Question:
Who are the twenty-four elders mentioned in Revelation 5?
Answer:
The elders mentioned in Revelation chapter 5 are depicted in a way that sheds light on their identity. This chapter records the events that led to the opening of the seven seals, and the role these elders played during those events reveals important facts about them. The seven seals, similar to the seven trumpets, represent a series of events that unfold in consecutive order throughout the entire gospel dispensation. Generally, it is understood that the first seal was opened, and the events associated with it occurred near the beginning of this dispensation.
With this understanding that the opening of the first seal occurred long ago, it is significant to note that these elders are seen taking part in heaven before any of the seals are opened. When the challenge was posed through heaven and earth — “Who is worthy to open the book and to loose the seals thereof?” (verse 2) — and while John was weeping because no one was found worthy to open and read the book (verse 4), one of the elders reassured him, saying, “Weep not: behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, hath prevailed to open the book and to loose the seven seals thereof.”
Furthermore, when the Lamb took the book from the hand of Him who sat on the throne, before opening the seals, the elders burst into a new song, proclaiming, “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, tongue, people, and nation” (verses 8, 9). This testimony clearly indicates that these elders were in heaven, actively participating before any seals were opened.
The phrase “Thou wast slain” indicates that this song was sung after the crucifixion of Christ; therefore, it was sung at some point between that event and the opening of the first seal. The occasion for this honor song to the Lamb was His taking the book in preparation for opening its seven seals. Since the events of the seals occur before the redemption of the church, it follows that the church will never sing such a song. They will not ascribe honor to Him for something that had already been accomplished over eighteen centuries prior.
Therefore, it is clear that these elders are not merely representatives of others — such as the church — singing a song that the redeemed will sing. Instead, they were literally and personally present in heaven at the time described, and the song they sang was a reflection of their own personal feelings on that occasion. A key statement they made was, “Thou hast redeemed us to God by thy blood.” Consequently, the twenty-four elders were among those who had been redeemed from the earth at that time.
Thus far, the conclusions reached seem to be both necessary and scriptural. The twenty-four elders are individuals who have, at some point, been redeemed from the earth. This may suffice as a satisfactory answer. However, two additional questions may arise regarding this subject, both of which can be addressed with reasonable conjecture.
- Is there any indication that people have ever been redeemed from the earth?
- If these are indeed twenty-four individuals who have been redeemed, how can they claim to be redeemed from every kindred, tongue, people, and nation?
Regarding the first question, there is more than an indication that several saints have already been redeemed. For example, it is noted that at the resurrection of Christ, many of the saints who had died arose and came out of their graves (Matthew 27:50-53). Furthermore, we are told that upon ascending to heaven, He led captivity captive, or, as the margin states, a multitude of captives. Identifying the twenty-four elders with a portion of this group seems to be the most natural and probable explanation.
As for the second question, these individuals may have been chosen from different eras since the creation of the world, with those most distinguished in piety and service to God being selected from each age. This way, they could rightly be described as redeemed from every kindred, people, and nation.
The “four and twenty elders” mentioned in Revelation 4:4 correspond to the twenty-four courses of priests outlined in 1 Chronicles 24:1-19 and 2 Chronicles 8:14. Jesus, as introduced in the Apocalypse, is depicted as the high priest by His attire (Revelation 1:12-13), bringing the total number of priests to twenty-five, which further fulfills the type of twenty-four chief priests plus one high priest (Ezekiel 8:16).
Priests were required to be taken from among the people (Hebrews 5:1-2; Exodus 28:1-14), so the twenty-four elders are redeemed saints who were translated to heaven with Jesus.
