| The 24 Elders Of Revelation |
In the book of Revelation we learn about the 24 elders. They are first seen in Revelation chapter four. Those of the pre-trib persuasion believe that the church was raptured in verse one and that the 24 elders are symbolic of the church, but upon further evidence in Revelation we discover that the 24 elders can’t be the church. Let me show you from Scripture:
Revelation 5:7-10
7 And he came and took the book out of the right hand of him that sat upon the throne.
8 And when he had taken the book, the four beasts and four and twenty elders fell down before the Lamb, having every one of them harps, and golden vials full of odours, which are the prayers of saints.
9 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;
10 And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth. (KJV)
From looking at the KJV it appears that the elders are singing about what the Lord had done for them, but this is incorrect, as is now admitted by all scholars that the KJV mistranslates this passage by using the first person plural, when the third person plural should be used. The song does not sing of what
Christ has done for those who are singing, but of what he has done
for men as seen in the NASB:
Revelation 5:7-10
7 And He came, and He took it out of the right hand of Him who sat on the throne.
8 And when He had taken the book, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, having each one a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints.
9 And they sang a new song, saying, "Worthy art Thou to take the book, and to break its seals; for Thou wast slain, and didst purchase for God with Thy blood men from every tribe and tongue and people and nation.
10 "And Thou hast made them to be a kingdom and priests to our God; and they will reign upon the earth." (NASB)
It is easy to see from the NASB that the 24 elders are not singing that they are kings and priests to God, or that they were redeemed with the blood of Lamb, but rather that “ men from every tribe and tongue and people and nation” were. Also if you look again, the 24 elders are not the only ones who sing this song, but the four living creatures sing it as well!
Most likely, the elders are an angelic group providing this worship. Their continuous praise supports this view and the fact that they serve with, but are distinguished from, the four living creatures (4:11; 5:9-10; 11:17-18; 19:4). The twenty-four elders are beings who live in heaven and worship God at his throne. Though they are crowned and dressed in white, they clearly do not represent the church. These leaders sing of human believers, not about themselves (5:9). In view of their actions, such as worshiping and offering bowls of incense, they seem to be a special order of angels.
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