Read: Revelations 4:1-4; 5:1-7.
THE TWENTY-FOUR ELDERS
(These crowns are cast before God’s throne [Rev. 4:1-4; 5:1-7] because the Father alone is the One Who places and /or remove rulers in His kingdom [Dan. 4:17-37; 5:18-21]. He alone is the One Who placed those represented by the twenty-four elders in the position which they occupied; and He alone is the One Who will place individuals in particular positions in the kingdom of Christ [Matt. 20:20-23].
These crowns cast before God’s throne can only have to do with the government of the earth. And, at this point in the book, they can be worn by angels alone, for the Son will not yet have taken the kingdom [cf. Dan. 7:13, 14; Rev. 11:15]. These crowns are relinquished to God at this time [with a view to man, rather than angels, ruling in the kingdom] so that He can appoint those who He had previously been shown qualified at events surrounding the judgment seat [chs. 1-3] to positions of power and authority; and those whom God appoints will wear these crowns in Christ’s kingdom.) See our text begins: “After these things….” – the things of Rev. 1-3.
The transfer of the government of the earth, from the hands of angels into the hands of man, in reality, is what the first nineteen chapters of the Book of Revelation are about; and, as well, this is what the whole of Scripture preceding these nineteen chapters is also about. In this respect, these twenty-four elders casting their crowns before God’s throne forms a key event which one must grasp if he would properly understand the Book of Revelation and Scripture as a whole.
Christ and His bride, in that coming day, will rule the earth in the stead of Satan and his angels. And, in the process of ruling in this manner, they will wear all the crowns worn by Satan and his angels prior to Satan’s fall.
Thus, that which is depicted through the action of the twenty-four elders in Rev. 4:10, 11 is contextually self-explanatory. This has to do with the government of the earth, it occurs at a time following events surrounding the judgment seat (chs. 1-3) but preceding Christ being shown worthy to break the seals of the seven-sealed scroll (ch. 5), and it occurs at a time when Satan’s reign is about to be brought to a close.
After events in Revelation chapters one through three have come to pass, for the first time in man’s history, the person (the bride) who is to rule with the One to replace Satan (Christ) will have been made known and shown forth. And events in the forth chapter reflect that fact.
“And his tail drew a third part of the stars of heaven; and did cast them to the earth….”
Rev. 12:4a
And we shall wear a crown…..
THE TWENTY-FOUR ELDERS
(These crowns are cast before God’s throne [Rev. 4:1-4; 5:1-7] because the Father alone is the One Who places and /or remove rulers in His kingdom [Dan. 4:17-37; 5:18-21]. He alone is the One Who placed those represented by the twenty-four elders in the position which they occupied; and He alone is the One Who will place individuals in particular positions in the kingdom of Christ [Matt. 20:20-23].
These crowns cast before God’s throne can only have to do with the government of the earth. And, at this point in the book, they can be worn by angels alone, for the Son will not yet have taken the kingdom [cf. Dan. 7:13, 14; Rev. 11:15]. These crowns are relinquished to God at this time [with a view to man, rather than angels, ruling in the kingdom] so that He can appoint those who He had previously been shown qualified at events surrounding the judgment seat [chs. 1-3] to positions of power and authority; and those whom God appoints will wear these crowns in Christ’s kingdom.) See our text begins: “After these things….” – the things of Rev. 1-3.
The transfer of the government of the earth, from the hands of angels into the hands of man, in reality, is what the first nineteen chapters of the Book of Revelation are about; and, as well, this is what the whole of Scripture preceding these nineteen chapters is also about. In this respect, these twenty-four elders casting their crowns before God’s throne forms a key event which one must grasp if he would properly understand the Book of Revelation and Scripture as a whole.
Christ and His bride, in that coming day, will rule the earth in the stead of Satan and his angels. And, in the process of ruling in this manner, they will wear all the crowns worn by Satan and his angels prior to Satan’s fall.
Thus, that which is depicted through the action of the twenty-four elders in Rev. 4:10, 11 is contextually self-explanatory. This has to do with the government of the earth, it occurs at a time following events surrounding the judgment seat (chs. 1-3) but preceding Christ being shown worthy to break the seals of the seven-sealed scroll (ch. 5), and it occurs at a time when Satan’s reign is about to be brought to a close.
After events in Revelation chapters one through three have come to pass, for the first time in man’s history, the person (the bride) who is to rule with the One to replace Satan (Christ) will have been made known and shown forth. And events in the forth chapter reflect that fact.
“And his tail drew a third part of the stars of heaven; and did cast them to the earth….”
Rev. 12:4a
And we shall wear a crown…..
1 comment:
I disagree as to the identity of the 24 elders for the following reasons:
Revelation 4:4
And round about the throne were four and twenty seats: and upon the seats I saw four and twenty elders sitting, clothed in white raiment; and they had on their heads crowns of gold.
