Nmeaning of 24 elders in the book of revelation

The book of revelation can be daunting and confusing to read, with its vivid imagery and sounds. Oct 01, 20 the specific names of each of the twentyfour elders of revelation 1 are as follows. Once finally in heaven, the elders had been given white robes, indicating their newfound purity, and they were also granted ruling authority over the earth. The number twelve is often used in the bible to signify perfection of governance. Nov 09, 2016 that would allow the 24 elders to represent a group of beings, such as all the angels or the 144,000 taken from the 12 tribes, and the great crowd who come out of the great tribulation. Antichrist, armageddon, 666, tribulation, rapture, millennium, israel, second coming, mark of the beast, revelation, daniel, and much more. Nov 19, 2015 who are the twentyfour elders from the book of revelation, chapters 4,5,7,11. May the grace and peace of the lord be multiplied to you the twentyfour elders are in heaven, before the throne of god and are sitting upon thrones. Conclusion exegesis is about reading meaning out of a passage, and not into it. It is significant that the 24 elders are seen in the new testament and not in the old testament.

Many bible teachers affirm that john was merely saying he was having a religious reverie on a sunday. Their identity is not given directly but much can be learned by the clues provided. The book of revelation describes a group of people known as the twentyfour elders, who surround the throne of god in heaven and who sing his praises. He made it known by sending his angel to his servant john, 2 who testifies to everything he saw. This group in their song of praise says that they have been redeemed by the blood of the lamb and are present in heaven before the seals are opened. These smaller groups were sufficient to carry out the necessary duties and represented the entire priesthood while on duty. There are seven references in revelation to this group and what they are doing.

Revelation 4 and 5 describe the throne room of god in heaven and its activities. The twentyfour elders are not literal people, they represent something. The parallel between daniel 7 and revelation 5 is striking and leads to the conclusion that the 24 elders in the book of revelation are the same ones described in daniel 7. Mar 21, 2010 revelation chapter 5 and i saw in the right hand of him that sat on the throne a book written within and on the backside, sealed with seven seals. Who the 24 elders represent can be very important in. A suggestion that some scholars have made is that there seem to have been twentyfour courses of jewish priests in the first century.

I refereneced the ot cloud of witnesses in hebrews 11. The 4 living creatures and 24 elders are mentioned numerous times in revelation. The apocalypse, or revelation to john, the last book of the bible, is one of the most difficult to understand because it abounds in unfamiliar and extravagant symbolism, which at best appears unusual to the modern reader. I may have been close, but in looking at the elders function, consider who they really are.

What is important in this vision is the worship god receives from all of creation. However, johns aim is not to confuse the reader, but rather to bless them revelation 1. The bible does not specifically provide the identity of these elders. Therefore, there is no biblical precept for spiritualizing the 24 elders as anything but 24 elders. Numbers by the book who are the 24 elders of revelation. Around the throne was a halo as brilliant as an emerald. And the first voice which i heard was like a trumpet speaking with me, saying, come up here, and i will show you things which must take place after this. So all these 24 s are about or related to the completion of the bride. Saint john described the scene, before the throne there was a sea of glass like unto crystal. During the time jesus was on earth, rev ch4 has 24 elders from unfallen worlds.

The specific names of each of the twentyfour elders of revelation 1 are as follows. Since the 24 elders of revelation represent the church in heaven, this means that the church the body of christ and his brideis complete, since she has received her rewards i. Come and travel along with a man called the elder and his angelic guide as the end times are revealed throughout the book of revelation in stunning detail. During my study of the book of revelation, i decided to dig deeper into the identity of the 24 elders that are first introduced to john in revelation 4. Most biblical scholars believe that the twentyfour elders in the book of revelation represent the twelve tribes of israel and the twelve apostles. Around gods throne are four cherubim, twentyfour elders, and one hundred million angels. Lectures on the book of revelation grand rapids, mi. Apparently not, since they are depicted as being together with, but distinct from, the 24 elders. Given the lack of obvious reference by the author, and multiple compelling reasons we should not suspect to find multiple evildoing kings in front of the throne of god, the exegetical case suggests the 24 elders of revelation are not the 24 kings the op has identified. I t is most important to realize that the book of revelation is purely spiritual symbolism and not prophecy at all.

