Who Are the 24 Elders?

Throughout the book of the Revelation of Jesus, there are many moments when we are invited to come up higher and see and hear. As you listen be blessed, empowered and transformed in Jesus name.

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Transcript

00:00 Intro music and voice over.

Welcome to jesus loves the world podcast. For more information and free resources visit our website jesuslovestheworld.info Be blessed empowered and transformed in Jesus’ name! 

00:21 Speaker

In these times in which we live, there is much discussion around what is yet to take place. Throughout the book of the Revelation of Jesus, God reveals much about what has already taken place, the world in which we live in and the ultimate end of it all. The book of the Revelation of Jesus was written in a time when one the most unjust and brutal empires of humanity was in power.

As it is written in an apocalyptic style, the book of the Revelation of Jesus is rich in symbolism, word pictures and visions that transcend time itself. So in amongst the injustices and brutality of this world, the kindness and justice of God shines through.

Throughout the book of the Revelation of Jesus, there are many moments when we are invited to come up higher and see and hear. 

Turn with me to the book of the Revelation of Jesus and let us go to the first mention of an open heaven. 

Revelation 4:1-4 After these things I looked, and behold, a door standing open in heaven. 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.” Immediately I was in the Spirit; and behold, a throne set in heaven, and One sat on the throne. And He who sat there was like a jasper and a sardius stone in appearance; and there was a rainbow around the throne, in appearance like an emerald. Around the throne were twenty-four thrones, and on the thrones I saw twenty-four elders sitting, clothed in white robes; and they had crowns of gold on their heads. 

As we are invited to come up higher and see into heaven, way above the injustices of this world, we see a throne and the one who sat on the throne. In the position of ultimate power is the Eternal One who sits on the throne in heaven. 

There is light and the colours of light are visible around the throne. It is spectacular, awesome and majestic.

For it is from this place of ultimate, power and authority that God - Father, Son and Spirit -  spoke light into the darkness and filled the earth with His glory. Around the one who sits on the throne, in amongst all this splendour are 24 thrones. 

On these thrones are 24 elders. Each one is seated upon their throne. Clothed in white robes and crowns of gold upon their heads, each one is placed in the same position of honour and identity, victory and equality, intimacy and love. 

Earlier in the book of the Revelation of Jesus, the resurrected Jesus promises those who receive Him, receive God and worship only Him, that He will clothe them in His garments of white. White symbolising Jesus’ purity, innocence, honour and identity. The 24 elders are clothed in Jesus’ purity, innocence, honour and identity, positioned around the throne. 

Jesus also promised earlier in the book of the Revelation of Jesus that those who receive Him, receive God and worship only Him, will receive His crown of life. Jesus will testify of them to the Father and before all the angels. They will be granted to sit with Jesus upon His throne, just as Jesus also sat down with the Father upon His throne. 

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The same position and relationship that Jesus the Son of God has with God the Father, He grants to all who receive God, receive Him. 

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The 24 elders have Jesus’ white garments, golden crowns and are in a position of power and authority. In intimacy and honour they are seated around the throne of God. 

Let us continue and discover more about the 24 elders. 

Revelation 4:9-11 Whenever the living creatures give glory and honor and thanks to Him who sits on the throne, who lives forever and ever, the twenty-four elders fall down before Him who sits on the throne and worship Him who lives forever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying “You are worthy, O Lord, To receive glory and honor and power; For You created all things, And by Your will they exist and were created.”

Before the throne of the one who lives forever and ever, the 24 elders from their position of honour, cast their crowns. Out of a revelation of who the Eternal One is and what He has done, each one of the 24 elders in an intense manner, acknowledges the one who is the ultimate ruler and king. The one who has given them the victory, the position of power, the royal status, identity and intimacy with God. 

The 24 elders worship Him who lives forever and ever and cast their crowns before Him saying, 

“You are worthy, O Lord, To receive glory and honor and power; For You created all things, And by Your will they exist and were created.”

They testify that the one who lives forever is worthy to receive glory, honour and power, for He created all things. For it was and is His good pleasure and heart’s desire to create. He created out of love, for us to be loved and to give love. God created out of love because that is His nature. For He is love. 

Out of a revelation of who the Eternal One is, the 24 elders acknowledge, honour and worship Him.  

Let us continue on.

Revelation 5:5-10 But one of the elders said to me, “Do not weep. Behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has prevailed to open the scroll and to loose its seven seals.”

And I looked, and behold, in the midst of the throne and of the four living creatures, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as though it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent out into all the earth. Then He came and took the scroll out of the right hand of Him who sat on the throne.

