Words and Phrases

The Twenty Four Elders

We would now like to present scriptural support for the 3rd view in our study in which it is believed that the 24 elders represent the Church in its glorified condition.

As was stated in our previous post, the identity of these “elders” is considered by some brethren to be a reference to the office of the church’s priesthood and by others a reference to the books of the Hebrew Scriptures. A quick glance at the priesthood in the typical temple of Solomon will reveal a priesthood office of 24 COURSES, (1 Chron 24) which prefigures the work of the Church in the Kingdom.

A comprehensive analysis of the “24 elders” in the Book of Revelation seems to indicate that they represent the 24 divisions of the predestined office of the priesthood the Church members are to fill.

Once again, please note the following summary of the characteristics, actions, position, etc., of these “24 elders”

Rev 4:4

“And round about the throne (thronos) were four and twenty seats (thronos) and upon the seats (thronos) I saw four and twenty elders sitting . . .”

How appropriate to find the predestined Church encircling the Heavenly Father’s throne on thrones —just like promised to the overcomers of the seventh stage of the church. “To him that overcomes will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I overcome and am set down with my Father on his throne” (Rev. 3:21). “And I appoint you a kingdom, as my Father hath appointed unto me; that ye may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom and sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel” (Luke 22:29, 30).

Please note these 24 thrones, “thronos” denote a royal, ruling authority in contrast to the “bema” throne Herod sat on as a Judgment-Seat (Acts 12:21). (See Vine’s)

“Clothed in white raiment” —contextually in the Book of Revelation, the Church class is consistently prophesied to be clothed in white: “…And they shall walk with me in white; for they are worthy. He that overcomes, the same shall be clothed in white raiment …” (Rev 3:4, 5); “I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou may be rich; and white raiment, that thou may be clothed” (Rev. 3:18); “And white robes were given unto every one of them” (Rev. 6:11); “And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white; for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints” (Rev. 19:8).

The other references to wearing white refer to the Great Company and the seven angels who are closely associated with the Church.

“On their heads crowns of gold” —the “crown” of royal divine authority is promised to the Church in the Book of Revelation (Rev 2:10; 3:11). The beasts of Chapters 12 and 13 also have crowns and claim to have royal authority to rule (though we know this is not so).

Rev. 4:10

“The four and twenty elders fell down before him that sat on the throne…and cast their crowns before the throne…” The predestined Church of God in symphonic harmony with God’s four attributes will praise God forever. “All thy works shall praise thee, O LORD; and thy saints shall bless thee” (Psa. 145:10). “Praise waits for thee, O God in Zion” (Psa 65:1).

The Church by casting crowns before God WILL NOT be abdicating their authority but figuratively acknowledging or recognizing the source of their authority.

Rev. 5:5

“One of the elders saith unto me, Weep not: behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David…”

The Apostle Paul representing one course of the priesthood steps forward to identify Jesus as the Worthy one who fulfills these two roles: “It is evident that our Lord sprang out of Juda…” (Heb. 7:14.) “Concerning his Son Jesus made of the seed of David according to the flesh…” (Rom. 1:1-3). Before the Apostle Paul, no one specifically identified Jesus as fulfilling these roles.

Rev. 5:6

“In the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes…” How appropriate for Jesus to be standing in the midst of his Church giving strength (“horns”) and watching over (“eyes”) each successive stage of the Church! “In the midst of the seven candlesticks one like unto the Son of man…” (Rev. 1:13).

Rev. 5:8

“Every one of them having harps”

“The Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments constitute what the Lord himself designates ‘the harp of God.’ And the various testimonies of the law and the prophets are the several chords of that harp, which, when tuned by the Holy Spirit dwelling in our hearts and swept by the fingers of the devoted servants and searchers after divine truth, yields the most enchanting strains that ever fell on mortal ears. Praise the Lord for the exquisite melody of the blessed ‘son of Moses and the Lamb,’ which we learn through the testimony of his holy apostles and prophets, of whom the Lord Jesus is chief!” (F233.)

The Church was predestined to make harmonious melody from the Old and New Testament Scriptures. The over-comers of the Church who get the victory over the beast do so by having the “harps of God” (Rev. 15:2).

“And golden vials full of odors which are the prayers of saints” -The office of the Church is predestined to include the precious sweet-smelling fragrance of the prayers of individual saints.

Rev. 5:9

“And they sung a new song, saying…and has redeemed to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue…”

The 24 courses of the predestined Church is melodically attesting to the fact that the incumbents will be redeemed from every kindred of the earth.

Rev. 5:11, 14

“The voice of many angels round about the throne and the beasts and the elders…and the four beasts said, Amen. And the four and twenty elders fell down and worshiped him that lives for ever and ever.” In this grand and sublime Throne Scene of Revelation Chapters 4 and 5 how strange it would seem if the Church class was not somehow specifically represented in the eternal purpose of God when everyone else is pictured!

Rev. 7:13-17

“And one of the elders answered, saying unto me, what are these which are arrayed in white robes?”

A rhetorical question is asked in order to explain the existence of this class for which there was no call and which is a by-product of the Church. “One of the elders” refers to Paul again who identified and explained in some detail the Great Company class (1 Cor. 3:15; 5:5; Heb. 2:15).

Rev. 11:16

“And the four and twenty elders, which sat before God on their seats (thrones), fell upon their faces, and worshiped God,” —The church is predestined to recognize and acclaim the reign of Christ and to praise God for it.

Rev. 14:1-3

“And I looked, and, lo, a Lamb stood on the mount Sion, and with him an hundred forty and four thousand, having his Father’s name written in their foreheads…the voice of many waters, …voice of harpers…And they sung as it were a new song before the throne, and before the four beasts, and the elders: and no man could learn that song but the hundred forty and four thousand, which were redeemed from the earth.”

—Here are the faithful 144,000 who know the Truth and play on the harp of the Scriptures who will merge to fill the predestined office of the 24 elders.” (New Albany Notes of Revelation, Appendix C #79c)

In our next post we would like to present our evidence in favor of the fifth view that the 24 elders represent the 24 divisions of the Old Testament Scriptures.