Hello all,
So, something has been bothering me about the 24 elders that appear in Revelation chapter four. I've been reading through and studying a lot around the rapture and the Church. I've been looking at Revelation and I had a question about the 24 elders. Since we hold to a more literal view of scripture (it says what it means), I've been trying to reconcile the face there's just 24 elders there with the fact we believe they'll be many more than just 24 believers taken in the rapture. We know the four living creatures is a literal number as they're described in the OT. We know the 144,000 is a literal number as well since they are broken down into tribes. It doesn't make sense to me that the 24 would suddenly be "representing" the church.
Here's where I'm going. John says there are 24 THRONES and 24 elders sitting on them. These 24 elders are repeated a few times in the next couple of chapters with a few differences. Would I correct to assume there are literally 24 thrones in Heaven that elders will sit on, but that there could be more than 24 elders and it's rotational based on David's 24 priests in the Old Testament? My understanding of greek is somewhat limited. In verse 10 is says the twenty four elders cast their crowns before the throne.
As we proceed into chapter 5 an elder speaks to John (one of the twenty four or another one?). As we read further, there's a statement that says "in the midst of the elders"...(not just twenty four?). Then in 5:11 a voice of many angels, living creatures and elders and there is a huge number of them. Does the greek suggest the numbers refer to just the angels or both the angels and elders?
What makes the most sense to me is that there are 24 thrones in heaven and 24 elders sit on them at a time and rotate based on lots (or some other means). David chose his priests based on lots and they rotated their duties. Part of your job on the throne is you immediately cast your crown and worship the Lord whenever the four living creatures sing their song. Does verse 5:11 suggest there are more than just these 24 elders? Just trying to understand and looking forward to your input.
So, something has been bothering me about the 24 elders that appear in Revelation chapter four. I've been reading through and studying a lot around the rapture and the Church. I've been looking at Revelation and I had a question about the 24 elders. Since we hold to a more literal view of scripture (it says what it means), I've been trying to reconcile the face there's just 24 elders there with the fact we believe they'll be many more than just 24 believers taken in the rapture. We know the four living creatures is a literal number as they're described in the OT. We know the 144,000 is a literal number as well since they are broken down into tribes. It doesn't make sense to me that the 24 would suddenly be "representing" the church.
Here's where I'm going. John says there are 24 THRONES and 24 elders sitting on them. These 24 elders are repeated a few times in the next couple of chapters with a few differences. Would I correct to assume there are literally 24 thrones in Heaven that elders will sit on, but that there could be more than 24 elders and it's rotational based on David's 24 priests in the Old Testament? My understanding of greek is somewhat limited. In verse 10 is says the twenty four elders cast their crowns before the throne.
As we proceed into chapter 5 an elder speaks to John (one of the twenty four or another one?). As we read further, there's a statement that says "in the midst of the elders"...(not just twenty four?). Then in 5:11 a voice of many angels, living creatures and elders and there is a huge number of them. Does the greek suggest the numbers refer to just the angels or both the angels and elders?
What makes the most sense to me is that there are 24 thrones in heaven and 24 elders sit on them at a time and rotate based on lots (or some other means). David chose his priests based on lots and they rotated their duties. Part of your job on the throne is you immediately cast your crown and worship the Lord whenever the four living creatures sing their song. Does verse 5:11 suggest there are more than just these 24 elders? Just trying to understand and looking forward to your input.