The Identity of the Twenty Four Elders in Revelation 4 Part Two
By: Keith Brown
In part one of this investigation, I shared many scriptures that support my belief that the twenty-four elders mentioned in the book of Revelation are indeed the true Church of Jesus Christ having been raptured to heaven prior to the tribulation. I would like now to add to that some related facts to assist you in your study.
The name ELDER is only used in the Word of God of two types of peoples. Firstly it is used of Israel in the Old Testament. Numbers 11 16-30 God told Moses to ‘Gather to Me seventy men of the elders of Israel..’ The elders mentioned in Revelation are unlikely to be the elders of Israel. We know that ‘All Israel shall be saved’ Romans 11:26 but the timing in Revelation 4 does not fit in with other key scriptures.
The second mention of elders in the Bible is of course connected to the Church. Acts 14:23 “….appointed elders in every Church..” These elders were to be overseers and representatives in the Church. This I believe is more in keeping with Revelation 4. The twenty-four elders being representative of the born again Church.
Some teach that the elders in Revelation are in fact angelic beings. But we need to understand a few things before we adopt this view. The twenty-four elders in Revelation 4:4 are seen SITTING. Nowhere in scripture do we ever read of Angels sitting! The elders of Revelation 5 are NUMBERED. See verse 11. “….and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand and thousands of thousands.” Whereas Hebrews 12:22 speaks of an ‘innumerable company of Angels’ so many that they cannot be numbered!
We must also remember that the Bible never speaks of Angels SINGING. (check it out..They always SAY never SING.) Yet we see the twenty-four elders singing! Rev. 5:9
In fact they are singing about having been redeemed by the blood…this Angels can never do, they know not what it is to have been redeemed!
I am reminded of the chorus of an old hymn:
Holy! Holy! Is what the Angels say
And I expect to help them make the courts of Heaven ring.
But when I sing redemption’s story, they will fold their wings
For Angels never felt the joy, that our Salvation brings!
My friends, the weight of the evidence in the Bible can not honestly lead us to any other conclusion. The twenty-four elders in Revelation represent the born again Church of Jesus Christ, present in Heaven before the commencement of the Tribulation! Are you ready for the sound of the trumpet? Are you ready for the rapture? Seek our Lord Jesus today!
Pastor Keith Brown runs http://www.hiscomingministries.com, where you can download free teaching on subjects such as this.
He also runs one of the internet’s only prophecy radio station at http://www.hiscomingministriesradio.com .Tune in 24/7