Who Are The 24 Elders of Revelation

n Revelation chapter four we read of twenty-four elders who sit upon four and twenty thrones and are clothed in white garments before the Lord. One of the more frequently asked questions is, "Who are the twenty-four elders?" There are many theories as to the identity of the twenty-four elders of Revelation 4:4, but most of them have no sound basis in scripture. This F.A.Q. paper will be a brief study of this question from the underpinning of Scripture in hopes of clearing up some of the mystery of the four and twenty elders that has long puzzled many Christians.

The word translated "elder" in the Old Testament is [zaqen] and in the New Testament [presbuteros], and both mean an older or senior persons. Sometimes it is translated "ancients" pointing to age for the same reason. Elder is usually used in Scripture as a designation of leaders/rulers (1st Timothy 5:17) or representative heads of a tribe/family or nation. Those who lead or rule are identified with being elders because older generally means wiser. This is where we also get the biblical convention that we should "respect our elders," though this principle of submission (Hebrews 13:17; 1st Peter 5:5) to elder leadership has suffered greatly in modern times. Nevertheless, the Scriptures often assign this title elder to heads of families (Patriarchs) or tribes, or to the rulers who led and taught the people of Israel. e.g.

Deuteronomy 31:9

• "And Moses wrote this law, and delivered it unto the priests the sons of Levi, which bare the ark of the covenant of the LORD, and unto all the elders of Israel."

Number One:

It is done as a designation of both Old and New Testaments rulers of Israel characterized by the twelve tribes or families of Israel in the old, and by the Twelve Apostles of Israel in the New. Twenty-four collectively makes up the whole household of God. This multiple of the metaphor of twelve illustrates the whole of Israel, representing the family of God. For example in the Old Testament story of the twelve brothers, the sons of Jacob were the progenitors of the twelve families of Israel. Or the twelve stars of the woman in Revelation Chapter twelve, or of the twelve Legions or companies of messengers Christ says He could pray the Father send to Defend Him (Matthew 26:53), etc., etc. This is also illustrated in its multiples by two (2x12 = 24) or multiples by twelve (12x12=144), or in multiples by thousands (144X1000=144,000. The number one thousand signifying fullness (as demonstrated in the thousand year reign in Revelation 20:3). These number metaphors can be seen culminating in the 144,000 of all the families of Israel that were sealed (Revelation 7:3-4).

Revelation 21:15-17

• "And he that talked with me had a golden reed to measure the city, and the gates thereof, and the wall thereof.
• And the city lieth foursquare, and the length is as large as the breadth: and he measured the city with the reed, twelve thousand furlongs. The length and the breadth and the height of it are equal.
• And he measured the wall thereof, an hundred and forty and four cubits, according to the measure of a man, that is, of the angel."

The 144,000 cubits of the wall of this building was according to the measure of a man that is of the messenger. This city's spiritual makeup is revealed to be of the Saints. In other words, when this Holy City is measured, that 144,00 cubit measure of a man, is the measure of the messenger [aggelos] of God. This city is made up of God's holy Messengers. Again the number metaphor of one hundred and forty-four is pointing us back to God's people as the building material of this Holy city. So these multiples of twelve referencing the body of believers have a solid foundation in the Holy Scripture.

This vivid example of New Jerusalem as a "representation" of the whole body of believers is characterized by twelve (old and New Testament saints) in a collective twenty-four, and is visualized in the building material of gates and foundations of this Spiritual City:

Revelation 21:12-14

• "And had a wall great and high, and had twelve gates, and at the gates twelve angels, and names written thereon, which are the names of the twelve tribes of the children of Israel:
• On the east three gates; on the north three gates; on the south three gates; and on the west three gates.
• And the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and in them the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb."

Clearly both the designation of twelve for the old and twelve for the New Testament messengers, make up the 24 names on the gates and foundations of Holy City. The names of twelve tribes and twelve apostles (collectively 24) encompass all the redeemed of the earth to make up the building of this house.

Number Two:

I believe the number twenty-four refers us back to the number designated as the Priests of Israel, as assigned under inspiration of God by Aaron.

1st Chronicles 24:18-19

• "The three and twentieth to Delaiah, the four and twentieth to Maaziah.
• These were the orderings of them in their service to come into the house of the LORD, according to their manner, under Aaron their father, as the LORD God of Israel had commanded him."