Clarence larkin is best know for his hand drawn illustrations of dispensational timelines and end time events, particularly for the tribulation. Since the number 12 signifies a divinely balanced organization, 24 doublesor strengthenssuch an arrangement. He wrote, around the throne were twentyfour thrones, and on the thrones i saw twentyfour elders sitting, clothed in white robes. Program transcript series 24 elders, the episode titled who are the 24 elders 24 elders, the who are the 24 elders. However, some information is provided that allows us to rule out some possibilities and. The twentyfour is the number of the priestly courses as given in 1. The four living creatures and twentyfour elders in. The 24 elders first appear in revelation 4 and are described as sitting around the throne in heaven.

Who are the 24 elders mentioned in the book of revelation. Since the church is a kingdom of priests, these 24 elders represent the church as a whole. Apr, 2018 in revelation 5 we hear of the twentyfour elders again. This is the word of god and the testimony of jesus christ. More specifically, they may either represent 1 the church, 2 representatives of israel, or 3 the twelve patriarchs and twelve apostles matthew 19. They are mentioned throughout the book and seem to play an important role. Twentyfour elders appear in the book of revelation 4.

Examples include twelve months in a year, twelve hours in a day. Of course, this is no great problem because the identity of the twentyfour elders is probably not vital to the overall understanding of revelation. Jul 03, 2014 we know this is the lord jesus christ sitting on the throne by what we read in revelation 4. Are the 12 patriarchs and 12 apostles the 24 elders in. The twentyfour 24 elders in revelation who are they. If the 24 elders were angels then they wouldve been in the visions of heaven in isaiah and ezekiel. Nevertheless, since they are mentioned rather prominently, it is only natural to ask who they are. So, the 24 elders represents the 144,000 in their glorious heavenly position. Jul 04, 2006 who are 24 elders mentioned in revelation. The book of revelation nowhere specifically identifies who the twentyfour. Rather, it is a book of mystical teaching, relating especially to the esoteric experiences of the evolving consciousness.

In his commentary on the book of revelation larkin states the the 24 elders are the 12 sons of israel and the 12 apostles. John, calling himself the elder, had met the 24 elders, and in doing so, presented a great mystery. This list is simply the combination of the hebrew patriarchs rev. One of the 24 elders is called upon, instead of an angel that normally explains things in revelation, because they are the only ones within gods throneroom that has personally experienced salvation. Jun 09, 2009 when completed, there will be 24 divisions, each with 6,000 conquerors, for revelation 14. A throne was there in heaven, and on the throne sat 3 one whose appearance sparkled like jasper and carnelian. An important interpretative issue in the book of revelation revolves around the identity of the 24 elders. These rewards were promised explicitly to the church revelation 1. According to the watchtower the 24 elders represent the 144,000 as a group. Around the throne were twentyfour thrones, and on the thrones i say twentyfour elders sitting, clothed in white robes.

These elders are spirit beings created by god to be his wise and intelligent counselors. From the text, we can understand the following things about them. Alan talks about the 24 elders seen in chapter 4 of the book of revelation. They were dressed in white and had crowns of gold on their heads. They were created before the physical creation, along with cherubim gabriel, michael and lucifer are the only three mentioned in the bible, the seraphim, the four living creatures and the billions of other angels that serve god. The 24 elders in revelation hold bowls of incense, which are the prayers of the saints rev. Study the bible online using commentary on revelation 5. It had a massive, high wall, with twelve gates where twelve angels were stationed and on which names were inscribed, the names of the twelve tribes of the israelites. Please explain the twentyfour elders standing around the throne of god. The book of revelation often called the revelation to john, apocalypse of john, the revelation from jesus christ from its opening words, the apocalypse, the revelation, or simply revelation is the final book of the new testament, and consequently is also the final book of the christian bible. A lot of the book of revelation is referring to old testament, therefore i believe it is possible that we can make reference to the living creatures talked in revelation 4. Around that throne were 24 thrones, and on the thrones sat 24 elders dressed in white clothes, with gold crowns on their heads. God would not have given it to us if its meaning were entirely a mystery.

The first mention of the 24 elders is in the fourth chapter of revelation. Are the twentyfour elders of revelation 45 angels or humans. This page, the first in a series of four, will begin to explore the identity of. And they sang a new song, saying, worthy are you to take the scroll and to open its seals, for you were slain, and by your blood you ransomed people for god from every tribe and language and people and nation verse 9.

