The Identity of the
24 Elders
                                                                                         By Pastor F. M. Riley
                                                                                         June 12, 2019
     "And round about the throne were four and twenty seats: and upon the seats I saw four and twenty elders sitting, clothed in white raiment; and they had on their heads crowns of gold," Rev. 4:4.
 
Introduction
     Who are these 24 elders?  That is the question we will deal with in this Bible study.  Those readers who really want to know the identity of these elders should enjoy this study........
The Order of Events
     In Revelation 4:1-2, John experienced an instant change from his fleshly body to his spirit [soul], and was taken up into Heaven.  John's
instant change and catching up into Heaven, clearly typifies the rapture of all true New Covenant believers, 1 Corinthians 15:51-52; 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17.  This definitely portrays a pre-tribulation rapture!  
     Immediately John begins describing what he sees in Heaven.  In 4:2-3 he first describes Father God Himself sitting on His majestic heavenly throne.  Then in 4:4 John describes "four and twenty elders" seated around the throne of God.  It is the identity of these "twenty four elders" that we are concerned with in this Bible study.  Who are they?  Or who do they represent or typify?  
Their Location
         Notice that they are before God's throne in Heaven.  They are  clearly identified as saints; people who have been "redeemed," but then "caught up" [raptured] into Heaven [at the same pre-tribulation rapture typified by the rapture of John] and are appearing before the throne of God, Rev. 5:8-9.  
     The number associated with them; "24," is a symbolic number.  It is not the actual  number of saints around God's throne, for in their song of praise and worship they clearly state that God has redeemd them "out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation," 5:9.   In other words, they represent the whole "body of Christ;" the Lord's Church.   The number, "24," simply identifies them as those, who while on earth, placed their faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, receiving Him as their personal Savior. Proof of this truth?  Absolutely!  
     The inspired Word explicitly states that, during this present dispensation, a lost person is saved "by grace through faith," Ephesians 2:8.  "5" is the number in the Bible which signifies, "Grace; the grace of God"  "19" is the number in the Bible which signifies, "faith; believing faith."  Now apply these two numbers to Ephesians 2:8, and it could be read, "For by grace (5) are ye saved through faith (19); and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God."  Now add these two numbers together, and they add up to 24; the number signifying the elders sitting before the throne of God in Heaven.  These "elders" have been saved by grace (5) through faith (19), and have been "caught up" in the pre-tribulation rapture, exactly as prophesied in 1 Corinthians 15 and 1 Thessalonians 4.  
     Their Title
     John, by Divine Inspiration, explicitly refers to them as "elders."  John was not referring to their age, although this word is also sometimes used in the Scriptures in describing older people. Rather, he was referring to their position as pastors, bishops,  or overseers in the Lord's churches.
     While this term can refer to a person's age, it is used several times in the New Testament in reference to preachers of the gospel, especially the pastors or leaders of the Lord's churches.  For example, the Apostle Paul instructed Titus to ordain "elders" for the churches in every city on the island of Crete, Titus 1:5.  
Their Description & Position  
     When John was shown these "elders," he saw them sitting upon "seats" around the throne of God, clothed in white raiment, and crowns  of gold upon their heads, 4:4.  
     The English word, "seats," is translated from the Greek word, "thronos."  This Greek word literally means "throne," and is the exact same word which refers to the throne of God in Rev. 4:2, 4:4, 4:5, and numerous other places in the New Testament, and in the Book of Revelation.  See Strong's No. 2362.  So these 24 elders were sitting upon thrones around the throne of God.  This clearly indicates that these 24 elders are kings.  
     They are described as being dressed in "white raiment" [clothing].  Their white clothing symbolizes their "righteousness and purity," having been "redeemed" by the blood of Christ, 5:9.  Therefore they are qualified  to rule in the Lord God's Kingdom of righteousness.      
     Then John describes them as having "crowns of gold" upon their heads.  This is a second verification that they are kings.   
     However, they are willing subjects of Almighty God, the Great King who is sitting on the throne of Heaven itself, 4:3.  Their subjection  to God and to Christ is clearly set forth by their worship in 4:10-11, 5:8-10, and 5:13-14.
    Their position as kings is clearly confirmed by the song of praise they sing to the "Lamb of God," "And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign upon the earth," 5:10.   
Truths About These Kings
     Now let's further establish the  identify and position of these "twenty four elders"  by referring to other passages in the inspired Word.......
The Talents and the Pounds
     In Matthew 25:14-30, the Lord Himself set forth "The Parable of the Talents." Notice that this parable is stratgically placed in God's Word right after the the prophecy in Matthew 24:29-30 of the Lord's  Second Coming to take control of the whole earth, and establish His Kingom.  
      This same parable is recorded a second time in Luke 19:11-27, referred to as The Parable of the Pounds.  The two parables use just slightly different words in our English Bibles, but both parables are setting  forth the same basic truth.  
