The Twenty-Four Elders      Audio    MP3     Download

The 24 Elders: Who or what are the 24 Elders of God?

We read about the twenty-four elders in Revelation 4, 5, 11 and 19

I will discuss this topic in two parts.  The second part is partly speculation but speculation based on our spirit-driven understanding of the Word of God.

In our doctrine on the Angelic Realm, it says...

A number of specific types of angels are generally described. Cherubim are explained in Ezekiel 1 and 10 as having four wings and four faces (of a lion, ox, eagle and man) and covering (or carrying) God's throne. Seraphim are "full of eyes before and behind," having six wings and appearing either like a lion, a calf, an eagle or with the face of a man (Is. 6:2-3; Rev. 4:6-8). "Twenty-four elders" who apparently serve as counselors for God Himself are described in Revelation 4:4, 10-11.

So, to answer the first part of topic, the twenty-four elders are spirit beings in the angelic realm.

The reason we have this on the menu is because we sometimes receive e-mails from people who believe the elders are Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, David, Elijah and others.  We have five spirit-driven conclusions that collectively proof this cannot be the case.

1) John 3:13 says that no man has ascended into the third heaven.

2) If these were individuals such as Abraham and others who were once human, this means that God has had this collection of counselors for a VERY SHORT TIME as eternity goes.  Man was only created 6,000 years ago.  The collection of elders would not even be complete until more recent times if we are to place Paul and John among this group.

3) There are more than 24 righteous people in the Bible.  Whom do you include in this number?  Whom do you leave out?

4) Because of scripture such as we have on David, who would clearly be a prime candidate for the 24 Elders if they were, in fact, ascended humans.

Men and brethren, let me freely speak unto you of the patriarch David, that he is both dead and buried, and his sepulchre is with us unto this day.  For David is not ascended into the heavens: but he saith himself, The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand. –Acts 2:29, 34

5) The fact that many of these individuals are mentioned in Hebrews 11 [the Faith chapter] which concludes with these words...

These all died in faith, not having received the promises. –Heb 11:13

This should be more than enough to prove that the twenty-four elders are not ascended humans.

Now a moment of speculation as we look to the future.  It would appear to this minister that we, too, will have a collection of elders or angels who will act as our counselors.  Notice a scripture...

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