Who Are the 24 Elders in Revelation?

S cripture doesn’t specifically say who the 24 elders are, but can we find out who or what the 24 elders represent in the Book of Revelation?

The Book of Revelation

The Book of Revelation is what is says…it is Jesus revealing to the Apostle John what will take place in the last days and so it was not John’s message, but Jesus’ message to the church. Remember this is not a message from John or from man, but as it says, it is “The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show to his servants the things that must soon take place. He made it known by sending his angel to his servant John” (Rev 1:1). Jesus is the Head of the Church and so whatever Jesus reveals in this book, we can know for sure. Otherwise we have to discern from other sections of Scripture to make the cloudy clear. If that doesn’t work, then it’s just fine to say, “We don’t know.”

What God Reveals

If the Bible doesn’t precisely give us the answer, it is like God is saying, “It is none of your business.” Somethings God withholds and does so for our own good. Moses wrote, “The secret things belong to the Lord our God, but the things that are revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may do all the words of this law” (Deut 29:29). We need to stick with what we know, but let’s try to find out who or what the 24 elders represent in the Book of Revelation with the help of Scripture, remembering this Book was written to the Church (believers).

The Church Redeemed

After having gone through the Book of Revelation, the question seems to arise so often about who these twenty-four elders are that are mentioned in the Book of Revelation. We can find out who they are not, at first, so we can eliminate some ideas right from the beginning and we do that using the Bible. The Word of God will guide us in discernment, hopefully. For now, we know that many Bible scholars and theologians believe the twenty-four elders represent the raptured Church or redeemed believers because they wear victor’s crowns and white robes which is the righteousness of Christ. This is the righteousness which believers have been given through trust in Christ. The use of the word “elders” is found in both the Old Testament and the New Testament. Moses would often summon the elders from the 12 Tribes of Israel (Ex 4:29, 12:21, etc.), and these were always men. Never did God give the name of or refer to an angel as an elder. In all Scripture, the word elder is always used for a human being and never once for angels.

The Levitical Priesthood

Some believe that the number 24 connects to the 24 divisions of the Levitical priesthood set up by King David in the Old Testament. Another thing, the Greek word translated here as “elders” is never used to refer to angels, so clearly, in both the Old Testament Hebrew and the New Testament Greek, the word elders only referred to men, particularly to men of a certain age who are mature and able to rule the Church. No new convert could become a pastor (1 Tim 3:6). Every pastor in the Old Testament was an elder. Same thing today, but not every elder was a pastor. And why would the Bible use the word elder for angels who never get older!? The word elder would be inappropriate to refer to angels who do not age. Even the way they dress indicates that these are men. We admit that angels do appear in white, but it is never said that angels wore “white garments.” Angels who serve God are already holy. The “white garments” are commonly found referring to believers and those garments obviously represent Jesus Christ’s righteousness that was imputed to us (Rev 3:5, 18, 19:8). That righteousness was imputed on our behalf at the moment we placed our faith in Christ alone (Eph 2:8-9).

Not Angels

Another reason to view the twenty-four elders as the Church is the bowls that they hold in chapter 5 where It says, “And when he had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each holding a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints” (Rev 5:8). Do angels need to pray? No! They already have access to heaven, being sinless.

Kings and Priests

I believe what happens next to these elders will help us identify who they are. Revelation 5:10 says, “and you have made them a kingdom and priests to our God, and they shall reign on the earth.” God would not tell this to angels because we shall judge angels (1 Cor 6:3), so these elders must represent the church. Early in the Book we read that God “made us a kingdom, priests to his God and Father, to him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen” (Rev 1:6), so again, we believe the twenty-four elders represents the church from the days of Jesus up to the moment He comes again. He had promised that we would rule under His reign in the Kingdom. Angels never had any such promise given in Scripture. You might also notice that the elders who are holding the symbols of “the prayers of God’s people” (verse 8) further indicates to me that this is the Church and they are representative of the Church. I have never read of an angel praying in Scripture.

Israel

Yet other theologians think that the twenty-four elders represent the 12 Tribes of Israel. The problem here is that at the time of John’s vision, Israel was still hardened in hearts. They had not yet accepted Jesus as their Messiah. Even today, Israel does not obey or accept God…only a few orthodox Jews remain, but even these do not accept Jesus Christ as the coming Promised One. Some people even believe these twenty-four elders represent tribulation saints, but again, at the time of John’s vision that he was writing down, many had not yet died in the Tribulation that was just ahead. for the same reason—not all had yet been converted at the time of John’s vision. The most likely option from all we’ve read is that the elders represent the raptured Church which sings songs of redemption, wearing crowns of victory.

Final Thoughts

From all I’ve read in Scripture, I believe the twenty-four elders are the Church, even though some still believe they are 12 Tribes of Israel redeemed and 12 representing the church, totaling 24. Yet again, Israel was not yet counted as the redeemed, so this must be the church from all we’ve read. Interestingly, the number 12 is one of authority in the Bible, like 40 is the number of testing, but these elders are most likely the church because Israel’s 12 Tribes at this time in the Book of Revelation Israel still had a veil over their eyes, concerning Christ.

Hope for Israel

Regarding Israel, today, as even in Paul’s day, “their minds were hardened. For to this day, when they read the old covenant, that same veil remains unlifted, because only through Christ is it taken away” (2 Cor 3:14), but they will not be blinded forever. Their time has not yet come to recognize Jesus as their Messiah, but that day will come, and it will be after Jesus Christ’s glorious return when He shall establish His kingdom. Once more, Jerusalem will be the City of God, the New Heavens and New Earth will be established (Rev 21:1-5).

Conclusion

I pray you have put your trust in our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. If that has not happened yet, my friend, you are in real danger of hell fire. And I mean, in immediate danger. You’re one breath, one heartbeat…one accident away from eternity when it will be too late to repent. Today is the best day to believe (2 Cor 6:2) since tomorrow is no guarantee. If Jesus Christ came today, here is your fate (Matt 7:21-23). This is why I plead with you as you read this, repent today…and I mean right now. Put your trust in Jesus Christ. If you do not, you will face God’s judgment after death guaranteed (Heb 9:27) or at Jesus Christ’s appearance (Rev 20:12-15), which could happen at any moment.

Here is some related reading for you: Revelation Summary, Commentary and Key Verses

Resource – Scripture quotations are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version^® (ESV^®), Crossway Bibles. (2007). ESV: Study Bible: English standard version. Wheaton, Ill: Crossway Bibles. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Tagged as: 24 Elders, Book of Revelation, Church, End Times, Revelation