The 24 Elders of Revelation- Larry Elliott
The 24 Elders of Revelation
Written by: Pastor Larry Elliott
Numerical references are an interesting thing in the Bible: creation’s 7 days, 7 angels, 7 spirits of God, 7 seals, trumpets & bowls, Daniel’s 70 weeks, Egypt’s 10 plagues, Israel’s 40 years of wandering, Jesus 40 days in the wilderness, Jonah’s 3 days in the belly of the great fish, Israel’s 400 years of Egyptian captivity, 400 years of prophetic silence, Daniel’s 1260 days = 42 months, to name a few. We are mostly left with no interpretation of the significance of these numbers – the text simply states the number and moves on.
Twelve seems to be a number of some significance: 12 months of the lunar calendar, 12 tribes of Israel, 12 Apostles, 12 gates of the New Jerusalem, 12 thousand sealed from each tribe, 12 thousand stadia of the New Jerusalem…
We are, this week, introduced to the concept of 24 elders in chapter four of The Revelation. Being quite astute, I noticed that 24 is a multiple of 12 but the number is again simply stated and not explained. Which leaves us with a number 🙄 of questions! What is the significance of this number? Who are these elders? What is their role in the heavenly order and the end times narrative?
We are familiar with the term elder from its NT usage defining leaders in the church or in the nation of Israel.
The Greek noun presbyteros, is usually defined as “older”, and in a specifically Jewish or Christian sense “elder”. The word occurs 12 times in Revelation referring to these 24 elders in the heavenly throne room. They are always identified as “the twenty-four elders” and always in conjunction with the “four living creatures” worshipping God and the Lamb. They all have thrones, wear crowns, and give any glory or accolades they have received to God and the Lamb. In chapter 5 the description is expanded to include their use of harps and “golden bowls full of incense which are the prayers of the saints.” (5:8)
While there are multiple views on how we are to identify the elders of Revelation it seems two (2) interpretations are most plausible. They are either men representative of the human race or they are angels who govern over certain aspects of the universe.
Since no clear connections with other traditions, Jewish or non-Jewish, can be established the following hypotheses to explain the 24 elders in heaven are proposed. The defense of these elders being men is found primarily in translation decisions of Rev. 5:9. From different manuscripts translators have read alternatively “ransomed people…” (ESV), “didst purchase with thy blood men…” (ASV), “hast redeemed us…” (KJV)
If us is to be accepted these may well be people who have already been redeemed and sing a new song of worship for God’s goodness to all mankind. Also commending this interpretation is the fact that these elders hold the golden bowls of incense which are the prayers of the saints – logical if these are elders of the church. Some have suggested that the 12 Patriarchs and the 12 Apostles comprise this group of elders.
Conversely, if the translation of men or people is preferred, we might lean to identifying these elders as angels in God’s presence having watched all that He has done for mankind throughout history and worshipping Him for such an amazing grace extended to His creation.
In any case, neither argument is without its difficulties and we are left with the certainty that we cannot speak dogmatically of either position. All that, to determine we do not know! 😖
J. Reiling summarizes as follows: “The elders may represent or reflect earthly institutions, such as the elders of the people of Israel (cf. Isa 24:23, quoted above; Exod 24:11), or the 24 priestly orders (2 Chr 24:1–19; cf. in the Mishnah ‘the elders of the priesthood’, Yoma 1, 5), or the twelve patriarchs and the twelve apostles (mentioned together in Rev 21:12–14) representing together the people of God of the OT and the NT, or the presbyters of the Christian church. This last interpretation would also explain why the 24 elders carry the incense which represents the prayers of the saints (5:8). But nowhere in Rev are elders or presbyters referred to as church officers.” Reiling, J. (1999). Elders.
By way of conclusion we must simply state that the highest privileges of the heavens are the worship of God and the Lamb during these final times of judgement and the ultimate renewing of God’s creation. Perhaps we should all take some harp lessons!
Written by: Pastor Larry Elliott
Numerical references are an interesting thing in the Bible: creation’s 7 days, 7 angels, 7 spirits of God, 7 seals, trumpets & bowls, Daniel’s 70 weeks, Egypt’s 10 plagues, Israel’s 40 years of wandering, Jesus 40 days in the wilderness, Jonah’s 3 days in the belly of the great fish, Israel’s 400 years of Egyptian captivity, 400 years of prophetic silence, Daniel’s 1260 days = 42 months, to name a few. We are mostly left with no interpretation of the significance of these numbers – the text simply states the number and moves on.
