The Judgments on Earth The second of three studies of The Revelation of Jesus Christ by Paige Ramsey
“God’s Throne Room” – Lesson 1
Revelation 4:4-11 – Round about the throne were twenty-four seats: upon the seats I saw twenty-four elders sitting, clothed in white raiment; they had on their heads crowns of gold. Out of the throne came thunder and lightning and voices: and there were seven lamps of fire burning before the throne, which are the seven Spirits of God.
Before the throne there was a sea of glass like crystal: and in the midst of the throne, and round about the throne, were four beasts full of eyes before and behind. The first beast was like a lion, the second beast like a calf, the third beast had a face as a man, and the fourth beast was like a flying eagle. The four beasts had each of them six wings about him and they were full of eyes within: they did not rest day or night, saying, “Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come.”
When those beasts give glory and honor and thanks to Him who sat on the throne, who lives for ever and ever, the twenty-four elders fall down before Him who sat on the throne, and worship Him who lives for ever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying, “You are worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honor and power: for You have created all things, and for Your pleasure they are and were created.”
In the last lesson, concluding the first series, we saw John raptured (snatched away) into the Third Heaven where he beheld God’s throne. The majestic scene encouraged and comforted John. The rainbow surrounding God’s throne was God’s own promise given to man after the judgment of the flood could have done nothing but relieve any anxiety John had being present in such an awesome atmosphere. That the rainbow looked like an emerald (the stone of the tribe of Judah) could only encourage him of his faith that he had placed in Jesus, the lion of the tribe of Judah. Here, John knew judgment was past, and his bosom friend, Jesus, was on the throne!
We live in exciting days and exciting times! Though the economy is shaking, morals are plummeting, and nothing seems to be stable, this is not an hour to become dismayed! It is not an hour for discouragement! Prophetic events seem to be taking form all around us. As God’s children, we sense the urgency and earnestness of the times we live in, but most of the people in the world are blindly going through their lives, in ignorance and absurdity.
“If there is a word that characterizes the day we live in it is the word stupidity. Stupidity. I have never in my life seen such stupidity. And it is coming seemingly from every direction. People in places of leadership are making very stupid decisions. And sometimes we stand off to the side and shake our head and wonder, ‘Where did that come from? I’ve never heard of such before.’ None of it makes sense to the Christian. It’s not supposed to make sense to the Christian, because, my dear friends, how can two walk together except they be agreed? And we cannot agree with the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh not in the children of obedience, but in the
children of disobedience.”[i]
As we see these events begin to take shape, one question seems to wear on the minds of God’s people: What is the next event on God’s schedule? I believe it is the rapture.
Titus 2:13 – looking for that blessed hope and the glorious appearing of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
Just before war breaks out, all the ambassadors in the country are notified first and called home to get out of the war zone. According to 2 Corinthians 5:20, we are ambassadors for Christ. Just before all hell is about to break loose on this earth, God calls us home! As we have studied in our last series, When Are We Now?, this is depicted by John who is called up into the Third Heaven.
Round about the throne were twenty-four seats: upon the seats I saw twenty-four elders sitting, clothed in white raiment; they had on their heads crowns of gold.
– Who are these twenty-four elders? There is much debate about their identity.
Various views for identifying the 24 elders:
Adam Clark, who is an historicist (believes the book of Revelation has been fulfilled in every age for the last 2,000 years), says, “Perhaps this is in reference to the smaller Sanhedrin at Jerusalem, which was composed of twenty-three elders; or to the princes of the twenty-four courses of the Jewish priests which ministered at the tabernacle and the temple, at first appointed by David.” As he comments further, he says the white garments are the robes of the priests, so it is obvious he believes these refer to the Jewish priests.[ii]
Others, such as Raymond Faircloth say, “the 24 elders are a different group to the ‘body of Christ’ and are most likely to be angelic beings.”[iii]
Jay Adams is a preterist (believes the Book of the Revelation was fulfilled in 70 AD) and says, “…the creatures, like the 24 elders, are neither angels nor men…”[iv]
The Spiritualist (believes that most of revelation is symbolism) Says they are angels who represent the church.[v]
Henry Morris, a futurist (believes that most of Revelation has not yet happened) believes the 24 elders are 24 ancestors of Christ based on genealogy found in Genesis 5 and Genesis 11 (from Adam to Pharez is 24 generations). His view is not typical of futurists, and one site claimed only Morris holds this view.[vi]
The Jehovah’s Witness say, “these elders represent the 144,000 joint heirs with Christ in their heavenly glory.”[vii]
Some dispensationalists say they are the raptured saints (the church) implied in verse 1.