     In both parables the Lord calls His own servants, and delivers to them His goods, before leaving to go into a far country, Matt. 25:14; Luke 19:13.  In these two parables "His goods" are expressed as "talents" and "pounds."  Both terms refer to amounts of money, the English words being derived from the money which was in use when the King James Bible was translated in 1611.  
     Every true believer should know that these terms, talents and pounds, are only symbols of  what the Lord literally left to His Church and His people to take care of, before He ascended back to His Heavenly Father.
     What the Lord literally left to His Church and people to take care of in His absence, were His Word, His gospel, and His authority, by which we are to represent Him on earth in carrying out the Great Commission by teaching,  preaching,  and witnessing of Him to all nations and peoples,  Acts 1:8; Matt. 28:18-20; Mark 16:14-20; Luke 24:44-51; John 21.   
     Notice that these talents and pounds were given to the Lord's servants, each servant according to their ability to use what was given to them, Matt. 25:15.  The Lord never requires more of one of His children than what He knows each of us are capable of performing.  Never!  
     This is why the unfaithful servants are dealt with so harshly by the Lord in both of these parables.  Compare 1 Corinthians 3:15.  The Lord gave them only what He knew they were capable of using for His honor and glory, and yet they chose to use their talents and pounds to serve their own lusts for the world and for it's pleasures, Hebrews 11:24-25.     
     Now notice that in both of these parables, when the Lord returns, there will be an accounting required for our faithfulness in serving Him.
Read the inspired statement of the Apostle Paul to the Corinthian church in 2 Corinthians 5:10.  
      This accounting is referred to elsewhere in the Scriptures as "the judgment seat of Christ" [BEMA], to determine the rewards to be given to God's people for their faithfulness in serving Him during His absence from the earth during this present dispensation, 1 Corinthians 3:11-15.   
      And what will these rewards be?  Yes, these parables do tell us.  In the Parable of the Talents in Matt. 25, the rewards are to be "rulers" over many things which we will be entrusted with in the future.   In other words to rule as kings rule.     
     Then in the Parable of the Pounds in Luke 19, the rewards of the faithful are clearly stated to be authority to rule over "cities," obviously during the Millennial Kingdom of Christ.  
      So it is clearly established in both of these inspired parables that the Lord's Church and New Covenant believers are to receive authority to RULE on the earth as kings during the future Kingdom of Christ.   Now what is it that the "twenty-four elders" are singing in Rev. 5:10?  "And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth."  Doesn't this clearly  identify the "twenty four elders" in Rev. 4 and 5 as the Lord's Church and people?  Every honest reader knows that it does!  But there is.......
More Identification
     In Romans 5:17 the Apostle Paul clearly pointed out that the death of Christ will enable the true believer to "reign in life," by the fact that Christ arose and lives.  So true believers  in the Lord's churches are destined to "reign"  as "kings and priests," Rev 5:10.  
     In the Corinthian church there were many false teachings that needed correction by the Apostle Paul.  One of those false teachings was that the Church is the kingdom of Christ, and that the Lord's people are reigning now.  Absolutely false!  
      In 1 Corinthians 4:8, the Apostle Paul rebuked this false teaching by stating to that church, "Now ye are full, now ye are rich, ye have reigned as kings without us:  and I would to God ye did reign that we also might reign with you."  Here Paul obviously told them that they were not yet kings nor reigning, while expressing his wish that they were reigning, so that he could reign with them.  Obviously, the Lord's churches and people are yet destined to reign.  But not at this present time.  Our reign is yet future.  
     Now go to 1 Timothy 5:17 where the Apostle Paul instructs young Timothy with these words, "Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honor, especially they who labor in the word and doctrine."  Paul here is referring to an "elder" [pastor or preacher] spiritually ruling over one of the Lord's churches, not as a king or dictator, but rather to feed the church, encourage, admonish, and guide God's people.  See this same truth set forth in Hebrews 13:7-24.  .   In other words, the pastor is faithfully using the "Lord's goods" which were imparted to Him, exactly as set forth in the two parables we have discussed.  So here is one of the passages which definitely connect "elders" with the Lord's church.  
     Then when again writing to  young Timothy in 2 Timothy 2:12, the Apostle Paul explicitly stated, "If we suffer, we shall also reign with Him: if we deny Him, He will also deny us."  So here is one of the Lord's ministers being clearly assured that the Lord's "elders"   who are called upon to suffer for preaching and witnessing for our Lord, WILL "reign" with Christ.  Glory!
     I think the Lord has enabled me to clearly identify the "twenty four elders" which John saw in Rev. 4 and 5,  as  the Church of the Lord Jesus Christ.   It is the Lord's Church and people who are going to rule and reign with Christ upon the earth, Rev. 5:9-10.  See also 1 Corinthians 6:1-3.  
Other Scriptural Truths
     Another Biblical  truth which is glaringly obvious, but which is commonly overlooked or ignored today, is that no group of people in the entire Bible were ever promised to be given CROWNS, other than those in the Lord's Church.   Check it out for yourself.  Therefore, it is obvious that the "twenty four elders" in Rev. 4 and 5 represent the Lord's Church.  