Twelve seems to be a number of some significance: 12 months of the lunar calendar, 12 tribes of Israel, 12 Apostles, 12 gates of the New Jerusalem, 12 thousand sealed from each tribe, 12 thousand stadia of the New Jerusalem…
We are, this week, introduced to the concept of 24 elders in chapter four of The Revelation. Being quite astute, I noticed that 24 is a multiple of 12 but the number is again simply stated and not explained. Which leaves us with a number 🙄 of questions! What is the significance of this number? Who are these elders? What is their role in the heavenly order and the end times narrative?
We are familiar with the term elder from its NT usage defining leaders in the church or in the nation of Israel.
The Greek noun presbyteros, is usually defined as “older”, and in a specifically Jewish or Christian sense “elder”. The word occurs 12 times in Revelation referring to these 24 elders in the heavenly throne room. They are always identified as “the twenty-four elders” and always in conjunction with the “four living creatures” worshipping God and the Lamb. They all have thrones, wear crowns, and give any glory or accolades they have received to God and the Lamb. In chapter 5 the description is expanded to include their use of harps and “golden bowls full of incense which are the prayers of the saints.” (5:8)
While there are multiple views on how we are to identify the elders of Revelation it seems two (2) interpretations are most plausible. They are either men representative of the human race or they are angels who govern over certain aspects of the universe.
Since no clear connections with other traditions, Jewish or non-Jewish, can be established the following hypotheses to explain the 24 elders in heaven are proposed. The defense of these elders being men is found primarily in translation decisions of Rev. 5:9. From different manuscripts translators have read alternatively “ransomed people…” (ESV), “didst purchase with thy blood men…” (ASV), “hast redeemed us…” (KJV)
If us is to be accepted these may well be people who have already been redeemed and sing a new song of worship for God’s goodness to all mankind. Also commending this interpretation is the fact that these elders hold the golden bowls of incense which are the prayers of the saints – logical if these are elders of the church. Some have suggested that the 12 Patriarchs and the 12 Apostles comprise this group of elders.
Conversely, if the translation of men or people is preferred, we might lean to identifying these elders as angels in God’s presence having watched all that He has done for mankind throughout history and worshipping Him for such an amazing grace extended to His creation.
In any case, neither argument is without its difficulties and we are left with the certainty that we cannot speak dogmatically of either position. All that, to determine we do not know! 😖
J. Reiling summarizes as follows: “The elders may represent or reflect earthly institutions, such as the elders of the people of Israel (cf. Isa 24:23, quoted above; Exod 24:11), or the 24 priestly orders (2 Chr 24:1–19; cf. in the Mishnah ‘the elders of the priesthood’, Yoma 1, 5), or the twelve patriarchs and the twelve apostles (mentioned together in Rev 21:12–14) representing together the people of God of the OT and the NT, or the presbyters of the Christian church. This last interpretation would also explain why the 24 elders carry the incense which represents the prayers of the saints (5:8). But nowhere in Rev are elders or presbyters referred to as church officers.” Reiling, J. (1999). Elders.
By way of conclusion we must simply state that the highest privileges of the heavens are the worship of God and the Lamb during these final times of judgement and the ultimate renewing of God’s creation. Perhaps we should all take some harp lessons!
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4 Comments
Really!? This is the garbage produced by Jesuit run seminary. Fire this false teacher now! COME OUT OF her MY people —The FALSEHOOD of Religion! They are all wicked! Seek THE TRUTH of YAHUAH ALOHIM today!
The word “church” is referring to occult ‘dog and pony‘ shows or circus in English. It still means this today! All religions, (especially Christian and Jewish) are OCCULT PAGANISM! They do not even recognize that is what they are! They have been hypnotized — literally — it is a real thing! Wake-up! Flee evil! Repent! Turn to your LIVING Creator and call on HIS Name YAHUAH ALOHIM and THE ANNOINTED ONE YAHUSHA THE Messiah who came in HIS FATHER’s Name for Salvation of YAH’s people. Call on YAHUAH in YAHUSHA’s Name! There is no other name under Heaven and Earth whereby man (‘mankind‘) may be ‘sealed for redemption to Eternal Life’! Be Immersed (forward into running living water) dunked forward —Mikva. Study THE Scriptures of YAHUAH—start by finding Exodus 20 and use Strong’s Word Numbers looking up in Hebrew each word numbered in Hebrew. Jew masorites or kererite scribes changed the Hebrew with false vowel marks that are not necessary and these change context, spellings, meanings of words and phrases and even names. This was from around 800’s A.D. onward. Fortunately, Fake vowel pointings Hebrew is not in “THE Dead Sea Scrolls“, which are older. There are many much older and reliable texts of Scriptures available. Try to get Scriptural Text that is not a @Masoretic Text”.
