Who Are The 24 Elders?

Revelation 4:4 – Surrounding the throne were twenty-four other thrones, and seated on them were twenty-four elders. They were dressed in white and had crowns of gold on their heads.

Revelation 4:10 – the twenty-four elders fall down before him who sits on the throne and worship him who lives for ever and ever. They lay their crowns before the throne and say:

Revelation 5:5 – Then one of the elders said to me, “Do not weep! See, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has triumphed. He is able to open the scroll and its seven seals.”

Revelation 5:8 – And when he had taken it, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb. Each one had a harp and they were holding golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of God’s people.

The Bible in the book of Revelation gives a vision of the throne of God. Around the throne are four creatures and also twenty four elders. Our focus today is on the twenty four elders. Who are these twenty four elders?

Matthew 27:51 – At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth shook, the rocks split

Matthew 27:52 – and the tombs broke open. The bodies of many holy people who had died were raised to life.

Matthew 27:53 – They came out of the tombs after Jesus’ resurrection and went into the holy city and appeared to many people.

The Bible tells us that when Jesus died on Friday, there are many holy people who resurrected from their graves. Holy people. Righteous people. Those good people who had died resurrected the day Jesus died.

Ephesians 4:8 – This is why it says: “When he ascended on high, he took many captives and gave gifts to his people.”

The Bible also tells us that when Jesus ascended to heaven after His resurrection, He went with some people. We believe that the people Jesus went with to heaven are the holy people who resurrected when Jesus died.

The twenty four elders are therefore human beings who died as holy people. The twenty four elders are holy people who resurrected on Friday when Jesus died. The twenty four elders are among the people Jesus took with Him to heaven when He ascended to heaven after resurrection.

The twenty four elders are human beings who have lived a victorious life as God wants. That is why they are dressed like all other saints eventually dress. White robes of Christ’s righteousness and crowns of life and victory over sin.

Uriah Smith has the following to say about the Twenty Four (24) Elders ( https://m.egwwritings.org/en/book/1297.1838#1846 ). This is chapter four of the book Daniel and Revelation

The Four and Twenty Elders. – The question once proposed to John concerning a certain company, has frequently arisen concerning these four and twenty elders: “Who are these? and whence came they?” It will be observed that they are clothed in white raiment, and have on their heads crowns of gold, which are tokens both of a conflict completed and a victory gained. From this we conclude that they were once participants in the Christian warfare, once trod, in common with all saints, this earthly pilgrimage, but have overcome; and for some good purpose, in advance of the great multitude of the redeemed, are wearing their victor crowns in the heavenly world. Indeed, they plainly tell us as much as this in the song of praise which they, in connection with the four living beings, ascribe to the Lamb, in the 9th verse of the following chapter: “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.” This song is sung before any of the events in the prophecy of the seven seals transpire; for it is sung to set forth the worthiness of the Lamb to take the book and to open the seals, on the ground of what he had already accomplished, which was their redemption. It is not, therefore, thrown in here by anticipation, having its application in the future; but it expresses an absolute and finished fact in the history of those who sang it. These, then, were a class of redeemed persons, – redeemed from this earth, redeemed as all others must be redeemed, by the precious blood of Christ.

Do we in any other place read of such a class of redeemed ones? – We think Paul refers to the same company when he writes to the Ephesians thus: “Wherefore he saith, When he [Christ] ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men.” The marginal reading is, he led a “multitude of captives.” Ephesians 4:8. Going back to the events that occurred in connection with the crucifixion and resurrection of Christ, we read: “And the graves were opened: and many bodies of the saints which slept arose, and came out of the graves after his resurrection, and went into the holy city, and appeared unto many.” Matthew 27:52, 53. Thus the answer to our question comes back, gathered unmistakably from the sacred page. These are some of those who came out of their graves at the resurrection of Christ, and who were numbered with the illustrious multitude which he led up from the captivity of Death’s dark domain when he ascended in triumph on high. Matthew records their resurrection, Paul their ascension, and John beholds them in heaven, performing the sacred duties which they were raised up to accomplish.

In this view we are not alone. Wesley speaks as follows concerning the four and twenty elders: “‘Clothed in white raiment.’ This, and their golden crowns, show that they had already finished their course, and taken their places among the citizens of heaven. They are never termed souls, and hence it is probable that they had glorified bodies already. Compare Matthew 27:52.” 

Conclusion

Twenty four elders are holy human beings who lived and died while still faithful. They resurrected when Jesus died. Jesus took them with Him to heaven when He ascended to heaven.

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