The 24 elders!!


As a person who formerly believed in a pre-tribulational rapture, I created a mystery about the 24 men that would help explain my position, and would be used later as a basis for my conclusion of the rapture. That is actually double talk, now that I have stopped reading into it with my pre-conceived prejudices. If what we learn about these men comes from the Scripture, then we will just accept what is written and formulate our conclusions from them using a contextual passage for correct application.

We don't know a lot about them because there are not many Scriptures that give us information, but we do have information from a few Scriptures! One passage of information that tells us information about these men is found in Revelation.

Rev 5:8-10 And when he had taken the book, the four beasts and four and twenty elders fell down before the Lamb, having every one of them harps, and golden vials full of odours, which are the prayers of saints. And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation; And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth.

Some Conclusions:

    1) They are before the Lamb worshiping Him singing a new song.

    2) They sing a song and play music because The Lamb redeemed them with His blood. No angel has ever been washed in His blood that I see in Scripture only men, thus only men are saved and able to sing a song of redemption.

    3) The song reveals they are human because they are redeemed and made to rule as kings and minister as priests reigning with Him on the earth.

    4) They have the prayers of the saints in vials, so the saints aren't all in heaven yet. The saints are on the earth and fulfilling prophecy in these endtimes as His servants during the last week of Jeremiah's prophecy that Daniel receives understanding from Gabriel concerning some specifics (Dan CH 7-12).

    5) They are called elders.

      4245 presbuteroV presbuteros pres-boo'-ter-os

      comparative of presbus (elderly); TDNT-6:651,931; adj

      AV-elder 64, old man 1, eldest 1, elder woman 1; 67

      1) elder, of age,
      1a) the elder of two people
      1b) advanced in life, an elder, a senior
      1b1) forefathers
      2) a term of rank or office
      2a) among the Jews
      2a1) members of the great council or Sanhedrin (because in early times the rulers of the people, judges, etc., were selected from elderly men)
      2a2) of those who in separate cities managed public affairs and administered justice
      2b) among the Christians, those who presided over the assemblies (or churches) The NT uses the term bishop, elders, and presbyters interchangeably
      2c) the twenty four members of the heavenly Sanhedrin or court seated on thrones around the throne of God

Here are the other verses in Revelation that we can also get some information.

Revelation 4:4 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 4:10-11 The four and twenty elders fall down before him that sat on the throne, and worship him that liveth for ever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying, Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.
    6) The elders have crowns which is given to the saved, those who have been washed in the blood wearing white showing their purity.

    7) The elders have the pleasure of worship around the throne as well as the honor to be that close in His presence.


Revelation 5:14 And the four beasts said, Amen. And the four and twenty elders fell down and worshipped him that liveth for ever and ever.
    I don't see anything new in this passage except perhaps that they know Him because they state their acknowledgment that He is eternal.


Revelation 11:16-18 And the four and twenty elders, which sat before God on their seats, fell upon their faces, and worshipped God, Saying, We give thee thanks, O Lord God Almighty, which art, and wast, and art to come; because thou hast taken to thee thy great power, and hast reigned. And the nations were angry, and thy wrath is come, and the time of the dead, that they should be judged, and that thou shouldest give reward unto thy servants the prophets, and to the saints, and them that fear thy name, small and great; and shouldest destroy them which destroy the earth.
    8) They sit on their thrones in heaven and are before God.

    9) They are aware of the anger on earth, God's wrath is about to take place, the white throne judgment will happen where our just and holy Lord will judge the small and the great, and reward His servants.


Revelation 19:4 And the four and twenty elders and the four beasts fell down and worshipped God that sat on the throne, saying, Amen; Alleluia.
    I don't see anything new in this passage.


Despite the fact that we don't have an abundance of Scripture, what we do have presents us with some very clear facts. From these facts we can make some conclusions. These men are 24 in number, they are washed in the blood and wear white as a result, have the honor as elders to be before the throne, and will rule and minister with all the saints on earth. I am a little speculative, but I see these men as people like Moses, Elijah, Daniel, Noah, Joshua, David, Adam, Paul, James, Peter, and others who were given God's grace and allowed His grace to shape them into men of renown, a mantle of eldership because they were faithful and obedient to be leaders in the small things and will now be elders in the big things.

Elder

A name frequently used in the Old Testament as denoting a person clothed with authority, and entitled to respect and reverence #Ge 50:7 It also denoted a political office #Nu 22:7 The "elders of Israel" held a rank among the people indicative of authority. Moses opened his commission to them #Ex 3:16 They attended Moses on all important occasions. Seventy of them attended on him at the giving of the law #Ex 24:1 Seventy also were selected from the whole number to bear with Moses the burden of the people #Nu 11:16,17 The "elder" is the keystone of the social and political fabric wherever the patriarchal system exists. At the present