I like “The Scriptures” text; Eth Cepher (Eth Cepher Publishing Group); Lew White at Torah Institute has a Text: IBYB Version: These all have The Sacred/Kadosh Names although The Scriptures Version used what is called incorrectly “Modern Hebrew“ —it is actually Assyrian square letters bright back from Babylon/Persia.
Scripture has been violently messed with and this is necessary to find out how to please YAH and walk that and live! It is not “whatever you think” is good for you or whatever someone else said! YAHUSHA HA Mashiak (THE Messiah) said — to those who in their own mind — were satisfied that they had earned HIS approval; “...depart from ME you workers of “Iniquity” (“Antomia”; without Torah instructions = sinners). The 10 Commandments were never done away with; The Seventh Day Sabbath was never changed by YAH, nor were THE Feasts and Sacred Set-Apart Days. We are to keep these. You will know an occult because 1.) they observe the pagan days, 2.) They worship on the first day of the week — not The True Sabbath on THE Seventh Day; 3.) they scoff at those who do observe YAH’s COVENANT Calendar; 4.) They use false ones (dirties with fake names made up by men. 5.) May have disgusting steeples, pictures or images to be worshiped, also hearts, stars crescent moon symbolisms, gongs, candle lightings; 6.) They are crazy about cemeteries, they do forbidden necromancy. Pray for the dead, talk to the dead, spend time there, planting flowers, picnicking etc.
7.) Occult’s have all sorts of rituals NOT SHOWN OR COMMANDED BY YAHUAH AL SHADDAI.; Example: anti-messiah name of ‘jesus christ ’ was made up in the 1700’s. Although ~ circa 325 A.D. Constantine and his wicked scribes and the council of Nicea, Then the council of Jamnia and later (~ 768 A.D.) Charlemagne didn’t help. Greek Marcion scribal heresy — in your current “bible” another (Roman Catholic - Latin) and all their made up vocabulary such as: grace, liberty, faith, kingdom are all occult dirties! “Communion“ is a bloody human sacrifice ritual to dag_on! Google it! (THE PASSOVER of YAHUAH is once a year not every week; Leviticus 23, (unless you missed it and have to have it in ‘THE Second Month’ or ‘The Second Passover’)!
Another fraud is the word ‘bible’. Catholics changed The Ten Commandments in catholic bibles that are used all over the world. You know in you heart it is corrupt — flee evil! Find THE TRUTH! To be reserved for Eternal Life you must have a love of The Truth! Seek TRUTH diligently and you will find it! Knock and The DOOR shall be opened to you! Become part of The Temple not built with human hands! HE will change you as a new person! HIS RUACH (as breath or wind of YAH presence in your heart and mind and being in ‘Set-Apartness’ as Kadosh/sacred) will come and live inside you as “The Helper“. Study THE Scriptures of YAHUAH ALOHIM —Old and New — and learn of THE RENEWED COVENANT (THE NEW Testament).
Do NOT fall for jewish deception, to this day that religion has never accepted YAHUSHA HA Mashiach! Jewish teachings are not “THE Tribes of” nor “The Region of YAHUDAH“. Sanhedrin is a s.a.tanic worship clone mixing that false Talmud and Talmid of Babylonian kaballah — mixed in and then call that garbage “Torah Instructions” — which it is NOT! This is as the hissing deceiving serpent in THE Garden of Eden —a small amount of Truth with a whopper lie that causes false reasoning—then sin. Turn today to THE Messiah YAHUSHA and be obedient to HIM! Do not wait!
FINALLY!!!!!
One speaking TRUTH!
What a ray of Light! on a bedarkened light deceived Globe! where the LIE prophetically prevails!
EVERYTHING IN/ABOUT/OF THIS WORLD IS A LIE.
All praises to our TRUTH-
YAHUAH ALOHIM!
AND
YAHUSHA HA MASHIACH!
So much to say.
But let me ask, what are your thoughts on the "24 Elders"
That statement is truly repulsive. How dare you bring the scrolls that have been tampered with by demon possessed trash? You should be ashamed of belittling God's almightiness and wisdom in keeping His word intact!
Yo ELISHEBA,
Don’t make have to come over there & give ya the Stone Cold Stunner!!! 🤪🤪🤪