Some go so far as to say that these elders do not represent anything because they really don’t do anything. They hold no purpose. They are not really important.[viii]
The word translated “seats” is not a word that means a dinner chair, or a couch, or a stool. The Greek word John originally used is “thronos”. In fact it is the very same word that was translated “throne” just three or four words previously. It means “a stately seat; by implication power or (concretely) a potentate.”[ix]
The word translated “crowns” in the Greek is “diadema” – a crown of potentate
stephanus – crown of victor.[x]
After reading many different and exhausting interpretations of the twenty-four elders, I came to the conclusion that the most logical and fit analysis is that the twenty-four elders are all the redeemed.
My reasons:
1. That they might be angels is eliminated quickly. Angels are never given the name
“elders,” angels do not wear crowns or sit upon thrones in heaven. Angels are not
redeemed and cannot sing about being redeemed. (see Rev. 5:8-9) Angels are
messengers and servant-creatures who live only to serve God Almighty.
2. Also quickly eliminated is the idea that they are a separate group altogether, neither
angels nor men. This does not answer the question at all, but brings up many more
questions: Who, then are they? Does this race only consist of 24 members? Why
were they created? Etc.
3. That they represent the Jewish priests completely eliminates the church. The term
elder was used for Jewish priests but also for the church.
4. Though I did not study out the Henry Morris’ view, that these twenty-four elders
represented 24 generations just didn’t make sense to me.
5. The Jehovah Witness’ view was also quickly dismissed as the 144,000 and the
twenty four elders are seen together in Revelation 14:3. Also, their opinion that
there will only be 144,000 redeemed in heaven is totally erroneous.
6. The twenty-four elders are definitely important or God would not have included this
in His revelation to John. Twenty-four thrones with twenty-four occupants wearing
twenty-four crowns sitting around the throne of God is of heavy-weight significance!
7. The number 24 is the number 12 twice multiplied. The number twelve is the number
of divine government in Biblical numerology (refer back to lesson 2 “Behold He
Comes in the Clouds” in the When Are We Now? series). Twelve multiplied is
government strengthened. There were 12 Tribes of Israel, which represent the Old
Testament Saints. There were 12 apostles, which represent the New Testament
saints. All of God’s redeemed are priests, clothed in white raiment (through the blood
of Jesus). Thus, the 24 elders represent all the redeemed.[xi]
8. This view is expressed by many futurists and dispensationalists.
Out of the throne came thunder and lightning and voices…
The judgment comes from out of the throne of God. Thunder and lightning come from the throne. This does away with the idea that God is a big Santa Claus in the sky who only bestows blessings and good and is never angry or vengeful. In fact, God’s Word repeatedly reminds us that God is a vengeful God (vengeance is mine saith the Lord). These judgments are about to be executed upon the earth as John sees them brewing from the throne of God Almighty.
…and there were seven lamps of fire burning before the throne, which are the seven Spirits of God.
So that there could be no mistake, the interpretation is already given to us. Remember, the number seven is the number of completion. The Holy Spirit, who has been living upon the earth in the hearts of the believers is now completely in heaven! This verifies the interpretation of 2 Thessalonians 2:7 that “he who lets” is, in fact the Holy Spirit “until He is taken away.” With the restraining power of the Holy Spirit absent from the earth, there is nothing that will hold back the judgments of God.
The Four Beasts:
The word translated beasts is the Greek word “zoon” [zō-ŏn] – a live thing[xii]:
In Revelation 13:1, the word “beast” speaks of the antichrist as the beast of blasphemy. This word is the Greek word “therion” – a dangerous animal, (venomous, wild) beast.