Now when He had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each having a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints. And they sang a new song, saying:

“You are worthy to take the scroll, And to open its seals; For You were slain, And have redeemed us to God by Your blood Out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation, And have made us kings and priests to our God; And we shall reign on the earth.”

John was weeping as there was no one worthy to open the scroll and loose the 7 seals. He was weeping because the scroll and seals must be opened so the judgment and elimination of evil can take place. As once this is done, all those who have received Jesus, receive God, can enter into the fullness of their salvation. 

But one of the elders testifies, Behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has prevailed. He is the lamb who was slain and is alive forever more. 

These animal word pictures are symbolic references to Jesus. The lion represents the truth that Jesus is the king of all kings, the Eternal One who became human, was born into the tribe of Judah, which is the same Jewish lineage of the Ancient Israel king David. 

In humility the God the Son came in love and truth. The lamb represents how Jesus subjected Himself to the brutality, dirt and shame of humanity and was crucified. The king who became the servant, the innocent sacrificial lamb. But death could not hold Him, He was raised from the dead and is alive forever more. 

How wonderful and marvellous is He! Jesus stands in the midst of the throne, the 4 living creatures and the 24 elders. 

Each of the 24 elders had a harp which is symbolic of worship in song, and golden bowl full of a sweet aroma, which are the prayers of the saints. 

After Jesus takes the scroll, together the 24 elders sing a new song. They testify of who God is and all He has done.

“You are worthy to take the scroll, And to open its seals; For You were slain, And have redeemed us to God by Your blood Out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation, And have made us kings and priests to our God; And we shall reign on the earth.”

The number of the elders is also symbolic. 24 is 2 x 12. The number 2 throughout God’s love story the Bible represents true witness. To go deeper in this please listen to our podcast, Unravelling the Mystery of Numerals in God’s Love Story - 2

The first group of 12 is a reference to the Old Testament and the 12 tribes of Ancient Israel. It is symbolic of all those who received God and His right to rule and reign from the Old Testament era. The second group of 12 is a reference to the New Testament and the 12 Apostles.

So the 24 elders are all those throughout the ages, that is from the beginning of time itself until Jesus returns who have received God, received Jesus and His right to rule and reign. They are the true witnesses who testify of who Gd is and all He has done. They worship only Him who lives forever and ever. 

Revelation 7:11-12 All the angels stood around the throne and the elders and the four living creatures, and fell on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, saying: “Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom, Thanksgiving and honor and power and might, Be to our God forever and ever. Amen.”

Out of a revelation of who God is and all He has done, together with all the angels and the 4 living creatures, the elders fall done in humility before the throne of God. There is a declaration of identity and relationship. Having received God, received Jesus and His right to rule and reign, their creator is their God. Him alone will they worship. 

Let us continue.

Revelation 11:15-18 Then the seventh angel sounded: And there were loud voices in heaven, saying, “The kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ, and He shall reign forever and ever!” And the twenty-four elders who sat before God on their thrones fell on their faces and worshiped God, saying: “We give You thanks, O Lord God Almighty, The One who is and who was and who is to come, Because You have taken Your great power and reigned. The nations were angry, and Your wrath has come, And the time of the dead, that they should be judged, And that You should reward Your servants the prophets and the saints, And those who fear Your name, small and great, And should destroy those who destroy the earth.

The 24 elders, clothed in white, with crowns of gold, seated on a throne, holding a harp and a golden bowl of sweet aroma, fall on their faces and worship God. They are in awe and wonder of God. In a relationship of intimacy and love that God personally initiated and fulfilled, the 24 elders testify of things to come. 

“We give You thanks, O Lord God Almighty, The One who is and who was and who is to come, Because You have taken Your great power and reigned. The nations were angry, and Your wrath has come, And the time of the dead, that they should be judged, And that You should reward Your servants the prophets and the saints, And those who fear Your name, small and great, And should destroy those who destroy the earth.”

Out of the revelation of who God is and all He has done and who they are in Him, being made priests and kings, the 24 elders testify of the present reality.

“You are worthy to take the scroll, And to open its seals; For You were slain, And have redeemed us to God by Your blood Out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation, And have made us kings and priests to our God; And we shall reign on the earth.”

Having received God, received Jesus and His right to rule and reign, in an intense manner acknowledge the one who is the ultimate ruler and king. 

“You are worthy, O Lord, To receive glory and honor and power; For You created all things, And by Your will they exist and were created.”

So together with all creation we testify, Amen!

19:40 Outro music and voice over. 

For more information and free resources visit our website jesuslovestheworld.info Be blessed empowered and transformed in Jesus’ name!