Before i begin to tell what i consider their meaning to be, i want to point out that spiritual symbolism can usually be interpreted in many ways that are accurate and were intended to be applied. It had a great and high wall, with twelve gates, and at the gates twelve angels. You may be, at least for a time, one of the 24 elders. Some say this number symbolizes the 12 tribes and the 12 disciples combined to suggest the union of old testament and new, but i think its exclusive to the church. The figure 24 is probably taken from 1 chronicles 1chr.

This depiction supports a pretrib rapture because from a chronological perspective of. I dont know that anyone can tell you with certainty exactly what or who the 24 elders represent, but i will try to give you a reasonable explanation of them. The second clue is found in the number of elders and their role in laying the foundations of the old and new. The book known by the name of the apocalypse, has seemed to be until now unintelligible, merely because people persisted to see in it a real prediction of the future, which every one has explained after his own fashion, and in which they have always found what they wanted, namely anything but that, what the book contained. The key to understanding the book of revelation is to interpret it as literally as possibleit says what it means and means what it says. We have written a short paper on who the 24 elders are in the book of revelation. Ford identified the 24 as the great men of the faith listed in sirach 4449, although few have been persuaded by her argument. There are some who falsely claim that the 24 elders are taken from saved mortals. Many christian churchs do not answer this question. They are not members of the unnumbered host of the redeemed because one of the elders asks john who the great multitude from every nation, kindred, people and tongue is revelation 7. Our group agrees that the answer provided is biblically sound and those who would like an answer to this question, can find one here.

The 24 elders in revelation what do the scriptures say. As far as the 24 elders is concerned, i believe it is a literal number. Nov 17, 2017 if there is no pretrib rapture then who is the multicultural group of persons in revelation 5. This erroneous teaching comes from a mistranslation of revelation 5. Can you tell me who or what the 24 elders in revelation represent. The big question that i got out of reading this article was, are the living creatures mentioned just metaphors or references toward old testament prophecy. The reference to the 24 elders in the book of revelation can be first found in revelation 4. In these chapters god tells us what eternity with him will be like. Apr, 2018 the 24 elders in revelation 45 are a good testcase for methods of interpretation in this unusual book. The point is immaterial, as the meaning is the same.

The first clue is found in the apparel worn by the elders. In most cases, the 24 elders are either angles or humans. The whole priesthood of old was represented by 24 elders 1chr. The last words of jesus featuring very special guests dr. Please check the reference to make sure it is correct. I was not a christian, although later on in life in my 30s, i did experience christianity, hinduism and islam, but i became fascinated with the book named the bible in my teens, i say book because that was what it was to me. Why is one of the 24 elders called upon to explain things to john. The word elder in the majority of places where it is used in the scriptures means the representative head of a city, family, tribe or nation, so the four and twenty elders are representative of the redeemed human race. I searched the meaning of 24 to try to see if i can see what the most likely meaning is of the 24 elders seated in heaven in the book of revelation. This actually provides another clue to the fact that the 24 elders represent the church and not angels. The book of revelation does not tell us distinctly who these 24 elders are, but in chapter 21 we learn about the 12 tribes of israel the names of the patriarchs and the twelve apostles. They appear 7 times in the revelation, and there are always 24. But as it stands, the author of revelation gives no obvious reason to link together these 24 kings in such a way with his 24 elders.

In both visions, they refer to a heavenly group, a court of elders, that is sitting on thrones around god himself. Based on these descriptions, these twentyfour elders represent those who worship the lord. It may also be significant that the elders and their thrones are not mentioned after rev 19. Encounter 72 of gods mighty angels from the book of revelation. On the one hand he says they do not represent the church, but in the same sentence affirms the false idea that this proves the rapture occurs before the tribulation. However, they are most likely representative of the church. Who are the twenty four elders in the book of revelation.

The book of revelation nowhere specifically identifies who the twentyfour elders are. There are a few unusual views for the 24 elders we should probably set aside early on. The four beasts and twentyfour elders revelation 4 pastor bruce. There are three clues that the bible gives about the identity of the elders. Guest article by steven sherman at armageddon books bible prophecy bookstore. Further, the elders also worship the lord revelation 4. The elders are mentioned in chapters four, five, eleven and nineteen of revelation. Mar, 2009 i had previously suggested that the 24 elders were ot saints who believed god, looking for his christ.