These beasts are not human beings. They are a special creation of angelic beings. There are hundreds of millions of thousands of angels. Archangels, seraphim, cherubim. Ezekiel 1:5-14 can give us an insight into these particular angels.
Their assignment or duty: Their whole duty is to magnify the Lord God Almighty – continuously from eternity past through eternity future.
Casting Crowns:
As the four living creatures praise God, the twenty-four elders (all the redeemed) fall down before God Almighty on His throne and cast their crowns at His feet. The realization that God has been the author and finisher – created and orchestrated everything – and all things are counted for good – becomes terribly humbling to these priests! If it were not for God creating us, loving us enough to plan our redemption when we fell into sin, if it were not for God redeeming us by carrying out His plan, if it were not for God coming for us, glorifying us… we, so undeserving and wicked, could never have had life. And then, for the Lord to take us as His bride, and honor us with thrones and crowns is just too overwhelming! We do not deserve to live, let alone to enter His throne room! The amazing revelation of ruling and reigning with Him crushes us to the floor and we cast those crowns to the only One who deserves them.
He is worthy. We are unworthy. Like the four creatures, our purpose is for His pleasure, to bring glory to Him now and throughout eternity!
The 24 Elders before the throne of God.
Art by Pat Marvenko Smith,
RevelationIllustrated.com.
Click on the image to go to her gallery.
Art by Pat Marvenko Smith,
RevelationIllustrated.com.
Click on the image to go to her gallery.
Other Bible Studies by Paige Ramsey:
[i] Cozart, Dan W., D.D.S., sermon: The Twenty-four Elders, 08/09/09.
[ii] Clarke, Adam, LL.D., F.S.A., Adam Clarke’s Commentary on the Bible, 1832, public domain, Revelation 4:4.
[iii] Faircloth, Raymond C., http://elijahreturns.hubpages.com/hub/Do-The-24-Elders-of-Revelation-Represent-Christians-By-Raymond-C-Faircloth.
[iv] Maarschalk, Adam, Revelation 4, http://kloposmasm.com/tag/24-elders/, 27 Aug 2009.
[v] Cozart, Dan W., D.D.S., sermon: The Twenty-four Elders, 08/09/09.
[vi] Rosscup, James, Dr., The Master’s Seminary, http://www.tms.edu/JournalBookReview.aspx?ID=642.
[vii] Copyright © 2013 Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society of Pennsylvania. All Rights Reserved.
[viii] Cozart, Dan W., D.D.S., sermon: The Twenty-four Elders, 08/09/09.
[ix] Strong’s Hebrew and Greek Dictionaries.
[x] Strong’s Hebrew and Greek Dictionaries.
[xi] Cozart, Dan W., D.D.S., sermon: The Twenty-four Elders, 08/09/09.
[xii] Strong’s Hebrew and Greek Dictionaries.
[ii] Clarke, Adam, LL.D., F.S.A., Adam Clarke’s Commentary on the Bible, 1832, public domain, Revelation 4:4.
[iii] Faircloth, Raymond C., http://elijahreturns.hubpages.com/hub/Do-The-24-Elders-of-Revelation-Represent-Christians-By-Raymond-C-Faircloth.
[iv] Maarschalk, Adam, Revelation 4, http://kloposmasm.com/tag/24-elders/, 27 Aug 2009.
[v] Cozart, Dan W., D.D.S., sermon: The Twenty-four Elders, 08/09/09.
[vi] Rosscup, James, Dr., The Master’s Seminary, http://www.tms.edu/JournalBookReview.aspx?ID=642.
[vii] Copyright © 2013 Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society of Pennsylvania. All Rights Reserved.
[viii] Cozart, Dan W., D.D.S., sermon: The Twenty-four Elders, 08/09/09.
[ix] Strong’s Hebrew and Greek Dictionaries.
[x] Strong’s Hebrew and Greek Dictionaries.
[xi] Cozart, Dan W., D.D.S., sermon: The Twenty-four Elders, 08/09/09.
[xii] Strong’s Hebrew and Greek Dictionaries.