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THE TWENTY-FOUR ELDERS

“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 4:4

    Who are the “twenty-four elders” in Revelation 4? Revelation is written in a style that is both vague, yet evocative. This is typical of the language of apocalyptic prophecy, where the use of allusions, motifs, symbols, and metaphors is extensive. I believe Rev. 4:4 is a sampling of this.

     Since there is nothing in the book of Revelation itself that defines the 24 Elders for us, we need to look elsewhere in the Scriptures for a definition.

     In the Tanakh [Old Testament], the book of Exodus (19:5,6) we are told that Yahweh’s fundamental design for Israel itself was to be “a kingdom of priest” and “a holy nation.” A priest (Hebrew: “Cohen”) is one who stands up for another and mediates in his cause. Additionally, Israel was to be a “holy nation”…a nation reconciled through, brought near to, and kept in fellowship with G-d through the sprinkling of blood.

     While it is true that Yahweh established a separate priesthood in Israel, the nation itself was to be a priestly kingdom. This then, would make the priesthood only representative of the people. Yahweh’s underlying ideals for Israel itself were reconciliation and mediation through blood. The priests were the representatives of these ideals. Everything connected with the priesthood was intended to be symbolic and typical: the office, its functions, the attire, the outward support, etc.(Hebrews 8:3-5).

     The superintendent over the priests was the High Priest. He was the chief official in charge of mediation and reconciliation. The officiating attire of the High Priest is quite interesting:

     His coat was woven of one piece (like that of Yahshua’s cf. John 19:23), he wore a golden girdle around his chest (cf. Rev. 1:13), the garment was white and made of linen (made from byssus a white shining cotton from Egypt) and reached to his feet, he wore a breastplate which was four-square and contained 12 jewels bearing the names of the 12 tribes of Israel (suggestive of Rev.21:16,12-14), and much more. The common priest also wore a shining white garment (byssus).

    In order to become a priest one had to pass several tests. The two most important tests were: genealogy, and freedom from physical defects. If all the tests were passed, the candidates would then be given white garments and their names would be inscribed in the archives (cf. Rev. 3:5).

     Under David and Solomon, the priesthood was arranged into twenty-four divisions and continued as such right up until the Babylonian Captivity (1 Chron. 24). When the capitivity was over, only four of the original twenty-four divisions returned to Eretz Yisrael (the land of Israel): the divisions of Jedaiah, Immer, Pashur, and Harim (Ezra 2:36-39). That of Jedaiah is mentioned first because it was the High Priest’s family - of the house of Jeshua (“Yeshua”): cf Ezra 3:2. (Interesting. No?) To restore the original arrangement each of these four families were directed to cast lots for those who had not returned with them - so as to form, once again, 24 divisions. These newly formed divisions would then bear the ancient names. This is witnessed to in the New Covenant: Zechariah, the father of John the Baptizer, did not actually belong to the family of Abijah (which did not return from Babylon) but to the division of Abijah: which had been formed out of another family and ministered in the ancient name of Abijah (1 Chron. 24:10; Luke 1:5,8).

     Each division would come on duty for a week at a time (from Sabbath to Sabbath). On Feast Days any priest could come up and join in on the ministry of the Sanctuary. However, at the Feast of Tabernacles, all twenty-four divisions had to be present and officiate (Selah). What a sight that must have been! Oh, I almost forgot something. Each of these 24 divisions had a division head to represent them…an elder.

Lets put it together:

• The nation of Israel was to be a “kingdom of priests”
• Israel was to be a “holy nation”
• They were a nation redeemed by, and kept in fellowship with G-d by, blood.
• Nevertheless, they had a “Priesthood”
• This Priesthood was only representative of what the nation itself was to be: “a kingdom of priests”
• The Priesthood was arranged into 24 Divisions
• Each Division had a Division Head: an Elder
• The Elder represented the Division
• The Division was a part of the total Priesthood
• The Priesthood was representative of the Nation
• The Nation was to be “a kingdom of priests” and a “holy nation”
• A Nation redeemed by, brought near to, and kept in fellowship with G-d through the “sprinkling of blood”
• The priests wore shining white garments when officiating
• In Revelation 4 we see 24 elders, with 24 crowns, on 24 thrones, dressed in white
• They worship and give praise to G-d: priestly functions
• They are representative of the priestly kingdom of Israel in Heaven

    The “24” are symbolic of Yahweh’s people-“the Israel of G-d”-Glorified and fulfilled: “a royal priesthood, a kingdom of priests”, a “holy priesthood”…worshipping and serving before the Throne of Heaven (Vss. 4:9-11; 5:5-14; 7:11-17; 11:14-18; 19:4; 1 Pet.1:18,19; 1 Pet.2:4-10; et al). The reality of the shadow and type on Earth. SELAH.

Shalom Shalom……..Rav Sivan :O)