     It is the Lord's Church which is promised to rule and reign with Him over mankind who has survived the Tribulation period, and then enters into the Kingdom of Christ.  
     And now let's let the Lord Jesus Himself verify this truth.  In His letter to the church at Thyatira in Rev. 2:18-29.  In this letter, the Lord clearly promised His church, "And he that overcometh, and keepeth My works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations:
     And he shall rule them with a rod of iron; as the vessels of a potter shall they be broken to shivers: even as I received of My Father," 2:26-27.  
      For those of our readers who may not be aware of it, the letter to the Lord's Church at Thyatira, portrays the suffering and martyrdom of the Lord's churches during the "Dark ages."  But the Lord did not, and  has not, overlooked a bit of it.   What a glorious "crown" those suffering saints are going to receive..  
     Our readers might also take note of the Lord's letter to His church at Philadelphia, 3:7-13.  That letter portrays the period of time between the Protestant Reformation and the Laodicean period we are living in today.  And just before the Lord closed His letter to Philadelphia, He warned His Church, "Behold, I come quickly: hold fast that which thou hast, that no man take thy crown," 3:11.  How many in this Laodicean Church period today are listening?   Well...???  
Yet Another Important Truth
     In writing to the Lord's Church at Rome, the Apostle Paul plainly stated in Romans 8:1,  "There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit."  The Greek word translated as "condemnation" in this Scripture is the word, "katakrima." See Strong's No. 2641.  This word literally means "judgment."  Those saints in the Lord's church have been born again, cleansed of their sin by the blood of Christ, and therefore have no judgment to face where theirs soul is concerned.  They are saved!
     This is one Scriptural reason why the Lord's Church and true New Testament believers WILL NOT enter into the Tribulation Period, or any part of it.  The Tribulation is God''s JUDGMENT upon Christ rejecting mankind.  This should be plain enough for every reader to grasp.   
     Then in 1 Thessalonians 5:9, the Lord's church at Thessalonica was plainly told, "For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation [deliverance] by our Lord Jesus Christ."  
     These two passages should make it quite clear that the Lord's Church and New Covenant believers WILL NOT go through any part of the future Tribulation Period.  None!  Rather, all true believers saved in this present Dispensation of Grace will be "caught up" to Heaven in the pre-tribulation rapture, exactly as prophesied in 1 Corinthians 15:51-52 and 1 Thessalonians 4:16-18, and as typified in Rev. 4:1-2.  .  
     Dear readers, BELIEVE what God's Word says.  Take God's Word as Diivinely Inspired literal truth.  Romans 3;4 is still in the Bible.  Take heed!  Pay attention to it!  
Right Division of God's Word
     What John was shown in Revelation 4 nnd 5 is events taking place in Heaven preceding the beginning of Tribulation judgment upon the earth below.  An account of the Tribulation period on the earth does not even begin until Revelation 6, when the first seal on the seven sealed book is opened.  
     Even then, there is an interval of time between the beginning of the Tribulation and the pouring out of the Tribulation judgments.  This interval is commonly missed or ignored by most commentaters and  "prophecy teachers," nevertheless it is clearly stated in 7:1-3.  The Tribulation  judgments; the wrath of the Lamb,  begins only AFTER the salvation and sealing of the 144,000 Jewish believers.
The Great Blood Washed Multitude
       As a result of these judgments thousands of unsaved people, who were LEFT BEHIND when the rapture occurred, will turn to the Lord in  repentance and faith, seeking Him as their Savior,, AND WILL BE SAVED.  This is the "great multitude" in 7:9-16, who come "out of great tribulation [Greek text...tribulation; the great one], having "washed their robes.....in the blood of the Lamb," 7:14.
     Folks, the Tribulation is the judgments and wrath of God being poured out upon Christ rejecting humanity LEFT BEHIND on the earth following the rapture.  So this great blood washed multitude absolutely could not be the Lord's Church, for Romans 8:1 and 1 Thess. 5:9 are still in the Bible.   
       The "great multitude" ARE NOT the Lord's Church, as some are teaching today.  While these people are being martyred on the earth during the Tribulation, the Lord's Church will be safely in Heaven with their Heavenly Bridegroom.   Glory to God!  Hallelujah!  
     Some "professing Christians" need to make a serious effort to "rightly divide the Word of truth" before running off at the mouth.    2 Timothy 2:15 is still in the Bible!  So is Titus 3:10-11.  True believers, take heed!
     I have now delivered the message the Lord graciously laid on my heart to write out for His people.  May the Lord God add His blessings.  
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     My personal contact information:
POSTAL.......Pastor F. M. Riley, 14275 Co. Rd. 8120, Rolla, MO 65401
EMAIL.........francismriley34@gmail.com
PHONE.......573-202-6493
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