In the Throne Room - Revelation 4:4

In the Throne Room

Revelation 4:4

Around the throne were twenty-four thrones, and on the thrones I saw twenty-four elders sitting, clothed in white robes; and they had crowns of gold on their heads. (4:4)

24 thrones and 24 elders – It is best to view them as human representatives of the church:

1. The reference to the 24 thrones (θρόνος thrónos, Gk) on which the 24 elders sat indicates that they reign with Christ. The church is repeatedly promised a co-regency with Christ (Revelation 2:26-27; 3:21; 5:10; 20:4; Matthew 19:28; Luke 22:30; 1 Corinthians 6:2-3; 2 Timothy 2:12).

2.  The word for elders (πρεσβύτερος presbúteros, Gk), is always used in Scripture as referring to men; older men in general, and the rulers of both Israel and the church (Isaiah 24:23).

3. While angels do appear in white (John 20:12; Acts 1:10), white garments more commonly are the dress of believers. It symbolizes Christ’s righteousness imputed to believers at salvation (Revelation 3:5, 18; 19:8).

4. The crowns of gold on their heads provide further evidence that they were humans. The victor’s crown (στέφανος stéphanos, Gk), is worn by those who successfully endured the trial; those who completed and won the victory. Christ promised a crown such as this to the loyal believers at Smyrna (Revelation 2:10; 1 Corinthians 9:25; 2 Timothy 4:8; James 1:12; 1 Peter 5:4).

5. The number 24 is used in Scripture to speak of completion and representation (1 Chronicles 24:4-5, 7-18). In the book of Genesis there are 24 Patriarchs listed in the line of the promised seed: Adam, Seth, Enosh, Cainan, Mahalalel, Jared, Enoch, Methuselah, Lamech, Noah, Shem, Arphaxad, Salah, Eber, Peleg, Reu, Serug, Nahor, Terah, Abraham, Issac, Jacob, Judah, and Perez (Genesis 5:1-32; 11:10-26; 35:23-26; 38:27-30; 46:12) These men are a picture of the “elders” of God’s church, the Body of Christ.

6. While individual Jews have been and will continue to be redeemed throughout history, at the time of this vision the nation as a whole had not yet been redeemed. Tribulation saints had also not yet been converted.

7. The elders are also seen in heaven when other momentous events of the Tribulation take place. In all their appearances in Revelation they appear as a unified group of 24, never as two groups of 12.

8. This leaves only one other acceptable possibility, that they represent the raptured, glorified, coronated church, which sings the song of redemption (Revelation 5:8-10). They have their crowns and live in the place prepared for them, where they have gone to be with Jesus (John 14:1-4).

Scripture quotations are from the New King James Version of the Bible, © 1979, 1980, 1982, 1990, Thomas Nelson, Inc., Publishers.

©2013 Kenute P. Curry. All rights reserved.