Pastor Russell in fact never expressed himself as favoring any particular interpretation on the 24 elders.

“The fact that the Pastor published this brothers view of the twenty-four Elders is by no means a proof that he endorsed it, for as a matter of fact at that time he was accepting contributions in the way of articles from a number of brethren in whose general teachings he had confidence; but he stated at the time that he would not be responsible for all their presentations. In his later years the Pastor ceased accepting articles from other brethren (most likely due to his age and time restraints. There was no way he would have had the time to proof read every contribution to see that it was in accord with the Divine Plan).” Herald of Christ’s Kingdom April 1920

5) the most likely interpretation of the 24 elders is however related to the preceding suggestion.

We found that the Hebrew Scriptures, as compiled by the Jews in the time of Christ, had 24 different divisions to them! They were able to do this by counting all the books as one apiece, with the exception of all the small books after Daniel, which are counted as only one book. This is shown in Lesser’s translation of the Old Testament, as well as an appendix in the back of the Companion Bible where it lists the books of the Old Testament, as originally given by the Jews.

The difference between this view and the previous one is that the 24 elders are NOT the LITERAL prophets themselves, but rather SYMBOLIZE them in and through their testimonies; therefore the problem with them residing in heaven is resolved. Likewise this view of the 24 elders would then represent ALL of God’s Old Testament word, and not just what the 24 who spoke on the restitution had to say!

This works out very well in the symbol, in that the 24 seats can then represent authority, and what else has more authority than God’s word.” (Revelation Notes: Southern Wisconsin)

In our next post we will examine all the relevant text and attempt to present scriptural evidence in support for both the 3rd and 5th views as these two are the most logical viewpoints presented beginning first with the 3rd and concluding with the 5th.