There was more than one throne. In the center, conspicuous, and majestic beyond description, was the throne of Deity; but in a wide circle around it were twenty-four other thrones, distinct and glorious, but smaller and lower than what is, by eminence, called "the Throne". Our translator call them "seats", but it is the same word used in verse 4:2 of God's throne. They are all thrones, certainly, but a particular kind of thrones – regal, seats of majesty and dominion, seats of royalty in the presence of the enthroned One. Nor can we be at loss as to the persons who occupy them. They are not angels, but human beings. This is ascertained by the song they sing, in which they speak of having been gathered out of the tribes and peoples of the earth:
Revelation 5:9
And they sung a new song, saying, 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, and tongue, and people, and nation;
These are from "every kindred, and tongue, and people and nation". They are not unfallen beings, but ransomed sinners, for they give honor to Christ for redeeming them – "(Thou) hast redeemed US to God by thy blood". THIS IS A VERY CRITICAL POINT, which some continue to furiously debate, even going so far as changing the correct translation in the King James Version.
Other popular translations make the same verse say, for example in the NIV:
"And with your blood you purchased men for God from every tribe and language and people and nation. You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to serve our God, and they will reign on earth." (NIV)
Obviously, the NIV (and the NAS likewise) change the identity of this group simply by changing it from the 1st person to the 3rd person. To the translators of these and others "versions" of the Bible I would say, YOU HAVE TAMPERED WITH THE WORD OF GOD! God, knowing this would occur, called a special curse on those who would add or subtract from His word:
Revelation 22:18-19
For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book: 19 And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.
I am not the judge of this matter. I have no idea of their motives, and I am sure their translations can be justified academically from man's viewpoint. I will not try to argue this point, because there is no absolute proof from the Greek as to who is right.
I would simply point out the fact of the similarity of the language of the verses in the previous chapter 1:
Revelation 1:5-6
And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood, 6 And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.
It is obvious from the language of this verse that John is referring to redeemed human men and women who lived on earth. Why would the language, which is identical in substance, suddenly change from "us" in chapter 1 to "them" in chapter 5? Both translations are correct grammatically; both can be justified grammatically (at least from their versions of the Greek originals). Then why were they changed? In my opinion, it appears a deliberate attempt was made to change the Bible to suit the translators' doctrine as to the identity of these twenty-four elders.
These critics and expositors rejected the Greek word "heemas" (which means "us") in this passage for the reason that it is omitted in the Codex Alexandrinus. The Codex Sinaiticus, however, which was discovered in 1860, and which is of equal antiquity and authority with the Codex Alexandrinus, contains this word. The Latin, Coptic or Memphitic, and Armenian, which are of great value, contain it. And so do all other manuscripts and versions. And to discredit it simply and only because it does not appear in that one single Codex of Alexandria (which they often term the "oldest and best manuscripts") is most unreasonable and unjust to the weight of authority for its retention. Also, the evidence from the context argues powerfully for a construction which necessarily embraces it, whether expressed or not.
I consider the King James Version indubitably genuine. This is the Bible of the great Protestant revival, and no other version can even approach the majesty and beauty and heavenly inspiration of it. I hold the King James Version to be the final authority in matters of difference. I do not, however, hold to the "King James Only" doctrine. I believe the Word of God exists today wherever there has been a faithful translation of what was originally written.
But I certainly mistrust any translation to which a secular corporation (NIV, NAS, etc.) owns the copyright. Furthermore, when I see in a footnote to any Bible the term "the oldest and best manuscripts", I immediately suspect what is about to follow; and I cannot but help to wonder if the author of that footnote is guilty of intellectual pride. For the fact of the matter is, in the question under consideration of "us" or "they", the "us" is indeed found in twenty-three of the twenty-four only manuscripts which contain this verse in the book of Revelation. I think the weight of this argument in incontrovertible.
I won't attempt a lengthy diatribe against the new popular versions such as the NIV and the NAS, and others.
Jesus said not one jot or tittle of His word would fail till all be fulfilled. I would have to think that many perverted versions of the Bible on the market and in the hands of Christians today go much farther than "one jot or tittle". But it is all part of the "leaven" that a woman took and hid in three measures of meal, till the whole was leavened.
Jeremiah 23:36
… for ye have perverted the words of the living God, of the LORD of hosts our God.
Therefore, for the foregoing reasons, I maintain that the King James Version is correct in its translation of the critical word in point as "us", and not "they". The twenty-four elders are singing a song about themselves - the redeemed, and the kings and priests referred to in the song are none other than themselves.
These elders are not disembodied spirits of the saints, but glorified subjects of grace, for they are enthroned, crowned, and robed in white, which is a fruition of blessedness and honor which is everywhere reserved until after the rapture and resurrection. Paul tells us that he was to receive his "crown of righteousness", not at his decease, but "at that day" – the day of Christ's coming to awake and gather His saints – and that the same is true of "all" who are to be partakers of that crown (2Tim. 4:8). The entire scriptural doctrine concerning the state of the dead forbids the idea that disembodied souls are already crowned and enthroned, although they are presently at rest in the Bosom of Abraham (in Hades). Such rewards Christ is to bring with Him (Rev. 22:12; 11:18: Isa 52:11); hence, no one receives them until He comes, recalls the sleepers, and completes that redemption of power for which all things wait (Rom. 8:22-23).
The coronation time is the resurrection time: and no one can be crowned until he is either raised (if dead), or translated (if living). Any other doctrine overthrows some of the plainest teachings of Scripture, and carries confusion into the whole Christian system.
Malcolm
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