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Jul 31, 2023 · Revelation 4:4 declares, “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.”. The book of Revelation nowhere specifically identifies who the twenty-four elders are.
Revelation 4:4 mentions twenty-four elders who sit upon twenty-four thrones before the Lord. Who are these twenty-four elders? The Bible does not specifically provide the identity of these elders.
- The Background of The Term “Elder” in Judaismlink
- Christian Elders in The Church at Jerusalemlink
- The Elders in The Churches of Paullink
- Elders in The Non-Pauline Churcheslink
1.1 Almost all early societies or religious communities were guided in some way by elders, that is, by the older, experienced wise men of the group. According to Genesis 50:7 there were “elders of Egypt” and according to Numbers 22:7there were elders of Moab and Midian. So there is nothing unique or unusual about having elders in positions of autho...
2.1 The elders of the early Jerusalem church appear in three situations in the Book of Acts. The first reference is in Acts 11:30. The disciples of Antioch had decided to send relief funds to the church in Jerusalem “and they did so, sending the eldersby the hand of Paul and Barnabas.” No mention is made of deacons or apostles here. The elders are ...
3.1 The term “elder” as a title for a church leader occurs in the Pauline letters only three times—1 Timothy 5:17, 19 and Titus 1:5. Obviously the title, as such, was not of great importance to Paul. It could well be that he may not have even used the title in his work until near the end of his life when he wrote the pastoral letters, except that t...
4.1There are a number of uses of the term “elder” outside Paul which we will now discuss. In the Book of Revelation the term occurs twelve times with reference to the twenty-four elders in heaven. There is no agreement among biblical scholars who these people represent. 2 and 3 John begin with the designation, “The elder to…” Apparently the author ...
The four-and-twenty elders represent the Church of God in all ages; they sit with Christ in heavenly places, even while they are toiling and sorrowing on earth; every one of the true children of the kingdom appear before God, and their angels behold the presence of their Father who is in heaven.
- What is the proper understanding of the term elder? The word elder is of Old Testament Jewish origin. The primary Hebrew word for elder, zaqen, was used, for example, in Numbers 11:16 and Deuteronomy 27:1, of the seventy tribal leaders who assisted Moses.
- How is the term elder used in reference to the church? The New Testament church was initially Jewish, so it would be natural that the concept of elder rule was adopted for use in the early church.
- How is the elder related to the bishop and the pastor? Bishops and pastors are not distinct from elders; the terms are simply different ways of identifying the same people.
- What is the role of an elder? As the apostolic era came to a close, the office of elder emerged as the highest level of local church leadership. Thus it carried a great amount of responsibility.
Hebrews 11:2. By it the elders — Our forefathers, or the pious of former ages; obtained a good report — Εμαρτυρηθησαν, received testimony, of God’s approbation of them, or were borne witnesses to by God as persons accepted of him.
The four and twenty elders fall down before him that sat on the throne, and worship him that liveth for ever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying, Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive ...