Twenty-four was the number of the Priestly orders inspired by God (1st Chronicles) as representative of the whole collective priesthood. I believe that these 24 Priestly courses or orders are a token pointing to the culmination of the whole redemptive and sealed Priesthood of the whole house of Israel. This is also why God says that all believers are now Kings and Priests unto God, signifying their rule as elders, and their Priesthood to minister to God's people.

Revelation 20:5

• "Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years."

The first resurrection, or [protos anastasis], was when we were first resurrected from the dead to new life with Christ Jesus. That "undeniably" was our first and only resurrection/regeneration from the dead wherein we shall never die again. Which makes it very literally impossible to be resurrected from the dead a second time. Which means of necessity, we live and reign with Christ right now.

Acts 26:23

• "That Christ should suffer, and that he should be the first that should rise from the dead, and should shew light unto the people, and to the Gentiles."

Those words translated "first that should rise from the dead" are [protos anastasis], the exact same words translated First Resurrection in Revelation chapter twenty. This reveals that "this" is the first resurrection, and it was at that time that we were made his kings (rulers) and Priests. When we are saved we are regenerated and that is when we are translated into heavenly places, seated on thrones, and forever reign with Him. But don't take my word for it, because Scripture makes it plain that there is no mistaking the chronology of our first resurrection.

Revelation 1:5-6

• "And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood,
• And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen."

Revelation twenty speaks of "this" resurrection, which is the foundation of our regeneration in Him, wherein we were given both rule/judgment (Revelation 20:4) and priesthood. The twenty-four elders reigning/ruling as kings and priests on thrones around God are revelatory characterizations of us.

The twenty-four elders of Revelation are representative characters of both the Old and New Testament and are characterized as elders because they have been given judgment, and they have rule, and they sit as kings upon twenty-four thrones signifying their appointment as Priests of Israel. I believe that the very language of them clothed in white robes also points to their having been cleansed by Christ for that very purpose.

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 3:18

• "I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see."

Revelation 1:5-6

• "And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood,
• And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen."

Revelation 5:9-10

• "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.

Note that after John sees that all of the families of Israel were sealed, the next thing John saw was this great multitude that no man could number. What he saw was the revelation of the whole house of Israel as a great people of all nations, and kindreds, and tongues. They were standing before the throne clothed in white robes declaring Salvation to their God (Revelation 7:9-10) that sits on the Throne. Or more properly understood they were saying their salvation or deliverance must be ascribed solely to God (Salvation to God). It does not (and indeed cannot) mean that they desired that God might have salvation. Rather, they are praising God in declaring that "their" salvation is attributed to Him. This again is the new song that no one but these redeemed and sealed of Israel could sing. They come from all nations of the world and they owe their redemption and salvation from death wholly to their God. As indeed the revelation of the mystery of the Gentiles being included in the house of Israel was prophesied, but sealed from man's understanding from the beginning.

Psalms 96:1-3

• "O sing unto the LORD a new song: sing unto the LORD, all the earth.
• Sing unto the LORD, bless his name; shew forth his salvation from day to day.
• Declare his glory among the heathen, his wonders among all people."

Ephesians 2:4-6

• "But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us,
• Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)
• And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus."

Romans 8:26-27

• "Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.
• And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God."

Acts 14:23

• "And when they had ordained them elders in every church, and had prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord, on whom they believed."

Colossians 1:12-13

• "Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light:
• Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son:"

I believe that the Scriptures illustrate that the twenty-four elders are relating to the redeemed children of the earth, as the twelve tribes, as the twelve apostles, and as the twenty-four cources or orders of priests designated for the service of God. All of these point to the whole household of God who are made stewards, rulers, and ministers. My prayer is that in this brief study you might begin to see that we have been regenerated in the Spirit of Christ so that we might believe in our living and reigning right now as Kings and Priests (Revelation 5:10) with our Lord in heavenly places. That we are the chosen few who have learned the song of thanksgiving for the merciful redemption that only God could give. A precious song that comes with regeneration and is in the heart of the 144,000 of the tribes or families of the house of Israel. A song "to God" (Revelation 7:10) of salvation.

Psalms 144:9-10

• "I will sing a new song unto thee, O God: upon a psaltery and an instrument of ten strings will I sing praises unto thee.
• It is he that giveth salvation unto kings: who delivereth David his servant from the hurtful sword."

    May the Lord endow you with humility and richly bless you with an understanding of the most glorious revelation of His word. May He make His face to shine upon His servants and teach us of thy statutes.